Category: North America

15 Best Things to Do in Abington (MA)

This town on the South Shore has extraordinary ties to the Respectful War. For a few 20 long time, Abington was the location of a yearly Abolitionist assembly, held at what is presently Island Woods Stop, a beautiful open space following a lake. Within the 1810s the mass production of press tacks was spearheaded in Abington and laid the basis for a burgeoning shoe and boot industry. Nearly half of all the footwear made for the Union Armed force within the Gracious War came from manufacturing plants here in Abington. This angle of Abington’s legacy can be acknowledged at a Respectful War place to stay at Island Forest Stop amid the town’s Founders’ Day celebration. For half a century from 1941, a gigantic maritime discussion field occupied an enormous piece of Abington, and you’ll get to a parcel of this space on preservation arriving at Thompson’s Lake. 1. Oktoberfest Since the mid-2010s, Abington has put on a family-situated celebration on the moment end of the week in October. Oktoberfest blends German and Halloween-themed occasions and exercises, with light-hearted fun like a canine ensemble challenge, a carved pumpkin challenge, an open house at the Dyer Commemoration Library, and a children’s outfit parade. There’s a commercial center on Saturday, with merchants, crafters, and music, as well as a family celebration on Sunday, with a have of exercises for kids, a larger cultivate for adults, and an execution by the Twofold Hawk Oktoberfest German Band. 2. Barrett’s Haunted Mansion One of the beat alarms within the locale, Abington incorporates a frequented house that’s presently in its fourth decade. Barrett’s Frequented House is two attractions in one, with an unnerving path through the most house, and Condemned (at the time of composing), in which you enter an ancient chemical lab, fixed off and slithering with mutants. There’s a number of uncommon occasions all through the season in September and October, counting lights-on visits on Saturdays, once you can appreciate the make and cherish that goes into the scenarios, props, ensembles, and cosmetics.  3. Abington Summer Concerts Summers in Abington wouldn’t be the same without this yearly arrangement of concerts in July and Admirable. The organize is the Catherine and Joseph Nisby Bandstand another to Abington Town Lobby, with the broad field obliging shockingly huge swarms for these appears. Concerts take put on Sunday nights, highlighting entertainers from a extend of classes, whether you’re within the temperament for the soul, classic shake, nation, doo-wop, jazz, or 80s pop hits. One Night amid the Season is particularly for kids, with swell craftsmanship, instructive intriguing creature showings, and confront portray. 4. High Voltage Paintball Covered up in more than 20 sections of land of woods nearby in Holbrook, Tall Voltage Paintball invites walk-ins on Saturdays and Sundays. There’s an incredible assortment of territories on offer here, from the profound cover of the woodsball areas to the open speedball field. The office is additionally prepared for all sorts of diversion modes, whether you’re attacking/defending a key peak or bunker, playing bomb the base, or capturing the hail. All the gear you wish to induce is accessible here, and the mindful staff makes beyond any doubt the amusement remains secure.  5. Strawberry Valley Golf Course For a no-frills circular golf, Abington has a great metropolitan course in for the most part open parkland on the south side of the town. Strawberry Valley Golf Course may be a 9-hole track that plays generally brief, so is perfect in case you’re fair beginning out, or need to work on your iron play and brief amusement. The course is well kept up, contains a great pace of play, and speaks to astonishing esteem for cash. Within the winter the course’s rolling format gets to be idealized sledding territory for nearby kids. 6. Thompson Pond Trail The previous location of the South Weymouth Maritime Discuss Station is enormous and can be navigated along this path framework. The Thompson Lake Path is overseen by the Wildlands Believe, and gotten to from Spruce St on the Abington-Rockland line. Out and back, the Thompson Lake Path is fair beneath two miles long, crossing the lasting French Stream, and bringing you to the pleasant northern shore of the lake where you’ll discover an area of boardwalk and seats. At the trailhead you’ll be able to head off along the Twin Lakes Path into Rockland, whereas south of Spruce St is the 40+ section of land Rockland Town Woodland, holding up to be found.  7. Naval Air Station Weymouth (Control Tower) From 1941 to 1997 a US Naval Force Runway involved a huge scope of Abington, Weymouth, and Rockland. Maritime Discuss Station Weymouth was a dirigible base amid World War II, and after that, it became a portion of the Maritime Discuss Save Preparing Command. The arrival has steadily been given over to the particular towns since the mid-90s, incompletely for redevelopment ventures like Union Point. Other ranges have been cleared out open, and you’ll visit the Wildlands Believe Protect to gage the astonishing scale of the landing strip, where the runways were once as long as 7,000 feet. We’ll conversation almost Thompson Trail below, but a few ways north of there, off Adams St, you’ll get to the ancient control tower, still intaglio in spite of the fact that presently appearing its age, and went with by a number of rotting shelter narrows. 8. 10th District Brewing Company Established by two childhood companions who developed up here in Abington, the 10th Locale Brewing Company opened in 2014, and is presently accessible at a number of bars and eateries from Body to Holbrook. You’ll go to the source in Abington, where there’s a tavern with plentiful dog-friendly open-air space. Among the brews on tap at the time of composing were a choice of IPAs, a Gose, a Kolsch, a shelled nut Forceful, and a few less customary manifestations like a jalapeño lager and a lime acrid. You’ll buy cans or fill growlers here, whereas flights are accessible

15 Best Things to Do in Scituate (MA)

On the South Shore, Scituate is a seaside town with a lovely village center next to a natural harbor. You can find many of Scituate’s best restaurants and shops around the harbor, which is also a base for anglers and the setting for all sorts of community events during the warmer months… The Scituate Historical Society tends to list centuries-old homes and structures around town, and a good time to visit is Scituate Heritage Day in August when All are open to the public. The city also maintains five public beaches and lies to the north of a large, ecologically rich wetland at the mouth of the North and South rivers.   1. Kathleen Laidlaw Center (Schoolhouse) The headquarters of the Scituate Historical Society is located in this beautiful school, completed in 1893 as the Scituate High School. At the time, the building was adjacent to the Old Town Hall but was moved to its present location at 43 Cudworth Rd in 1919, shortly after a new school building was constructed. The school was acquired from the city in the 1980s and now houses exhibition spaces, a library, a map archive, a genealogical research center, offices, and conference halls. The structure was extensively restored in 2020, using photographs of the building in the society’s archives. You can visit on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  2. Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum You can learn about Scituate’s centuries-old connection to the sea at this museum housed in one of the many beautiful old houses assigned to the Scituate Historical Society. This is Captain Benjamin James’ first period, built circa 1700. Exhibits cover topics as diverse as salvage, historic shipbuilding trade on the North River, fishing, and the industry. The Irish-ruled sponge industry boomed in Scituate from the mid-19th century until the second half of the 20th century. There are fascinating stories of ships stranded or wrecked on Scituate’s shores, as well as the raging Portland Gale (1898), a brutal storm that forever changed the city’s coastline. The Irish Moss and Maritime Museum is open on Sunday afternoons.   3. Bates Lane Conservation Area In the far west of Scituate, the town has nearly 350 acres of woodland, on farmland some 200 years ago. The place was invaded by a pine and hardwood forest around the mid-19th century, but the only stone walls that demarcate the farmland remain. The number of glacial rocks, deposited about 10,000 years ago and visible along the orange Maxwell Trail and the blue Carl Pipes Trail, is also fascinating. The most magnificent geological specimens can be seen on the first road, which takes you to Teepee Rock, a 430 million-year-old Avalon granite outcrop. The property also features 5 certified clear blue pools that are home to an abundance of wildlife including salamanders and wood frogs.   4. Peggotty Beach Half a mile long, this public beach is a short but picturesque walk from Scituate Harbour, crossing the vast expanse of Kent Street Marshes along the way. Plunging quite steeply into the sea, Peggotty Beach is covered with coarse sand, compacted on a relatively airtight bay. In winter, the beach is subject to many coastal storms, and the two abandoned stilts in the landfill illustrate how much the coastline changes. In season, visit Scituate’s Treasurer’s Office for a non-resident beach parking pass, while a visitor pass can be obtained from the harbor master’s office on Tuesdays and Thursdays at this beach.   5. Old Stockbridge Grist Mill Where First Herring Brook drains Old Oaken Bucket Pond is one of the oldest mills in the country. The Old Stockbridge Grist Mill dates from about 1650 and was erected by John Stockbridge, next to a sawmill whose stream was dammed in the late 1630s. The Stockbridge family operated the pair of mills for over 160 years until the end of the 1630s. when the Greenbush family took over in the 1830s. They stayed there for a century, before handing over the pond to the city and donating the flour mill to the Scituate Historical Society. An amazing number of original parts have survived, including many grinding devices. The factory is located next to a lovely tree-lined pocket park, with picnic tables overlooking the creek and you can tour the interior during the regular social opening days.   6. Scituate Heritage Days Each year, the city celebrates its great maritime heritage with three days of events on the first weekend of August. Based in the port, but with something going on around town, Scituate Heritage Days is a mix of live music, crafts, great food, local wine and beer, and an appreciation for history. history, family fun, etc. It’s a great opportunity to see many of the historic sites on this list, with open dates like the Scituate Lighthouse, Lawson Tower, Mann Farm, and the old Stockbridge Wheat Mill. There’s no shortage of fun for kids, with a kid’s farm, mobile game trailer, and pirate and princess activities at Morrill Bandstand.   7. Old Oaken Bucket In the 19th century, this farmhouse and its accompanying well were a major tourist attraction in Scituate, and it was all due to the local-born Romantic poet Samuel Woodworth (1784-1842). The well and its wooden bucket inspired his most famous work, Old Oaken Bucket (1817), which was set to music in 1826 and became Scituate’s city anthem in 1835 by popular vote variable. The oldest part of the farmhouse dates to 1675, adapted to the main Cape-style structure in 1826. In front is the Scituate Historical Society sign and a cast-iron historic sign. The old one was erected in the third year of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1930.   8. Mann Farmhouse Located south of Common Town and its cemeteries, this charming Cape-style residence is another historic Scituate society set in a small public park. Mann Farm was built by the descendants of Richard Mann, who had settled in Scituate as early as 1636. The Mann family is well known for keeping records and

