Lyttelton, located about 40 kilometers northwest of downtown Boston, is a city with a colonial history dating back to 1645. It was here that Puritan missionary John Eliot founded his sixth prayer village, which would be home to his Native American converts.
The village, known as Nashoba, lies between Fort Pond and Lake Nagog and is now largely occupied by Sara Doublet Forest, named after the last Praying Indian, who died in 1736. increase. Today, Lyttelton is the headquarters of New England tech giant IBM and benefits from extensive nature reserves with lookouts, canyons, caves, and native lakeside forests.
1. Houghton Memorial Building
One of Lyttelton’s finest buildings is the former public library, now home to the Lyttelton Historical Society.
Built of yellow brick and completed in 1895, the Houghton Memorial is a Colonial building with Romanesque elements on the main façade.
It was a gift from the son of William S. Horton, a wealthy Boston merchant from Lyttelton who had previously funded the library’s collection.
At the time of this writing, the building is open on Wednesday afternoons and possibly even Sundays. Inside, you’ll find insightful exhibits on many aspects of local history, and seasonal gifts in the museum shop.
2. Bobby’s Ranch
Nearby Westford is an equestrian business that has been around since 1972. Bobby’s Ranch was originally set up by his eponymous owner, Bobby, to employ him in the summer of his 16th year.
The ranch has thrived over time and is now run by Bobby, his wife Celia, and his daughters Cathy and Teresa.
Choose from horse riding services, summer riding programs for children, and private, semi-private, and group riding lessons.
However, the main business of the ranch is guided horseback riding (advance reservation required). Ride docile and friendly horses in an idyllic rural setting, and you can even go on a weekend adventure if you book in advance.
3. The Point
When it opened to the public in 2015, this mixed-use development became the first of its kind in Boston’s Metro Northwest region.
The Point is just off I-495 and integrates a hotel (Courtyard by Marriott), offices, entertainment attractions, and a selection of stores, eateries, and other service businesses.
Hand-in-hand with O’Neil Cinemas, one of the best things going for The Point is its food scene.
At close quarters you can choose from Indian, pan-Asian, tavern fare, and New England-style seafood.
There’s also a wine bar, and locations for Starbucks, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings, and Moe’s Southwest Grill.
4. MetroRock Littleton
Opened in 2019, The Point’s indoor climbing gym is part of a regional chain that caters to climbers of all skill levels.
After signing a waiver and gathering the required equipment, experienced climbers can begin exploring Metro Rock’s bouldering terrain within minutes of arrival.
There are tests for top-rope climbing, and tougher tests if you’re here for lead climbing.
Even if you are a beginner, feel free to stop by anytime and we will carefully teach you how to use the automatic fuse.
If you’re more into getting into rock climbing with a guide, you can book a private belay and let the staff walk you through the techniques.
5. Shaker Hills Country Club
Harvard University is just steps away from an acclaimed public golf course. Shaker Hills Country Club was ranked as Massachusetts’ best public golf course at the time, and its reputation is reflected in some of the highest green fees in the market.
The current layout dates back to his 2012 renovation and one of the course’s greatest assets has always been its magnificent and expansive landscape.
A breathtaking 560-yard dogleg par 5 awaits as a fitting finish that ends at the clubhouse. Perched above a natural amphitheater, the facility offers views of his 1st, 9th, 10th, and 18th holes from the upper deck.
6. O’Neil Cinemas
This elegant multiplex cinema opened in 2017 at The Point Shopping Center in Lyttelton. Part of a small chain in New England, this eight-screen theater offers a cutting-edge cinematic experience in an elegant setting.
Lounge chairs with cup holders and trays are everywhere and you will be amazed by the latest sound and image technology on all screens.
But the star is the Grand DLX, 72 feet wide and four stories tall, ranked as the largest screen in Boston’s Metro Northwest, with multi-dimensional Dolby Atmos sound.
The Backstage Lounge is a full-service restaurant/bar with a 15-foot video wall showing sporting events, trivia, and more, adding to the upscale atmosphere.
7. Oak Hill Conservation Land
You could spend hours without getting bored exploring the trails of this large nature reserve west of Lyttelton.
Oak Hill has 11 kilometers of hiking trails and plenty to discover along the way. A highlight is Lookout Rock, which is 475 feet above sea level and offers views of Boston’s Prudential Tower and John Hancock Tower (42.5 miles southeast) on a clear day.
Also of interest is the Tophet Chasm, an 80-foot drop on the site of a monumental waterfall at the end of the last Ice Age.
Two of his routes of 19th-century stagecoaches are incorporated into Oak Hill’s trail network. If you look closely, you can see where the wheels of these carriages carved grooves into the bedrock.
