15 Best Things to Do in Carver (MA)

This rural town west of Plymouth in southeastern Massachusetts is located in the middle of a natural swamp area. In fact, 50% of Carver's area consists of wetlands.

Since the 18th century, this has made the town an important site for bog iron, which is extracted from ponds and shaped into ironworks.

When this industry declined, the city's wetlands became cranberry bogs. By the end of the 20th century, one-fifth of the cranberries grown in the United States were harvested here.

Cranberries are still a part of life in Carver. The town's main attraction is the extensive cranberry bogs on the shore, and there are a few commercial operations in the area that you can visit at harvest time.

Carver's extensive pine forests and abundant wetlands prevent development, allowing the town to retain its rural character—even a summer farmer's market in a grove of tall pines.

1. Edaville Family Theme Park

One of the oldest heritage railroads in the United States is still going strong in Carver. It is the main attraction of Edaville Family Theme Park, founded by Alice D. Atwood in 1947 on her sprawling cranberry farm.

Steam-powered trains travel along two-foot-tall railroad tracks that meander through a landscape of cranberry bogs, which turn red as the season progresses.

Over time many other attractions were added besides the railway. There is a large Dinoland, where you will visit forests inhabited by more than 20 life-sized dinosaurs.

The theme park also holds a Thomas the Train license, and Thomas Land USA has 11 rides based on the classic children's TV show.

Alice's Playhouse features indoor entertainment as well as an arcade, a large indoor model railroad, and a museum that takes a look at the history and culture of cranberry farming.

2. Myles Standish State Forest

At the southeast corner of Carver and extending into Plymouth is the largest public open space in southeastern Massachusetts.

Named after the Mayflower traveler and military advisor to the Plymouth Colony, Myles Standish State Forest consists of more than 12,000 acres of pine and oak forests, hidden lakes, kettle ponds, and cranberry bogs.

It's a vast natural playground where you can hike, swim, fish, canoe, hunt, camp and horseback ride. Perhaps the best way to experience the forest is by bike, as there are 15 miles of easy paved trails surrounding these beautiful ponds.

3. Cranberry bogs

Stick a pin into the Carver's Map, and there's a good chance you'll land on a Cranberry Swamp. One way you can get to know the city better and understand the unique process of growing cranberries is to visit one of these farms.

There are two in Carver that are open to the public depending on the season. You've got Red Meadow, which we'll talk about in a moment.

There is also Edgewood Bogs/Cape Cod Select, where you can purchase fresh and frozen cranberries as well as gift boxes from the store.

Across the line in Middleboro, Benson's Pond allows visitors to try their hand at cranberry picking, and you can wear a pair of waders to be your "cranberry snot for the day" in the fall.

4. King Richard’s Faire

The largest and longest-running Renaissance fair in New England is held in Carver. First erected in 1982, King Richard’s Faire is set on a permanent estate, set in 80 acres of pine woodland.

Typically held on weekends and Mondays in September and October, the festival centers around a 16th-century-style bazaar featuring minstrels, magicians, fire eaters, puppeteers, jousting knights, planeswalkers and much more.

There are eight performance stages with something new to see throughout the day, along with artisans selling handcrafted pottery, unique jewelry, leather goods and more. Food is at the heart of the experience, including classics like roasted turkey leg.

5. Red Meadow Farm

Over the past few years, the farm in Carver, along with seven acres of cranberry bog, has been taken over by a couple formerly working in Boston's technology industry.

Cranberries are the main crop at Red Meadow Farm, but there are also a pumpkin patch, miniature painted deserts, and a herd of Katahdin sheep.

You can call into the farm stand, which will open in spring 2023, for many cranberry-related items and a large selection of local and regional produce. Eventually, Red Meadow Farm will also have a wine, vermouth and cider operation.

6. Sampson's Pond

Adwell Family Amusement Park is located next to the 310-acre Great Pond, a popular spot for water activities in the warmer months.

Sampson's Pond off Lake View Street has a free paved launch ramp, and is a great place to do some paddling with its interesting coves, islets, and rock outcroppings.

The boat launch is a popular hangout on hot summer days, and the pond is one of two designated swimming spots in the city.

You may be interested to know that Sampson's Pond was a swamp until the early 1800s when it was drained by a swamp iron. Even today, the water is still rusty in color due to the presence of iron in the soil.

7. Savery Avenue

Something worth checking out near the King Richards Gallery is a preserved stretch of historic road, known as America's oldest divided highway.

It was opened in 1860 by William Savery, who planned roadside trees and median trees to provide "shade and ornament to man and beast."

At the turn of the century, Savery Avenue was cobblestone—paved with compact layers of crushed stone—and today a long stretch of the street is preserved on a protected city-owned parcel of land.

Off the street is a set of paths leading into a gorgeous mature pine forest. The high canopy is an excellent nesting site for birds such as black-capped chickadees, pine warblers and blue jays.

8. Shurtleff Park

In the center of Carver there is a public park in front of the city hall in a beautiful stand of tall pine trees. In the summer, Shurtleff Park is the venue for the Carver Farmers Market, which we'll cover in more detail below.

It's a nice place at any time to stop for a moment and perhaps enjoy a coffee or a stroll at one of the nearby establishments.

Take a moment to admire the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, built in 1910. The park was introduced to the city in 1908, and has always been a venue for outdoor events, many of which coincide with the market.

9. Johns Pond

Another place where families can relax during the summer months is the natural pool, which is just over 20 acres in size.

John's Pond has a mix of residential developments and cranberry bogs lining its shores, as well as a beach on the south side. The water is relatively clear and surprisingly warm in July and August.

In terms of fishing, the pond has good numbers of bass and panfish despite its relatively small size. There is a gravel ramp along the beach where you can launch your boat or toboggan.

10. Carver Farmers Market

There can't be many farmers markets with a nicer location than Carver's. It takes place in a grove of tall pine trees in Shurtleff Park in the city's municipal centre.

Held on Sundays, from mid-June through October, the Carver Farmers Market is a fun-loving community event that adds live music and family activities to the experience.

In a typical week, you can buy fresh produce, fresh bread and pastries, spice blends, preserves, sauces and a wide range of handicrafts. The best time to visit is in the fall during cranberry season.

11. Erickson’s Ice Cream Cafe

Open from May to mid-September, this ice cream shop at 287 Tremont Street has been in business since 1969 and is a summertime staple in Carver.

Away from the side of the road, Erickson's Ice Cream Cafe has a beautiful outdoor area where you can enjoy frozen treats with rows of picnic tables on the grass and tall trees.

The ice cream served here is award-winning Richardson's Ice Cream, made far away in Middleton, Massachusetts. More than 50 flavors are available at any given time, with late-season fall varieties like pumpkin and cranberry.

There's a selection of frappes, fries, ice cream, lemon rickey, tonic floats and banana slices to mix things up.

12. Off the Wall Kidz

Carver has a branch of this regional chain of indoor playgrounds. Off the Wall Kidz is like a children's museum, combining age-appropriate play structures with experiential exhibits.

In this series you have a pretend city, where children can navigate the streets and role-play facilities such as supermarkets and clinics.

The arcade features all sorts of old carnival rides alongside new video games, while the custom-designed play complex includes a maze of bridges, slides, climbing equipment and a trampoline.

There is also a large ball park containing around 25,000 balls, and a separate play area for younger children, surrounded by a soft barrier for peace of mind.

13. The Cole Property Trails and Bog Roads

Explore this protected property on the Plympton-Carver city line to see more of the area's signature wetlands and cranberry bogs.

Cole's estate is deceptively large, covering more than 240 acres of former farmland. The winding blue trail takes you through this beautiful expanse of pine forest, surrounding an active cranberry bog.

If you want to spend more time outside, you can continue east, where the white trail soon connects with the orange trail, following the back of a residential subdivision and some marshes, back to the cranberry bogs.

14. Carver Community Playground

Another great little attraction in downtown Carver is the recently unveiled state-of-the-art stadium on the King property behind Town Hall.

The Carver Community Playground with fencing is rated as one of the best playgrounds for miles around.

The space is divided into areas for children aged 2-5 and 5-12, and there are all kinds of extra fun in the expected climbing structures, slides and swings.

Kids can play with the interactive musical installations, or make the most of the trucks and excavators in the sandbox. There are benches everywhere for parents, as well as a covered picnic area where everyone can hang out while having a good time.

15. Camden Trail – Indian Brook Conservation Land

There is a recurring city-owned parcel of land acquired in 2003 near Sampson Pond and Edwell Family Theme Park.

The entrance to Indian Brook Conservation Land is easy to miss from the side of the road on Indian Street. At the start of Camden Road there is a small information kiosk.

It heads north into the forest, before several branches are joined by a new path, so you can spend about half an hour having a nice walk. Along the way you'll pass Vernal Pools and the scenic stretch of Indian Brook.

15 Best Things to Do in Lakeville (MA)

Lakeville is located in Massachusetts' cranberry country, and about one-fifth of its land area is covered by water.

Along with dozens of cranberry bogs, Lakeville is home to Assawomset Pond, the largest natural lake in Massachusetts.

The pond is part of a larger complex that serves as a source of drinking water for New Bedford, and is protected by about 10,000 acres of land.

In Lakeville, you can hike for miles along these gorgeous bodies of water, spot abundant birdlife, launch a kayak, fish, play golf on three courses, or you can visit the area's commercial cranberry farms.

1. Assawompset Pond

The largest natural lake in Massachusetts, at approximately four square miles, is a prominent part of the Lakeville landscape.

Assawompset Pond gives its name to a complex of interconnected bodies of water to the southwest and southeast, and is a source of drinking water for the city of New Bedford.

The body of murdered "Praying Indian" John Sassamon was found on these shores in 1675, sparking King Philip's War (1675-1678).

Every spring, the lake's outlet, the Nemasket River, turns black as some herring swim upstream to their spawning grounds.

Asawombst Lake has a 10,000-acre nature preserve, including open water, marshes, and pine and oak forests, most of which can be explored on foot or by boat.

The complex is designated as an Important Bird Area by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and is a winter nesting site for bald eagles.

2. Cranberry bogs

As the headquarters of the Ocean Spray Cranberry Growers Cooperative, Lakeville is a good starting point if you want to stay connected to cranberry farming, which is still going strong in southeastern Massachusetts.

