15 Best Things to Do in Westwood (MA)
Located on the western slopes of the Blue Hills, Westwood is a leafy suburb that split from neighboring Dedham in the late 1800s. A community of 16,000 people, Westwood covers a large area, with much land set aside for conservation. The large reserve is managed by the private organization Hale, is owned by a non-profit organization, and has its roots as a Boy Scout reserve in the early 20th century. Hale has extensive forest and pond areas for summer camps and programs, but is also open to the public and offers recreational opportunities. The affluent corners of the greater Boston area include the upscale shopping areas of Westwood and Dedham, as well as a number of old mansions and farms that have been turned into sanctuaries with elegant gardens, stable animals, and plenty of songbirds in summer. 1. Colburn School–High Street Historic District From 349 to 390 along High Street, you can learn about Westwood’s history. Most of the city’s public facilities are located on or near this street, as are about 40 historic homes. Most of these were built long before Westwood was incorporated as a town in 1897, but the 19th-century barns are a reminder of the country’s past. The notable building that gives this historic district its name is Colburn School (668 High St), built in 1874 in the Second Empire style. A little further north is the Classic Revival City Hall (580 High St), completed in 1910. This town hall was state of the art for its time with modern plumbing, steam heating, and electric lighting. 2. Legacy Place Located across Interstate 95 in Dedham, Legacy Place is an outdoor urban shopping and dining destination. Tailored to the area, the shops here are geared toward the top end of the market combined with many of the major malls. Overview: Tenants include Apple, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, and L.L. Bean, Gap, Sephora, Whole Foods, J.Crew, Loft, Francesca’s. Entertainment is provided by the premier Showcase Cinema Deluxe with 15 screens, lounge chairs, cinema dining, and Kings Dining & Entertainment, a combination bowling alley, bar, and restaurant. Legacy Place also has chains like Shake Shack, CAVA, Legal C Bar, and Yard House. 3. Lowell Woods North Westwood has a large city-owned nature reserve where you can hike nearly 300 acres of highland forest and wetlands along Purgatory Brook. Lowell Woods is made up of a patchwork of four nature reserves, each intersected by his three signposted trails (blue, red, and white). What’s interesting is that these trails are actually historic roads that were traversed many generations before automobile traffic. Perhaps the most beautiful scene is when the Blue Trail crosses Purgatory Brook over a beautiful footbridge. 4. Powisset Farm The farming history of Powisett Farm, adjacent to the Hale Reservation, dates back to the 17th century. Here, the Reservations Administration runs its CSA program, complete with educational kitchens, farm stands, and farm animals that kids will love. Away from the cultivated fields, trails meander through upland forests, cross streams, past spring-fed ponds, and through wetlands. As you walk, you might spot wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and bobolinks nesting in the grasslands. One of Powisett Farm’s programs is Summer His Camp, where children can experience the joys of country living, from caring for animals to tending crops to learning to prepare basic meals. 5. Rocky Woods Reservation The Reservation Management Board manages this 500-acre forest west of Westwood. Water is ubiquitous in the Rocky Woods, thanks in part to the reserve’s unique location in the Neponset and Charles River basins. Wetlands dot the landscape and are home to turtles, beavers, and bullfrogs. Five man-made ponds dot the grounds, the largest of which is Chickering Pond, which is surrounded by a 3/4-mile ring. The highest point in the Rocky Woods is the summit of Cedar Hill at the northeast end (435 feet), which offers sweeping views of the reserve to the southwest. 6. Firefighter’s Foam One of Westwood’s most unique annual traditions is held in July by the local fire department. ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS: Fireman’s Foam combines two water cannons and a ton of non-toxic dish soap to transform the Sheehan Elementary School grounds into a foamy wonderland. The bubbles reach several feet in height and children dive head-first into them. The first edition of Firefighter’s Foam took place in the 1980s and the event has become a staple of the summer. 7. Blue Hills Reservation Just east of Westwood rises the Blue Hills, which sits on a 7,000-acre reserve and is the tallest mountain in the Boston metropolitan area. This peak, Great Blue Hill (635 feet), is easily accessible from Westwood and offers views of the entire metropolitan area. In the 1880s, the mountain was chosen as the site of the Blue Hill Weather Station. Weather stations played an important role in early meteorological science and are still active as research sites and tourist attractions. Hike this series of 22 hills, visit the summer beaches of Hortons Pond, ski at the Blue Hills Ski Area, and learn about mountain ecology and history at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum’s kid-friendly terrain. 8. Adams Farm Less than five minutes from Westwood is 700 acres of public land in nearby Walpole. The largest single lot here is the town-owned Adams Farm, with 10 miles of trails through woods and fields, meeting old stone walls and benches and offering expansive views. In spring, birdsong fills the forests and rolling meadows with breeding species such as bobolinks, swallows, and eastern thrushes. Adams Farm is on the flight path of migrating monarch butterflies, and the purpose-built butterfly garden is magical from midsummer onwards. 9. Lambert’s Rainbow Market Founded nearly 70 years ago, Lambert’s is a local market chain with stores in Dorchester and Westwood’s Rainbow Square shopping centers. This has been his family business for three generations and what started as a fruit and vegetable market has grown into something bigger. New York-style deli, salad bar, delicious sub-menu, ready-to-eat meals