15 Best Things to Do in Marblehead (MA)

Marblehead, a seafaring hamlet on a mountainous peninsula littered with granite outcrops, is a slice of old New England. To put the town’s history into context, two hundred of its houses were erected before the American Revolution. These are located in a historic neighborhood with over 900 contributing structures that wind through twisting, rollercoaster streets. So one of the nicest things you can do in Marblehead is to get out and explore. Part of the town’s success as a marine town can be attributed to its natural port, which is surrounded by craggy headlands and is ideal for the Race Week regatta in July. 1. Old Burial Hill One of the oldest cemeteries in New England is also one of the most beautiful, perched on a granite hill overlooking Marblehead Harbor and Salem Strait. In 1638, the summit was the site of Marblehead’s first meeting, and if you look around you’ll find numerous 17th-century tombstones with memento mori carvings. Several tombs belong to the premiers of Marblehead, and there is one (with modern markings) for Wilmot Redd (died 1692), a victim of the Salem witch trials. Old Burial Hill is referenced in H. The short story The Festival (1923) by P. Lovecraft was one of the few filming locations in Marblehead for Hocus Pocus (1993).   2. Jeremiah Lee Mansion When Jeremiah Lee (1721-1775) built this opulent Georgian mansion in 1768, he was the wealthiest merchant and shipowner in Massachusetts. With an incredible level of preservation, his mansion is considered one of the most beautiful late Georgian homes in the United States and is now managed by the Marblehead Museum. Some of the original details are still in place including finely carved woodwork and hand-painted wallpaper made in the UK. On a guided tour of 18 different rooms, you can appreciate early American furniture made by cabinetmakers from Marblehead, Boston, and Salem, as well as decorative artworks Other special features of the 18th and 19th centuries, from silverware to ceramics, include textiles, clocks, and mirrors.   3. Castle Rock Park An important vantage point in Marblehead’s maritime days, this dramatic granite outcrop faces the Atlantic Ocean on Marblehead Neck. Along the coast are lavish seaside residences, and the promontory is said to take its name from the castle-like Carcassonne mansion directly behind it. The surrounding small park is accessible from a path leading off Ocean Avenue, and you can enjoy the sea view from benches beside the cliff. If you’re careful, you’re free to explore Castle Rock’s cascading outcrops, some with tide pools, and the views from here are amazing at sunrise.   4. Abbot Hall Maritime Museum Marblehead’s fourth town hall was built in 1876 and about 150 years later is still the seat of town government. Abbot Hall is Romanesque Revival and is surrounded by a splendid clock tower housing the Howard #2S clock, installed in 1877 and still hand-wound by maintenance workers each week. In addition to its civic function, Abbot Hall also houses the Dr. Ray Cole Maritime Museum, dedicated to the city’s naval heritage. In these galleries, you’ll learn about Marblehead’s connection to the early days of the United States Navy, Marblehead’s many naval heroes, the history of the three USS Marblehead docks, and Marblehead’s condition is the birthplace of the Navy. There are also special details about George Washington’s famous surprise attack on Hessian forces at Trenton on Christmas Eve 1776, supported by General John Glover’s Marblehead Regiment, which brought his army. he passed to Delaware.   5. Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary At the heart of the Marbleneck Peninsula is an 8-hectare wildlife sanctuary managed by the Massachusetts Audubon Association. This property is made up of swamps, forests, and bushes. The forests here attract a surprising variety of migratory birds in the spring and fall, especially the warblers that migrate along the Atlantic coast. In addition to its ecological significance, Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary is a joy to walk through. In a relatively small area, you will climb rocky hills and walk on a boardwalk next to a beautiful little pond. On the elevated west side of the pond, the Warblers Trail leads to a great vantage point if you want to watch songbirds during their migrations.   6. Glover’s Marblehead Regiment Annual Encampment Known for sailing across Washington on the Delaware River, the Marblehead Militia led by John Glover (1732-1797), his family moved to Marblehead when he was a child. Early in the conflict, Glover’s train Hannah was chartered by Washington to attack British supply ships during the Siege of Boston in June 1775, possibly making her the founding ship of the United States Navy. Glover’s Marblehead Regiment celebrates its role in early American history with a living historic garrison at Fort Sewall each July. Organized by soldiers, sailors, and townspeople, this is your chance to learn about the Marblehead Regiment’s contributions to the American Revolutionary War. Among the many historical experiences, you can chat with people re-enacting expensive costumes, watch demonstrations of 18th-century crafts, listen to antique music, and sample time-appropriate snacks. and watch action-packed reenactments.   7. Marblehead Race Week With its pristine harbor, Marblehead became a yachting mecca in the mid-19th century and hosts a number of regattas throughout the season, including during the Marblehead Arts Festival. The largest of these is Marblehead Racing Week, which began in 1889 and runs all the way to the last week of July. Since the 2000s, the event’s premium divisions have been part of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series. Weather and wind conditions at Marblehead Harbor are never the same from day to day, and no regatta is safe. If you’re in town, you can bring a blanket and picnic and watch the action unfold from one of Marblehead Harbor’s scenic parks.   8. Marblehead Festival of Arts Taking place over the July 4 holiday season, the Marblehead Arts Festival has a history dating back to 1962. There are a variety of crowd-pleasing events and activities, including a street festival,

15 Best Things to Do in Holden (MA)

Spread over a large area in northwest Worcester, Holden is a fast-growing small town of 20,000 inhabitants. There is unlimited open space, with thousands of acres of forest for public recreation within city limits. These plots of land, often with interconnected trails, are maintained by the city or by organizations such as the White Oak Soil Preservation Association. You can hike along the old Massachusetts Central Railroad, climb the hills for exciting views, explore waterfalls, admire unique icy spells, or simply get away from the world for a few hours on the road. an isolated trail. The town’s historic center is often dismantled, but around Holden, you can find some great local businesses that produce chocolates or gourmet Belgian bagels the traditional way. system.  1. Holbrook Forest Near Cascading Waters south of Holden there are many protected lands with interconnected trails. Holbrook Forest here is maintained by the White Oak Soil Conservancy and there are paths to Kinney Forest next to and south of Worcester via Cook’s Woods and Cook’s Brook. What makes these spaces special is that they are located on the southern edge of more than 3,000 acres of uninhabited wilderness, containing reservoirs for Worcester and therefore closed to the public. This has allowed wildlife to thrive, which can be spotted on trails in conservation lands. As you walk through the 60-acre North Holbrook Forest, you’ll come across Cousin’s Rock, a particularly erratic glacial made of pegmatite, famous for its remarkably large crystals that you can observe up close. scene.  2. Val’s Restaurant In 1991, 22-year-old Valorie James opened a small pizzeria in Holden. Over the past 30 years, it has evolved into a full-fledged, award-winning restaurant with a patio, reception room, and two lounges. Val’s Restaurant is a vibrant community venue, featuring live music indoors every weekend and outside on the patio during the warmer months. As for the food, the choice is varied. Val’s has won rave reviews for its seafood and features many New England favorites like grilled black-dipped cod and strip clams. But that’s just one item, as you’ll find a wide selection of Italian, Greek, and American classics, from marinated lamb skewers to veal parmigiana.   3. Cournoyer Vegetable Farm Just across the border in Paxton is a lovely farmers and farmers market, owned and operated by the Cournoyer family for over eight decades. The stall is open from June to October and offers over 100 varieties of seasonal farm-grown fresh produce. This includes tomatoes, peppers, radishes, cabbage, carrots, parsnips, cut flowers, corn, potatoes, broccoli, kale, lettuce, and more we can list. listed here. The selection is also complemented by locally produced fruits, berries, cider, and honey.   4. The Bagel Inn Also on Holden’s team of great local businesses is a bagel shop at 785 Main St, which has been a staple for over 25 years. The first thing to know about Bagel Inn is that these gourmet bagels are traditionally boiled and baked, daily, from scratch and use only fresh ingredients with no ready-made mixes. The bagels themselves, available to dozens of bakers, come in every variety imaginable, whether you want ‘Everything’ or something a little less conventional like crisp cinnamon apples. There is a wide selection of buttercream spreads and breakfast sandwiches, available all day.   5. The Farm at SummitWynds With majestic views of Mount Wachusett, this quaint fourth-generation Holden ranch has been raising show horses since 1964. Before that time, the site was actually a ski area, with a lodge, The Summit Tow, built at its highest point in 1945 and now used as a warehouse. In addition to raising appaloosas and precious horses, SummitWynds also produces lavender, harvesting around 4,000 plants for beauty products, cooking ingredients, or simply for flowers. You can visit to see lavender in bloom during the Lavender Farm Festival at the end of June and also the Sunflower Festival at the end of the season.   6. West Boylston Cinema The nearest movie theater is directly across from I-190 in West Boylston. One of the few things about the West Boylston Cinema is that it is independently owned but still has modern features like stadium seating, digital projection, and digital audio. With five screens, this movie theater opened in what used to be a grocery store in 1997 and shows first-time movies at much lower prices than the big chains. When we compiled this list, tickets for the morning and Tuesday are still only $6, and one of the perks of the concession is having self-serve butter for the popcorn.   7. Mass Central Rail Trail Holden is crossed from west to east by a proposed railroad that would eventually run continuously for more than 100 miles from Northampton to Boston. The Central Mass Trail is located on the former right side of the Massachusetts Central Railroad, built between 1869 and 1883. When we compiled this list, the trail could be divided into six different sections and Holden is located on the Oakham to West Boyston Section. You have several options for easy and safe walking or riding. From the Holden-Rutland metropolitan line at 68th Street, you can travel west to Barre without stopping. Or you can park at River St or Wachusett St in Holden and head east through a mantle of hardwood, past the remains of old mills on the Quinapoxet River to the Wachusett Reservoir.   8. Asnebumskit Ridge Trail At 1381 feet, the top of Asnebumskit Hill sits right on the border between Holden and Paxton. This one looks west, with a moving panorama stretching for miles across central Massachusetts. There is a parking lot near the top of the hill, but if you prefer a quick walk, you can also follow the trail on S Rd, just off Rte 31 southwest of Holden. From here, you have a challenging but rewarding uphill hike, leaving behind the banks of Scott’s Creek to a succession of young woods, then into spectacular mature forests, lined with trees. Lush ferns in