You're never far from an active marsh here, but there are several commercial marshes open to the public within a 15-minute radius.

Spring Rain Farm in East Taunton welcomes visitors to see the cranberry harvest in the fall, but is also open for PYO strawberries in June.

Stonebridge Farm in Acushnet offers bog tours in October, when harvest is in full swing, while at Benson's Pond in Middleboro, you can become a cranberry grower with a couple to learn about cranberry farming. . .

3. Long Pond

Located 1,780 acres southwest of Assawomset Pond, Long Pond is the largest natural pond in Massachusetts and is completely open for recreation.

Despite its size, the pool is remarkably shallow with a maximum depth of 15 feet and an average of just 6 feet.

At the north end is Long Pond Conservation Area, which has a small boat ramp that gives you access to a wide expanse of salt marsh.

There is also a concrete boat ramp on the southeast corner of Route 18. In the fishing community, Long Pond is known for its large population of largemouth bass, and is a favorite location for fishing competitions.

4. Great Quittacas Pond

To the southeast of this network of lakes is the Great Quittacas Pond, which shares its waters with the Boksha Pond to the north and the Little Cuitacas Pond to the southwest.

There is a beautiful waterfront trail on the east side of Great Quittacas Pond, which crosses south from Long Point Road for a 3.6-mile round trip. Come later in the day and the sunset rides across the water are magical.

Another beautiful spot among the lakes is on the west side of the bridge on Long Point Road, where you can enjoy miles-long views of Great Quittacas Pond and Poksha Pond, and follow trails to active cranberry bogs.

5. Betty’s Neck

This large tract of land on the southeast shore of Lake Assawompset was purchased by Lakeville in the early 2000s and is a great place to visit.

Betty's Neck is also rich in history, as a summer camp for the Wampanoag Native Americans.

Here they were crossing the Nemasket River, which was finally dammed in 1894, raising the pond level by five feet.

In the heart of thousands of acres of protected land, Betty's Neck features nearly three miles of trails, which weave through fields, forests and picturesque lakeshores.

Here the blue blazed trail connects to the white blazed trail, which takes you to Jeremy's Point for a great view of the pond.

6. Massasoit State Park

More than 1,200 acres of forest on the Lakeville-Taunton line are dotted with lakes, ponds and cranberry bogs.

The scene at Massasoit State Park is stunning in the fall, when ripe berries appear in the cranberry bogs against a backdrop of evergreen trees.

If you're looking for an easy hike, there's a long, paved trail that goes deep into the forest. It has a whole network of side trails, leading to ponds, swamps, and hiking trails for mountain bikers.

The largest body of water is Rico Lake, with a shoreline that kayakers can explore for days at a time.

7. Tamarack Park

Between Assawompset Pond and Long Pond is a park that the city acquired with the purchase of Betty's Neck in the early 2000s.

Tamarack Park is the site of a restaurant that was deemed unsafe and was demolished, while the surrounding forests and fields were cleared of invasive species.

One element of the park is The Meadow, a conservation project that has allowed native grasses to flourish again, producing wildflowers in the spring and early summer.

Birdhouses have helped transform it into a thriving habitat, and as you walk you'll catch glimpses of Long Pond through the trees.

8. Poquoy Brook Golf Club

This exceptional parkland-style course in Lakeville is considered one of the best public golf courses in the area.

Poquoy Brook Golf Club first opened in the 1950s and was designed by famed Massachusetts-based architect Jeff Cornish (1914-2012).

As a testament to its quality, the course hosted the US Open three times between 2004 and 2010, as well as qualifying for the Massachusetts Open.

The course is 6,762 yards long from the ends, with fairways and several water hazards that can punish fairway shots. Along the trail is a driving range with 25 stations, as well as a short game area and putting green.

9. Baldie’s Craft Pizzeria

Few things go together like beer and pizza, and that's exactly what you get at Baldie’s Craft Pizzeria.

The pizza is Italian-style thin crust, handmade and baked in the authentic brick oven that dominates the center of the restaurant.

These pies range from simple margarita pies to more adventurous pies like prosciutto en pear, crab rangoon, General Tso's, and Nashville hot chicken.

Baldie’s Craft Pizzeria also has at least 40 beers on tap, sourced from New England craft breweries and poured in a custom-made copper bar.

10. Lakeville Historical Museum

The Lakeville Historical Society operates a lovely little museum in a former chapel near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Lakeside Avenue.

This building, formerly known as Grove Chapel, was constructed in 1875. An interesting detail is that the dome houses a bell that was salvaged from a long-demolished school building in the early 1800s.

The museum is open on weekends and is filled with curiosities from Lakeville's 300-plus year history.

Wampanoag arrowheads, Victorian doll wagons, clothing purses, military and agricultural tools, pieces of furniture, and more are on display. The interesting exhibition includes two kitchens, one from the 19th century and the other from the 1920s and 1940s.

11. The Back Nine Club

This 18-hole executive course is ideal for golfers working on their shots, but also provides a great introduction for younger, less experienced players.

The back nine clubhouse is set among a landscape of tall pine trees with a choice of three loading points. If you're an experienced golfer who plays from the edges, you'll face a real challenge, with tricky bunkers and running water on more than half the holes.

You can relax after your round with lunch or dinner at the pub, and there is also a driving range and fully stocked pro shop.

12. Lakeville Public Library

Located in the city's municipal center (opened 2005), the state-of-the-art Lakeville Public Library serves as a community and cultural hub, with a wide range of programs and events accompanying its large collection and range of services.

The library's inventory is enhanced by the SAILS Library Network, a consortium of 70 libraries in southeastern Massachusetts.

One good reason to visit is the Great Ponds Gallery, which provides exhibition space for a wide range of Lakeville artists. Displays here are updated every few weeks, and there is an annual juried exhibition in the summer.

13. Ted Williams Camp

Ted Williams (1918-2002), legendary Red Sox outfielder, Baseball Hall of Famer and 19-time All-Star, ran a baseball camp in Lakeville between 1958 and 1986.

Especially in the camp's early years, Williams gave successful clinics and game tips, and was often seen fishing in the camp pond.

The city later purchased land near the center of Lakeville, and several camp buildings remain there.

There is an inn that maintains a display of Williams memorabilia. The building is rented out for special events like weddings, while the campground hosts many events throughout the year, like the Cranberry Trapfest, which we'll talk about later.

14. Lakeville Arts & Music Festival

A fall highlight in Lakeville is the diverse community arts event in the park next to Town Hall.

The Lakeville Arts & Music Festival has been around for nearly two decades, offering a little bit of everything.

Live music performances take place throughout the day, with more than 50 juried artisans selling a wide range of handcrafted goods, from pottery to candles, organic soaps, leather goods, jewelry and glass.

The younger members of the family are sure to have a good time, with entertainment for the kids, face painting, s'mores, and more.

15. Cranberry Trifest

Based at Camp Ted Williams in late August, there is a weekend competition based on the Cranberry Trifest Triathlon.

The event now dates back more than two decades, and has been selected as the USA Triathlon Championships in 2022.

There is a sprint distance triathlon with splash and dash over two days, as well as an Olympic distance triathlon with a jet ski on Sunday.

Both events are open to different categories of competitors, from para-athletes and open/elite athletes to relay teams and beginners.

A fun atmosphere surrounds the Cranberry Trifest, with giveaways, post-race food, vendors, DJs and live music.

15 Best Things to Do in Auburn (MA)

South of Worcester, Auburn is a town of 17,000 and was incorporated as a "ward" in 1778. The name did not stick because it was too similar to the nearby town of Ware, so the new name Auburn was chosen in 1837.

Auburn holds a special place in modern history, as engineer and inventor Dr. Robert Goddard (1882-1945) launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, paving the way for the era of space exploration.

You can visit the launch site, which is now a golf course, while a replica of the rocket is located in Goddard Memorial Park at the Auburn Fire Department headquarters.

When it comes to shopping, Auburn is home to the Worcester area's premier shopping mall, and the outdoor shops of Blackstone Valley are minutes from Millbrae.

1. College of the Holy Cross

The Jesuit liberal arts college campus of Holy Cross is located on a steep hill north of Auburn, and is often ranked among the most beautiful colleges in the country.

One of the institution's landmarks is the magnificent Okan Hall (1895), which is surrounded by a clock tower. The building is adjacent to the main Fenwick Hall building, which is the oldest building on campus, dating from 1843, and features a pair of towers that frame its portico.

The 175-acre grounds are a registered arboretum and are self-guided walking trails. Athletically, Holy Cross is a founding member of the Patriot League, and one of only nine schools to have won NCAA championships in basketball (1947) and baseball (1952).

The football team, which plays at 23,500-seat Fitton Field, has been in great form lately, claiming conference titles since 2019.

2. Goddard Rocket Launching Site

Aviation history was made at Auburn in 1926 when engineer Robert Goddard successfully tested the world's first liquid-fueled rocket here.

Goddard launched this ten-foot rocket at Ward Farm at the time and it flew for 2.5 seconds to an altitude of 41 feet. The farm later became the Pakachoag Golf Course, and you can see two of the markers.

The most convenient of these is the northwest corner of the stadium, which is easily accessible from Upland St.

The actual launch site marker is located in the middle of the course on the ninth fairway. Your best bet is to arrive early on opening day, and visit this historic site before the first golfers reach the ninth hole.

3. Auburn Historical Museum

Founded in 1967, the Auburn Historical Society operates this small museum in the old Tuttle Square School building at 41 South Street.

The building dates from 1922, and is in the bungalow style, with a prominent Federal-style surround door and fanlights in the transom.

It was used as a school until the mid-1950s, became a warehouse, then headquarters for the Auburn Area Nursing Association, and then a museum when it was leased to the Historical Society.

Come on Tuesday and Saturday mornings to learn about the city through historical artifacts and photographs, covering topics such as public transportation, Robert H. Goddard, and the city's sudden postwar growth.

4. Auburn Mall

For many in the area, the name "Auburn" is still associated with the enclosed mall, which first opened its doors in 1971.

Like many similar malls, Auburn Mall has shrunk a bit over the past few years, but there were still plenty of national and international chains when we compiled this article.

The shortlist includes Aeropostale, Victoria's Secret, Hot Topic, Macy's, Kay Jewelers, Foot Locker, Lids, GameStop, Hot Topic and American Eagle.