15 Best Things to Do in Easthampton (MA)
Nestled in the shadow of Mount Tom at 1,202 feet above sea level, Easthampton is a forward-thinking creative community surrounded by renowned university cities such as Northampton, Amherst, and Hadley. From the 19th century until just after World War II, East Hampton was the center of the textile industry, and the town has retained its distinctive cityscape of historic factory complexes. These massive brick buildings now house artist collectives, studios, restaurants, microbreweries, live music venues, indoor parks, and entertainment venues. The ponds that once powered these mills are now the backdrop to a charming city park with walking trails, boat rentals, and space for outdoor summer entertainment. 1. CitySpace (Old Town Hall) Easthampton’s old commercial center runs along several blocks of Main Street, from Northampton Street in the north to Center Street in the south. The borough has been the city’s civic and commercial center since it was incorporated in 1785, and the many buildings testify to Easthampton’s prosperity in the 19th century. The one-of-a-kind Old Town Hall was built in 1869 in theatrical Renaissance style with a 133-foot tall bell tower. Since 2006, the Landmark on the ground floor has been occupied by the non-profit City Spaces, which raises funds for the building’s restoration while also hosting his exciting live performances here at the Blue Room. 2. Nashawannuck Mills Historic District and Cottage Street Cultural District Overlooking the north shore of Nashawanak Pond is a vast complex of interconnected factory buildings built from the mid-1840s to the 1870s. These were manufactured for the Williston Elastic Suspender Company, later renamed the Nashawannuck Manufacturing Company. She made elastic fabrics for suspenders and webbing, and rubber parts for shoes. The stretch fabric business finally went out of business in 1970, but today the complex is home to a wide range of residents, from light industry to martial arts schools to artists’ cooperatives. Heading east brings you to the bustling Cottage Street Cultural District, a long line of independent restaurants, bars, stages, and shops, with Mount Tom on the eastern horizon. 3. Park Hill Orchard Just a few miles from central East Hampton, in the countryside, you’ll find an orchard that doubles as an outdoor art gallery. Park Hill Orchard grows about 100 varieties of fruit, including various types of blueberries, raspberries, plums, plums, blackberries, peaches, cherries, pears, and apples. There are about 48 kinds of apples alone, and you can enjoy apple picking from the end of summer. All of these produce and more are sold at rustic farm stands, which are open during Thanksgiving and are famous for their cider donuts and cider slush. In addition, Park Hill Orchard is an art destination that hosts juried installations every two years, in between annual invited exhibitions that typically feature two artists. The work can be admired along an 800-meter promenade that winds through orchards and orchards. 4. New City Brewery One of the tenants of this turn-of-the-century textile factory on Pleasant Street is New City Brewery, which has been brewing beer and lager since 2013. The brewery he moved to this atmospheric space in 2015 offers 12 beers. What you won’t find anywhere else in the flagship is a hard ginger beer in a pre-Prohibition style. It also tastes great as a mimosa with grapefruit juice or freshly squeezed orange juice. A variety of IPAs, lagers, and maltier also have New City Mules, which pair beautifully with Quiver Hibiscus Tea in a Hibiscus Mule. New City also has a kitchen stocked with extensive bar food, including vegetarian and vegan options. 5. Luthier’s Co-op & Backstage Bar This unique and highly respected local business calls itself “the world’s first full-service guitar bar.” By day, Luthier’s Co-op is a musical instrument store that specializes in stringed instruments, buying, selling, and repairing used and vintage guitars, basses, ukuleles, banjos, mandolins, and amplifiers. At night, the venue transforms into a lively entertainment venue, featuring open mics, spoken word, stand-up comedy, and multiple performances each night. The Backstage Bar serves signature cocktails, freshly ground and brewed coffee, and a variety of craft beers and ciders on tap. 6. Dinosaur Footprints Reservation This corner of Pioneer Valley holds a special place in paleontological history, as it is where the first scientifically described dinosaur footprints were discovered. During the early Jurassic period, about 200 million years ago, what is now the Connecticut River Valley was a subtropical area of lakes and wetlands. Here, two-legged dinosaurs up to 20 feet long left footprints preserved in mudflats that eventually turned into sandstone. Discovered in 1802, these castings were originally made by crows fleeing Noack’s Ark before the scientific community realized their significance in the second half of the century. Nearly 20 tracks left by small herbivores and large carnivores can be studied on eight acres owned by the Reservation Board in adjacent Holyoke. 7. Chicoine Family Farm In the idyllic west corner of East Hampton is the Sicoine family farm since 1933. William Chicoin began raising cattle in the 1970s on what used to be a dairy farm, long before terms like farm-to-table beef and grass-fed beef became fashionable. The herd of approximately 70 cows is exclusively grass-fed and never given steroids, growth hormones, or antibiotics, so the impact on quality is evident. The Chicoin Family Farm shop is open on Sundays and also sells organic chicken and pork raised on-site. 8. Prodigy Minigolf & Gameroom You might be surprised to find an indoor miniature golf course and game room for ages 13 and up on the ground floor of Eastworks Mill. The 18-hole course is video game-inspired and is considered one of the most challenging and rewarding. There are also about 60 different video game consoles from the 1970s to the 90’s, including some new ones. Add table games from billiards to air his hockey and his 200+ board games for a night of intense competition with friends. 9. Fort Hill Brewery Opened in 2014, this craft brewery was founded by alumni of