15 Best Things to Do in Bellingham (MA)

Located on the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border, Bellingham is a growing city with I-495 running through. This places Bellingham on the outer perimeter of the Boston metro area and provides the city with a commercial corridor that houses the recently updated Regal Cinemas and Barnes & Noble and Whole Foods branches… Bellingham shares a border with the town of Woonsocket, RI, giving you easy access to important cultural attractions like the Stadium Theatre, a splendid movie palace turned center for the performing arts… Away from the highway, Bellingham is a picturesque countryside, with the region’s largest bonsai nursery and various farms producing exceptional fresh produce and specialty items such as alpaca.  1. GlenPharmer Distillery A short distance from Franklin, this craft and distillery restaurant is located in the old Brookdale mill, built in granite circa 1883. If you are interested in the technique of making high-quality spirits you can visit the GlenPharmer Distillery for a tour, and see the spectacular two-stage stainless steel and bronze steam distillers, as well as the combined stainless steel and Mash Tun 800/Lauter Tun fermenters. The upscale tasting room pours these signature spirits, which also feature in the list of luxury cocktails, from Mai Tai to Gin Fizz. The food menu is generally upscale, with lamb thighs, duck stew, and pan-seared tuna, as well as flatbreads, Nashville chicken sandwiches, and pulled pork.   2. Cook’s Valley Farm A regular at the Attleborough, Woonsocket, and Franklin Farmers Markets, this Wrentham farm also has a quaint little stall that you can visit. In a tree-lined setting on remote West Street, Cook’s is a simple establishment that lets the premium fruits and vegetables speak for themselves. Before your visit, you can check the harvest schedule on the farm’s website, which tells you when everything from corn (a local favorite) to blueberries, peppers, apples, pears, and squash is ready. The stall also offers a selection of other homemade or locally sourced items, including honey, preserves, cider, corn stalks, and gourds.   3. Franklin State Forest Along Bellingham’s eastern boundary are nearly 900 acres of secluded forest. What strikes you about the Franklin State Forest is how little this property has been developed for tourism; Instead, you can pass through deep rows of pines along winding roads and fire lines. The remoteness attracts mountain bikers, who can tackle challenging trails as they skate through the woods. At the southern end, the forest also houses the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT), a trail that begins here at Franklin and passes through Bellingham on the 22-mile route to Douglas.   4. Regal Cinemas Bellingham At the time of this writing, this cluster of 14 displays has just undergone a $6 million renovation. This involved installing recliners in some of his stadium’s auditoriums and adding a bar, serving alcoholic beverages for the first time. Perhaps the biggest change of all is the RPC Regal Premium Experience monitor, which features an oversized screen, premium digital projector, and uncompressed surround sound. The theater is located in a commercial corridor along I-495, with Whole Foods, Old Navy, Michaels, Barnes & Noble, and Home Depot branches nearby.  5. Walnut Hill Bowl Just across the border in Woonsocket is one of the best bowling alleys for miles, with 32 state-of-the-art lanes. The Walnut Hill Bowl also includes the cozy Back Alley Pub, which serves freshly baked pizza and burgers, but also has plenty of live music. As with most modern bowling alleys, weekend nights after 9 p.m. are lively here, with the Cosmic Bowl bringing in black lights and party music. To play at a more affordable price, there are great value promotions on shoe and track rentals Monday through Thursday.  6. New England Country Club Right on the MA-RI border, the New England Country Club has an exclusive-sounding name, but it’s a public arena, attracting players from across the region since opening in 1990. Designed by Hale Irwin, this 18-hole championship golf course is set in a spacious setting, with roller coaster lanes surrounded by jungle. In keeping with the rural character, you might spot deer or foxes along the way. There are four tees on each hole, each offering a different challenge, suitable for a variety of skill levels. You’ll be inspired by the scenery along the way, and it’s at its best late in the season during the fall months.   7. Southwick’s Zoo About 15 minutes west of Bellingham brings you to Massachusetts’ largest zoo, set in more than 250 acres of oak woodland. Opened in 1963, Southwick Zoo is still run by the Southwick and Brewer families and is home to more than 750 animals of more than 100 species, all raised in naturalist sanctuaries. Exotic species include cheetahs, African leopards, Bengal tigers, lions, Brazilian tapirs, capybaras, white rhinos, and ostriches. The zoo is famous for its collection of primates, the largest in the area, including squirrel monkeys, chimpanzees, ring-tailed lemurs, white-handed gibbons, and many more. In addition to all of that, Southwick Zoo is a great day out for the family, with horseback rides, camel rides, a kid’s ranch, a 12-minute train ride, mazes, and plenty of rides for kids.  8. St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center Dubbed “America’s Sistine Chapel” by a magazine, this lavishly decorated neo-Renaissance church was built in the 1910s for the French-Canadian community of Woonsocket. The architect is Walter F. Fontaine (1871-1938), born in the region and also of French descent. The church closed in 2000 and was turned into a cultural center to help fund long-term conservation efforts. Don’t miss the chance to tour this building and enjoy what is believed to be the largest collection of frescoes in North America. Painted with detailed moldings, these dramatic paintings adorn the nave’s walls, barrel arches, as well as the junction, side passages, and back aisles. Featuring 475 individual faces, all using locals as models, the piece was created by Italian-Canadian artist Guido Nincheri (1885-1973).   9. The Big Apple Farm In the same family since 1950,

15 Best Things to Do in Westport (MA)

This quintessential New England seaside town sits at the western end of Buzzards Bay, just off the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border. Westport’s coastline is dramatic, home to a two-mile stretch of magical Horseneck Beach, surrounded by sand dunes. At the east end of the beach is Gooseberry Island, which juts out into Buzzards Bay for stunning ocean views. Inland, Westport is pastoral farmland, crisscrossed by stone walls and dotted with centuries-old houses, a 17th-century factory, a renowned winery, contemporary art galleries, and gentle strolls in the countryside.  1. Gray’s Grist Mill Arriving at the state line on Adamsville Rd, you’ll be greeted by a scene that looks like something straight out of a picture book. The shores of Grey’s Mill, dating from the 17th century, are surrounded by historic buildings, including this water-powered flour mill. With giant 54-inch granite stones, this mill has continuously milled corn for over 360 years. Today, Gray’s Grist Mill cornmeal is sourced from local Rhode Island Narragansett Flint corn, aged in an outdoor corn cot by the elements. At the store, you can purchase special blends for making jonnycakes and pancakes/waffles, as well as Rhode Island maple syrup, locally roasted coffee, and cookbooks.  2. Buzzards Bay Brewing You’ll never have to search long to find a craft brewery in Massachusetts, but there aren’t many with a solid reputation like Buzzards Bay Brewers. This can be found on a farm in pastoral fields surrounded by forests and using locally grown/crafted ingredients, including the farm’s own wheat. Two of the famous beers are Flounder, an unfiltered light beer made from a blend of local barley and white wheat malts. The Buzzards Bay IPA, on the other hand, is more than just an IPA, as it is made with a new crop of hops each year, creating new aromas and flavors. There are over a dozen other beers on regular rotation, as you’ll find at the bar, which is welcoming in the winter and has a large outdoor area in the warmer months.   3. Portas Da Cidade Southeast Massachusetts has had an important Portuguese heritage since the late 19th century following immigration from the Azores and Madeira. This is still noticeable in things like cultural celebrations, and churches, but also in cuisine, so you are in a good place to try authentic Portuguese food with recipes already passed on from generation to generation. This is the case with Portas Da Cidade, which, in the purest Portuguese style, offers a wide variety of cod (bacalhau), breaded, simmered, grilled, or grilled. Some popular choices are Mozambican-style shrimp, filet mignon with stuffed shrimp, and the classic Bife à Portuguesa, egg-topped tenderloin with a rich sauce.   4. The Bayside Restaurant Near Westport Point, this family-owned and operated restaurant offers impressive views of Buzzards Bay, the Elizabeth Islands, and part of the Allens Pond Reserve. Bayside Restaurant’s specialty is New England-style seafood, fresh from the Atlantic Ocean and sourced from New Bedford and the Boston waterfront. Think lobster rolls, fried scallops, fried clams, and fish & chips. Many of the recipes have been in the family for generations, and that applies to the selection of delicious homemade cakes, from lemon and apple to blueberry and meringue.   5. Westport Town Farm Sloping down the eastern tributary of the Westport River, this 40-acre reserve is managed by reserve trustees and has a fascinating story to tell. For more than a century, this property was Westport’s rundown farm and dispensary. A farm, barn, corn nativity scene, and colonial stone walls all testify to the age of the site. From the farm, you can cross a landscape of hillside meadows, dry pastures, and grazing fields surrounded by old stone walls. On the one-kilometer detour, you can admire the tidal river and its salt marshes, before climbing up to the barnyard.  6. Gray’s General Store A few meters from Grey’s Grist Mill in Adamsville, Rhode Island, you’ll find a rustic-looking building with Gray’s sign on the porch. It is said to be the oldest continuously operating general store in the United States, open from 1788 until closing in 2012, when its owner, Grayton Waite, passed away. He is the sixth generation to run the store, which reopened in 2013 when his son and sole heir leased the property to his father’s cousin, who had worked there for 16 years. In the early 19th century, this building also housed the first post office in the village of Little Compton. Gray’s General Store sells collectibles, gifts, antiques, frozen goods, packaged candy, and more.   7. Weatherlow Farms Founded in 2014, Weatherlow Farms raises grass-fed meat (beef, lamb, chevon, pork), as well as pasture-raised poultry and eggs. Another highlight is the flowers for special events, grown and kept on the farm, while the hotel’s elegantly lit barn houses weddings, parties, and other special events. other private activities. If you are just passing by, you can visit the Farm Shop at 845 Sodom Rd, which offers high-quality meat and poultry, as well as flowers, plants, baked goods, dairy products, homemade sauces, pickles, frozen ready-to-eat foods, and even pet snacks.  8. Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery Planted in 1982 and opened in 1986, this vineyard is run by a family of four generations of winemakers. This beautiful piece of land was chosen for the loamy, well-drained New England soil and the climate of southeastern Massachusetts, which is cool but moderated by the Gulf Stream. Reflecting famous regions like Burgundy and Champagne, Westport Rivers uses traditional methods, with minimal processing, to craft wines as diverse as Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Grüner Veltliner, as well as a selection of sparkling wines. The winery is open for tours and tastings, Monday through Saturday, and there’s always something to do, with a series of sunset concerts in the summer and carriage rides through the vineyards. in the fall.   9. Dedee Shattuck Gallery Named after its owner, this contemporary art gallery is set in a woodland and idyllic meadow, in a

