The Peter Picknelly Transportation Center is named for the son of Peter Pan's founder (also named Peter). It's a mouthful so most people just call it the Springfield Bus Station. This is the hub of Peter Pan's operation with maintenance facilities next door, a Peter Pan gas station, and corporate offices inside. The building is unattractive, except for the giant BUS sign out front, but it's easy to get around and near downtown.

All buses board and discharge passengers at the gates in the rear of the building so you'll not have any reason to go out front. Through the terminal doors passengers will find a wide cinderblock room with a few vending machines. The doors to the waiting area are straight ahead, there's a dispatch/information booth to the right, and the entrance to McDonald's is to your left. Walk straight to get to the restrooms (on your right), the convenience store (on your left) or just plunk down in the hard plastic seats and blankly watch CNN with everyone else. The ticket booth is beyond the seating area. Jut walk straight and take a left after the Security office. There you'll also find payphones and the Dunkin' Donuts. Directly opposite the ticket booth is the exit to Main Street. Take a peak outside if you like.

Taxis wait at the curb on Main Street and there's usually a few waiting around. Local buses board next to the intercity buses. When you exit your bus walk left and look for the hundreds of other people waiting for their buses.

Just a few blocks from downtown, the Peter Picknelly Transportation Center serves as a terminal for intercity and local buses. It's just around the corner from the Amtrak station (left just after the railroad overpass) and only a block from a major post office, restaurants and shops. That being said, don't expect anything too exciting nearby. Just catch your bus or make your train connection and keep going.

The immediate area around the station isn't scary per se but you'll find dozens of scumbags lurking around at all hours (thanks PVTA buses!). Yes they're loud, vulgar, smelly people but they probably don't want to hurt you. They just want to spit, swear, and smoke and make sure that everyone else can see, hear, and smell them. We've seen at least one person arrested here, for what we don't know (trespass?). On a few occasions we've seen the local shelter drop off some unfortunate folks covered in their own urine on their way to a better facilty (we hope) by bus. We wish them well but don't want to sit next to them.

We hope you don't have a layover here but if you're passing through you might find yourself here for 30 minutes or so. Avoid the men's room (dirty and a potential drug den), avoid the McDonald's, avoid the Dunkin' Donuts. Yes these franchises look convenient and smell OK but the quality is lacking (to be polite). Just find your connecting bus (if you're transfering) and wait by the door till the driver lets you on. If you're on a through schedule just stay on your bus unless you desperately need to stretch your legs. There's a small convenience store inside with friendly staff and decent prices. If you need something go there and get back on your bus. Sorry Springfield.

These are special stops, possibly just for casino traffic. You'll probably never stop here.

Spgfield Hampton Inn
Springfield Plaza

Give three or four sentences that describe the city, it’s location, reputation, interesting facts.

Give one or two sentences describing the city subjectively. Does this place deserve a visit or is it just an unfortunate layover?

What are the must see and do neighborhoods or activities in this city?

What are the newspapers and which ones describe local events and nightlife?

Describe the weather, when to come here and how to dress.

If the city is steeped in history (Boston, Philly, San Francisco) give a few paragraphs here, maybe one for each century. Otherwise, one paragraph to describe the founding of the city, it’s growth and regional importance is fine. There is no history test on this trip.

There's nothing like stepping off a bus into a city you've never seen before. The smells, sights and sounds can excite and frighten even the most intrepid traveler. To make the most of your time in any city, be it a day or a month, spend a few minutes learning the neighborhoods before you go. This will help you plan your trip and orient you to your surroundings. This section briefly describes the most popular and tourist-friendly neighborhoods in the city starting with the neighborhoods nearest the bus station and fanning out from there.

Describe the neighborhood nearest the bus station, the one that passengers would see if they stepped off the bus and walked a block or two. Use all of your senses: sights, sounds, smells, first impressions? And are your first impressions right or does this neighborhood surprise the visitor?

What’s another nearby neighborhood that the passenger might see or visit within a few minutes of the bus station?

Tip: if you’re writing sabout several neighborhoods (or places to eat etc) take some time between writing sessions. Take a day or at least a few hours. This prevents your writing from becoming repetive or formulaic.

Keep going. Write about a far off neighborhood or a suburb that deserves a visit while the passenger is in town. Tell us how to get there, by bus, train, taxi etc. Be explicit.