15 Best Things to Do in Northborough (MA)
First settled by Europeans in the 17th century, the city of Northborough in central Massachusetts is traversed by the former Boston Post Road (US Route 20), which forms its main street. There are some interesting signs along this historic thoroughfare. One refers to the site where a young woman, Mary Goodnow, was murdered by her Native Americans in 1707 during Queen Anne’s War. The headquarters of the Northborough Historical Society, his mid-19th century converted church, is home to an unusually opulent headquarters filled with artifacts highlighting over 350 years of local history. For decades, family farms throughout the city will entice you with homemade cakes and cider donuts, or invite you to pick some fruit. 1. Old Farm Trail Part of a great trail network through Northboro city lands is the Old Farm Trail on the border with Marlborough. The trail is named after Stirrup Brook Farm, an old dairy farm that was sold over 60 years ago. Where once pastures are now densely forested, the Old Farm Trail reveals the strange remnants of life in the past. These are historical vehicles that were abandoned in the fields of the time in his mid-twentieth century and slowly fell into disrepair. The most intact of these is his light blue 1953 Oldsmobile 88 sandwiched between two trees. The Old Farm Trail meanders along the Assabet River and Stirrup Brook, past several picnic spots, and joins the Bird Song Trail southeast near Main Street. 2. Sawyer’s Bowladrome Cozy local bowling alleys, like this one on Main Street, are a feature of many communities in this part of the state. Sawyers Bowldrome dates back to 1953 and was used for candlepin bowling, a regional variant of tenpin bowling that was popular in Worcester around 1880. For beginners in this style, there is a small ball that feels comfortable in the hand, but the pin is tall and narrow, making it much more difficult to knock down. With low ceilings and just six lanes, Sawyers Bowldrome is anything but a modern alley, and even more so for that matter. You have to use pencil and paper to score, but there are also automation features such as ball return and pin clear. 3. Assabet Park Close to public buildings such as City Hall and the Northboro Free Library, this public park has undergone some modernization in recent years. Asahbet Park, which reopens in the summer of 2022, features an all-new playground with ADA-compliant equipment on soft, safe, rubberized surfaces. Another great facility for young families on a hot day is the children’s pool with various atomizers, bubblers, and geysers in a large asphalted area. Parents can pack a picnic and beach chairs to enjoy a few hours of summer fun at an affordable price. 4. Mary Goodnow Grave Along Boston Post Road, find a powerful clue to Northborough’s violent past at the site of the 1707 murder of a person named Mary Goodno. This happened during Queen Anne’s War (1702-1717) when Native Americans allied with France raided the Marlborough area. As Mary was gathering herbs in the meadow, she saw a group of twenty or more warriors approaching. Her bravery reportedly allowed her to surrender to her attackers and allow her two children and a pregnant companion to reach safety in the garrison. The grounds feature her 1899 stone marker and are accessed from the Pheasant Hill parking lot via a trail through the woods. 5. Ski Ward Ski Area Since the late 1930s, generations of budding skiers have learned the basics on this small mountain in the Shrewsbury city limits. Ski wards with 100% snow cover have extended ski and snowboard seasons. There are 9 slopes of equal weight for beginners (3), intermediate (3), and advanced (3), all he is operated by 4 lifts. This is the ideal place for beginners and in winter he has 100 teachers for a wide range of individual and group tuition programs. A big draw for many families is his eight subway rides with two elevators to help keep lines to a minimum. The mountain remains a recreational spot for the rest of the year, thanks to a summer tubing park. 6. Northborough Crossing An outdoor mall located at the intersection of Route 9 and Route 20 in the southern part of the city. Northborough Crossing is a mix of large stores, small shopping centers, chain restaurants, and Wegmans branches. Retailers found here include Kohl’s, Old Navy, Ulta Beauty, Claire’s, The Paper Store and T.J. Maxx, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Michals, Homesense, and PetSmart. For food, there’s QDOBA and IHOP, and Burger King, Starbucks, and Anzio’s Brick Oven Pizza are nearby. 7. Juniper Hill Golf Course Less than a mile southeast of central Northboro is a 36-hole public golf course and a newly modernized clubhouse with barbecue facilities, a pro shop, and a golf instruction center. His first of two 18-hole courses in Juniper Hills is the Riverside Course, which dates back to 1931. The course has been improved over the years and is known for its idyllic scenery along the banks of the Assabet River. Opened in 1991, the Lakeside Course is the more difficult of the two courses. Blending in with the majestic New England landscape, this 18-hole is Carolina-style, with his par-3 8th and his 14th calling for bold tee shots from the water. 8. Ellsworth McAfee Park Widely acclaimed for its excellent maintenance, Northborough Community Park is located south of the city near the border with Westborough and has many active recreational facilities. In a nutshell, there’s a skate park, basketball court, pickleball court, multipurpose arena, and two playgrounds. A long exercise trail winds through the park and leads to a secluded pond at the northern end. There is also a large gazebo available for rent. On Thursday nights from late June through mid-August, Ellsworth McAfee Park will be the stage for Northboro’s annual Summer His concert series. 9. Boundless Adventures Zipline and Aerial Park A zipline and high-rope park