15 Best Things to Do in Southbridge (MA)

Once an atmospheric mill town on the River Quinebaug, Southbridge has an industrial history dating back to the 18th century. The original sawmills and flour mills eventually gave way to the textile and glass-making industries. large scale The largest producer of these is the American Optical Company, which has been a boon to Southbridge for over 100 years, earning the town the nickname “Eye of the Commonwealth”. You can still see the huge American Optical building, which presides over the town’s commune, and there’s a museum documenting the company’s time in the town and the broader optical industry. Southbridge’s 19th-century wealth brought waves of immigration from Ireland and Canada, and the magnificent Notre Dame Parish Church (1916) is a testament to the town’s Canadian-French heritage.   1. St. John Paul II Parish (Notre Dame Parish Church) In the late 1860s, Southbridge had a large French-Canadian population, which had grown steadily since the 1830s and increased rapidly after the Civil War. The parish of Notre Dame was founded in 1869 and funds were raised to replace the original wooden tabernacle that had been erected in the town. All of this was realized in 1916 with the wonder building at 446 Main Street, with a tower 210 feet tall and a nave nearly 80 feet wide. It was designed by Quebec architect Joseph Venne (1858-1925), responsible for more than 60 buildings in the Montreal area, as well as three churches in Massachusetts. With many stucco moldings, the church has a Rococo-style interior, which also blends earlier Roman and Renaissance elements. This work was done by the Roman artist Gonippo Raggi (1875-1959), who also produced more than 30 oil paintings and six murals for the interior, while the Roman-style windows were decorated Imported from ‘Germany.  2. Gateway Players Southbridge’s cultural mainstay for half a century, the Gateway Players is a community theater troupe that hosts a season of shows at Elm Street Congregational Church (61 Elm St) in the town center. The group was founded in 1975 and quickly moved to headquarters donated by Ruth Wells, a member of the family that owns the American Optical Company. Showcasing the region’s creative and performing talent, a typical season runs from March to December, with up to five productions. In addition to Broadway-style musicals, you can experience original comedies and plays written by local playwrights.   3. The Ruth Wells Center for the Arts The elegant Gateway Players HQ is also a vibrant arts center, hosting exhibitions and classes year-round. On a spacious site at 111 Main St, it was Southbridge’s largest single-family residence when built in the mid-1820s for Ebenezer Ammidown, which spurred the town’s early industrial development. town. The house was owned by the Ammidown and Dresser family for most of its history, until it was purchased by Ruth Wells in the 1970s and later donated to the Quinebaug Valley Council for the Arts and Humanities (QVCAH)… You can enter this majestic building to enjoy exhibits covering a variety of fields, from watercolors to photography. There are studio workshops open on Saturday mornings, while QVCAH has a store if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece of clothing, pottery, photography, jewelry, paintings, or home decor.  4. Sturbridge Coffee Roasters This fast-growing chain of mini cafes, based in Southbridge, started operating next to Sturbridge in 2004 and moved there soon after. Located near the Optical Heritage Museum, Sturbridge Coffee Roasters recently opened two more branches in Dudley and Charlton and set up a dedicated roastery in Southbridge in 2019. For many, it’s the best coffee for miles, even better knowing they roast their own beans nearby. You can visit for freshly brewed coffee, a strong beer list, hot chocolates, smoothies, teas, and a menu of snacks for breakfast and lunch. A variety of coffee beans or ground coffee are also available at the store, in 12 oz or 16 oz packages.  5. Bigelow Hollow State Park and Nipmuck State Forest Cross the Connecticut border and discover 9,000 acres of outdoor recreation opportunities in a state park nestled in a state forest. At Bigelow State Park, you’ll enter one of Connecticut’s largest uninterrupted forests, all part of the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. This federally designated site preserves a large swath of northeastern Connecticut and central Massachusetts, featuring a typical New England rural landscape, rarely without light pollution amid the western megacity. Northeast. You can embrace this solitude on 35 miles of trails, traveling to places as remote as the sublime finger-shaped Breakneck Lake, which is only accessible by foot. Bigelow Lake and the larger Mashapaug Lake are great places for swimming, kayaking, boating, and fishing in the summer.   6. Escape the Pike This escape room attraction near Sturbridge is the brainchild of local owners David and Meghan Jaquith, who met in 2003 while in Afghanistan with US troops. As enthusiasts, the couple visited hundreds of escape rooms around the world, learned what worked and what didn’t, and filtered that experience into their very own Escape the Pike, which opened in 2019. What’s immediately striking here is the variety of genres and tones, from the family Christmas cheer of North Pole Meltdown to the tech thriller Spy2k to the post-apocalyptic fantasy Merlin’s Vision. Podunk and the Son of the Zodiac, immerse yourself in the story of the infamous serial killer. With satisfying puzzles, engaging environments, and friendly game masters, Escape the Pike games can accommodate up to eight players, with a 60-minute countdown.   7. Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail Southbridge Station was the terminus of Webster’s Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad, chartered in 1849 and quickly incorporated into the Boston and New York Central Railroad. For much of the 20th century, the road was used by the Providence and Worcester Railroad for freight before being abandoned. There is a long-term plan to turn this route into an 11-mile track between Southbridge and Webster. So far, you can do a short hike in the southeastern corner of Southbridge, hiking nearly two miles through the scenic

