Massachusetts - Attractions

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
125 West Bay Road
Amherst, MA  01002  
Phone: 413- 658-1100
Email: info@picturebookart.org

Open: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sundays, noon–5 p.m.

Founded in part by Eric Carle, the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the first full-scale museum in this country devoted to national and international picture book art, conceived and built with the aim of celebrating the art that we are first exposed to as children. The Museum features three Galleries dedicated to rotating exhibitions of picture book art, a hands-on Art Studio, an Auditorium for performances and lectures, a comfortable Library for reading and storytelling, a Café serving simple and delicious fare, and a Museum Shop stocked with creative gifts and old and new picture book favorites.

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
Exit 26 Rotary
Greenfield, MA  01301  
Phone: 413-773-5463
Email: fccc@crocker.com

Downshift off Interstate 91 and travel one of the country's original highways - through the surprisingly unspoiled time warp that is Franklin County. Its countryside is beautiful, its history rich and its culture eclectic. Franklin County is the most rural county in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it shows! Farms, Farms, and valleys form our historic villages and bustling towns. There is so much to do here - in our fine museums, educational institutions, and cultural centers - but most of all, in our great outdoors! If you like New England, you'll love Franklin County!

Historic Deerfield
88 Old Main Street
Deerfield, MA  01342  
Phone: 413-775-7214
Email: info@historic-deerfield.org

Open: Daily, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; call for seasonal changes.

Historic Deerfield is “New England as you hope to find it!” Located in western Massachusetts off Routs 5 and 10 in the 330-year old village of Deerfield, the Museum has been called “the gem of rural New England,” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This Museum of New England’s history and art welcomes visitors of all ages from around the world to Deerfield’s mile-long thoroughfare, simply called, “The Street.” The Museum features twelve houses dating to the 18th and 19th centuries and three exhibition galleries within the Flynt Center of Early New England Life. Historic Deerfield’s decorative arts treasures can be viewed on both the guided and self-guided tours. A full calendar of programs, special events, group tours and village walking tours are offered throughout the year. The Museum Store and Bookshop feature gifts for all occasions, museum reproductions and a wide selection of books about early America and the decorative arts. Open Daily, year round, 9:30-4:30 except Thanksgiving, Dec. 24 & 25.

Look Memorial Park
300 North Main Street
Florence, MA  01062  
Phone: 413-584-5457

Look Memorial Park is located on the Berkshire Trail (Route 9) in the Florence section of Northampton, in the heart of the Pioneer Valley. The park consists of over 150 acres and is open all year during daylight hours. Memorial Day thru Labor Day the park offers bumper boats, a picnic store, the Christiansen Zoo and a water spray park. Extended thru Columbus Day is a steamer railroad, pedal boats and miniature golf. Enjoy tennis from April thru November and year round playgrounds and walking paths. The Pines Theater also located in the park hosts a Summer Concert Series and the Children’s Entertainment Series. Look Park also holds special events for children throughout the year from an “Annual Easter Egg Hunt” to “Breakfast with Santa.”

Six Flags New England
Route 159
Agawam, MA  01001  
Phone: 413-786-9300
Fax: 413-821-9939
   

MORE FLAGS, MORE FUN!

Six Flags New England is the best destination for family fun with children’s favorites like Wiggles World and Thomas Town. New England’s largest water park, Hurricane Harbor, is FREE with park admission and boasts more than a dozen slides and children's play areas. Superman: Ride of Steel, the #1 steel coaster on the planet, continues to thrill guests with an elevation of 22 stories and speeds of up to 77 mph. Don’t forget Bugs Bunny and all his Looney Tunes friends! There’s no end to the fun with an array of interactive shows and over 20 concerts and special events. Bring the whole family this season to experience the thrill of Six Flags New England. Visit our website for more information.

Springfield Museums
21 Edwards Street
Springfield, MA  01103  
Phone: 413-263-6800
Email: info@springfieldmuseums.org

Visit New England’s own “mini-Smithsonian,” four outstanding museums arranged around a beautiful park that is also the site of the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. For a single admission fee, you’ll have the opportunity to view French Impressionist paintings, take a “safari” through Africa, visit the country’s only permanent exhibit gallery of Currier & Ives prints, see the largest collection of Chinese cloisonné in the Western world, wander among larger-than-life figures of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters, enjoy American art from Colonial to contemporary times, encounter exact replicas of the world’s great Classical and Renaissance sculptures, and much more. Four museums. One admission fee. Free parking. Museum Store.

The Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center
Sumner Avenue (Route 83)
Springfield, MA  01138  
Phone: 413-733-2251

The Forest Park Zoo, located in Forest Park, a 735 acre woodland park in Springfield, features exotic and indigenous animals representing a large variety of species found throughout the world and in North America. Experience the world of exotic animals and local wildlife as never before. Take a train trip around the park, explore freshwater pond life, learn about endangered animals and captive breeding programs. Get to know the creatures that frequent your backyard, and visit a Heritage Breeds Barn. Shop in our unique gift shop for unusual, educational, or whimsical gift items. Enjoy the gardens, seasonal exhibits, programs, and events.