15 Best Things to Do in North Reading (MA)
Established as an independent town in the 1850s, North Reading has a history of European settlement dating back two centuries. The historic 200-year-old historic district meeting house is his third in this location and stands at the highest point in a majestic community of historic buildings. North Reading’s finest parks are also scenic on the shady banks of the tranquil Ipswich River. In the center, you can visit companies that have been in the industry for decades and there are many nearby attractions such as a mini golf course, an indoor playground for children under 10, and a go-kart track. 1. Reverend Daniel Putnam House The headquarters of the North Reading Society of Historical and Antiquities is located in this colonial mansion on the east side of Town Common for over 300 years. The house was built for the purpose of persuading the pastor to settle in the parish. The Reverend Daniel Putnam (1696-1759) ministered here from 1720 until his death, and under his contract, he owned 20 acres of land, two of which are his home to this day. was around Also on the grounds is the West Village Schoolhouse (1845), his one-room schoolhouse that was moved to this location in the 1980s. Reverend Daniel Putnam’s home can be visited during open houses and social events. 2. BFM Driving & Mini Golf If you want to hone your golf skills or are looking for a family-friendly activity, there is a combination driving range and miniature golf course at 327 Main Street in North West Reading. BFM’s 18-hole mini golf course is surrounded by rock gardens with animal models. The holes themselves are fun for kids, but the lack of crazy obstacles allows serious putters to show off their skills. The driving range now features 28 hitting stations, re-laid mats, pinnacle, and top-flight balls, multiple targets to choose from, and lighting for after-dark play. 3. The Big Dipper Ice Cream Stand After playing mini-golf at BFM, families can enjoy a cold treat at the ice cream stand next door. You can walk from the parking lot. There are some picnic tables out front. Big Dipper not only offers high-quality dairy ice cream but also caters to a variety of dietary needs and preferences with delicious vegan, fat-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free options. With about 40 varieties of hard ice cream, from toasted coconut to mint chocolate chips, as well as low-fat frozen yogurt, a variety of sherbets and sherbets, and soft cream, there’s sure to be something that piques your interest. You should find it. 4. Hornet’s Nest Sub Shop Just off Town Common is a sandwich shop with no shortcuts that have been around for over half a century. Hornet’s Nest Sub Shop opened in 1972 and quickly became famous for its cheesesteak sub shop. They continue to be the star of the menu and, like all steak subs sold in the store, are prepared using only the finest beef loin. Our steaks are hand-shavings daily and are never frozen or pre-sliced. The bread is also freshly baked and the turkey sub meat is oven roasted on site. Don’t forget to try the Italian-style thin-crust pizza made with homemade hand-kneaded dough. 5. Ryers Store At the southwest end of Town Green is a traditional country shop dating back to 1912. Lyr’s Store features a deli, hot bar, salad bar, freshly baked bread, hot and cold sandwiches, freshly brewed Pierce Brothers coffee, Richardson ice cream, a wide selection of beers and wines, gourmet specialties Goods and various sweets available. A unique strength here is Lyre’s own selection of house-made marinated meats, and a list of signature sandwiches includes premium Dietz & Watson cold cuts. Daily specials are posted on the store’s website and always offer a variety of fresh hot soups Monday through Friday. 6. Shriners Auditorium Opened in 1977, this spacious venue in the North Reading/Wilmington downtown area was built as a headquarters by Boston-based Aleppo Shriners and is still owned by the Doyukai. The Shriners Auditorium has approximately 40,000 feet of exhibition space within the arena and has hosted a variety of events over the past 45 years, from conventions, antique shows, banquets, and concerts to wrestling, mixed martial arts, and boxing. It’s been done. A milestone on the calendar is the annual Shriners Circus in April. Its history dates back to 1951 and he is known as an aviator, dancer, daredevil stuntman on a motorcycle, and the famous Aleppo clown. 7. Cowabunga’s Inflatable Playground For parents with children under the age of 10, there is an indoor inflatable park at the Atlantic Plaza Shopping Center in North Reading. Safer than a trampoline park, the Cowabunga Inflatable Playground is a small world of inflatable attractions where you can bounce, climb and slide for an exhilarating hour or two. There are open bouncing areas, huge slides, all kinds of inflatable obstacles, and huge climbing structures with foam ball blasters. Whether you want to rent out the entire area for a private celebration or use the public space for yourself, the playground is the centerpiece of your birthday party. 8. K1 Speed The Boston branch of this national chain of indoor kart tracks is just minutes from Wilmington. K1 Speed opened here in 2015 with two challenging tracks and a fleet of powerful electric karts. Unlike petrol-powered carts with lawnmower engines, these eco-friendly machines have zero rpm maximum torque and can rocket out of corners. The easiest way to stay on track is with an arrival and drive package. After each race, you will receive a results sheet detailing the times for that session and the previous week or month for the riders. Perfect for corporate events and group celebrations, K1 Speed has a café serving snacks and drinks, and an arcade with billiards and air hockey tables. 9. Reading Town Forest The southwest corner of the city borders an attractive 290-acre protected area on the Ipswich River. The Readingtown Forest was founded in the
15 Best Things to Do in South Hadley (MA)
