A southeastern suburb of Springfield, East Longmeadow is on the Massachusetts/Connecticut line and just minutes from Springfield’s vibrant Metro Center district.
Historically, the area was known for its sandstone quarries, which supplied material for large projects such as the Smithsonian Institution Building in Washington (1855).
An interesting feature of East Longmeadow is that the seven boulevards converge in a roundabout in the city center known as ‘The Roundabout’. Many of the city’s local businesses are based here or nearby.
East Longmeadow’s community spirit and patriotism are expressed each year with one of the largest Fourth of July parades, multi-day carnivals, and a mesmerizing fireworks display.
1. Fenway Golf
A summer treat for all ages, Fenway Golf combines a range of golf-themed attractions, with something for all ages and abilities.
First, there’s an 18-hole mini golf course, with all the traditional elements like bubbling streams and cascading waterfalls.
For a longer challenge, there’s the pitch & putt, suitable for youngsters swinging the club for the first time, as well as seasoned players trying to get as close to the pin as possible.
Around the corner, the same company runs Pine Knoll, a true 18-hole par 3 golf course, while onsite you also have batting cages and a snack bar with 24 light serving flavors mildly different.
2. Meadowbrook Farm
On 275 acres in the southeast part of town, this ranch has been in business for over 30 years. You can go from April to December, and as the year goes by, there’s always a new reason to visit.
Things kick off in spring with perennials, lilies, vegetable crops, and a host of other flowers and greenhouse horticultural products.
You can then shop for a wealth of fresh produce at Meadowbrook Farms, from strawberries in July to pumpkins in the fall, then Christmas trees a little later in the holiday season.
3. Frigo Foods
This East Longmeadow Italian delicacy is part of a small chain of stores in the Springfield area, with a history dating back to the early 20th century.
The Frigo family first settled in Chicago in the 1900s, established a successful cheese business, and in the 1950s they expanded northeast, opening a snack bar in Springfield South End.
Fast-forward to the 21st century and the new Frigo Foods location in East Longmeadow offers a range of delicious ready-to-go meals, from sandwiches to salads, and a great selection of freshly made pasta dishes like ravioli and lasagna.
4. Springfield
Springfield’s historic, walkable, and cultural center is just 15 minutes from the Rotary in East Longmeadow.
First of all, you need to visit The Quadrangle and its collection of five high-quality museums under the umbrella of the Springfield Museum.
You could easily spend an entire day perusing Impressionist masterpieces, pondering the big questions of the universe, uncovering the treasures of ancient civilizations, and immersing yourself in the world of Dr. Seuss, who was born in this city.
A National Historic Landmark, the Springfield Armory was the primary source of weapons for the United States military, from 1777 to 1969, and is another priority.
Springfield is also where physical educator James Naismith invented basketball in 1891, an event honored at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
5. Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe
Around East Longmeadow, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to shop locally and support some of the beloved businesses that have been here for decades.
Right on the Rotary, you have Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe, which opened in 1997. The owner of Maureen continues to craft the store’s list of premium sweets.
For an idea of the range, there are caramel apples, chocolate-covered cookies, pretzels, gourmet popcorn, salted caramel, truffles, marshmallows, and more.
6. Rotary Summer Concert Series
A summer feature in East Longmeadow is parades, carnivals, and fireworks, and there’s also a much-anticipated outdoor concert season hosted by the Rotary Club of East Longmeadow.
Beginning at 7 p.m. Sundays from July to mid-August, these performances take place at East Longmeadow High School.
The first day of the series in July is usually the warm-up of the fireworks. It is recommended that you walk or carpool to the high school because parking is limited.
In terms of style, bands tend to play classic rock hits like Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Eagles.
7. Shaker Bowl
Attracting families, groups of friends, and competitive pitchers for decades, the Shaker Bowl is a side street that has survived the years.
On weekend nights, you’ll see disco lights, party music, and giant screens at the end of the lane. Children are well catered for, with bumpers available in the lanes, as well as charming alligator ramps for the little ones who haven’t mastered their bowling techniques yet.
The Shaker Bowl also has a grill for bowling alley favorites like pizza, tender chicken, sliders, mozzarella sticks, and cookies.
8. Pell Family Farm
Another long-standing family business in the area is Pell Family Farm, which has been around since 1930.