You can choose from Korean fried chicken, Cajun seafood, and tacos in the food hall, with branches of chains like Papa Gino's, Outback Steakhouse, and Arby's near South Bridge St. Louis.

5. Elm Draught House Cinema

This cozy movie pub is located a million miles away from the corporate park ten minutes away in downtown Millbury.

First, the Elm Draught House Cinema is a theater that first opened in the 1930s and still retains the original seating from that time.

The venue was converted into a pub in 1983, and is a place to enjoy pub fare such as personal pizza, wine and beer, while watching the latest releases on the big screen.

Check the schedule for showings of classic and famous films, and you can request cushions in the lobby to make the 90-year-old seats more comfortable.

6. Worcester Flood Diversion Channel (Pakachoag Trail)

In Auburn and Millbrae, you can see the flood control channel built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1950s and since then has prevented untold damage to industrial, public, commercial and residential properties.

The project includes a dam across Kettle Brook, a 4,205-foot tunnel under Pacachog Hill, and an open channel extending another 11,300 feet to the Blackstone River.

You can see where the canal exits the tunnel by the Pakachog path out and back, which is approx. For a mile, then you'll come to two picnic tables.

7. The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley

To complement Auburn Mall, you have the largest outdoor shopping center in Central Massachusetts less than ten minutes away in Millbury.

Located near the intersection of I-90, Route 20 and Route 146, The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley features an upscale atmosphere and includes Nordstrom Rack, Barnes & Noble, LOFT, Old Navy and L.L. There are brands like Bean, Sephora, and Torrid.

Thanks to Blackstone Valley 14 Cinemas De Luxe, you can enjoy an entire movie here.

There are also a few restaurant chains surrounding the movie theater, including Red Robin, QDOBA, and 110 Grill.

8. Worcester

Spread over seven Rome-like hills, New England's second-largest city is close enough to keep you interested for days.

Head straight to the Worcester Art Museum (WAM), which opened in 1898 and is prized for its Roman mosaics, America's second-largest collection of arms and armor, Japanese prints, American painting and Impressionism.

Kids will be amazed by the EcoTarium, a science and nature museum, with hands-on and interactive learning, indoor exhibits and outdoor enclosures showcasing New England wildlife.

Worcester's magnificent Hanover Theater is a stately home to the performing arts, built in 1904 and lavishly decorated in a Renaissance revival hall.

9. Lemansky Park

Auburn's premier community park is bordered by I-90 to the south and I-290 to the east, both hidden behind trees.

Lemansky Park is a place for active recreation, with facilities for basketball, tennis, pickleball, baseball, softball and soccer.

There are several multi-purpose fields, as well as a skate park, an elevated peeing field, a quarter-mile track, and a seasonal concession stand.

To the north is Auburn Dog Park, which has separate areas for dogs weighing 40 pounds or less. If you're here in the winter, the park has miles of great sledding hills as well as an ice skating rink.

10. Major League Roast Beef & Wings

One local restaurant that has gained international fame is a fast-food restaurant that serves anti-baseball and is famous for its roast beef sandwich.

The large menu has many roast beef options including platters. One of the stars is the Bullpen, which features thinly sliced roast beef, American cheese, tomatoes, onions and horseradish on a large toasted onion roll.

Onion rings, along with French fries, are a time-honored roast beef sandwich in this part of the world.

The restaurant also serves an array of other New England signature dishes such as lobster rolls, clam chowder, steak tips, fish and chips, fried scallops, and haddock.

11. Pakachoag Golf Course

Ward Ranch, where Goddard launched his rocket, was converted into a golf course in 1939. Purchased by the city in 1981, it was operated by private contractors until 2016 when Auburn took over day-to-day operations.

By all accounts, Pacachog Golf Course has improved dramatically since then, becoming an excellent nine-hole course with immaculate greens and exciting challenges.

In addition to being the launch site, the ninth hole represents the toughest test, with a dog's leg around a large water hazard that will make you think twice before taking a shortcut.

12. Blackstone River Bikeway

Auburn is located on the northwestern edge of the famous Blackstone Valley, which has been a center of industry since the late 1700s.

One of the best ways to experience this heritage is on the Greenway, which will eventually be 48 miles long, connecting the cities of Worcester and Providence. It will be a commuter-friendly route, but also a fun route full of history and beauty. land escape.

The bikeway is opening in phases, with three sections completed so far. In Auburn, you're adjacent to the Worcester to Millbury Extension, which is 2.5 miles long between the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center in Worcester and the Main Street parking area in Millbury.

13. Stowe Farm

Within walking distance of West Millbury is a historic 60-acre farm that the Stowe family has worked on for generations.

What was once an exclusively dairy farm has been converted into an equestrian farm and orchard, which welcomes the public for agritourism experiences in the fall.

In September and October, you can go here to pick apples and pumpkins, listen to some live music, and enjoy some hard cider.

Kids will love every minute at Stowe Farm, where they meet barnyard animals, ride the “cow train,” and climb the wooden monster truck play frame.

There's also a barbecue truck, and the Country Store has plenty of seasonal and local items. Horse riding lessons are available year-round, and the farm hosts a popular equestrian camp in the summer.

14. Bowlero Auburn

This massive 50-lane bowling alley in Auburn has been redesigned as part of AMF's iconic Bolero brand. Now you have soft lounge seating, black lighting, and large HD video walls that can play anything from live sports to music videos.

Friday and Saturday nights bring cosmic bowling, when the house lights go out and the music cranks up.

Bowlero Auburn offers all kinds of specials, especially if you come Sunday through Thursday. Along these streets you will find a large gaming area and a newly updated bar serving some regional beers.

15. Crystal Caves

Open more than 25 years ago, this seasonal family entertainment center combines a few attractions with an ice cream parlor offering more than 50 flavors.

For starters, there are 18 holes of miniature golf, interspersed with flower beds, shrubs and water features including a cascading waterfall.

Crystal Caves also has eight batting cages, with both baseball and softball, and a variety of pitch speeds. It contains a pair of trampolines and a human gyroscope, for those with strong frames.

15 Best Things to Do in Bourne (MA)

Located just below Cape Cod, Bourne is made up of seven villages on either side of the Cape Cod Canal. For visitors, all Bourne draws is the Great Waterway, which opened in 1914.

You can walk or bike along the beach, take a train across the magnificent Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge (1935), and visit any of the parks and attractions along this 480-mile-long rift in the landscape.

President Grover Cleveland's summer white house was located in Bourne, and you can see the last remaining piece at the Aptuxet Museum, a private train station built for his estate.

1. Cape Cod Canal

The focal point of Bourne is the seven-mile-long waterway at the base of Cape Cod between Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay.

The Cape Cod Canal, about seven miles long and 480 feet wide, was built between 1909 and 1914, making inland navigation safer than ever before.

The picturesque canal, with its magnificent bridges and constant flow of water traffic, can be enjoyed along the Cape Cod Canal Route, seven miles on the north bank and 6.5 miles on the south bank.

Taking photos, especially at sunrise and sunset, is exciting, and there is plenty to do on both beaches, museums, parks, state reserves, nature camps, and other tourist attractions.

2. Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge

You can surprise yourself with this vertical bridge that was opened in 1935 towards the western end of the canal.

The Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge, the second longest lift bridge in the United States, remains in service, spanning to allow large ships to pass through, while the canal carries the CAPEFlyer, Cape Cod Central Railroad, and Mass Coastal Railroad. .

One way to experience this amazing feat of mid-20th century engineering is to take a ride on the Cape Cod Central Railroad Excursion Train.

Departs from Buzzards Bay Station on select Fridays, June through October, with information on the unique history of the area, canal building, the Cape's coastal habitats, and the local glass industry.

3. Museums at Aptucxet

On a 12-acre campus on the south bank of the Cape Cod Canal, the Bourne Historical Society operates a museum featuring a variety of historic buildings and replicas.

At the center is the Aptuxet Trading Post, which recreates the trading post of the Pilgrims, built in 1627 in what is now known as Bourne to trade with local Wampanoag people and traveling Dutch traders.

Also of interest is the Gray Gables Railroad Station (1892), built for the summer White House of President Grover Cleveland (1837–1908), and now serves as a small museum about Cleveland's ties to the area.

Amid a series of gardens, replicas of historic boats, and 19th-century salt works construction, you can see the Joseph Jefferson Windmill, named after the actor, painter, and art collector Grover Cleveland's close friend.

4. Scusset Beach State Reservation

The eastern entrance to the Cape Cod Canal is another great place to enjoy the dramatic beauty of this waterway, as well as the oceanfront on Cape Cod Bay.

North of the canal entrance, Scusset Beach State Reservation has a 1.5-mile-long gently sloping sandy beach, with lifeguards on duty until June 10, Labor Day. At low tide, the water is hundreds of feet high, but it is not very deep, even at high tide.

At the southern end, you can walk along the jetty to watch ships passing through the canal, a favorite spot for saltwater fishing. If you want to stay overnight, the reservation has 98 RV sites and only 5 tent sites.

5. Doran Park

Cape Cod holds a distinguished place in baseball history, as home to some of the sport's oldest competitive games and the best college summer league in the country.

Bourne's team, the Braves, traces its roots back to the 1860s when the town was still part of Sandwich.

The Braves joined the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) in 1933, and still compete in the Collegiate Summer Wood Base Baseball League. Its home stadium, Doran Park, was completed in 2006, and has since hosted a number of CCBL All-Star Games and title series.

One thing you can guarantee about CCBL games, played from mid-June to early August, is the exceptional level of competition, featuring some of the best college talent in the country. Duran Park has a cozy small-town atmosphere, with comfortable seating on the hill toward third base.

6. Butterflies of Cape Cod

One of Bourne's prized summer attractions, the enclosed native butterfly habitat is a riot of color on warm, sunny days.

In Butterflies of Cape Cod, you'll learn how to conserve butterflies, visit pollinator-friendly gardens, and the important role butterflies and other pollinators play on our planet.

Using native plants wherever possible, the habitat features butterfly species native to New England and Cape Cod, and you'll be amazed by their size and variety of colors.

Given the fluctuations caused by weather and breeding seasons, this place rewards multiple visits.

7. Massachusetts National Cemetery

At approximately 750 acres, this American National Cemetery was laid out in 1974 along Otis Air National Guard Base south of Bourne.