Give a few sentences about transportation in the city. Is there anything to walk to near the station? Are we relying on buses or taxis while we’re in town? Sum it up subjectively but give objective examples in detail below.

Downtown Springfield, for what it's worth, is a few blocks southeast of the bus station. There are a few restaurants in downtown and the Amtrak station is nearby as well. You can walk to these destinations easily enough. The sidewalks are wide but watch for lots of ice and snow in the winter. Springfield's most popular tourist attraction is the Basketball Hall of Fame. It's less than a mile southeast of the bus station and you can walk there from here. See below for details.

The Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority (PVTA) offers a vast system of buses across the region. With a few transfers you can travel from Enfield, CT to Deerfield, MA. We can't imagine you'd ever make that trip but we're happy it's an option. The PVTA service area is split into two sections. Greater Springfield and Northampton are served by the PVTA but routes around Amherst, including Belchertown, Sunderland, and South Hadley are operated by the University of Massachusetts Transit Service. See Amherst for more details on the latter.

Around Springfield the buses run frequently though not very late and the fare is $1.25 each way with 25-cent transfers (ask for and pay for your transfer when you board your first bus). The buses range from painful, bone-jarring wrecks to newer, almost clean low-floor buses. You could do worse.

Describe the history and current events of the buses. Describe the subway lines and where they go. Where should passengers get on and off? What lines are near the bus station? What are some hot spots on each line?

There is no commuter rail service as we know it in Springfield but transit advocates across the state have rallied behind the idea for decades. These folks dream of a high-speed or levitating rail system connecting Springfield to Boston, possibly running down the Mass Pike (I-90) median. These fantastic ideas aside, don't expect a traditional commuter rail in town. However, Amtrak offers what they call 'shuttle' service (by train) between Springfield and New Haven several times each day. Stops include Hartford so there is some form of regular train service from Springfield, just not what you might expect of a commuter rail.

Is this a city where we need a rental car? Is there some must see spot only accessible by rental car like a national park or secluded beach? Where do went a car, how much is it, and how can we save some money here?

In a few sentences describe the best and cheapest places to sleep. Are hotels through the roof or surprisingly affordable off season like Vegas Sunday – Thursday nighhts?

Can we sleep at the bus station unfestered or does it close or have surly guards? What about the airport or train station? Is there anywhere nearby to sleep safely and free?

If we use Priceline what neighborhoods/zones should we include in the search and what’s a fair bidding price?

Most cities have a hostel or two. Describe a few decent options and tell us how to get there.

Hostel Name

Street
City, State ZIP Code
Telephone: 555 555 5555
Fax: 555 555 5555

Shared Dorms: $XX and up
Private Room: $XX and up

Add $X per person per night for non-members.

Directions:

Some lsarger cities have YMCA’s with housing. These can be dodgy and might house the city’s homeless population. Give details.

YMCA Name

Street
City, State ZIP Code
Telephone: 555 555 5555
Fax: 555 555 5555

Shared Dorms: $XX and up
Private Room: $XX and up

Directions:

Perhaps the best way to travel the country (and the world), couch surfing is a post-modern concept that shows exactly how useful the Internet can be. Travelers register on-line and search the cities where they want to stay. Members offer the opportunity to host visitors (on their couch, floor, spare room) and describe themselves and their availability in an on-line profile. Then users contact each other, discuss plans, preferences and availability and decide whether to commit to an overnight or extended stay. Both parties have the option to refuse an offer without explanation and with no hurt feelings. The service advertises nearly one million users around the world so if you're ready for an adventure and can plan ahead, consider couch surfing. Interested travelers should visit couchsurfing.com and wikipedia.org to learn more.

By now everyone in the world uses Craigslist so you're probably familiar with the site. It's an on-line bulletin board where users freely post ads for everything from used toothbrushes for sale to erotic adventures. In between you can search for paid vacation and short-term rentals under housing. It means planning ahead and you might have to send a deposit to the advertiser. Most users are honest and intrepid travelers can find an affordable, safe, clean place to stay for a few nights. But if you're going to do this why not try couch surfing first? It's free so if you get to the house and don't like what you see you can leave. You also have the option to chat with your host before you ever leave home and couchsurfing.com offers some degree of reassurance with its referral and verification system. So search the Craigslist postings, but keep couch surfing in the back of your mind.