First, in the dairy sector, the farm’s orientation has evolved over the years, and today there is a nursery, growing Christmas trees and strawberries, which markets local produce.
In the recent past, there was a petting zoo and typical fall activities on the farm, and those days may return in the future. For now, you can drop by during the holiday season to cut your own Christmas tree.
The nursery is open year-round and specializes in private plants including a variety of arborvitae, winter hemlock, and blue spruce.
9. Skyline Scenic Area
The Northern Connecticut Land Trust manages 65 acres of rolling forest just a few miles from Somers, CT.
Starting at Stafford Road, the yellow-marked path leads you through the rocky landscape and brings you to a beautiful viewpoint from which you can look out over the Connecticut River Valley.
In recent years, overgrown trees have obscured the view from spring to autumn, but if you arrive at a time when the trees are bare, the view is impressive, especially at sunset.
Elsewhere, you’ll come across interesting remnants of centuries of human habitation, from bridges to stone walls and mysterious pits.
10. Coughlin’s Place
A minute or two down Main Street from the Rotary is a friendly breakfast spot that has been delighting customers from everywhere for over 35 years now.
Open Wednesday mornings through Sunday, Coughlin’s Place prides itself on high-quality ingredients and outstanding service.
There are a lot of details to love here, such as the homemade jam, the use of pure maple syrup, the cozy atmosphere, and the generous portions.
The big specialty is the homemade minced beef, which comes with two eggs in any style, toast, and a drink.
11. Heritage Park
East Longmeadow Community Park is a beautiful space, surrounded by hardwood forest in the northwest corner of town.
Much of Heritage Park’s appeal comes from the pretty pond, which is teeming with waterfowl year-round, including grumpy geese.
The park is primarily for passive recreation, whether you’re having a picnic, going for a walk in the woods, or taking the kids to the playground.
There are also several sports facilities, with two baseball diamonds and a soccer field, while the pond is a skating destination when it freezes over in winter.
12. Fourth of July Parade
East Longmeadow is widely known for its 4th of July celebration, one of the largest in western Massachusetts.
At the center of it, all is the parade, a tradition dating back half a century, with about 1,500 people marching through the center along Main North Street to Hanward Hill.
Veterans, marching bands, local services, and sparkling vintage cars pass by.
Next in the evening is the annual fireworks display, which usually takes place at East Longmeadow High School at 9 am:
30 o’clock. During that time, there’s a fun-filled five-day festival at Veterans Memorial Field.
13. The Rotary
Right in the heart of East Longmeadow, seven streets converge at a busy roundabout, nicknamed the Magic Roundabout, or simply “The Roundabout”.
This intersection appears in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! there are seven lanes and not a single traffic light. In addition to being a great place to drive, Rotary is also home to East Longmeadow civic functions and many local businesses.
In addition to Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe, which we’ll discuss below, there are breakfast, pizza, pastry, coffee, deli, and modern American fare places nearby.
You can follow the Redstone Railroad Trail just west of the Maple Street roundabout, where you’ll pass the Connecticut Central Railroad Depot, built in 1876.
14. Redstone Rail Trail
Running through downtown and serving the Rotary, this paved multi-use street sits on tracks first laid by the Connecticut Central Railroad in the 1870s.
The path that runs between Denslow Rd and Maple St is less than a mile and is equipped with seating areas and gazebos, as well as a bike shop on Shaker St, connected to the road by a bridge.
This historic station is a major landmark at the north end of the trail, and for the past few summers has housed an ice cream stand. North of Maple Street is an unpaved stretch of trail that hugs the shores of Pecousic Creek for just over a mile.
15. Forest Park
Just off the west bank of the city is Springfield Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country.
Forest Park opened in 1884, and many of those 735 acres were donated by philanthropist Everett Hosmer Barney, who also convinced his wealthy neighbors to donate land.
The park is a year-round attraction, especially with its zoo, which is home to a wide variety of native and exotic animals, as well as adorable barn-dog breeds such as small donkeys, alpacas, and Nigerian dwarf goats.
During the festive season, Forest Park is famous for its uplifting light show, known as Bright Lights, while there’s the popular Farmers Market from May to October, followed by indoor moves and shows. Out on alternate weekends from November to April.