Since then, nearly 80,000 burials have been made at Massachusetts National Cemetery, including two Medal of Honor recipients.

There are several notable burials here, such as World War II commander Fred J. Christensen (1921-2006) and Charles Sweeney (1919-2004), the pilot who flew the B-29 carrying the Fatman atomic bomb over Nagasaki in 1945.

On the grounds, you can walk a memorial trail featuring more than 50 memorials commemorating veterans from World War I to the modern era.

8. The Lobster Trap

One of the first things that comes to mind when you think of Cape Cod is seafood, and that applies to Bourne as much as anywhere else. A good place to start is this waterfront restaurant next to the ecologically important Back River in Bourne.

Along with the fish market, The Lobster Trap has been in operation since 1969 and is open year-round. You have New England fare like clam chowder, lobster rolls, grilled swordfish, fish and chips, and there's a popular seafood platter with scallops, shrimp, oysters and cod.

In contrast to the tried and tested combination, the Lobster Trap also has an exciting arsenal of fusion dishes like Freak Crusted Salmon, Fish Taco, Tuna Tarte, Shrimp Rangoon, and Yellowfin Tuna with Pad Thai.

9. Lyman Reserve

Managed by the Trustees of Reservations, part of this 210-acre nature preserve is located in the lower reaches of Redbrook within the city lines of Bourne.

The Lemon Reserve stands out as one of the best sea-run trout fisheries in the country: there is an interesting cycle where the river fish hatch in freshwater, migrate to the ocean to grow, and then to freshwater. As adults.

Along the coast, you can enjoy views of the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge and Buttermilk Bay, while you follow the path of spring water along the sandy beach, through wetlands, pine barren lands and cranberry bogs.

10. National Marine Life Center (NMLC)

Founded in 1995, this independent non-profit organization rescues, rehabilitates and releases marine mammals and sea turtles right here in Bourne.

NMLC's animal hospital is clearly a very sensitive environment, where seals and sea turtles are treated, and there is no public access. But you can learn about and support the organization's work at the Discovery Centre.

Along with the light exhibits, depending on the time of year at the center, there is a wall with box turtles on display as well as native babies.

The gift shop, which raises money for the NMLC, features toys, educational games, arts, locally made jewelry and a variety of other marine and conservation-themed gifts.

11. Briggs-McDermott House

The Bourne Society for Historic Preservation preserves this Greek residence on Sandwich Road as a historic house museum.

The Briggs-McDermott House was built in 1802 and assumed its present dimensions by George I. Briggs, who later had a hand in Bourne's separation from Sandwich.

Along with period furnishings, the house has been restored to its appearance between 1840 and 1910, when the Briggs family was particularly prominent in Bourne's life.

An unusual detail is the fresco on the ceiling of the Music Room from 1890 by the marine artist Charles S. Riley (1831-1925). On the grounds you can enjoy a beautiful old garden and a barn with granite walls.

12. Bourne Scenic Park

Overlooking the canal, in the shadow of the majestic Bourne Bridge, the Bourne Scenic Park was created in 1951 as a picnic and camping spot.

On land leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the camp has doubled in size over the past 70-plus years with more than 439 sites.

Most are electric, and there is a list of newly installed cabins and lodges.

Besides being within walking distance of the canal, Bourne Scenic Park has a pool, a recreation hall with movies, video games and scheduled activities for all ages, and a park shop with everything you need for your vacation. May be required during stay.

13. Pairpoint Glassworks

Located directly across the canal in Sagamore, Pier Point Glass Company dates back to 1837, making it the oldest continuously operating glass company in America.

Historically known for its lampshades, Pierre Pointe Handcrafts offers a wide range of glass pieces, from candelabra, chandeliers, accent lighting and custom pendants to vases, barware, bowls and candles, to a collection of bubble-ball ledgers and doorknobs.

If you would like to see the inside of a glass workshop and feel the heat of the kiln, you can make a short visit to observe glass blowing techniques through time using historical tools or you can arrange guided tours.

Pier Point on the Cape Central Railway has its own platform where you can get off, and a shop open Monday to Saturday.

14. Brookside Golf Club

On the Cape Bourne side, this public 18-hole course stands out as the least expensive course in all of Cape Cod.

Despite its relative affordability, Brookside Golf Club strives to create a private club atmosphere, and its courses have plenty of character, and some of the most surprising elevation changes on Cape Cod.

Two of the course's leading architects, Michael John Herdzan and John Sandford, were involved in the design, and the course is balanced between wide open holes and more technical holes embedded in the woods.

All the greens are large and in excellent condition throughout the season, and the driving range also has a well-equipped practice area with raised tees, as well as the option of placing the greens near the clubhouse.

15. Cape Cod Canal Day

On the third Saturday in September, Buzzards Bay Park at the foot of the Cape Cod Canal Rail Bridge hosts a great free community event, with something for all ages.

Cape Cod Canal Day features arts and crafts vendors, local beer and wine, food trucks, children's entertainment, a hotly contested cornhole tournament, and live entertainment.

There is also a 5km trail along the canal, with a fishing line right next to the bridge. The event is attended by more than 10,000 people each year and is a true community celebration, sponsored by more than 40 companies.

15 Best Things to Do in Sandwich (MA)

Located on the Upper Cape, Sandwich is a historic town facing Cape Cod Bay and was first settled in 1637.

Since the 1820s, Sandwich has earned a reputation as New England's largest glassmaking center, and this history is presented in vivid detail at the Sandwich Glass Museum, where you can watch live demonstrations in front of the kiln.

Along Route 6A, the Old Kings Highway passes through the town, and as is typical of this famous artery, there are a series of historic house museums along the way in or near Sandwich.

Sandwich has some lovely public beaches, one of which can be accessed by a popular boardwalk first built in 1875, while the eastern entrance to the magnificent coastal waterway, the Cape Cod Canal, is at the north end of town.

1. Heritage Museum and Gardens

One of the top tourist attractions on Cape Cod is the Charles O. Dexter (1862-1943) 100-acre estate, which is remembered for his work hybridizing rhododendrons. From 1921 to 1943, 10,000 rhododendrons were produced here each year.

You can now wander through the stunning gardens, which contain a nationally significant collection of thousands of rhododendron bushes, representing many of Dexter's most famous growers.

There are also over 1,000 species of daylilies, and an impressive hosta collection, complemented by all the indoor museum galleries.

There's no shortage of surprises inside, where you can see an extraordinary collection of American automobiles (1890s-1860s), browse stunning displays of American art and antiques, and ride a working 1908 Charles Love Carousel.

2. Sandwich Glass Museum

Sandwich's historic glass industry is brought back to life in this outstanding museum charting the history of the town and its famous trade.

What makes this attraction so special is that it has a glass kiln where you can watch a master glassblower working his craft up close enough to feel the heat on your face. During this 20-minute demonstration, the glassmaker will select someone to press a piece of glass.

The museum displays in fixed galleries thousands of works of glassware, many of which were made in the Deming Jarvis factory,?? Some of them are developed using the latest technologies.

Naturally, the gift shop is a big part of the experience, featuring art glass, jewelry, paperweights, vases, bowls, perfume bottles and more.

3. Sandwich Boardwalk and Town Neck Beach

A Sandwich landmark since 1875, this 1,350-foot log structure is located minutes from the city's historic center, taking you from Mill Creek to Town Neck Beach on a wide-open stretch of estuarine marsh.

When we wrote this article, the trail was undergoing renovation to protect it from deterioration and potential storms.

It is one of many updates that have been made over the past 150 years as the boardwalk has been constantly affected by storms.

The point where the walkway crosses Mill Creek is a popular place for people to jump at high tide. On the coast, Sandytown Neck Beach is the best beach in the city, with a clear view north of the entrance to the Cape Cod Canal.

4. Old King's Highway

Designated a National Scenic Byway in 2021, Route 6A in Sandwich is located on the Old Kings Highway, which runs 62 miles along the north coast of Cape Cod.

Through a lush landscape of salt marshes, cranberry bogs, ancient forests and protected farmland, this winding road connects a series of venerable communities between Bourne in the west and Orleans in the east, including Truro and Provincetown on the Outer Cape. There are parts of the city.

The road is lined with historic architecture in every New England style from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

The Captain's Mile, which runs two miles up the road in Yarmouth, is not a single 19th-century building, and was once home to several sea captains.

Each town has roadside bed and breakfasts and interesting tourist attractions, and this is also true for Sandwich: The Nye House, Sandwich Glass Museum, Sandwich State Fish Hatchery, Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen, and Wing Fort House Or near the Old King's Highway.

5. Cape Cod Canal

When Cape Cod was settled in the 17th century, there was a dream to build a safe, navigable waterway to connect Buzzards Bay to Cape Cod Bay.

This dream was finally realized in 1914 with the opening of the seven-mile Cape Cod Canal. Controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this waterway is a recreational hotspot during the summer.

Both banks have multi-use trails, seven miles long on the north side and 6.5 miles long on the south side, as well as tourist attractions, public recreation areas and campgrounds.

In Sandwich, at the east entrance, you'll find the official Visitor Center and Sixt Beach State Preserve, dominating the skyline as you make your way to the legendary Sagamore Bridge, Bourne Bridge, and Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge.

The latter, opened in 1935, remains the second longest elevator bridge in the United States.

6. Hoxie House

One of the oldest buildings on Cape Cod, the Hoxie House is beautifully located, overlooking Shawmay Lake in the historic center of Sandwich.

The origins of the trust are unclear at this year, but by 1675 it was the home of the Reverend John Smith, pastor of the First Secessionist Church of Sandwich between 1673 and 1689, with his wife Susannah and their thirteen children.

Later, in the mid-19th century, the house was purchased by whaling captain Abraham Hoxie. The city of Sandwich restored the building to its 17th-century appearance in the 1950s and opened it as a museum with informative guided tours.

Admission to Hoxie House also includes the Dexter Grist Mill, located a short distance away at the north end of Shawmay Lake.

7. Dexter Grist Mill

A working grist mill with a history dating back to the mid-17th century in a beautiful setting in the historic Town Hall Square area.

Built where Mill Creek drains Lake Shawnee, the Dexter Grist Mill contains charming stone-walled mills that power a water wheel.

