15 Best Things to Do in Palmer (MA)

This rural town of 12,500 is located on the eastern edge of the Pioneer Valley, where the Quappoag and Ware Rivers meet to form the Chicopee River.

In the past, Palmer was known as the Seven Railroad City, and although active lines ran through the city, no trains have stopped at the once-busy Union Station since 1971.

This impressive 1884 Richardsonian Romanesque building has become a family train-themed restaurant, with a stunning interior and stunning railway artifacts in the courtyard.

Palmer has one of the best public libraries in Western Massachusetts, with an entire room dedicated to the city's 19th-century railroad history.

1. Steaming Tender

If there's one thing that attracts people from all over the area to Palmer, it's this family restaurant located in the beautiful Palmer Railway Station (Union Station).

At a major intersection, this distinctive building was designed by H.H. Richardson in his distinctive Romanesque Revival style and includes two stations.

The station opened in 1884, and was originally built on land built by Richardson's great colleague Frederick Law Olmsted, famous for New York's Central Park.

Everything about the Steaming Tender is steeped in railway heritage, from the trains running along the active lines, to the rolling stock on display in the restaurant's outdoor museum, a harking back to the golden days of rail travel.

The menu here is hearty New England fare, like braised pot roast, Maine lobster rolls, fried haddock, lobster macaroni and cheese, jumbo scallops, New York sirloin steaks, and a comforting half-pound cheeseburger.

2. Palmer Public Library

For many, the Palmer Public Library is one of the best libraries in western Massachusetts. Located at 1455 N Main St, the library was originally housed in the historic Palmer Memorial Hall (1890), designed by New York architect R.H. Robertson in the Romanesque Revival style.

In addition to providing a wide range of services, programs, and collections for residents and visitors, the Palmer Public Library contains individual rooms that focus on aspects of local history.

There is a Railroad Research Center filled with books, photographs, and memorabilia documenting Palmer's rich railroad heritage.

On a larger level, the Quabog Valley Historical Center is located on the third floor and is filled with books, photos, maps and many other documents that tell the story of Palmer and its surrounding towns.

3. Yankee Flea Market

We will find that there is a large concentration of antique markets in Palmer and the surrounding communities.

The largest of them all is the Yankee Flea Market, and it's on an impressive scale, with more than 200 vendor booths, over 16,000 square feet.

Up to 35 of these vendors visit the market daily to update their inventory, while checkout is easy thanks to sophisticated computer records.

To get an idea of what you might find, think antique decor, paintings, furniture, antique signs, clocks, jewelry, vinyl, antique license plates, mirrors, lighting, dolls, figurines, and more than we can find. Enter here.

4. Alvin Rondeau’s Dairy Bar

Like any respectable Massachusetts town, Palmer has a long-standing ice cream parlor, serving delicious homemade ice cream with toppings like hot dogs, fried oysters, sandwiches, and more.

Alvin Rondeau's Dairy Bar is also one of the oldest bars in the area, founded in 1940 by the current owner's grandfather. You are greeted by Alvina, a life-sized plastic cow surrounded by a picket fence.

The ice cream is made fresh by Mike Rondo, the Monkey Bit (banana ice cream with brownies, walnuts and chocolate swirls), and the orange pineapple is a must-try.

5. Midura Conservation Area

In a quiet part of East Palmer, near the banks of the Quapaugh River, 222 acres welcome nature, with activities like hiking, dog walking, nature study, photography, hunting (with permission) and cross-country skiing. Snowshoeing in winter.

There are many interesting things about this area of grasslands and mixed forests. There is Old McMaster Road, which traverses the property for approximately one mile.

This road was laid out by the city as early as 1754, and runs from Old Warren Street to Boston Road.

6. Burleigh Park

Located in a less populated part of the city, this attractive park has a mix of recreational facilities and woodlands for hiking, cycling and picnicking.

Burleigh Park is 160 acres and is accessed by a trail on the north side about a mile long that connects Center St. to the west to Old Warren Road to the east.

Sports facilities here include five baseball fields, two soccer fields and 12 horseshoe holes. You can explore the rest of the property through five different trails, served by trail kiosks with maps and other information.

7. Depot Park

Located in the heart of Depot Village, this small park is inspired by Palmer's fascinating railroad history.

Adjacent to the grass, the paths meet here in a small square with flower beds and benches. It's a great place for a snack on a warm day, but it's also the site of outdoor events year-round.

