SPRINGFIELD , at the point where I-90 crosses I-91 - in an extremely confusing way - ninety miles from Boston at the southern end of the Pioneer Valley, has an odd assortment of claims to fame, including being the home of the Springfield rifle and the late children's author Dr Seuss. However, visitors are drawn to this unwieldy and unattractive city, split by the wide Connecticut River, by the 1890s invention of Dr James Naismith - the sport of basketball . Naismith designed the game as a way of providing exercise for athletes at the YMCA, and its popularity spread with amazing rapidity. After a trip to the Berlin Olympics in 1936, Naismith came up with another bright idea and established the Basketball Hall of Fame at 1150 W Columbus Ave, next to the river just south of Memorial Bridge (Jan-June & Sept-Dec daily 9.30am-5.30pm, July & Aug Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9.30am-5.30pm; $10). This museum enjoyably traces the history of the game with movies, videos and plenty of memorabilia, and also lets you test your own skills.

Springfield's Amtrak station is very central, at 66 Lyman St (tel 413/785-4230 or 1-800/USA-RAIL). Several bus lines , including Peter Pan (tel 413/781-2900 or 1-800/237-8747, ), which provides daily services to and from Boston and New York, operate out of the nearby bus station at 1776 Main St. The CVB is downtown at 1441 Main St (tel 413/787-1548 or 1-800/723-1548, ). Lodging includes the Comfort Inn & Suites , 106 Capital Drive (tel 413/736-5000 or 1-800/288-5150, ; $75-100), and there are a number of budget motels over the river in West Springfield. If you're hungry, tiny Fort Street has been home to The Student Prince/Fort Restaurant (tel 413/734-7475) for over 65 years - a local favorite serving German wiener schnitzel, goulash and sauerbraten.

Better still, head over to nearby Amherst , a typical New England college town, where The Lord Jeffery Inn , 30 Boltwood Ave (tel 413/253-2576 or 1-800/742-0358, ; $75-100/$100-130), offers comfortable rooms and the lively Elijah Boltwood's Tavern serves perfect Yankee pot roast. Tours of the Amherst campus can be arranged; call 413/545-4237.