The original mill was water-powered until the mid-19th century when an iron turbine was installed.

The factory closed when Sandwich's industrial days ended, but was restored to its early 19th century appearance in the 1960s. During this work, he was equipped with historic grinding wheels from the 19th century, imported from France.

During the summer months, you can enter the Dexter Grist Mill to see the machinery in action, and purchase a bag of cornmeal, the recipes of which would be familiar to early Sandwich residents.

8. Nye Museum

In a story similar to that of the Fort Wing House, the Benjamin Nye Homestead has been in the Nye family for almost its entire history.

The original portion of this two-and-a-half story wood frame house was built by Benjamin Nye around 1678, and the back of the house was enlarged sometime in the 1800s.

The property was sold to the state in 1924, but fell into disrepair, so the Nye Family Association took over and restored the house in the early 1960s.

It is now a museum of a historic house furnished with 18th-century furnishings, and is open for tours from June to October.

On your arrival you will be greeted by the Grange Hall, which was built in 1889 as a meeting place for farmers and is now the museum visitor center which contains information, a local crafts shop, special exhibitions, and there is space for community events and lectures. .

9. Scusset Beach State Reservation

This public recreation area at the eastern entrance to the Cape Cod Canal is an excellent choice for Sandwich public beach. Scusset Beach State Reservation is located on the north side of this waterway, along with a 1.5-mile canal frontage on Cape Cod Bay.

You can see ships passing along the stone pier that extends several hundred feet, with a lighthouse at the end.

Lifeguards are on duty, Labor Day though Juneteenth, and like all beaches in the area, Escasette Beach is exposed to the tides, with miles of sand when the tide is out and only a narrow strip when it is high.

However, there is plenty of room for everyone to spread out, with the added bonus of 98 reservable RV campsites and 5 tent-only sites.

10. Sandy Neck Beach Park

A long barrier beach extending six miles east to Cape Cod Bay, Sandy Neck Beach is located in neighboring Barnstable, but due to geography, is more easily accessible from Sandwich.

With nearly 4,700 acres of sand dunes, marshes and maritime forests, it is one of the Cape's most beautiful and popular beaches, attracting thousands of tourists each year to swim, surf, play on the beach and soak up the sun. .

You can explore picturesque coastal habitats along the 7.5-mile Sandy Neck Nature Trail, which runs along the marshes and back along the beach.

The area with the lifeguards on duty is located across from the parking lot off Sandy Neck Road and has a snack hut, which is useful given the remote location.

11. Wing Fort House

In Sandwich you can visit the oldest house in New England continuously inhabited by a single family.

Wing Fort House (1641) likely got its name as a safe haven from Native American attacks, although the Cape people quickly proved its friendliness.

By 1646 it was the home of Stephen Wing, one of Sandwich's first settlers. His descendants lived here until 1942, when it was sold to the Wing Family of America, Inc., which maintains the house as a museum, open Tuesdays through Saturdays from mid-June to late September.

The interior is almost entirely furnished with Wing family furnishings, and reflects changing tastes over nearly 400 years of history.

12. Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen

The Thornton W. Burgess Society, dedicated to the author of The Baby's Name and conservationist, runs this attraction in East Sandwich.

Burgess (1874-1965) wrote 170 books, and Peter Rabbit was among the many characters he created. Inspired by the Briar Patch that appears in his stories, the Greenbriar Nature Center is a picturesque natural site with a smiling pond.

There are interpretive trails, stunning wildflower gardens, and a wide range of educational programs, from guided walks to workshops, field trips and classes.

Meanwhile, the Jam Kitchen dates back to 1903 and is a living museum of sorts, where you can see a variety of jams, jellies, pickles and relishes being prepared in the traditional way in an early 19th-century kitchen.

It is also the world's oldest commercial solar cooking kitchen, cooking safely in the sun.

13. Cape Cod Canal Visitor Center

For basic information about the Cape Cod Canal, the Visitor Center, operated by the federal government, can be found on the south side of the canal in Sandwich.

The attraction is open to the public, free of charge, from early May to late October, and is a must for anyone interested in the waterway.

Through interactive exhibits and multimedia displays, you'll learn how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages traffic through the canal, and you can watch live radar and camera feeds to see approaching ships.

The main exhibit is the 40-foot Rainier patrol boat, which has patrolled the canal, providing support and enforcing regulations for 25 years.

14. Sandwich State Fish Hatchery.

For something a little different, one of Massachusetts' five state fish hatcheries is located on Old Kings Highway, just a short drive from historic downtown Sandwich.

This fish farm stocks over 500,000 rainbow, brown, brook and tiger trout into the state's waterways each spring and fall.

Admission is free, the hatchery is an educational tour, where you can see and feed the fish at different stages of their development. There are dispensers, so don't forget to bring quarters and snack bags to hold food

15. Shawme-Crowell State Forest

This 624-acre state forest has a nature preserve consisting of pine and oak forests not far from the canal.

People come to Shawme-Crowell State Forest to hike, bike, horseback ride and cross-country ski on the 15 miles of trails.

From early summer to fall, it is also a place for camping, with about 285 sites in the quiet woods.

Some of the amenities attached to the campgrounds are picnic areas, showers, restrooms, basketball courts, and a playground, with access to nearby Sixet Beach State Reserve on the other side of the channel.

15 Best Things to Do in Wilbraham (MA)

This eastern suburb of Springfield is bordered by the Chicopee River to the north. The northern part of the town was formerly industrial, while the southern part was agricultural.

Wilbraham is mostly residential now, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of farms around where you can pick your own fruit, buy fresh produce right after harvest, or enjoy homemade ice cream.

The dominant presence in downtown Wilbraham is the prestigious Wilbraham and Monson Academy, founded here in 1804 and run by the influential Rich Hall.

The grounds were the scene of Wilbraham's famous Peach Blossom Festival in June, and nearby is the oldest Methodist meetinghouse in the area, now a museum of the town's history.

1. Spectacle Pond

A great summer hangout in Wilbraham, Spectacle Pond is home to Town Beach, where lifeguards are on duty from mid-June to mid-August. During this season there is a small feeling for residents and non-residents alike.

It gives you an amazingly large area of sand, access to clean water that is checked weekly, a concession stand, clean restrooms, two swimming rafts, and a splash park for younger visitors.

Outside this period, the beach remains open to visitors, but swimming is not permitted. Outside the pond there is a large recreational area with facilities such as a playground, picnic area, basketball court and multi-purpose court.

2. Old Meeting House Museum

Adjacent to Wilbraham Munson Academy in downtown Wilbraham is the oldest surviving Methodist meetinghouse in New England.

The building dates from 1794, and was used for worship until the 1830s when a new meeting house was built for the growing Wilbraham Methodist congregation.

From that moment it was a family home until the 1970s when the city bought it and restored it.

The museum displays local artefacts depicting life in Wilbraham in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, many of these items having been donated by families in the town.

You can call on the second Sunday of the month, from May to October, and there is a special holiday program on the first Sunday in December.

3. Fountain Park

A magnificent public space for the city, Fountain Park occupies 144 acres that was once a Massachusetts state game farm from 1913 to 1984.

After the facility closed, the land was left in disrepair, until a group of local citizens helped raise money to open the park here.

About two-thirds of Fountain Park is forested and trails popular with winter hikers, dog walkers and cross-country skiers.

The rest is a green grassy area that provides habitat for grassland birds, but also hosts outdoor public events. The bandstand here hosts an amazing summer concert series, attracting people from all over western Massachusetts.

4. Crane Hill Disc Golf Course

Wilbraham has a standard professional golf course, open to residents and non-residents alike, and admission is free. If you're interested in taking up this hobby, you can't ask for a better place to start.

You don't need a tee time to play Crane Hill Disc Golf Course. In fact, you need to bring three discs and a recording card with you.

With 18 holes, the course is exciting, set in woodland and open fields, with a stream acting as an OB in one area. Each hole is clearly marked and, depending on your level, you can choose between baskets A and B.

5. Interskate 91 South

At the center of this family entertainment center is a giant skating rink that has been part of locals' childhoods for decades.

Interskate 91 South is a favorite place for kids' birthday parties, and has plenty of public skating sessions and private events on the schedule, led by professional DJs.

Four-wheel skates and inline skates are available for rent, and if you're visiting with children who are still learning to skate, you can rent training equipment so they can safely join you on the rink.

Adjacent to the rink is a multi-level soft play area for the little ones, while older children can go to the laser tag arena, which is open during public skating sessions.

6. Rice Preserve/Sunrise Peak Trail Walk

A large piece of upland in the Wilbraham countryside is open to the public, on Nature Conservancy and Conservation land adjoining it to the east.

You can reach this place from the end of Highmore Drive on the west and Hollow Road on the east.

Coming from the west, a steep climb will take you to the top of Rattlesnake Peak, for a stunning view over Springfield, Amherst, and into the Berkshires.

To the east, 1.3 miles from Highmore Drive is Sunset Peak, with views east toward Munson and Hampden. Between these viewpoints you'll wander through mature forests filled with exposed outcrops and icy terrain.

7. Wilbraham Children's Museum

A great resource for parents with children under five, the Wilbraham Children's Museum opened in 1981.

Indoors and outdoors, the museum features a variety of toys designed to enhance children's sense of creativity and imagination.

Some of the exhibits include a dress-up box, a spaceship, a replica kitchen, a castle with a slide, two race cars, tons of Legos, musical instruments, and a model train set.

Outside you'll find the city's best public playground, with several climbing structures, a swing set, a pirate ship, and a clubhouse.

8. White Cedar Swamp

What is often overlooked in Wilbraham is the habitat of the regionally important Atlantic White Cedar Swamp.

This is the best example of a conifer wetland in the entire Connecticut Valley, including many isolated stands of white pine.

The wetland area is accessible along a half-mile trail from the parking area on Decoree Drive, and there are several small outcroppings and cul-de-sacs you can explore.

The swamps and surrounding forest are habitats for rare and protected species, including the Hassell's hairy moth, two species of salamander, and the eastern swift frog.

9. Rice Fruit Farm

This beloved farm in Wilbraham dates back to the late 1800s. What you'll find at Rice Fruit Farm today is a thriving country store with lots of features.

The most popular may be the ice cream, which is made in-house and comes in more than 30 flavours, from vanilla to Stricatella.