Located on the east bank of the Connecticut River, South Hadley is best known for being home to the historic Mount Holyoke College. Founded in 1837, this prestigious women’s liberal arts college has perhaps the finest campus in New England. Magnificent brick architecture, fall foliage, mosaic gardens, and sights like the exceptional Mount Holyoke College Museum of Art and the Skinner Museum, a fascinating curiosity cabinet housed in an ancient church, are worth enjoying. To the north of South Hadley is the Trapprock Ridge of the Holyoke Mountains. Two state parks are easily accessible for hiking and bluff views. 1. Lady Bea Boat Rides From Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day, travel along the mighty Connecticut River aboard this cruise ship docked at Brunel’s Marina in South Hadley. This is a family business and Lady Bea is named after her early 20th century matriarch. In season, cruises depart at 1:00, 4:00, and 6:00 pm Thursday through Sunday, with additional departures at 7:00 pm on sunny days in midsummer. Listen to a fun and engaging narration full of historical tidbits as you travel upstream to Northampton and back, enjoying spectacular scenery along the way. Lady Bea is also available for private charters, parties, and corporate outings and has a fully stocked bar serving drinks and snacks. 2. McCray’s Farm For nearly half a century, this local dairy has welcomed the public to a variety of activities and events. In the fall, the best part is taking a hay wagon ride to the pumpkin fields and star gazing after dark. Since its inception in 1991, this haunted hay wagon with a haunted park has been one of the most popular Halloween attractions in western Massachusetts every weekend in October. McCray’s Farm also has a mini golf course, a children’s playground, and a petting zoo where you can feed sheep, cows, ducks, and goats. As for the food, there are plenty of ice cream flavors and sandwiches ranging from burgers to melts to wraps to hot dogs. 3. Skinner Museum Silk magnate Joseph Allen Skinner (1862-1946) was a principal patron of Mount Holyoke College and bequeathed a very diverse collection after his death. The work is kept at Mount He’s Holyoke University Museum of Art, displayed as a cabinet of traditional curiosities in the memorable setting of the old First Congregational Church (1846) in Prescott, Massachusetts. Every square inch of available space is filled with Native American artifacts, marine-related items, rare books and documents, minerals and fossils, 19th-century memorabilia, fine glassware, pottery, historic lighting, and marine ethnography. It is filled with items such as 4. Tower Theaters A two-screen movie theater, open since 1989, is housed in a pretty gabled building on the Village Commons. Tower Theaters is a boutique hotel, but the auditorium has ample space and large, comfortable seating. Being a small business, service is a big improvement over corporate complexes, with lots of nice touches like freshly baked popcorn and refills on most drinks. You can usually see Hollywood premieres, indie movies, and sometimes cult and classic movies here. 5. Odyssey Bookshop A must-stop at the Village Commons is the independent bookstore, which opened in 1963. The Odyssey Bookshop is the exclusive retailer of Mount Holyoke University textbooks, but there’s also a top-notch children’s section on the ground floor that’s a must-see for parents. If you live in South Hadley, you can take advantage of the Booklover program for frequent shopping and discounts. One of the notable things about this store is that it has a very busy calendar of events. Several authors appear each week in book readings, question-and-answer sessions, and book signings. 6. Mount Holyoke Range State Park If Skinner State Park whets your appetite for cinematic scenery and unique rock formations, explore the eastern half of the range at Mt Holyoke Range State Park. There are more than 3,700 acres of wilderness here, followed by the Metacomet Monadnock Trail, which stretches along the ridge for miles. If you’re hiking east to the highest point in the range, Mount Norwotuck (1,106 feet), the Notch Visitor Center is a great place to pit and get your bearings. Away from the ledges, the park offers miles of hiking trails through forests and wetlands, and some of the best mountain biking in the area along the Serpentine and roller-coaster trails. 7. Ledges Golf Club Located near the eastern bank of the Connecticut River, this 18-hole public course is set in beautiful and varied scenery. Some are open-and-link style holes that incorporate natural wetlands, while others pass through undulating mature forests. The course has a number of elevated tees and greens offering great views of the surrounding hills. He can choose from 4 sets of tees to suit his skill level. Aside from the woods, the main obstacle is his 78 bunkers, which are known to be tough on even the most experienced players. Amenities include a driving range, a short game area, an accessible clubhouse, a golf shop, and a sunset grill to relax after a round. 8. ValleyBike Share Over the past decade, the City of South Hadley has put a lot of effort into improving its infrastructure to make it safer for motorcycle travelers. The city is already characterized by relatively low car traffic. You may have noticed that US 116 and US 202 have designated minor curb bike lanes along Morgan Street and Lyman Street. With this in mind, South Hadley is Pioneer Valley’s first bike-sharing program, with police stations and stations in town. Pay per ride or become a member and enjoy unlimited 45-minute rides daily, monthly, or yearly. 9. Buttery Brook Park South Hadley’s largest public park is located south of the city, about three miles from downtown. Situated along the creek of the same name that meanders through the park’s vast open fields, the property was chartered by the city in the late 1950s and used by the fire department until the 1990s. A great summer attraction for
15 Best Things to Do in Concord (MA)