Light Up Palmer, the city's celebration of holiday lights, begins here. In the summer, the city's recreation department holds a season of outdoor concerts here in the warehouse-themed gazebo, which continues on Wednesday evenings through mid-August.

8. Palmer Antiques Co-Op

In Palmer and surrounding towns you can spend an entire day shopping for antiques.

A great starting point is Palmer Antiques Co-Op at 1249 S Main St, where you'll find more than 100 dealers in a clean, well-lit space.

Take your time here to browse furniture, musical instruments, kitchen utensils, ephemera of all kinds, outdoor jewelry, toys, historical instruments, jewelry, baseball cards, and newly manufactured home decor.

The co-op's inventory can change every week, so it's a good idea to make regular visits to find new finds.

9. Endelson Playground

Bondsville has a beautifully landscaped course on the banks of the Swift River with many amenities.

The biggest one in the summer is the splash pad, which gives kids a chance to cool off and burn off some energy on hot days.

Along with these sprinklers, there are play structures for toddlers and older children, which are jets and buckets filled with various interactive stations.

Parents can relax at one of the picnic tables surrounded by landscaping, while the south end features a basketball court.

10. Palmer Historical and Cultural Center

Palmer has a vibrant cultural center housed in a magnificent church building. The Palmer Historical and Cultural Center is located in the Old Evangelical Union Church, built in the 1830s in the Greek Revival style.

The centerpiece inside is the 160-seat Harmony Hall, which hosts an exciting schedule of live music performances, film screenings, lectures and many other cultural events.

There is also a Village Room for more intimate events and gatherings. When we wrote this article, there were plans to add museum space to highlight local history. The center can be rented for a variety of special events, from weddings to meetings and showers.

11. Pulaski Park Picnic Shelter

The village of Three Rivers west of Palmer holds the unofficial title of the Polka Capital of New England. This has much to do with the wave of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which gave the region a strong Polish character.

To this day, the Picnic Pavilion in Polski Park is a regional center for traditional polka music, with a full season of "Polka Picnics" on Sunday afternoons.

For an admission fee, the soundtrack to these events is played by some of the Northeast's best polka bands, and includes Polish meals like pierogi and kielbasa, and classic car rides.

12. Silver Bell Farm

Moments away in Monson is a working farm set in a bucolic landscape, open to the public for seasonal events.

For example, in October, you'll find fall celebrations with tractor-drawn wagon rides, barrel rides, friendly goat feeding, a bounce house, and a scavenger hunt for the kids.

These activities are complemented by a farm shop, produce stand, and a wide selection of pumpkins as well as homemade cider donuts, fresh roasted coffee, hot cider, and more.

Come during the holiday season to enjoy freshly cut Fraser and Balsam Fir trees, visits with Santa, handmade Christmas decorations, and cups of hot chocolate.

13. Crane Hill Disc Golf Course

Above the town line in Wilbraham is a disc golf course that attracts players from all over New England.

Built in 2008, the Crane Hill Disc Golf Course faces a variety of challenges, including woods, open fields and even a section of rocky gorge.

The course is maintained by the City of Wilbraham, and is open to all, with no fees or tee times required.

There are A and B pin positions on each hole, depending on your level, and although there is a beautiful landscape of mature forests all around, they never interfere with your shot – as long as you are accurate.

14. Keep Homestead Museum

Another great attraction near Monson is the Historic House Museum, which is open to the public from April to early December.

Dating back to the mid-1700s, the Cape Homestead was expanded and redesigned over the next 100 years, with an update in 1863 to reach its present form.

The Kipp family first moved here in 1854, and Myra Kipp lived until Lowell Moulton died (d. 1988) and bequeathed the house and its impressive collection to the city.

This inventory contains one of the largest collections of antique and vintage buttons in the United States. Only a small portion of the collection can be displayed at a time, so the screen rotates frequently.

The house sits on more than 70 acres, including farmland, a pond and a small granite quarry, which has become a formal vernal pool.

15. Palmer Motorsports Park

Located in the densely wooded hills just northeast of Palmer, it is a 2.3-mile scenic road course used by sports car and motorcycle clubs during the season, which runs from April to October.

The winding trail is located on Whiskey Hill Mountain, which is over 500 feet high. Palmer Motorsports Park is managed by a private club, but members of the public who want to try the track have a few options.

There's a drive-thru experience, where you'll take to the track in a race car with a certified instructor.

There are also Open Track Lap Days where you'll learn the basics of race car driving, and Ride Along, where you'll be in the passenger seat while an experienced race car performs high-speed laps.