You can come in for snacks, giveaways, sundaes, shakes and floats, while a selection of toppings are made locally with maple syrup.

Rice Fruit Farm offers breakfast and lunch menus, and many customers make the trip for the two-egg breakfast sandwich served on bread, ciabatta or croissant and grilled to order. .

There's a huge selection, but the California, with avocado, pepper jack cheese, tomatoes, and red onions, is an upscale vegetarian option.

10. Wilbraham Peach Blossom Festival

A highlight of the summer in Wilbraham is the festival held in mid-June on the historic Wilbraham Munson Academy campus.

The centerpiece of this intimate community event is the craft fair, where more than 80 artisans display their wares.

There's also a kids' carnival, a live music schedule, and all kinds of fun competitive events, like a pan-throwing contest and a wife-carrying race.

Food and non-alcoholic beverage trucks are on site, and you can take a look inside the academy's magnificent Georgian Renaissance hall.

11. Silver Bell Farm

On fall weekends, you can visit this beautiful farm in the Munson area for all kinds of fall fun.

To give you an idea of what's going on at Silver Bell Farm this time of year, you have pumpkins and gourds, wagon rides, friendly goats foraging for food, barrel train rides, a bounce house, and a produce stand. Corn maze with scavenger hunt game for kids.

Delicious food and drinks, from hot cider to ice cream, home-baked pies, cider cakes and many local gourmet items are available at the farm store.

Later in the year, the farm reopens selling Fraser firs and balsam fir trees, as well as Christmas ornaments and tree accessories, while little ones can meet Santa.

12. Titanic Historical Society

An unassuming jewelry store located at 208 Main Street, Indian Orchard, is the headquarters of the Titanic Historical Society.

The organization was founded in 1963 by historian Edward Kamoda (1939-2014), who spent much of his life studying the RMS Titanic and its famous sinking.

Kamoda acquired many rare surviving specimens, many of which were sent on loan to prominent institutions in the United States.

Besides James Cameron's compelling retellings of Titanic (1997), you can see a selection of objects at the society's headquarters in Indian Orchard.

They may include the bell of her sister ship, the RMS Olympic, a drawing of an iceberg by Fred Fleet (1887-1965), and a first-class dinner menu for the salvage ship, RMS Carpathia.

13. Fenway Golf

East Longmeadow has a golf center just moments away with a variety of amenities, some of which are family attractions.

It is a well-designed 18-hole mini golf course, with a cascading waterfall and challenging river water hazards. Kids will also have a great time on the playground and golf course, where you can enjoy swinging the irons.

For a slightly longer look, Pine Knoll is a traditional 18-hole course, located near Fenway Golf.

It has an additional driving range of up to 300 yards, with plenty of targets, plus batting cages with six speed settings, and a snack bar for snacks and delicious meals like burgers and hot meals. dog.

14. Keep Homestead Museum

If you want to immerse yourself in the area's history a little more, this historic home in Munson is open on the first Sunday of the month, from April to December.

The Cape family has deep ties to Munson, and were among the first Europeans to settle the area at the turn of the 18th century.

Cape Homestead dates from 1749, and was modified twice in the 19th century, in 1820 and 1863.

The building has remained virtually unchanged since then, and was owned by the Kipp family for 150 years until the last resident, Myra Kipp, handed it over to the city in the 1980s.

She was an avid antiques collector, and as you tour the house you'll see historical and geological artifacts she collected, as well as family possessions dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries, for an intimate picture of local domestic life.

15. Echo Hill Orchards & Winery

Established in 1948, this family-owned orchard has long been open for pick-your-own seasons, but also uses its fruit to make a variety of wines and spirits, which are served on site.

Echo Hill Orchards are home to apples, pears, peaches, pumpkins and sunflowers, as well as a variety of wildflowers.

The scenery here is stunning, and tractor rides can be enjoyed to the tree picking areas, while the gift shop sells everything from cider to handmade candles.

Finally, tastings are available for a small fee at the winery/distillery, which produces whiskey, moonshine and other spirits. The place stays open until around Christmas, and local food trucks visit on weekend evenings.

15 Best Things to Do in Norton (MA)

The city of Norton, population 20,000 in Pierston County, has long been on the sports map as the home of TPC Boston, which hosted the Dell Technologies Championship until 2019.

Norton Center Village, where you'll find the city's civic institutions, is located adjacent to Wheaton College's 500-acre campus, truly considered one of the region's most attractive campuses.

When you spend time in Norton, you'll notice water almost everywhere, in large ponds and lakes like Norton Reservoir and Winconnet Pond, but also in the marshes, creeks, and creeks that dot the southern part of town.

The Land Conservation Society (LPS) runs several reserves and refuges in this part of the city, many of which will soon be linked by a trail network.

1. Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary

Founded in 1996, this animal shelter rescues, rehabilitates and cares for abused and abandoned animals. Winslow Farm opened to the public a year later, and has raised more than 300 animals since then.

Their sanctuaries and walls are set in beautiful forests, with paths for pilgrims weaving between ancient trees.

Residents include horses, goats, llamas, chickens, alpacas, sheep, donkeys, mules, dogs, cats, geese, peacocks and emus.

The farm hosts seasonal events throughout the year, as well as guest amenities such as picnic areas and a children's playground.

2. Wheaton College

Combined with municipal functions such as the police department, public library, and city hall in Norton Center, you have the small but attractive campus of Wheaton College.

This private liberal arts college was founded in 1834 and was one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women in the country until 1988, when it accepted men for the first time.

The campus can be used as a nursery with hundreds of mature trees, anchored by a beautiful small pond. Managed through around 20 traditional-style halls, there is a mix of historic and modern architecture to admire.

Some of the older buildings include Mary Lyon Hall (1849), Cole Memorial Church (1917), Knapton Hall (1911), Emerson Hall (1908), Larcom Hall (1908), and Park Hall (1934).

From the same year, Aston House (1962) and the Watson Fine Arts Center also house important examples of mid-century modernism and brutalism, respectively.

3. Norton Reservoir

Both the Wheaton College and TPC Boston campuses are located within 589 acres of waterfront. Norton Reservoir dates back to the mid-19th century when a dam was built on the River Romford to power wool mills downstream.

For one thing, the reservoir has a strong fishing reputation, with large numbers of largemouth bass and chain pickerel.

The northwest shoreline is developed with residential areas, shopping centers, restaurants, and the Xfinity Center (Great Woods).

To enjoy the water, you'll find three public rides at 206 Reservoir Street, 404 Reservoir Street, and 111 Mansfield Street, and people visit these waters in the summer on canoes and kayaks.

4. Norton Kayak Company

With its shallow depth, numerous small islands and a winding coastline with dozens of bays, Norton Reservoir is ideal for a paddling adventure.

Along Mansfield Avenue on the West Coast, you'll come to Norton Kayak Company. The company runs a tour schedule from May to October.

These tours are usually held on weekends, last two hours, and from Thursday to Sunday there is a special sunset tour so you can enjoy the lake during the golden hour.

Private sessions are available any day throughout the season, while the company also runs a kids' kayak camp, guided fishing trips and kayak safety classes led by a certified instructor.

5. Bog Iron Brewing

Founded in 2011 by three friends, Bog Iron Brewing Company began commercial production in 2013 and has expanded into an 8,500-square-foot, 15-barrel brewery and taproom.

If you're wondering about the name, it comes from the Chartley Iron Works Company (1696-1790), which extracted its ore (bog iron) from nearby swamps, lakes and ponds for smelting.

Head to the taproom for a flight or a full pint – some of the beers available when we put together this list were Burly Blonde (a pale ale), Soul Cellar (IPA) and Camp Out Mild (English mild).

It's a great outdoor space for a perfect summer evening, and as a bonus, dogs are welcome here too.

6. Winnecunnet Pond (Winnecunnet Lake)

One of Norton's most prized natural features is Kettlehole Pond, which covers about 150 acres on the east side of town.

Winnecunnet Pond is a recreational center in the warmer months, especially for activities such as canoeing and kayaking, with a boat ramp on the eastern shore along Bay Road.

In the winter, it is a great destination for ice fishing, chain bass, largemouth bass, and the occasional northern pike.

The pond is known to have a long history of human activity, having been a fishing, hunting and camping site for thousands of years for the indigenous Pokanoket and Mataki Set people.

One thing that brings a lot of people to the beach is the Chateau Restaurant. This upscale Italian venue was established in 1933 and has stunning views of the water, especially at sunset.

7. TPC Boston

The home of professional golf in the Boston area first opened in 2002 with designs by Arnold Palmer. TPC Boston was reorganized a few years later by Gil Hines, with PGA Tour star Brad Faxon serving as a consultant.

Until 2019 it was home to the Dell Technologies Championship (known as the Deutsche Bank Championship 2003-2016) and then briefly became the regular venue for The Northern Trust. When we wrote this article, Boston was off the PGA Tour, but that will likely change in the future.

In the meantime, anyone who can be played as a guest should seize the opportunity. With fairways, greens and over 60 bunkers, the course has tested some of the world's best players, but also accommodates a range of talent with five sets of tees on each hole.

The par-5 18th features a compact, elevated green, with a challenging bunker on the green side.

8. King Philip's Cave

An enjoyable hiking trail just north of Winnecunnet Pond is an unusual collection of granite boulders that were dropped into a pile by a retreating glacier at the end of the last ice age about 10,000 years ago. You'll find it in a small reserve managed by the Land Conservation Society.

The formation takes its name from the small shelter below, which is allegedly the place where Wampanoag Sachem Metacomet (1638-1676), also known as "King Philip", hid near the end of King Philip's War, before his death in the Mossery Swamp. On Mount Hope. Bristol, RI.

9. Woodward Forest

The largest property under the care of the Land Preservation Society can be found on Gateway Lane off Old Taunton Avenue.

Woodward Forest is 150 acres and includes a network of color-coded trails along the riverbanks and an old wagon trail. The reserve consists of mixed forests, grasslands, a large vernal pond and wetlands.

The minor trail takes you along the Three Mile River, which you can follow to the confluence of the Wadding River and the Romford River at the northern end of Woodward Forest.

The Locktyneck on this site is believed to have been the site of a skirmish in King Philip's War of 1675.