15 Best Things to Do in East Longmeadow (MA)

A southeastern suburb of Springfield, East Longmeadow is on the Massachusetts/Connecticut line and just minutes from Springfield’s vibrant Metro Center district. Historically, the area was known for its sandstone quarries, which supplied material for large projects such as the Smithsonian Institution Building in Washington (1855). An interesting feature of East Longmeadow is that the seven boulevards converge in a roundabout in the city center known as ‘The Roundabout’. Many of the city’s local businesses are based here or nearby. East Longmeadow’s community spirit and patriotism are expressed each year with one of the largest Fourth of July parades, multi-day carnivals, and a mesmerizing fireworks display.  1. Fenway Golf A summer treat for all ages, Fenway Golf combines a range of golf-themed attractions, with something for all ages and abilities. First, there’s an 18-hole mini golf course, with all the traditional elements like bubbling streams and cascading waterfalls. For a longer challenge, there’s the pitch & putt, suitable for youngsters swinging the club for the first time, as well as seasoned players trying to get as close to the pin as possible. Around the corner, the same company runs Pine Knoll, a true 18-hole par 3 golf course, while onsite you also have batting cages and a snack bar with 24 light serving flavors mildly different.  2. Meadowbrook Farm On 275 acres in the southeast part of town, this ranch has been in business for over 30 years. You can go from April to December, and as the year goes by, there’s always a new reason to visit. Things kick off in spring with perennials, lilies, vegetable crops, and a host of other flowers and greenhouse horticultural products. You can then shop for a wealth of fresh produce at Meadowbrook Farms, from strawberries in July to pumpkins in the fall, then Christmas trees a little later in the holiday season.   3. Frigo Foods This East Longmeadow Italian delicacy is part of a small chain of stores in the Springfield area, with a history dating back to the early 20th century. The Frigo family first settled in Chicago in the 1900s, established a successful cheese business, and in the 1950s they expanded northeast, opening a snack bar in Springfield South End. Fast-forward to the 21st century and the new Frigo Foods location in East Longmeadow offers a range of delicious ready-to-go meals, from sandwiches to salads, and a great selection of freshly made pasta dishes like ravioli and lasagna.   4. Springfield Springfield’s historic, walkable, and cultural center is just 15 minutes from the Rotary in East Longmeadow. First of all, you need to visit The Quadrangle and its collection of five high-quality museums under the umbrella of the Springfield Museum. You could easily spend an entire day perusing Impressionist masterpieces, pondering the big questions of the universe, uncovering the treasures of ancient civilizations, and immersing yourself in the world of Dr. Seuss, who was born in this city. A National Historic Landmark, the Springfield Armory was the primary source of weapons for the United States military, from 1777 to 1969, and is another priority. Springfield is also where physical educator James Naismith invented basketball in 1891, an event honored at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.   5. Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe Around East Longmeadow, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to shop locally and support some of the beloved businesses that have been here for decades. Right on the Rotary, you have Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe, which opened in 1997. The owner of Maureen continues to craft the store’s list of premium sweets. For an idea of ​​the range, there are caramel apples, chocolate-covered cookies, pretzels, gourmet popcorn, salted caramel, truffles, marshmallows, and more.   6. Rotary Summer Concert Series A summer feature in East Longmeadow is parades, carnivals, and fireworks, and there’s also a much-anticipated outdoor concert season hosted by the Rotary Club of East Longmeadow. Beginning at 7 p.m. Sundays from July to mid-August, these performances take place at East Longmeadow High School. The first day of the series in July is usually the warm-up of the fireworks. It is recommended that you walk or carpool to the high school because parking is limited. In terms of style, bands tend to play classic rock hits like Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Eagles.   7. Shaker Bowl Attracting families, groups of friends, and competitive pitchers for decades, the Shaker Bowl is a side street that has survived the years. On weekend nights, you’ll see disco lights, party music, and giant screens at the end of the lane. Children are well catered for, with bumpers available in the lanes, as well as charming alligator ramps for the little ones who haven’t mastered their bowling techniques yet. The Shaker Bowl also has a grill for bowling alley favorites like pizza, tender chicken, sliders, mozzarella sticks, and cookies.  8. Pell Family Farm Another long-standing family business in the area is Pell Family Farm, which has been around since 1930. First, in the dairy sector, the farm’s orientation has evolved over the years, and today there is a nursery, growing Christmas trees and strawberries, which markets local produce. In the recent past, there was a petting zoo and typical fall activities on the farm, and those days may return in the future. For now, you can drop by during the holiday season to cut your own Christmas tree. The nursery is open year-round and specializes in private plants including a variety of arborvitae, winter hemlock, and blue spruce.   9. Skyline Scenic Area The Northern Connecticut Land Trust manages 65 acres of rolling forest just a few miles from Somers, CT. Starting at Stafford Road, the yellow-marked path leads you through the rocky landscape and brings you to a beautiful viewpoint from which you can look out over the Connecticut River Valley. In recent years, overgrown trees have obscured the view from spring to autumn, but if you arrive at a time when the trees are bare, the view is

15 Best Things to Do in Webster (MA)

Webster is a town in Central Massachusetts known for its lovely lake, which borders Connecticut and is close to the Rhode Island state boundary. Lake Chaubunagungamaug was part of the Nipmuc people’s traditional home for millennia before European arrival. The modern history of the town began in the early nineteenth century when the important entrepreneur Samuel Slater built textile mills powered by the lake. The new community was named after his buddy, statesman Daniel Webster (1782-1852). Later, the unmistakable beauty of the lake established Webster as a tourist town. Lake Chaubunagungamaug was given the unusual 45-letter name in the early 1920s. , which has the country’s and one of the world’s longest names for any natural feature. 1. Downtown Webster (Main Street Historic District) On Main Street, from the railroad tracks east to Webster’s Town Hall, you’ll enter a well-preserved central commercial district from the end of the 19th century. Up to four stories tall, the impressive brick commercial blocks bear the dates of their construction and the names of the people who built them. Among the most imposing is the Racicot Block (1905), now used by MAPFRE Insurance, which is headquartered in Webster. Here and further along Main Street you’ll find several places to eat, whether you’re in the mood for pizza (Northeast Pizza), pan-Asian (Eastern Pearl), traditional Italian (Monte Bianco), modern American cuisine (Stave & Still), and there’s a handful of bars. On the north side, French River Park is crossed by a section of the French River Greenway, which will eventually run for seven miles through the area. 2. Douglas State Forest Along the entire length of Webster’s eastern slope, nearly 6,000 acres of protected wilderness stretch to the borders with Rhode Island and Connecticut. Whether you want to go hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, or cross-country skiing in the winter, the Douglas State Forest is a dream. The forest has two traverse trails, the 22-mile Southern New England Trunkline Trail and the 92-mile Midstate Trail, both of which pass near Tri-State Point (see below). Within the park’s boundaries are most of the shores of Lake Wallum, open to activities such as swimming, boating, and picnicking in the summer. A rare patch of white cedar swamp in the Atlantic Ocean is also outstanding, ready for you to experience on a special hike.  3. Tri-State Marker At the exact southwest corner of the Douglas State Forest are the state’s borders with Connecticut and Rhode Island. Although the location is important, the Tri-State Marker is quite remote, buried deep in the hardwood forest, but relatively easy to walk. To get there, you can take the Midstate Trail or the Southern New England Trunkline Trail, both of which pass nearby and have tributaries. On a mountainside, a small granite monument, erected in 1883 indicates the direction of the three states.   4. Pierpont Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary The Massachusetts Audubon Society manages this 211-acre landscape where nature has reclaimed former farmland. Historic stone walls still demarcate the grasslands of the Pierpont Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary and weave through the pine forest that has taken over ever since. The reserve is also known for its ecologically important shrubs, which serve as important nesting habitats for the Eastern Towhee and Brown Thrasher, which are in decline in the area. The best time to visit is during the peak of summer when the meadow is lit up by fireflies, while beavers can be spotted late in the day by a small pond near the entrance.   5. Breezy Picnic Grounds & Waterslides Next to Whitin Reservoir, just east of the Douglas State Forest, is a family-friendly recreational attraction that has been a summer staple since 1953. On the lake, there is a large swimming area with sandy beaches that the children will definitely love. They are backed by a lovely lawn with large picnic tables and plenty of shade under the trees. You also have a snack bar available to serve comfort food and cold treats like soft ice cream. Perhaps best for kids and teens, there are three 300-foot waterslides and a smaller one for younger kids, 42 inches and under.   6. Advanced Action Sports This outdoor airsoft and paintball center is located just off I-395, north of Webster. The playing field of advanced action sports is designed to resemble popular video game franchises, in an urban environment with plenty of melee opportunities. A variety of exciting game modes and mission objectives are provided to mix things up. Sessions are available on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and discounts are available when booking online. There’s also a 5,000-square-foot store on site, stocked with all the equipment and accessories you might need.   7. Quaddick State Park In Webster, you’re spoiled for choice in outdoor recreation, as there’s an adjacent state park and state forest just outside the boundary in Connecticut. They are located on the banks of the 466-acre Quaddick Reservoir, made up of lower, middle, and upper sections, and born of the construction of a dam on the Five Mile River in the 1860s. Long ago, this was a Nipmuck Native American fishing ground, and now it’s a big draw for families in the summer. At Quaddick State Park, you also have another swimming area to choose from, with a wide sandy beach, marina, picnic area, and barbecue area. The water is perfectly clear in some places and you can fish for crappie and pumpkin seeds.  8. Point Breeze This combined restaurant, entertainment venue, and event center, located at the tip of a peninsula on Lake Webster, dates back to 1881 when it was founded as a private men’s rowing club. Point Breeze is Worcester County’s entertainment hotspot and the destination of choice for businesses in the area hosting summer picnics. The current owners took over the torch in the 1980s and were able to develop this historic facility. The live music tradition continues today, and on the culinary side, you’ve got to try New England seafood dishes like lobster rolls, fish

