With the school year winding down and the summer quickly approaching, many are eagerly planning day trips to take during  the summer. In getting away, people sometimes spend a great deal of money, but you don’t have to spend a ton of money to have a good time! Find below a list of fun and affordable places to visit this summer that are not too far from home! Enjoy!

Brownstone Quarry: Visit this fun spot on a hot summer day for an exciting day on the water. Offering many thrill seeking activities including zip lining, cliff jumping, inflatable obstacle, swimming, and a rope swing it is a perfect spot for a day of outdoor adventure! Located in Portland, Connecticut, it is a convenient 52 minutes from Holyoke, MA.  Admission is $26 for a swimming/general pass, $36 for an adventure pass, and $46 for an all inclusive wake-boarding pass.

MASS MoCA: Visit this beautiful contemporary art museum in North Adams, MA for a day of fun- rain or shine! Only 1 hour and 18 minutes from Holyoke, MA it’s convenient and a pleasant drive up to North Adams. Admission is $20 for adults, $12 for students (with ID), and $8 for children (ages 6-16). MASS MoCA’s summer season begins 06/15 and lasts until 10/14, open from 10-6 everyday.

Bish Bash Falls: Visit this state park for a day of outdoor exploration and the chance to see the highest waterfall in Massachusetts! It’s the perfect spot for a hike and a picnic on the rocks! Admission is free and they offer free parking. This cool park is located in South Egremont, Massachusetts, only 1 hour and 22 minutes from Holyoke, MA.

Bridge of Flowers and Shelburne, MA Glacier Potholes: Enjoy a scenic drive up to Shelburne, where you can cross a beautiful and scenic bridge covered in flowers, see the glacier potholes, and enjoy a stroll around the town of Shelburne! Shelburne Falls is only 42 minutes from Holyoke, MA and admission is free for the bridge and potholes! The bridge is open from April-October.

Mount Tom State Reservation: Enjoy a hike up a local mountain that’s believed to be the mountain that Dr.Seuss based the Grinch’s home off of in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”–Climb to the painted rocks at the summit! Conveniently located in Holyoke, MA it is a very close and beautiful spot! Admission for the park is free, but if you choose to park in the Mount Tom Parking, there is a $5 fee for MA residents and a $10 fee for non-MA residents.

Lee Premium Outlets: Enjoy a day of shopping at some nearby premium outlet stores! These outlets are conveniently offered in Lee, MA only 43 minutes from Holyoke, MA. Parking is free, but money is required for shopping! Shop til you drop!

Tanglewood: Enjoy a picnic in the beautiful town of Lenox, MA. Tanglewood is a concert venue in Lenox, MA which offers daytime and evening concerts, houses the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and has many popular concert series! This venue is beautiful with many open fields and flowers! Picnicking is encouraged on the Tanglewood lawn. Tanglewood is only 53 minutes from Holyoke, MA and offers free parking and access. Ticket prices can be obtained online.  it is a great spot for all and an affordable day trip. Under 18 is admitted to select free concerts and movie nights.

Yankee Candle Village: Enjoy a variety of candles, Christmas decorations, fudge, and more while shopping at Yankee Candle! Take advantage of the chance to dip your own candle, build your own candle, or use the waxworks station! Enjoy a visit to this fun venue for some Christmas spirit anytime of the year as you can visit Santa’s workshop and experience snowfall in the summer. Yankee Candle Village is located in South Deerfield, MA and is only a 24 minute drive from Holyoke, MA. Parking and admission is free, but extras require money, such as shopping, waxworks, food, and making candles.

Traveler’s Restaurant: Enjoy a meal at a unique restaurant offering savory breakfast, lunch, and dinner options! At this restaurant, you are welcome to browse the many books offered and are welcome to take home free books with each visit! This unique restaurant is located in Union, CT which is only 45 minutes from Holyoke, MA!

Downtown Northampton: Northampton is a small city located right next to Holyoke, MA.The center of town offers many creative and fun eating options, art galleries, and live music venues! Some highlights of this “college town”  are the Academy of Music Theatre, The Manhan Bike Trail, Historic Northampton, Absolute Zero, and the popular shops and restaurants in Thornes Marketplace!

Chapel Brook Falls in Ashfield: This beautiful park and scenic waterfall spot is only 42 minutes from Holyoke, MA.  At this venue in Ashfield,MA you can hike to the top of 1,420 foot Pony Mountain then take a dip in the pools and falls of the park! Also, at the summit of the mountain is a 100-foot rock face of Chapel Ledge, which many rock climbers attempt to tackle. This park is open year-round sunrise to sunset and is the perfect place for an outdoor adventure!

Springfield Museums: A close to home stop in Springfield, MA, the quadrangle is home to five museums that you can enjoy both rain or shine. The museums include: The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, and the Amazing World of Dr.Seuss Museum. Located outside in the center of these museums is the Dr.Seuss National Memorial Sanctuary Garden. The museums are open through the summer and admission is as follows: $25/adult, $16.50/seniors (60+), $16.50/college students, $13/youth (3-17), and free/children under 3. Free passes to the library are available from many local libraries.

Northfield Drive-In: Celebrating their 70th year, this classic old-fashioned drive-in theatre is the perfect place to go on a warm summer night to see a first-run movie. Viewers can watch popular movies from the comfort of their own vehicles or lawn chairs and enjoy popcorn, ice cream and snacks from the concession stands!