10. Crane Farm Preserve

A short distance down the Three Mile River from Woodward Forest is Little Crane Farm Preserve, a favorite spot for horseback riding on the river and launching kayaks and canoes.

It is 45 acres of northern terrain consisting of lush floodplains and sandhill forests as you travel south on the main loop.

The reserve is an important habitat for wood turtles, and you can relax on a bench along the riverbank at the north end. Plans are afoot to link the Crane Farm reserve to Woodward Forest, just a few hundred meters away.

11. Xfinity Center (Great Woods)

Across the city line in Mansfield, one of the area's best live music venues is located right next to TPC Boston.

This partially covered amphitheater first opened in the summer of 1986 with a capacity of 12,000, and was expanded to its current size in 2000, with 5,900 general admission seats, 7,000 lawn seats and 7,000 reserved seats, for a total of 19,900.

One of the artists connected to the Xfinity Center is Jimmy Buffett. When we wrote this list, he had performed here more than 60 times, more than anywhere else in his career.

With approximately 40 shows each summer, the current lineup includes the likes of Beck, Jennifer Lopez, Wiz Khalifa, Blink-182, The Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, and Alanis Morissette.

12. The L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge

Before long you'll be able to spend hours in nature south of Norton as the city is adding another preserve to its Woodward Forest trails.

This is the LA Foster Wildlife Refuge, located across Taunton Avenue from the Wading River and the forest.

The LA Foster Wildlife Refuge is an interesting place to explore due to its industrial history, such as forgotten copper sites and mining site.

An interesting feature of this period is a canal built to transport water from the Al-Khoud River to the pond at the copper works. The path takes you past the refuge along the surface next to the canal, while if you head south you will enter a wetland area.

13. Everett Leonard Park

In the warmer months, this public park on Norton's quiet south side is popular for family fun.

The first thing worth mentioning is the Norton Town Pool, a modest but well-maintained facility that is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Not far from some Land Conservation Society properties, Everett Leonard Park is located in a rural area and has a trail if you want to spend more time in nature.

For active entertainment, the park also has a basketball court, baseball field, horseshoe pit, volleyball court, playground, and a snack bar open in the summer.

14. Links at Mass Golf

A round at TPC Boston may be out of the question for most, but this 18-hole par-3 course in Norton has an alternative.

Links at Mass Golf are perfect if you're new to the game, or have kids finding their feet. The green face is suitable for a par 3, and the course is designed with plenty of variety to keep younger players occupied.

Over the past few years, Links at Mass Golf has become a year-round facility with the introduction of a pair of golf simulators. This allows you to experience nearly 200 famous courses from around the world, from the Old Course at St Andrews to Pebble Beach.

15. Great Woods Conservation Area

To further encourage outdoor recreation, Mansfield has a wide range of protected land parcels near TPC Boston to the north.

The main parking lot for the Great Woods Conservation Area is located across the city line off Oak Street.

A booth awaits you here with a map of a large system of trails through forests, wetlands and interesting historical parts of ancient stone walls, tombs and dungeons.

If you're short on time, the orange trail starts at the parking area and follows one of the old farm tracks before meeting a bridge on the red trail, so you can return in a few minutes.

15 Best Things to Do in Pepperell (MA)

On the MA/NH line in Middlesex County, Pepperell is a rural town with a variety of farms where you can pick your own fruit, meet barnyard animals, or purchase great fresh produce and pasture-raised meats at the farm stand.

The land was first settled in 1720, and Pepperell became a full town in 1775 at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

The Nashua River flows through Pepperell, and is crossed by the closest covered bridge to Boston, one of only three open to vehicular traffic in Massachusetts.

Pepperell is also known for one of the region's oldest Fourth of July celebrations, with an action-packed parade, evening festivities and fireworks typically held on the fourth Saturday in June.

1. Pepperell Covered Bridge

Carrying Groton Street across the Nashua River, it is one of only three covered bridges in Massachusetts that lie over a public street and are open to vehicles.

There has been a crossing at the site since about 1740, and in 1775, days after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, this was where a group of local women captured a pair of Loyalists who were being sent to the British.

The first covered bridge was built here in the 1840s. It was replaced by the Chester H. Waters Bridge in 1963, and then by the current structure in 2010.

2. Nashua River Rail Trail

Pepperell is one of five cities on the multi-use rail trail between Ayer, MA and Nashua, NH.

On the Massachusetts border, the 12.5-mile Nashua River Trail is maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and is open to walkers, bikers, equestrians, cross-country skiers and others.

The trail is completely paved, and is located on the tracks of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad (1848) connecting Worcester and Nashua.

Passenger service ended in the 1930s, and the line was abandoned in the early 1980s, before being paved as track 20 years later.

The Nashua River Rail Trail is known for its rural scenery that winds through forests, swamps, ponds and pasture fields, with many wildlife viewing opportunities.

3. Pepperell Center Historic District

The charming old center of the city can be found at the intersection of four major arteries. The town commons were laid out here in 1740, and you can still make out the foundations of Pepperell's first church from that time.

The surrounding historic area consists of stately residences dating back to the 18th century, as well as a former post office building converted into a house.

One of the main landmarks is the City Hall, built in 1874 in the wooden Gothic style at the intersection.

To the east along Main Street is the Lawrence Fine Arts Library (1901), designed by New York architects Ernest Flagg (1857-1947) and Walter B. Chambers (1866-1945).

4. Heald Pond Conservation Area and Heald Street Orchard

Much of Pepperell's rural beauty can be enjoyed up close on several city-owned conservation lands. The most beautiful is 30 acres of woodland and fields on the shores of beautiful Loch Held.

Leaving the Heald Street parking area, the trail skirts the western and southern shores of the pond.

You can also turn along Bloodbrook Ravine, which exits on the west side of the pond, or turn east into the 80-acre Heald Street Orchard.

Apples still grow, the latter once a working orchard returned to nature. You're allowed to pick apples here in season, while the orchard provides a habitat for a number of bird species, including osprey, savannah sparrows, blue-winged warblers and smokebirds.

5. Skydive Pepperell

Operating out of a private airport on the MA/NH border, Skydive Pepperell is officially the closest skydiving landing zone to Boston.

With fully licensed and certified instructors, the company is a member of the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and the Parachute Industry Association (PIA).

Skydive Pepperell is a hub for the experienced skydiving community, and runs the Accelerated Freefall program for those looking to obtain a skydiving license.

If you're a first-timer, you can always opt for a tandem jump, free-falling at 120 mph and enjoying the stunning New England scenery while safely strapped to a trainer.

6. Kimball Fruit Farm

North of Pepperell on the MA/NH line is a fruit farm that has been run by the same family for more than half a century.

Kimball Fruit Farm is located on land that has been used for farming for over 300 years, and a beautiful hillside picnic area is located on grounds filled with an original colonial home and barn.

From June to mid-October, you can visit the farm to pick your own produce, including strawberries, raspberries, raspberries, flowers, blackberries, apples and pumpkins.

The farm's website has a harvest schedule, while the farm stand is popular for its tomatoes, peaches, apple cakes and pies.

7. Nissitissit Meadows Conservation Area

North Pepperell is a great place to take a nature hike, with a series of city-owned, protected properties adjacent to Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife lands.

An ideal starting point for hiking here is the Nissitissit Meadows Conservation Area, which includes more than 60 acres of floodplain and river frontage.

Your journey here will take you through undisturbed agricultural fields, forested wetlands, ponds and riverbanks.

The birdhouses are located in grasslands and wetlands, and in season it is a good place to see sparrows, bluebirds, eastern meadowlarks, bobolinks and hawks.

8. Dr. Davis ice cream stand

Located at 67 Hollis Street in Pepperell, this ice cream shop dates back to 1939. If you're wondering about the name, Dr. Davis was a local veterinarian who specialized in treating farm animals.

He was also known to entertain locals in Pepperell during the summer, hosting live concerts or showing movies around his home.

The ice cream he served on these occasions was very popular as entertainment, so he decided to go into business.

Dr.'s store has changed owners. Davis Ice Cream Stand has opened several times since then, but has remained a local institution that serves its own ice cream.

The famous dock special here is two scoops of ice cream, banana slices, hot fudge, strawberries, marshmallows or whipped cream.

9. Nashua River Westside Trail (Brookline and Milford Branch Railbed)

On the west bank of the Nashua River is another stretch of abandoned railway, about a mile of which the city purchased for preservation in 2002.

It is a beautiful walk, passing through lush green forests and several ponds along the river banks.

There are no plans to pave the railway, as it provides a land alternative to the Nashua River rail trail on the opposite bank.

You can pick up the trail along Route 119 near the Wilkins Farm Stand, and travel north to the campground's horse trail, which has a few more accessible sections north on Pepperell.

The line was part of the Boston and Maine Railroad, built in the late 19th century to provide a route between Ayr, Massachusetts and Milford, New Hampshire, but was abandoned in the 1930s.

10. Wilkins Farm Stand

At the intersection of Shirley Street and South Road, the family-run Wilkins Farm was founded by Russell Wilkins in the late 1940s and has been a source of premium fruits and vegetables for decades.

In season, the single farm stand has everything from cherries to apples, squash, tomatoes, corn, peaches, strawberries, greens, garlic, cucumbers, peppers and more.

In addition to ultra-fresh produce, the farm stand features an array of freshly baked pies, candy and homemade cakes as well as fresh cut flowers, eggs, honey, juices, preserves and local frozen meats.

11. Luina Greine Farm

A little south in Groton is a 20-acre family-owned alpaca farm. Founded in 2011, Luina Greine Farm is open to the public on weekends during the fall season (mid-September to December).

On these days, you will be given a free tour of the property, including the beautiful apple orchards, and will have the opportunity to meet the farm animals.

You can feed cute alpacas, hang out with Nigerian dwarf goats, hold Indian ducks, pet and feed baby donkeys. The farm shop is full of alpaca wool products, from scarves to socks, hats, coats and plush toys.

12. Clover Luck Farm Dairy

For another agritourism experience, west of Pepperell is a charming dairy farm near Heald Pond. Clover Luck Farm has a herd of Normandy and Jersey cows that produce high-quality raw milk and excellent cheese.

You can also buy free-range eggs and a variety of meats, including pasture-raised pork and grass-fed beef.

The farm store is open during regular business hours, seven days a week, and the owners are always willing to showcase the farm to the public.