15 Best Things to Do in Northbridge (MA)

This charming city is located in the Blackstone Valley, where America’s industrial revolution reached its peak in the early 19th century. Part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Northbridge is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the area’s industrial history. Visit factory communities such as Whitesville and Lynnwood, shaped by the textile industry in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and discover the remains of the Blackstone Canal, built in the 1820s and once a thoroughfare between Worcester and Providence. These include the mysterious Purgatory Rift and the scenic beauty of the Blackstone Valley slopes at Lookout Rock and Goat Hill in Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park.   1. Purgatory Chasm State Reservation Across Highway 146 from West End, Creamery is the rocky site that was once owned by Whitin Machine Works. Designated a state park in 1919, Purgatory Chasm is a dramatic 75-foot-high depression in granite bedrock that is nearly 400 meters long. Chasm trails lead to chasms, caves, and massive formations, making for an unforgettable adventure during the summer months. However, it is closed in winter due to the danger of freezing. Climbing is permitted with permits, and the reserve also has a visitor center, picnic areas, and a playground.   2. Purgatory Beer Co. Housed in a rustic stone outbuilding (Building C) within the Lynnwood Mill complex, the craft brewery was founded in 2017 by two friends. The tasting room at Purgatory Beer Co. is warm, comfortable, cozy, and always full of fun. When it comes to beer, the menu is ever-changing, offering a wide range of styles and flavor profiles, from hoppy IPAs to bold porters. Enduring favorites are the smooth Two-Car Garage (Double IPA) and the lemony What a Fool Believes (IPA). In the summer there is an outdoor area with parasols and you can order freshly baked pretzels to accompany your beer.   3. Pirate’s Cove Lynnwood has seasonal seafood fries and ice cream stands that everyone associates with New England. Pirates Cove is open his March through October and offers seared clams, seared scallops, clam pies, fish and chips, lobster rolls, clam chowder, as well as a wide range of non-fish items such as hot dogs, burgers, wings, and tenders. One of his treats at this spot is the frozen desserts, which are available in over 25 flavors of Soft His Cream His flavors, as well as a variety of flavors from his award-winning Maine-based Gifford’s Ice Cream. The top flavors in the latter are the popular chocolate and black raspberry.   4. Lookout Rock Parking lots along the Blackstone River and Quaker Street in Canal Heritage State Park serve as trailheads to this stunning lookout. The trail winds through rock-studded woodlands on a gentle slope to Lookout Rock, one of the most scenic hens in the Blackstone Valley. From here you can see the roaring Blackstone River, Riverbend Farm, Goat Hills, Rice Ponds, and beautiful sunsets (bug spray is a must in the summer). For longer hikes, you can also park at Rice City Pond in Uxbridge and hike the King He Phillips Lookout Trail, which is about four miles round trip through the woods.  5. Sparetime Recreation Candlepin bowling is available at this bowling alley on Church Street in downtown Whitensville. This tenpin bowling variant originated in Worcester in the 1880s and differs from other bowling in many ways. For one, the pin is taller and narrower, making it much more difficult to throw strikes. In addition, it is a small ball that fits in the palm of your hand without finger holes. Despite all these differences, Spare Time’s recreation has all the hallmarks of a modern bowling alley, including the necessary bumpers if you’re traveling with young children. The place also boasts a busy event calendar, with regular events like comedy, trivia, and even karaoke.   6. Shining Rock Golf Club This 18-hole golf course, open to the public near the center of Northbridge, is easily overlooked as it is surrounded by new residential developments. After years of planning and turmoil in the development phase, the course finally opened in 2010. Shining Rock Golf Club benefits from steep elevations, smoothly sloping greens, and spectacular views of the Blackstone River Valley. You will be playing memorable holes such as a very short but very technical par 4 and a long 200-yard par 3. In recent years, the golf course has added a driving range to its practice facilities.  7. Mendon Twin Drive-In There are only two drive-in theaters left in Massachusetts, one of which is about eight miles east of Northbridge in Mendon. The Mendon Twin Drive-In he opened in 1954 and added his second screen in 1998. Gone are the old-fashioned speakers mounted on metal poles, replaced by FM radio. Both screens are equipped with full digital projection and sound, and the owner recently opened his 5,000-square-foot terrace where you can order beer and wine. The drive-in cinema is open every day during the school summer holidays and on Fridays and Saturdays most other periods, in season from March to November.  8. Southwick’s Zoo Just 10 minutes from Lynnwood, this family-run zoo has been a major area attraction for over 60 years. This attraction is spread over 300 hectares on a former dairy farm. In the early 20th century, bird-loving owner Justin F. Southwick began collecting exotic birds, and the zoo grew from there. Today, the Southwick Zoo is home to over 100 species of his animals, including big cats such as cheetahs, Bengal tigers, and lions, as well as New England’s largest collection of primates. Adding to the zoo’s allure are numerous additional attractions, such as the Woodland Express Train, which runs through North American exhibits and wilderness wetlands, and the Skyfari Sky Ride, which offers a bird’s eye view of several exhibits such as the Deer Forest and the African Plains.   9. Foppema’s Farm Foppema’s Farm, a local seasonal produce center, operates its shops in a rustic post-and-beam building built in

15 Best Things to Do in Seekonk (MA)

Bordering the Ten Mile River to the west, Seekonk is a city on the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border and part of the Providence metropolitan area. Seekonk has an unusual layout on a long and rather narrow piece of land. They range from busy shopping districts between Route 6 and Interstate 195 in the South to wildlife sanctuaries, preserves, and country clubs in the northern squares. A series of ponds along the Ten Mile River separate Seekonk from neighboring Pawtucket and East Providence. On the Rhode Island side, you can visit several beautiful riverside parks, all connected by the Ten Mile River Greenway Trail.  1. Seekonk Grand Prix Among the shops and attractions along Route 6 is the Seekonk Grand Prix, a huge motorsports-themed family entertainment center. Here you will find different kart trucks like family trucks, rookie trucks, kids trucks, and slick trucks for drifting. There’s also an indoor high ropes course, rock climbing wall, virtual reality experience, 18 holes of mini golf, bumper cars, and a new arcade with redemption counters and bumper cars.  2. Old Grist Mill Tavern A slice of classic New England, this cozy tavern looks like a million miles from the Route 6 powerhouse. Old Grist Mill’s history dates back to the early 18th century when the Lanins River was dammed and a hydraulic mill was built on the south bank of the pond. A sawmill was then added on the first floor, and over time the complex became a restaurant. In 2012, a semi-truck overturned and exploded, destroying a building. Old Grist Mill Tavern opened in 2014 after a two-and-a-half-year renovation. There are still clues to the past, especially in the granite millstones that remain at the entrance. Menu highlights include Boston Skrod, mussels sautéed in garlic, onions, and white wine, crab cakes, baked stuffed shrimp, and cooked-to-order lobster.  3. Jacob Hill One of the things to do in Seekonk is explore some of its country’s back roads. A great place to do this is Jacob Hill, where you can tour the largest collection of historic houses in Seekonk. These are located at several points on Jacob Street, Prospect Street, and Ledge Road just off US 44. Many of the fine old homes that line these quiet country lanes have commemorative plaques. Look for the old schoolhouse at 102 Jacob Street, 736 Ledge Road (1785). 120 Jacob Street (1723), 385 Jacob Street (1690), 150 Broad Street (1785), 540 Prospect Street (1800), and the magnificent Aziel Carpenter House at 80 Walnut Street, built in 1720.   4. Slater Memorial Park In Pawtucket, the Ten Mile River Greenway passes through the city’s oldest and largest public park, located on former farmland acquired in 1894. An early remnant is the Daggett House (circa 1685), the oldest surviving house in town. The park is named after Samuel Slater (1768-1835), an English-American businessman who built America’s first water-powered textile mill in Pawtucket in the early 1790s. Slater Memorial Park is a great free attraction, lined with his early 20th-century buildings, including the historic Potter Casino (1917). A family favorite for over a century, the Roof Carousel was built in the 1890s and installed in the park in 1910. In the summer, catch Thursday night concerts by the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. Mid-September is the Slater Park Falls Festival with numerous craft sales, food, live entertainment, and children’s activities.  5. Fear Town Haunted House When the haunted season begins, Seekonk Speedway will be home to New England’s most popular haunted experience. Feartown is advertised as a “Haunted Event” consisting of three haunted houses offering nearly an hour of terror. Before or after your haunted house challenge, you’ll enjoy a stop-off filled with games, food, and spooky entertainment. What fascinates you most about Fear Town is the creativity and variety that presents scenarios that surprise you in unexpected ways. Diehard haunted house fans may not necessarily be intimidated, but they will be impressed by the production value, backed by a large staff of enthusiastic actors in terms of make-up, costumes, props, and sound design.  6. Celebrate Seekonk Day The Seekonk Public Library and its surrounding park, Library Meadows, host an annual festival that began in recent years. Celebrate Seekonk Day is held on the first Saturday in October and features live entertainment, educational activities, culture, commerce, fine dining, and lots of fun for kids. To give you an idea of ​​what to expect, there will be music by award-winning musicians such as Bill Hurley, comedy, Pokanoket Indian performances, gallery exhibitions by local artists, painting workshops, community blankets, shadow puppets for toddlers, local food trucks, raffles and more.  7. Hunts Mills Picnic and Recreational Area This idyllic spot on the Ten Mile River just across the East Providence border has centuries of history. The first mill on the river was on site. Evidence of this period can be seen at the Hunt House (1750), designated as a museum by the East Providence Historical Society, open every other Sunday. In the early 20th century, the landscape was turned into an amusement park, with the river serving as the town’s main water supply and a pumping station replacing the old gristmill. Today, where the river’s former pump station was, there is a picnic area next to a beautiful waterfall, and a fishway allows the herring to reach upstream spawning grounds.  8. Seekonk Fire Museum Opened in 2016, the museum is located at 211 Newman Avenue in the city’s old fire station, built in the late 1920s and serving as the headquarters of the fire department for decades. Inside, you’ll find a wealth of memorabilia from the local fire department, including equipment, helmets, newspaper clippings, trophies from decades of collecting competitions, and the sirens that used to sound when school was closed on snowy days. There is also a set of four of his fire trucks, including his 1953 Maxim fire truck that was used in the city from the 1950s through the 1980s. At the time we made this list, the Seekonk Fire Museum