Revolutionary and literary histories collide in this fascinating city. On April 19, 1775, the first British army was killed at the hands of American colonial militiamen, firing “a gunshot heard all over the world.” The famous transcendentalist who coined the term, Ralph Wald He Emerson (1803-1882), spent most of his adult life in Concord and wrote about some of the greatest writers and thinkers in American history. was an instructor. From the mid-19th century, Concord became a hotbed of ideas and creativity for Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), and Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864). In Concord, spend a few days exploring its many monuments of overwhelming importance, artifact-filled museums, and lovingly preserved historic homes. All these can captivate and impress anyone today. 1. North Bridge Visitor Center The National Historical Park’s North Bridge Visitor Center occupies a mansion built by the descendants of Major John Buttrick, the officer who first ordered the militia to open fire on British forces. For background information, watch his eight-minute film detailing the events leading up to the battle with its grave consequences. An interesting exhibit is his “Hancock”, one of his four brass cannons smuggled out of Boston. The recovery of this cannon was one of the main reasons for General Gage’s dispatch of British regulars to Concord on 19 April 1775. The manor house is a short walk from the bridge but is very scenic and has a magnificent formal garden open to the public. 2. The Old Manse Along the Concord River overlooking the Northbridge is a Georgian house built in 1770 with a fascinating history, even by Concord standards. The Old Parsonage is managed by the Reservation Board of Trustees and was built for Ralph Wald his Emerson grandfather. I lived here in my 20’s and 30’s. During this time he wrote the first draft of Nature (1836) and proposed marriage to Lydian Jackson. Nathaniel Hawthorne then stayed here for several fruitful years as newlyweds in the 1840s with his wife Sophia Peabody, writing some twenty sketches and short stories during their stay. Shortly before their arrival, Henry David Thoreau planted a vegetable garden for the couple on the property as a wedding gift. The structure of the house has remained largely unchanged for over 250 years, and each room is filled with mementos of America’s most revered figures. Particularly moving is the little poem the Hawthorne family carved into their windows for each other some 180 years ago. 3. Walden Pond State Reservation For two years beginning in 1845, Henry David Thoreau lived in a one-room cottage on the north bank of the pond. This stay later formed the basis of his famous book Walden. Or “Life in the Forest” (1854), which recalls a simple life in a natural environment. Many believe that these ideas laid the foundation for the conservation movement of the second half of this century. Feel connected to nature at this 335-acre state park centered around Kesseloch Pond, formed by retreating glaciers about 10,000 years ago. A granite stake marks the original location of Thoreau’s hut. Visit the visitor center to see replicas, exhibits, and shops of the Solow Society. The pond is a popular spot for swimming and boating in the summer and is surrounded by walking trails and picnic areas near the shore. 4. Ralph Waldo Emerson House The roots of Concord’s decades-long activity as a literary center can be traced to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s return to the city with his wife Lydian in 1835, shortly after their marriage. Emerson will live in this house at 28 Cambridge Turnpike for the rest of his life, almost fifty years. During this time he completed the final draft of his seminal essay Nature in his 1836 and Independence in 1841. Emerson’s speeches and writings drew other writers and thinkers to Concord, many of whom visited his home. And the barn on the property not only housed livestock, but was also used at one point as a classroom for Emerson’s children, Lizzie and Abbie Alcott, Lizzie and Barry Goodwin, and Caroline Pratt. The house is open until the end of October and is on display in its early 1870s restoration. 5. The Wayside This house is believed to be over 300 years old. Early in the revolution, the house was occupied by Samuel Whitney, his 1775 Massachusetts congressman and pattern master of the Minutemen of Concord. The Wayside, adjacent to Orchard House, is best known for its rich literary establishments and requires a guided tour. Louisa Her Mae Her Alcott lived here with her family from her early teens until she was 20 years old. Renowned author Nigel Hawthorne then moved in, making it the only home he owned. Between trips to Europe, he lived here from 1852 to his death in 1864, and shortly thereafter (from 1879 to 1881) the poet and novelist George Parsons Lathrop. continued. For the next 40 years, Wayside was the home of successful children’s author Harriet Lothrop (pseudonym Margaret Sidney), who lived here with her publisher husband, Daniel Lothrop. 6. Verrill Farm This sustainably managed farm in Concord has been owned by the same family since 1918 and the land has been cultivated for over three centuries. Thanks to methods such as tillage, crop rotation, and the use of organic matter as fertilizer, Beryl Farm’s soil is more fertile than ever before. From June, you can buy PYO strawberries, hand-cut sunflowers, and PYO sweet corn, and there are many pumpkin fields. This time of year hosts numerous events, including Family Farm Day in September and his annual Thanksgiving in October, with live music, hay wagon rides, farm animals, and games. The field-front farmer’s market and greenhouse are open 24/7 and sell fresh, homemade produce, delis, fresh pastries, cakes, flowers, and plants. 7. Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge The original of the two units on this 12-mile wetlands reserve is in Concord. These are two ponds along the Concord River that drain in the summer
15 Best Things to Do in Walpole, Massachusetts