8. Smith Conservation Land
Just south of Oak Hill, on the border with Harvard University, is this rare preserve that combines more than 150 acres of wetlands, fields, and former farmland.
Smith Conservation Land stretches across Whitcomb He Avenue, and either side offers an entirely different experience.
Head west along haunting canyons with caves known to be home to porcupines, coyotes, bobcats, and even black bears.
The east side of Whitcomb Avenue is quiet, with trails lining the edge of Beaver Brook Marsh, and with binoculars, you can catch glimpses of distant bird colonies.
9. Spring Brook Farm
This farm north of Lyttelton stretches over 400 acres and dates back to 1713.
More notably, Springbrook Farm has been owned by the same family ever since. Ten generations later, the farm is still an important local asset, prized for its homegrown produce and homegrown produce on country store shelves.
Think freshly picked fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, plants, farm favorites jams, homegrown meats, and an abundance of baked goods from fresh bread to cakes, quiches, and biscuits.
The shop also has a great selection of attractive gifts, including candles, jewelry, linens, and home and garden decorations.
10. Sarah Doublet Forest
The Lyttelton Conservation Trust’s largest holding consists of 100 hectares of forest on the historic Nashoba Plantation.
The winding, signposted trails of the Sala Doublet Forest offer an exciting blend of rich nature and history.
The yellow loop takes you over former meadows and long-abandoned quarries, while the red loop takes you through spring ponds and areas of witch hazel thickets, spectacular when the yellow flowers bloom in the fall.
Near the parking lot on the orange road, you can see the ruins of a mysterious old farmhouse with only chimneys and foundations remaining.
11. Long Pond
A beautiful natural feature just steps away from Lyttelton Common is this 113-acre pond.
Despite its proximity to the city center, Long Pond is surprisingly underdeveloped. The southern and western parts of the coast are surrounded by nature reserves.
Lyttelton Public Beach is located on the Northwest Shore and is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. A great place to relax and cool off on a hot day.
There is a nice sandy beach, bathhouse, kayak/canoe starting point, and picnic area. You can purchase a season membership or pay a daily usage fee.
12. Kimball Farm
People from all over New England flock to this cherished family entertainment center next to Westford.
Kimball Farm is his dairy farm that dates back to 1939 and has added many attractions over the years. For a round of golf, there are two 18-hole adventure golf courses, a 9-hole pitch and putt course, and a driving range with 75 tee stations.
Additionally, there are zip lines, batting cages, raptor exhibits, pony rides, a petting zoo, bumper cars, bumper cars, and an arcade.
Kimball Farm is also famous for its creamy homemade ice cream, which comes in over 50 flavors. There are two places on the farm where you can order hot food. One is a traditional New England seafood shack, serving regional specialties such as lobster rolls, clam strips, seared scallops, and hand-made onion rings.
13. Nashoba Valley Tubing Park
Nashoba Valley Ski Area sits on the border of Lyttelton and Westford, and for many, the main attraction is the huge snow tubing park perched on a seemingly steep hill.
With up to 18 lanes and four lifts, this tubing park is officially the largest tubing park in New England.
Pay for a 2-hour time slot and you can run as long as you like. The lanes are meticulously managed and are open to anyone over 42 inches tall or he is over 6 years old.
Depending on the situation, it is possible to ride two people or a group ride. As you can imagine, this experience is weather dependent. Coming after fresh snow, the lane slows down a bit.
14. Nashoba Valley Ski Area
The entrance to the tubing park is in Lyttelton, but the main ski area is accessed from the Westford side of town.
This small mountain has been open to the public since his 1964 and is known for having one of the best terrain parks in the state. At about 240 feet above sea level, the Nashoba Valley Ski Area has 17 runs, the longest of which is 400 feet.
The area has 4 magic carpet lifts, 4 chairlifts, and 3 rope lifts providing a capacity of 11,600 people per hour.
The on-site Outlook restaurant is open year-round, and outside of the winter months hosts Summer His Camp for kids and Witch’s Woods, one of the region’s top Halloween spooky experiences. increase.
15. Prouty Woods
One of Lyttelton’s best walks is in the town’s woodlands on the west bank of Long Pond.
The Prouty Woods lakefront is about 1,600 feet long, and the scenic coastal forests serve an important ecological purpose by maintaining the purity of the lake basin and preventing erosion.
Another important natural feature of Prouty Woods is Wilderness Hill, which rises 170 feet above the surrounding land.
Due to its prominent location, the views from the top are breathtaking on a clear day. Mount Monadnock is visible about 55 miles northwest and Mount Wachusett on the western horizon is about 32 miles away.
Come in early spring to witness the woodcock’s bizarre courtship ritual known as the ‘Sky Dance’. Males fly 350 feet into the air before descending in a strange zigzag, using their special wings to make strange noises. .