"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses." -Joyce Brothers
My mom and dad often make the trip from the Albany, NY, area to visit us here in Western Mass. They love spending time with my husband and I and of course coming to spoil their grandson. Recently it has become more challenging to find activities that we can all do together now that my tween is bored if he's not playing his Nintendo Switch! It seems harder to connect with his grandparents who don't have the same interests. I was excited that the MGM Springfield invited us to be their guests for the day. I was amazed that the itinerary included so much more than table games and slots! There would be something for everyone to enjoy at the casino.
Here are my top five spots to connect with your family for the day at the MGM Springfield.
1. TAP SPORTS BAR & ARCADE & BOWLING: We arrived in time for lunch and grabbed a delicious bite to eat at TAP. TAP offers an amazing menu of salads, sandwiches and burgers. We enjoyed our meal among numerous flat screens and historical sports memorabilia from our New England teams! Be sure to try the Pulled Chicken. I've had it three times now and even tried to create it at home. It is a mix of crispy onions, arugula, herb mayo and bread and butter pickles! After your belly is full, be sure to check out the arcade games and reserve one of the ten bowling lanes for your family.
2. MGM PLAZA: The plaza is where there will be a variety of entertainment scheduled all year long. We were lucky enough to witness MGM's Chinese New Year Celebration. The public was treated to a traditional dance celebrating the Year of the Pig, red money envelopes with crisp $2 bills inside, and a parade that began outside and filtered inside the casino. Keep an eye out for additional pop-up entertainment by bookmarking THIS page!
A short walk from one end of the plaza to the next takes you to the MGM Ice Rink. This outdoor skating experience is available through March 3. It is well lit, and we felt extremely safe outside with plenty of clearly marked security walking around.
3. KRINGLE EMPORIUM: My history-loving son and dad loved that Kringle is housed in the former French Congregational Church. The building was moved 500 feet from its original location, which is where the casino floor sits now! Kringle is an emporium of signature candles and gifts but also a cafe that is a must visit! You will find a menu of delicious desserts and boozy shakes, lattes and creative coffees. My son hasn't smiled this much since Christmas! Our server topped his shake with an epic amount of whipped cream! Everybody in my family found their favorite thing that made them really excited to try and devour.
4. TOPGOLF SWING SUITE: Mr. Macaroni "aka my husband" was most excited to stop at Topgolf. He had tried to explain the concept to us but it wasn't until we were actually inside one of the game bays that we fully understood. We would be swinging a golf club and trying to hit the ball into a large screen for a round of virtual golf. My parents made themselves at home in the comfy leather couch and we ordered sodas and took turns laughing at each other trying to swing! My son loved the gigantic screen and his experience playing Zombie Dodgeball. My dad was eager to try Football and told us how he used to play during his childhood. I loved witnessing this common interest between generations. I highly suggest you make a reservation to give the Swing Suites a try. They have all of the equipment for adults and kids or you're able to bring your own. My mom marveled at how technology can be great and suggested a gift certificate for Father's Day for my hard working hubby.
5. REGAL CINEMAS: A trip to the movie theater is a new experience at Regal Cinemas inside the MGM. Select your seat ahead of time as you purchase your family's tickets from your mobile phone or at a kiosk. You can see all of the latest movies from the comfort of a recliner seat! Sprawl out, enjoy an array of concessions and a state of the art lobby with additional spots to mingle and meet before and after the show!
Springfield's MGM is easily accessible and I loved that we didn't have to circle around the parking garage multiple times when all we really wanted to do was get inside. Clearly lit signs indicate the amount of open spaces on each level of the garage. There is plenty of on-site parking for guests at no charge. Elevators take you down to the awesome attractions. I learned that there is no limit to what families can do at the MGM, making it a definite must visit!
At each and every spot you'll find great customer service. I'm grateful that they happily answered all our questions, were patient with my son and his grandparents. These are our neighbors! They want you to make memories at the MGM Springfield. It truly is a family-friendly destination with different types of amenities for the kids and the adults!
Check out more photos from our adventure HERE and be sure to "like" MGM Springfield on Facebook to stay updated on events and special announcements!
MGM Springfield (mgmspringfield.com) hosted the author for the purpose of this review. Meals and activities were complimentary. No other compensation was received in consideration of this article and all opinions are that of the writer.
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