Boston Common Frog Pond Skating Rink
Boston Common
Boston, MA
Phone: 617-635-2120

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - Grand Opening of the Boston Common Frog Pond Skating Rink

Join us in celebrating opening day at the Boston Common Frog Pond Skating Rink, Wednesday, November 15 at 6:00 p.m. Opening ceremony begins at the Frog Pond Skating Rink where Mayor Thomas M. Menino will officially open the Frog Pond Skating Rink on the Boston Common. For the skating enthusiasts FREE admission available this evening from 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area
Boston, MA  02110
Phone: 617-223-8666
Email: Boha_information@nps.gov

Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area offers a quiet place to relax, explore, camp, swim, fish or picnic. Tours to Boston Light ("The ultimate Lighthouse experience," according to the Boston Globe) operate Thursday-Sunday from June to October. Ranger narrated Discovery Cruises and Sunset Cruises are offered on a frequent basis in the summer. Ranger-led activities and special events are offered on many islands for a variety of audiences. Not only are these islands a source of natural beauty and wonder--they're also rich in history and legends, with tales of pirates, shipwrecks, wars, abandoned prisons, and even ghosts! It's all right in Boston Harbor and accessible by boat or public ferry from Long Wharf downtown or the South Shore... so near, and yet so far away!

Boston Pops Orchestra
301 Massachusetts Avenue/Symphony Hall
Boston, MA  02115  
Phone: 888-266-1492
Toll-Free: 888-266-1492
Email: customerservice@bso.org
   

Welcome to a new year of your Boston Pops full of inspiring and innovative shows that are sure to remind you why the Boston Pops is "America's Orchestra.

In the grand yet intimate setting of Symphony Hall, you'll share the memories of a lifetime with your friends and family, while discovering performances filled with the emotion and joy of that unforgettable Pops sound. Whether you're a long-time Pops fan or a newcomer, whether you're a fan of favorites or a connoisseur of the cutting edge, you'll find the perfect blend of classics and refreshing new pieces that rejuvenate your Pops experience every year. With a new and entertaining season, led by conductors Keith Lockhart and John Williams and the beloved Boston Pops Orchestra, seats are filling up fast! Be sure to reserve a table soon, before spring's flowers and showers give way to the balmy days of a Boston summer!

Boston Tours - From Boston & Suburbs
56 Williams Street
Waltham, MA  02453  
Phone: 781-899-1454

Planning to visit the Boston area? See all the important sites and attractions that make Boston such a great city. Travel with us on a personalized tour with full historical and cultural commentary as we visit Boston, Charlestown, and Cambridge. Relive three centuries of history and learn of the Puritans, revolutionaries, immigrants, presidents, Pequots and, polititians. Avoid the notorious driving habits of Bostonians by riding in the relaxing comfort of a 20-passenger air-conditioned coach. The tour lasts for 6 ½ to 7 hours and pickup locations are available from suburban and downtown Boston hotels.

Cambridge Office For Tourism
4 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA  02138  
Phone: 617-441-2884
Toll-Free: 800-862-5678
Fax: 617-441-7736
Email: info@cambridge-usa.org

It's no wonder that Cambridge is so often referred to as "Boston's Left Bank.” Just across the Charles River from Boston, it's a city where Old World meets New Age in a mesmerizing blend of history and technology. Only minutes away from downtown by subway or by foot, visitors can visit historic sites including the world-renowned campuses of Harvard University and MIT. As a captivating, off-beat alternative to Boston, the "Squares" of Cambridge are charming neighborhoods rich in adventurous dining options as well as unique shopping, theatres, museums, and historic sites. Cambridge is a city where counter-culture still lives, classic culture thrives, and multicultural is a way of life.

Charles River Canoe & Kayak
2401 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA  02466  
Phone: 617-965-5110

You’re Ready for Some Fun and Adventure…

but don't want to go it alone, a Charles River Canoe & Kayak trip or tour may be just what you're looking for. If you want to stay close to home, try out a Moonlight Canoe Tour departing from our Newton Boathouse, or our famous Boston BBQ Kayak Tour, which explores the Charles in Boston and Cambridge and is capped by a picnic at the dock catered by Redbones. For those who are feeling adventurous, we offer a variety of guided sea kayaking trips along the Massachusetts coast. No matter your ability level, you can find a trip that's right for you - from our introductory trips for those who have never kayaked before, to open-water voyages like the Cape Ann circumnavigation. Charles River Canoe & Kayak has 3 locations - Boston, Newton and Natick. Hourly boat rentals are also available.

Cheers, Beacon Hill
84 Beacon Street
Boston, MA  02108  
Phone: 617-227-9605
Fax: 617-723-1898
Email: restaurantmanager@cheersboston.com

Casual, $ - 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. (Food served until 11:45 p.m.)

Known for years as the Bull & Finch Pub, Cheers Beacon Hill is the original inspiration for the setting of the favorite American TV series. Offering a mouthwatering menu of traditional pub fare and an abundant beverage selection, featuring award-winning Bloody Marys and a variety of draft beers. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. Full menu available until 11:45 p.m. The Gift Shop is open daily at 10:00 a.m. