Explore Everything Seuss in Springfield, Mass

If you're a fan of children's author Dr. Seuss, you won't want to pass through New England without making a stop in Springfield, Mass. Springfield was the birthplace of the famed children's author, formally named Theodor Geisel. In recent years, the city has developed tourist themes around the creator of such beloved characters as the Cat in the Hat, the Sneeches, the Whos, the Grinch and Horton the Elephant.

Museum and Sculpture Garden

The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden sits inside the Springfield Museums Quadrangle. Lark Grey Diamond-Cates, step-daughter of Dr. Seuss, created the bronze sculptures that memorialize the Seuss characters. The sculptures are as whimsical as the Seuss characters themselves and include an oversize chair children love to climb upon.

The Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum exhibit "And to Think That He Saw It in Springfield" examines the influence of Springfield on Dr. Seuss' drawings. Springfield has long been associated with innovation, and its inventive spirit pervades Seuss' works. But his imagination proceeds from a foundation and that foundation is the buildings, streets and experiences Dr. Seuss encountered in his native city. The Thneeds factory of "The Lorax" draws some of its architectural elements from the Gasworks, while the Howard St. Armory looks decidedly familiar to readers of "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins."

Admission to the Springfield Museums is $12.50 for adults, $6.50 for children. The outdoor sculpture garden does not charge admission.

Bright Nights

If your trip to Springfield coincides with the holiday season, Bright Nights in Forest Park also pays tribute to Dr. Seuss. Bright Lights is billed as the Northeast's premiere holiday lighting display and lives up to its name. The Seussland exhibit within the display consists of a dozen twinkling remembrances of beloved characters and creations from Seuss stories. Horton, the Grinch, and Cindy Lou Who are some of the characters featured.

This year Bright Lights runs from Nov. 23 to Jan. 1 and costs from $15 to $18 per vehicle without any discounts. The best discount is opening night when admission is $6.

Places Associated with Seuss

After seeing the Museum's exhibit, take a fun tour of the city, looking for some of the sites that influenced Geisel's work. Here are two suggestions to get started:

* Take a drive down the same Mulberry Street, the scene of one of Geisel's early works "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street."

* Check out Forest Park on Sumner Avenue. Seuss' father was park superintendent here and the family lived close by at 74 Fairfield St. The park and its zoo influenced Seuss' work in countless ways. The home unfortunately was demolished in the 1990s.