The facility is clean, the livestock are healthy and well cared for, and children will enjoy seeing the cows in the fields.

13. Franny’s Diner

Formerly known as Breen’s Diner, the location opened in 2014 downtown at 170 Main Street. Inside, you could be forgiven for thinking Franny’s Diner is very old.

There's a vintage '50s feel, with checkered floors, a soda fountain, a counter with stools, a jukebox with songs from the '50s, vintage memorabilia on the walls, and a row of booths with leather seating.

Breakfast is served all day, and one of the signature menu items is Eggs Benedict. Like most of the menu it is served with home fries, which are very popular here. Also look for omelettes, chicken and waffles, and Cuban sandwiches for lunch.

14. Fourth of July Parade

The most anticipated spectacle of late June is the spectacular procession of fire engines, floats, bands, vintage vehicles, dancers and more, which makes its way along Peperell's main street in celebration of the country's independence.

The Fourth of July parade typically runs from City Hall to Railroad Square, and features a wide array of other local clubs, services and organizations, but individuals are also welcome to enter their own floats.

The parade has now been held for more than three decades, followed by an evening celebration with fireworks in the city square.

15. Pepperell Fall Festival

Pepperell's Fourth of July Celebration Planning Committee is also responsible for this successful event at Pepperell Town Field in mid-September.

Thousands of people attend Pepperell Fall Fest, which features more than 100 booths of local crafts, businesses and other organizations.

The festival features a variety of food trucks (barbecue, burgers, pizza, and more), contests, plenty of live entertainment, and plenty of things for the little ones, including pony rides, horse racing, a petting zoo, face painting, inflatables, and arcade games. .

15 Best Things to Do in Athol (MA)

Nestled in the wooded hills of north-central Massachusetts, Athol is a small town of 12,000 located on the banks of the Millers River, a tributary of the Connecticut River.

The river is a unifying feature of the city and its sister city of Orange, and is the scene of the annual canoe race between the two cities each spring.

With hundreds of participants each year, the Athol/Orange River Rat Race attracts crowds of several thousand to the banks.

Downtown Athol has been rejuvenated over the past few years, and comes alive in the summer with events like Fourth Friday.

There are many places around the center where you can enjoy the beauty of the Millers River, while the city-owned Bearsden Forest Conservation Area protects a stunning stretch right from the riverbanks.

1. Downtown Athol

What will catch your eye on Main Street in Athol is how beautiful the view is. The city's main artery is formed by the steep forested flanks of the Millers River Valley, which lies in the background to the east and west.

There is plenty of stunning architecture to admire, especially the bold design of the Pequoig Hotel, which was built in 1894 and served its original purpose until just after World War II.

Downton Atholl has been undergoing restoration efforts since 2010, and features a selection of home goods, gifts, flowers, video games, collectibles and food, as well as a small selection of locally owned businesses. It has a growing rating and is one of the best in the audience. Libraries for miles.

If you're in town on the fourth Friday of the month, Athol's retail essence is captured by a family festival, featuring live entertainment, kids' activities and extended hours for local businesses.

2. Bearsden Forest Conservation Area

Many towns around Massachusetts have conservation areas, but few have the size or beauty of Bearsden Forest, which sits on a loop in the Millers River with some of the city's highest peaks.

The parcel covers over 1,500 acres, with ten miles of trails that provide a wealth of different experiences in nature.

You can survey thousands of acres of marsh, hike to Round Top for sweeping views of the rivers and distant mountain ranges, or follow the river itself, stopping at the mouth of Buckman Brook and Thousand Acre Brook.

If you know where to look, there are interesting signs of human habitation everywhere, in the ancient stone walls and the amazing cut bank system.

3. Millers River Park

In early 2010, library trustees purchased additional land near the Millers River behind the Athol Public Library.

After a landscaping project, it has been transformed into a beautiful and fully accessible little oasis in the heart of the city.

Millers River Park has been developed sustainably, using native plants that require minimal water and maintenance.

You can visit The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a butterfly garden containing a pair of giant boulders that were discovered while excavating the earth.

Meanwhile, the park's amphitheater is made of granite blocks that were originally part of the old South Main Street Bridge.

4. The Athol/Orange River Rat Race

A unique event is held each April on the Millers River in Athol and Orange, bringing thousands of spectators to the riverfront.

This is the Athol/Orange River Rat Race, where more than 200 boats compete in a grueling 5.2-mile race.

Sponsored by the Athol and Orange Lions Clubs, the race begins at Allen E. Rich Ecological Park in Athol, Massachusetts and ends at Riverfront Park in Orange.

There is a festive atmosphere among spectators, and side events are scheduled throughout race day, including a 5K run, a walk along Main Street in Athol, and an awards ceremony at the finish line in Orange.

5. Alan E. Rich Environmental Park

Any other time of year, the starting line is a beautiful setting for the Athol/Orange River Rat Race.

This is especially true in the spring, summer and fall, when Alan E. Rich Environmental Park is a great place to launch a canoe.

Here you are at the start of the Millers River Bluetrail, a six-mile paddling trail along a quiet stretch of this waterway.

The park itself is conservation land, with a short walking loop, plantings of native species, and picnic tables where you can enjoy the peace and natural beauty for a while. Look for dam flies sitting on rocks in the shallow waters of the river in late summer.

6. Silver Lake Park

Silver Lake Park is located a short walk north of Athol Center, surrounded by residential neighborhoods. Despite being less than a ten-minute walk from the city hall, the place does not receive a large number of visitors.

In the center is the spring-fed lake, which is regularly stocked with trout. Come summer you can make the most of the large beach and swimming area, where lifeguards patrol and the water quality is tested every week.

Other amenities include a playground, picnic area, boat launch, skating area, and three regulation ball fields.

7. Fisher Museum Harvard Forest

The Athol Center is located ten minutes from Harvard's Ecological Research Forest, which was established in 1907 and covers 3,000 acres dedicated to the study of forest ecosystems.

You can learn about this important work at the Fisher Museum, which has been open to the public for free since 1941.

The main exhibit here is a collection of 23 world-famous dioramas produced in the 1930s. The first seven of these show changes in the landscape of central New England over a 230-year period from 1700 to the early 1900s.

The rest reflects 20th-century forest management techniques, as well as the challenges faced by conservationists from fire to erosion.

8. Newton Reservoir

Dating back to 1904 and located south of the Bearsden Forest Conservation Area in natural pine and oak forests, Newton Reservoir was Athol's main water source until 2000, when it is now decommissioned.

Starting from the car park on S Royalston Road, this is a great place for a stroll. The view is breathtaking any time of year, but is even more stunning in the spring when wildflowers bloom like lady's slippers on the forest floor.

Near the dam you can also find the remains of the original mud huts that were inhabited by the migrant workers who built the reservoir in the late 1900s.

9. Millers River Environmental Center

Founded in 1963 by Athol Middle School science teacher Robert Coyle, the Athol Birding and Nature Club has grown into a thriving non-profit organization dedicated to helping people appreciate the rich natural resources of north-central Massachusetts.

For more than 60 years, the club has amassed ornithological collections, and since 1999 they have been displayed in a four-room former school building on Main Street, dating from 1889.

You can visit Athol's Doorstep to learn more about nature's bounty, and the building serves as a focal point for the club's programs, which include field trips, nature walks and more.

Many of these educational experiences are led by David H. Small, an alumnus of the founder and a recognized leader in conservation throughout the region.

10. Red Apple Farm

Founded in 1912, Red Apple Farm has been in the same family since it was purchased by Carolyn and A. Spaulding Rose in 1929.

In summer and autumn, the farm becomes a lively center for agritourism, where all kinds of rural experiences await.

From July to October you can pick your own produce with raspberries, raspberries, potatoes, popcorn, apples, pumpkins and pumpkins being some of the varieties available.

The farm shop is open all year with a wonderful selection of homemade and locally sourced products, from cider cakes to seasonal decorations.

The new addition is the Brew Barn & Cidery, which is open year-round, pouring craft beer and hard cider from Red Apple Farm, paired with live music and the farm's own BBQ, just like at home.

11. Rabbit Run Trail

Athol is located just a few miles north of Massachusetts' largest inland body of water, Quabben Reservoir. Until it was built in the 1930s, there was a railroad line that ran through the right-of-way where the depot now stands.

The Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Railroad opened in 1873, connecting Springfield to the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad at Athol.

Today you can walk or ride along two miles of the railway, with a half-mile section of the trail taking you through the South Athol Conservation Area where similar trails take you along historic wagon roads and rice fields. hill.

12. Athol History Trail

To celebrate the bicentenary in 1976, the Athol Historical Society put together a fascinating history trail through the town, leading to 24 sites that tell the story of the 18th century settlement and subsequent development.

The original buildings have been lost over time, but if you want to learn more about Athol's early days, you can download a PDF booklet of the trail from the Society's website.

You'll visit interesting sites such as the early meetinghouses of Athol, and the tollgate at 5th Mass. Many more interesting places to see. .

13. Flat Rock Disc Golf Course

The 18-hole golf course was established in 1999 in the quiet southern part of Athol.

With all its tree-lined holes, Flat Rock Disc Golf Course is a test of technique and accuracy.

To remind you that you are in the countryside, some holes have barnyard animals. While playing, check out the unique signs and statues designed by the owners.

14. Athol Cinemas 8

This cozy local multiplex opened in 2017 in the North Cobain Commons Shopping Center. One of the main attractions of Athol Cinemas 8 is the comfortable, leather-upholstered seating in all the auditoriums.

They're all relatively small, and watching a movie is like relaxing in your living room.

Wednesday is discounted ticket day, although prices are usually much lower than at major theaters. Athol Cinemas is part of the eight-member "Your Neighborhood Theater" chain, with locations in small New England towns.

15. Ellinwood Country Club

Located in Athol, Route 202 is open to the public and features a popular golf course in stunning countryside.

The interesting thing about Ellinwood Country Club is that the course was designed by two different course architects, Donald Ross and Geoffrey Cornish.

This gives the track a lot of variety, not least because the 9s for Cornish and Ross are interspersed. You'll know you're playing at the Cornish hole by its large, flat green, while some of the challenges include dogs running through the dense woods and numerous water hazards.

The signature hole is the 11th hole, where a lovely little stream winds its way along the fairway before cutting across the front of the green.