Located less than 25 miles from downtown Boston, Walpole is a lovely setting in a small New England town. Located in a charming town square, the historic center is quaint and fresh, with alfresco restaurants and a thriving farmer’s market in summer. The city has acquired vast tracts of land for peaceful rest. An extensive trail system, including sections of the Bay Circuit Trail, takes you from high forested slopes with distant views to boardwalks in wetlands teeming with life. Foxborough is just south of Walpole, and Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, is just five minutes from downtown. Walpole Center If I had to imagine a quintessential New England small town, it would look a lot like downtown Walpole. It is still next to the parish square and was the site of the town’s first parish hall in 1739 and a rallying point for the local militia in the years before the Revolution. The Common Street side is very beautiful with grand homes and landmarks such as the United He Church (1839). Town Common is at the south end of Main Street and has a ridiculous dining scene for a city of its size. Sandwich shops, pizzerias, and restaurants serving Chinese, Mexican, and diner fare are within a few blocks. To the east are public buildings such as City Hall and the Walpole Public Library, and next to Springbrook Park is Walpole’s lively Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings from mid-June to late October. Francis William Bird Park It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite public space near Walpole, but this park was founded in 1925 by businessman Charles Sumner Byrd Sr. and his wife Anna in memory of his eldest son, who died in 1918. is a strong candidate. Managed by the Trustees of Reservations, Francis William Bird Park covers 90 acres of wooded open fields dotted with water features, streams and three ponds . There are three miles of trails for easy recreation and facilities for more strenuous activities. There are basketball courts, four tennis courts, a playground with a sandbox, and a paved area with tricycles and pedal cars. Showcase Cinema De Lux Patriot Place Showcase Cinemas’ exclusive Cinema Deluxe brand was launched at Patriot Place in 2008. This first location has 14 screens and all the stadium seating, while the Lux Level offers oversized motorized loungers with rotating trays for food and drinks. Lux Level also offers the option to order meals at your seat, with full restaurant and bar menus available. Elsewhere, Studio 3 is a casual restaurant and cocktail lounge with lunch and dinner menus. Concert on the Common Series During the summer months, the Walpole Recreation Department hosts a season of outdoor concerts in July and August. Common Series concerts date back decades, and performances are usually held on Tuesday nights, sometimes traveling to nearby Stonefield. Feel free to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets, and choose restaurants at the Walpole Center before or after the show. In mid-September, the Main Street Live event will take downtown by storm, ending the summer with a full line-up of musical talent, food he trucks, and beer and wine tents. Rodman Arena Walpole has a highly rated ice facility with two Olympic-sized and NHL-sized ice rinks. A preeminent sports center, Rodman Arena is home to several local high school teams and hosts numerous hockey tournaments throughout the year, including the Battle of Boston, the Premier Hockey League Playoffs and the Eastern Hockey League Showcase . This is also a community-focused facility with myriad programs in hockey development, local leagues, figure skating, speed skating, and foundational skills. For a more casual experience, there are public ice sessions for public ice skating and public hockey several times a week. Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary This 104-acre Mass Audubon Nature Reserve is part of a larger nature reserve near Norfolk and adjacent to Bristol Blake State Reserve. Stoney Brook is the site of a colonial gristmill, where forests, fields and extensive wetlands have returned to nature. The stunning sensory trails above the wetlands make this reserve attractive to visitors. Here you’ll find a thriving ecosystem with shorebirds such as turtles, waterfowl and great blue herons. Noon Hill Reservation Noon Hill Reservation, another local connection on the Bay Circuit Trail, is less than five minutes away in Medfield. This 200+ acre site includes the famous Noon Hill summit for another spectacular view. Dense forests of hemlock, pine, birch and beech grow on slopes and ridges that were once meadows, and in spring the forest floor is dotted with beautiful wildflowers. The history of Holt Pond here dates back to 1764. At this time, the sawmill creek was dammed to run the mill. Your adventure doesn’t have to end here. The trail leads to Trustee’s Shattuck Reservation on Charles’s River. Moose Hill Farm Adjacent to Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, the Reservation Trust maintains 347 acres of historic farmland. The location is sensational, near the top of Moose Hill (466 feet), his second-highest between Boston and Providence. The hill offers views of the Boston skyline and the region’s highest peak, the Great Blue Hill. Surrounded by ancient American chestnut trees, Moose Hill Farm has more than 20 preserved farm buildings, as well as forests and archaeological sites dating back to the 18th century. The trustee also keeps livestock here, including chickens, pigs, and a small herd of cattle (for grass-fed beef). Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary Across from Walpole on Interstate 95 is a vast nature reserve that was first owned by the Massachusetts Audubon Society in 1916. Consisting of fields, woodlands, wetlands, and kettle hole ponds, Moose Hill Wildlife Refuge covers approximately 2,000 acres. There are 25 miles of hiking trails through the landscape, including sections of the Bay Circuit and the Warner Trail. A memorable walk is the Bluff Trail, which leads to a lookout with beautiful views of the forest, which is even more beautiful in the fall. Not to be confused with nearby Moose Hill Farm, which
14 Best Things to Do in Burlington, Massachusetts