Most cities offer an eclectic menu of restaurants but some cities are best divided into dining areas by neighborhood. Think about the food options in the city. Pick a few cheap eats, a couple mid-range choices and one exotic option. Try to include places that are eith MUST SEE or out of the way and easily missed but deserve a visit. Be creative.

Style (Neighborhood) $

Name
Street
City, State ZIP Code

Telephone: 555 555 5555

Hours:

Describe the restaurant, the clientele, the workjers, the food, the neighborhood and the overall experience. Directions…

Include a chart like this at the end of your Where to Eat section but update it to reflect local pricing.

Is this city compact and are services easy to find? Describe it in a few sentences.

There are no lockers at the station and few hotels nearby. If you're in town on purpose you'll probably havce a room somewhere so leave your bags there.

The men's room at the bus station epitomize nasty. They'll do in a pinch but wait if you can. There are few services nearby but you can try any of the small restaurants on Main Street.

What’s a good souvenir for the city? Where do we buy postcards and keychains? In New York City every corner shop sells postcards but in Tampa where do you go?

The Spreingfield bus station has at least one redeeming quality: the city's main post office is just across the street. From the bus station walk out the front door and look across the street and to your left.

Some cities have densely populated neighborhoods that surround the bus station and downtown and thus we’re likely to find a grocery store nearby. In other cities you have to hunt and peck but if you look around you’ll likely find something near the bus station (think Cleveland). Tell us where to find a nearby grocery store, describe it and the neighborhood as well as the style of food, quality and pricing. How do we get there?

Some cities have densely populated neighborhoods that surround the bus station and downtown and thus we’re likely to find a laundry service nearby. In other cities you have to hunt and peck but if you look around you’ll likely find something near the bus station (think San Francisco). Tell us where to find a nearby laundromat, describe it and the neighborhood as well as the costs, hours, and times to avoid it. How do we get there?

Hopefully you never need medical care while you're on the road, and if you do we hope that you have medical insurance. In the United States you are guaranteed medical treatment at any hospital's emergency room (ER) regardless of your ability pay even if you are not insured. But each state determines how much care uninsured patients get.

What are the best options for medical care in the city? Think price, accessibility, and care. Are we better off going to an ER or are walk-in clinics the best option? Tell us where to go and how to get there!

NEIGHBORHOOD

Hospital or clinic
Street
City, State ZIP Code

Telephone: 555 555 5555
TDD Phone: 555 555 5555

Directions!

Describe the city’s activities and lifestyle in general. Is it a beach city with a hopping nighlife (Miami) or a quiet college town with some great bookstores? Give us an overview of what to expect and then describe a few free and inexpensive options below.

Place or Activity

Name of place
Street
Telephone: 555 555 5555
Hours:

Description, be creative but objective

Directions

Same as above but these cost a few dollars each.

Money is no object here. Passengers might not parttake in this adventure but tell us about it anyway. Maybe it’s worth checking out even if we can’t afford it.

If you only have one day in town consider this:

Describe in great detail exactly where to go fore folks who have a day in town, maybe just a few hours. Give us directions from the bus station and phone numbers and price guides. What’s the perfect one-day trip?

Introduce a few suggested daytrips here. These spots might not be in town but they should be easy to get to in a day.

Be specific. Where are we going and why? What do we do when we get there and how do we get there? How is this different from the city or neiehborhood with the bus station? Really sell this place but make sure it’s worth the trip. If it’s as good as you say it is then this part should be easy.

Briefly describe how to get in and out of the city. Is the airport far away (Denver)? Are there no trains (Phoenix)? Then describe the airport, trains, and boats in great detail below. This part really matters.

Springfield's Bus Station has one other redeeming quality: it's just around the corner from the Amtrak station. Trains run north to Amherst and Vermont, south to New York and Washington DC, east to Boston and west to Albany (connect there for all points west).

To get there head out the front door of the bus station and take a right on Main Street. You'll walk under the railroad overpass and take your first left. The Amtrak station is straight ahead, on left, up the stairs.

Where’s the airport? Is there more than one? What are the common destinations from here and how often do the flights leave? Can I find discounts on-line last minute or am I out of luck? How do we get there and what’s the airport like?

To learn about a nearby city please select from the list below.

AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT