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