Burlington is a leafy suburb on a picturesque town square 12 miles northwest of downtown Boston. It was a small community until after World War II when the completion of Route 128 increased the population tenfold. Still standing in the town square today, the meeting house helped John Hancock and Samuel Adams escape British forces on the eve of the Battle of Lexington, which started the American Revolutionary War. One of his things that draws people from across the metropolitan area is the upscale Burlington Mall, which is also home to the comedy Paul His Brat.Mall Cop (2009) was filmed. Burlington Ice Palace This full-service Burlington ice skating facility is operated by the city in partnership with FMC Ice Sports. Burlington Ice Palace opened in 1998 and offers a wide range of basic skating, figure skating and hockey programs. The rink is home to several teams, organizations and camps including the Winchester Figure Skating Club, Burlington Hockey & Skating Association, South Middlesex Coyotes and Stinky Sox Hockey. There are several public skating and pick-up hockey sessions each week, and facilities include a snack bar, skate rentals, skate grinding, free Wi-Fi, and party rooms. AMC Burlington 10 Across the Middlesex Turnpike from Burlington Mall is the 10-screen multiplex, which opened in 1994. All screens have been updated over the years and feature AMC signature recliners so you can sit back and watch movies in comfort. AMC has also upgraded its concession stand to serve flatbread pizza and mac & cheese snacks. As always, there’s a discount on the matinee show (30% at the time of this writing) and a Tuesday special with tickets for just $5. Kings Dining & Entertainment Burlington The Kings Dining & Entertainment chain has multiple locations, primarily in Massachusetts, but also has branches in Florida and Illinois. Bowling alleys, arcades, billiards, karaoke, etc. are basically family-oriented, but they are leisure facilities for adults. The menu includes snacks to share, pizza, wings, tacos, sandwiches, salads, burgers, and fries, while the drink menu features a wide range of cocktails as well as craft beers from local breweries. . On weekdays, bowling, arcades, and billiards are all-you-can-eat for under $20 at the time of writing. Lexington Burlington is a stone’s throw from historic Lexington, where the first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired on April 19, 1775. As part of Minute Man National Park, the site of the Battle of Lexington is preserved in the town square, where you can still see bullet holes in the doors made from British musket bullets at Buckman Tavern can do. Visit colonial houses scattered throughout the city. Many of them have compelling stories. One of his was the Hancock Clark House, where Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Dorothy Quincy stayed the night before the battle before Paul Revere arrived on Midnight Ride to defend himself against the oncoming enemy in present-day Burlington. safely transported to British to warn regulars. His 10-mile (10-mile) rail route from Bedford to Cambridge’s Alewife station, the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway allows you to follow the Libyan route. Burlington Public Library Burlington residents are proud of their excellent public library located off the Town Common next to the police station. Dating back to the 1850s, this was a modest establishment that was moved from building to building, but Burlington’s rapid growth in the 1950s and his ’60s necessitated a new purpose building. The library he opened in 1968 and was renovated and expanded in the mid-1990s. Over the past two decades, the library has added computers, Wi-Fi, and a wealth of downloadable books, music, and videos to complement its physical collection. It is also a community center with a few programs, from art appreciation to fairy tales and handicrafts. Mill Pond Conservation Area Less than a mile east of Town Common is Mill Pond Reservoir, in the center of a 140-acre protected area managed by the Burlington Conservation Commission. Mill Pond is the largest single area managed by the organization, with a loop of approximately 2 miles past wetlands and spring ponds, through evergreen forest and around water. The banks of the reservoirs provide excellent opportunities for spotting waterfowl during the summer and autumn migrations. Bumpheads, ring-necked ducks and blue-winged karakkjacks have already been sighted here. The Burlington Players This multi-award winning community theater company presents at the Park Playhouse in Burlington’s Overlook Park. The Burlington Players are an all-volunteer group that provides a training system for new members looking to improve their performance and production skills. In a typical season he has four productions, with recent highlights including The Bridges of Madison County, Women in Danger, Sweeney Her Todd, What Her Mother Taught Me, Farnsworth and the invention of The Eastern Massachusetts Community Theaters Association (EMCT) has repeatedly recognized the group for its acting, directing, props, costume design and lighting. Burlington Players also runs a Children’s Theater Workshop program for students in grades 1 through her 7th. Meeting House of the Second Parish in Woburn (United Church of Christ, Congregational) One of the oldest surviving religious buildings in Massachusetts is located in Burlington in the southwest corner of Simmons Park. When this church was built in his 1732, the area that would later become Burlington was still part of Woburn. The Minutemen are known to have gathered here in his 1775, and the parishioner priesthood to strategically withdraw Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Dorothy Quincy from Lexington on the night of April 19, 1775. person supported. After renovations in 1846 and his 1888, the building is an interesting mix of Colonial, Greek and Colonial Revival styles. Burlington Sculpture Park Across Town Common on the east side is a newly launched art project as part of a long-term plan to reshape Burlington’s identity and extend its reputation beyond the mall. The Sculpture Park Commission worked with the New England Sculptor Association to decorate this space with fascinating artwork. When I compiled this list, there were 11 sculptures featuring artists from the Massachusetts and New England areas. A