15 Best Things to Do in Swansea (MA)

Where the Taunton River meets Mount Hope Bay, Swansea is a coastal city on the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border with thriving inland agriculture. The town’s beach is one of the best in the area, open to the public during the school summer holidays, and slopes gently into Mount Hope Bay so you can walk a few hundred feet offshore at low tide. Swansea has a sweet tooth and three of his favorite ice cream stands are open in the summer. Understanding that these are all small businesses, some even operating on farms that have been around for generations, can justify your generosity.  1. Johnson’s Roadside Farm Market Just off the Rhode Island Line on Market Street, this family-run fresh food stand has been a part of local life for over 40 years. You can stop by to stock up on fresh seasonal local fruits and vegetables grown on the family-run 50-acre farm. Markets are typically open from Easter to Christmas Eve and are always stocked with fresh, farm-grown, and harvested produce throughout the season. The list is huge, but in summary, there are a wide variety of tomatoes, lettuce, pumpkins, berries, and numerous pumpkin varieties. The store also sells local gourmet items such as freshly roasted coffee, fresh pasta, grass-fed beef, ice cream, sodas, seafood, and corn on the cob.  2. Simcock Farm The third ice cream stand on our list is located on a fourth-generation farm set in a rural landscape of fields, woods, stone walls, whitewashed fences, and traditional string roof farms. This classic New England landscape welcomes you to Simcock Farm, serving award-winning Gifford ice cream. A wide variety of hard ice cream flavors are available, including sugar-free scoops, low-fat frozen yogurt, mappies, and s’mores. This farm, with animals such as goats, miniature horses, miniature cows, donkeys, and sheep, but also a sunflower maze in late summer, is an attraction in itself. Beginning in late September, Fun on the Farm in the Fall features hay wagon rides, a corn maze, a pumpkin picking experience, and a Spooky Sunday highlight event.   3. Swansea Village Park If hiking is your thing, Swansea Village will surprise you. Here you’ll find the City Hall and Library complex, a gateway to nearly 200 acres of nature. Swansea Village Park was purchased by the city in the mid-1980s and has miles of boardwalks that lead into the woods. These include elevated boardwalks above marshes and some of the giant conglomerates with names like Abrams Rock and Wildcat Rock. The former is particularly spectacular, rising over 40 feet above the forest and packed with legends dating back to King Philip’s War in the 1670s.   4. Luther Store Museum This well-preserved store was founded in 1813 and remained in operation until 1903. The building is owned by the Swansea Historical Society and has been a museum since it was taken over in 1952. At the time of this writing, the Luther Store was temporarily closed to the public as it was undergoing long-term renovations to keep out termites and scarab beetles. When you step inside the store, you can see that many of the original facilities remain, such as the mahogany counter, owner’s desk, and storage furniture.  5. Almeida’s Vegetable Patch This family farm is another great spot for fresh, seasonal produce. Its history dates back to 1928. Founder John Almeida Melo Sr. came to the United States in 1915 when he was still 16 years old. John Almeida Mello This was a dairy farm for many years until his junior in the 1950s when he rented additional acres and began growing vegetables. The Hofstand was then added in the 1970s and expanded by the 3rd and his 4th. There is an amazing variety of seasonal produce, including the farm’s specialty sweet corn and an abundance of summer fruit. People come here to buy apples, squash, and squash in the fall, and people buy Christmas trees at Christmas time.  6. Wampanoag Golf Course This public golf course is located far west of Swansea on the low banks of the Palmer River. The Wampanoag Golf Course dates back to 1926 and is located in the 19th-century shipbuilding district of Burnieville. The 9-hole course is mostly flat and open-link style with pleasant fairways and small greens. The last two holes are particularly beautiful as the tees are on the banks of the Palmer River. Memorable holes include his long par-4 4th and his riverside 8th hole dotted with water hazards.   7. Fall River Swansea is less than 10 minutes from Fall River, Massachusetts’ 10th largest city. Fall River rapidly developed into a textile and iron manufacturing center in the 19th century. One of the city’s leading businessmen, the Borden family is now famous for Lizzie Borden (1860-1927), who was accused and later acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother in a two-handed axe murder. The crime scene is now open to tour as a B&B. Fall River is also known for Battleship Her Cove, an amazing collection of ships, mostly from the World War II period, led by the magnificent USS Massachusetts, a South Dakota-class fast battleship launched in 1941.   8. Seekonk Speedway A short distance from Swansea on State Highway 6 is the racecourse, owned and operated by Venditti since its opening in 1946. At 72 feet long, it is the widest track in the area. It’s half a sloped, 1/3 mile asphalt oval. The season lasts from May to October. During this time, NASCAR racing will take place Saturday nights as part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly series featuring Pros, Sport Trucks, Athletes, and the latest models. An open-wheel race is held on Wednesday, followed by a low-budget race on Friday for riders looking to move up to the big division on Saturday night. Keep an eye out for regular thrill shows like demolition derbies, one-lap drag races, and the occasional monster truck.  9. Seekonk Grand Prix Northwest of Swansea is a fun, family-friendly entertainment hub that packs a

15 Best Things to Do in Hudson (MA)

A former industrial city with Irish and Portuguese roots, Hudson is a resilient place that has bounced back from several setbacks over the years. One of his is the fire that destroyed 40 of his buildings in the city center in 1894. Then, after World War II, the city’s lifelong footwear industry declined, and major employer Intel closed its semiconductor factories in the city during the Great Recession. Still, Hudson is welcoming residents and visitors more than ever. It’s all due to the transformation sweeping Main Street, transforming it into a gourmet destination with innovative shops and live music all year round. Multi-purpose railroads connect downtown Hudson with Marlborough and Maynard, and a top military museum has recently opened east of the city.  1. Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge On the train, enter a US-designated National Wildlife Refuge past the American Heritage Museum. Fish and Wildlife Service, and one of eight reserves that make up the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge. This exclusive getaway is dotted with ponds, springs, and marshes and has a mantle of pine and hardwood forests. It is an important stopping point for migratory birds in spring and autumn. One of the most attractive things about this 2,230-acre site is that it sits on the grounds of Fort Devens Sudbury Training Annex, which was hastily built in 1942 and exposes about 50 original ammunition dumps in the woods. They add mystique to hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing tours, while White Pond Road has boat launches and moorings, and abundant water attracts kayakers.  2. Puzzlescape Located on the Assabet River Rail Trail, this award-winning Escape Room attraction is one of the few companies based in the refurbished Hudson Mills complex. Puzzlescape was founded in 2016 and moved to its current location in 2021. It has a playful and cartoony feel to it. Puzzlescape’s villain is “Pepe La Scuzz”. Main He is an evil mastermind who must be defeated in the “Legend of Pepe” room. For 2 to 6 players with a choice of endings. At the time this list was made, the other rooms available were the horror-themed Something Wicked (2-8 players) and Escape the Cape (2-6 players), an entry room that bypasses the Bourne and Sagamore Bridge traffic jams. This room is open to children ages 12 and up without a parent, making it a good starting point for young puzzle solvers.  3. Danforth Falls (Danforth Conservation Area) North Hudson has 80 acres of city-owned forest managed by the local Conservation Board. The facility is located on the idyllic Danforth Creek that runs along the east side and is a busy fishing spot each spring. From Lincoln Street, you can start a flat trail that follows the creek all the way up to the falls. This is most striking in the spring after a season of heavy rains or after the snow has melted. The surrounding grounds also include the 450-foot summit of Phillips Hill, a slightly more challenging trail of steep, rocky terrain with beautiful views to the west.  4. Rail Trail Flatbread Co. One of Hudson’s long list of beloved local businesses, the Rail Trail Flatbread Company is located across Main Street from the New City Micro Creamery. This community-based, socially conscious flatbread pizza restaurant opened in 2012. The headline here is the wood-fired, hand-twisted sourdough pizza, which comes in a variety of imaginative flavors (gochujang BBQ chicken, spanakopita), including many vegan and gluten-free options. Poutine, tacos, burgers (including the Impossible Burger), mac and cheese, and other comfort foods are also on the menu, along with over 20 draft beers on tap.  5. Medusa Brewing Company Main Street’s reputation for good independent business lives up to this craft brewery with a large, rustic taproom and a beer garden that might surprise you. When it comes to beer, Medusa is known for its hoppy IPAs, with Laser Cat (Imperial IPA), LightRunner (Hazy IPA), Lola (IPA), and Duchovni (Czech Pilsner) as their main beers. These are the stars, but they’re also just a few of the many draft beers on tap, whether your taste is malty, hoppy, or sour. Seeking the perfect accompaniment to live music in the taproom on Friday nights, the brewery partnered with local company Taco Gato, now operating as a permanent in-house taqueria.  6. ArtsFest Hudson Hudson has a vibrant arts scene, and the easiest way to get an overview of it is to attend this festival on the first Saturday in June. Like many events where cities reinvent themselves, this is a new tradition, but one that is really gaining ground. Two stages host live, family-friendly performances from morning to evening by an international program of music artists and dance groups. At the same time, there will be more than 50 craft booths showcasing Hudson’s wide range of creative talents. Young people who attend the festival can participate in activities such as face painting and crafts until he kicks off with a 5km run in the morning.  7. Art in the Hall Hudson’s 19th-century chateaux town hall doubles as a farmer’s market and an art gallery. Since 2004, the River’s Edge Arts Alliance has curated Art in the Hall exhibitions to promote the work of artists in the city. Featuring works by artists from various disciplines, these exhibitions typically last several months and are updated several times a year, so there’s always something new to discover. The gallery is open during normal opening hours and has unlimited access.  8. Hudson Farmers’ Market The Farmer’s Market is held in front of City Hall in the heart of downtown Hudson on Tuesday afternoons from mid-June to September. In addition to this main market, keep an eye out for pop-up markets at the beginning and end of the year, April, May, November, and December. Each week, the Market Facebook page will feature a list of participating vendors and live performers as part of the Market Music Series. During a typical week, you can expect stalls selling fresh seasonal produce, fresh seafood, grass-fed meats,

15 Best Things to Do in Longmeadow (MA)

Springfield, a wealthy suburb on the east bank of the Connecticut River, was first settled in the mid-17th century. Until 1894, Longmeadow was part of East He was part of Longmeadow, and the town was noted for its sandstone quarries, from which material was extracted for large projects such as the Smithsonian Museum building (1855). Preserved as a US Historic District, Town Green is a quintessential central community district surrounded by impressive old homes and is still the site of public gatherings such as the Long He Meadows Fall Festival. Downtown Springfield is just a stone’s throw from Longmeadow, and the town offers easy access to his two summer farmers’ markets, elegant Forest Park, and Six Flags New England, the region’s largest theme park.  1. The Olde Burying Yarde For those interested in early Longmeadow history, the town’s original cemetery has much to learn. This is part of Longmeadow Cemetery behind the First Church of Christ in Town Green, the oldest sign being his 1682. The Longmeadow Historical Society organizes self-guided walking tours of the Old Burying Ground starting at the western end of Williams Street, which can be accessed on their website. In this guide, interpretations of the inscriptions and symbols inscribed on each stone are detailed to provide a vivid insight into the life and death of Longmeadow from the 17th century to the 18th century.  2. Riverfront Conservation Area Another public location in Longmeadow with access to the banks of the Connecticut River is the city-owned nature reserve off Anthony Road, next to the Pioneer Valley Yacht Club. With 300 feet of tranquil grassy shoreline shaded by mature trees, the Riverfront Preserve is the perfect place to relax late into the day with great views. You can set sail here in a canoe or kayak, or pack a blanket and enjoy a quiet picnic under the trees on a sunny day.   3. Alex’s Bagel Shop A popular long-established bagel store on Route 5 across from Laurel Park moved to this location in 2018. Alex’s bagel shop landed here after her former landlord, the supermarket chain Big Y, asked her to evict the old building. This sparked a surge of love, with more than 1,000 people signing a petition asking the supermarket to keep it open and not force them out of town. Generations have grown up eating Alex’s bagels. Freshly cooked and baked, they come in an assortment of signature flavors such as sesame, poppy, onion, cumin, and raisins. A variety of cream cheese flavors are also available, all in 8 oz containers.   4. Springfield Strolling through Longmeadow’s stately residential streets, it’s easy to forget that the bustling city is just minutes away. Springfield is his third-largest city in Massachusetts, where the United States’ first military arsenal was founded, basketball was invented, and the popular children’s author, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) was born in 1904. With more than 30 colleges located along the famous Corridor of Knowledge, it’s no wonder Springfield has some great museums. Many of these are located in The He Quadrangle, where you can ponder the art of the Impressionists, visit the nation’s first planetarium, admire artifacts from around the world, and learn all about Dr. Sousse can be experienced. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is housed in a giant silver sphere on the waterfront, and the Springfield Armory is a National Historic Site with one of the world’s largest collections of firearms.  5. Enfield Regional Farmers’ Market One reason to make the short jump across the state line to Enfield, Connecticut, is to browse this bustling farmer’s market with dozens of stalls each week. The Enfield Regional Farmers Market is a Sunday event held at Town Green from June to October, but in recent years has moved to Enfield Square Mall, where the indoor market continues until the last Sunday before Christmas. The selection changes seasonally and includes fresh produce from local farms, grass-fed meats, eggs, honey, herbs, baked goods, freshly roasted coffee, pet treats, numerous artisan vendors, and more. There is always live music and several food trucks serving wood-fired pizzas and pierogi.  6. Max Burger One of two chains, Max Burger is an acclaimed restaurant far beyond Longmeadow, an upscale burger joint with many gastropub hallmarks. That means a seasonal cocktail menu and a beer menu that includes imported Belgian beers and local craft beers. Max Burger caters to those on a plant-based diet, offering not only veggie patties but also the Impossible Burger. On the same theme, the sweet potato fries are also excellent. For starters, the candied bacon lollipop with cider glaze is exceptional, and a must-try main course for meat eaters is the Lord Rest Truffle with Gruyère and black truffle relish.   7. Six Flags New England New England’s largest theme and water park is just across the Connecticut River from Longmeadow, but you’ll have to drive around Springfield to get there. At 235 acres, Six Flags New England is the chain’s oldest park, attracting fun-seekers in the 1870s with picnic groves along the river. From this lavish beginning, the park has grown into a thrill-seeking Mecca with ground-breaking DC-style rides such as Harley Quinn Spin Sanity, Superman the Ride, and Batman.Dark Knight and Joker 4D Free Fly Coaster. Six Flags New England also has three dedicated kid’s areas and a huge Hurricane Harbor Water park with over 30 slides and his 500,000-gallon wave pool.   8. Long Meddowe Fall Festival This long-running festival, now sponsored and hosted by the city’s American Legion Post 175, was formerly known as Long Meadow Days and has been held for over 40 years. Over a weekend in early October, Town Green is the traditional venue for the festival, with long alleyways lined with stalls selling all manner of crafts, arts, and food. There are a variety of activities on offer that will appeal to young families, but there are also musician appearances, non-profit visits, car shows, and more.  9. The Longmeadow Shops The closest

15 Best Things to Do in Grafton (MA)

Grafton is a loose cluster of historic mill villages southeast of Worcester in the Blackstone Valley. During the Industrial Revolution from the late 18th century, Grafton was known for industries as diverse as shoemaking and furniture making and was the birthplace of watchmaking in America. The site of the first European settlement in the 1720s, Grafton Common has a tranquil atmosphere with towering trees and historic buildings such as the Grafton Inn, which has been open to tourists since 1806. Grafton has many interesting local businesses to explore, from popular lakeside ice cream stands to cheese shops importing all manner of gourmet treats from Europe.   1. Highfields Golf & Country Club Grafton offers a round of golf at one of the area’s best public golf courses. This is the Highfields Golf & Country Club he opened in 2002 on the grounds that were part of the McGill Dairy Farm. Avid golfer, John McGill commissioned Cornish Golf his design Mugeim to design a superior layout for his over 220-acre property on the edge of Blackstone Valley to accommodate golfers of all levels while challenging even the most experienced players. Vast hills and breathtaking scenery characterize this course. The 18 holes take you on a journey through open terrain, wetlands, and lush natural forests. Between rounds, you can socialize at his J&J Tavern, which serves delicious pub food with views of the 18th Green and the practice area.  2. Lake Ripple Dam Drive north from Grafton Common along Worcester Street and in a few minutes you’ll see the lush banks of this 70-acre dam. The Ripple Lake Dam was built on the Quincegamond River in 1982 and has several spots where you can descend to the surface. They are open to the public at the very scenic Ekbrow Landing canoe and kayak launch at 111 Worcester Street to the north. Here, at the northern end of the lake, it tapers to a picnic area and is abundant with birds in the summer. A Grafton-owned gravel road is located on the south side of Brigham Hill Road, near which you can access the Grafton Land Trust trail. More on this later. According to the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, fishing is abundant with chain pickers, largemouth bass, and carp.  3. Pecorino There are plenty of local shops around Grafton that are worth perusing. One of the best of them all is Pecorino, a European-style cheese shop. A foodie’s Aladdin’s Cave, this place offers a delicious selection of local and imported cheeses, from Gouda to Gorgonzola, all cut and packaged to order. An extensive selection of complementary specialties is also available, including charcuterie, fresh bread, crackers, spreads, honey, jams, olive oil, vinegar, nuts, dried fruits, and a selection of handcrafted European treats. For the perfect pairing, head to our wine boutique with bottles from small, sustainable producers and our selection of craft beers.   4. Swirls & Scoops Seasonal ice cream stands along Worcester Street and on the east shore of Ripple Lake make Grafton’s summer a little sweeter. Each year, Swirls & Scoop will be open for six months from April to September, offering about 50 hard serves, as well as flavor burst soft serve ice cream, sundaes, dairy-free Dole whips, frappes, ice cream floats, and frozen lemonades. Everyone has their favorite hard ice cream flavor, but notable ones include maple walnut, s’mores, black raspberry, cake batter, chocolate peanut butter, and pistachio.   5. Hassanamesit Woods A quiet corner of South Grafton is home to over 500 acres of forest managed jointly by the city’s Conservation and History Commissions. With that in mind, the Hassanamesit Woods Main Loop Trail offers a variety of downloadable guides, whether you want to learn more about the natural environment and the forest’s hidden human history, or you’re looking for an educational pastime for your kids. Evidence of human habitation is found in stone walls, granite blocks with pit marks, pits in cellars, tracks of wagons, and multiple felled tree trunks. Naturalist guides lead trails that lead from oak forests to white pine forests to wetlands.   6. Airport Park The city’s public parks with the best facilities are located in North West Grafton. Airport Park’s playground has plenty of equipment for all skill levels, and a separate jungle gym and swings for younger children and those aged 5-12. There is also a soccer field, two spectator baseball fields, and a basketball court, and the entire complex is surrounded by a fully paved outdoor walkway. Another option for parents is Perry Hill Park (3 Perry St), with well-maintained playgrounds and picnic areas just minutes north.  7. Hassanamisco Native American Museum As part of a larger tribe called the Nipmuk Nation, the Hassanamisco Nipmuk Nation owns an 11-acre state-granted reservation in Grafton on the southwest shore of Lake Ripple. Of course, Nipmuk’s history predates written records, but present-day Grafton became a “City of Prayer” when Puritan missionary John Eliot (1604-1690) converted the Hassanamikos family to Christianity in the mid-17th century. Their reserves can be traced back to 1727, when they were first acquired by Sarah Robbins, a Nipmac woman, and have been passed down by generations of women since. The homestead here is the oldest known frame house in the area to continue to be inhabited by Native Americans, and the reservation was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. At the time of this writing, the museum at this key location was temporarily closed for renovations.   8. Off the Common Antiques In a place like Grafton Common where history is on every page, it’s natural to find great antique shops. It’s just a short walk from Green on Worcester Street and has a wonderful home in an old petrol station that’s over 100 years old. Off the Common, Antiques is much larger than it looks from the outside. A dog-friendly, accessible store that sells furniture, decorative arts, vintage clothing, and more. In addition to antique treasures, the store also stocks contemporary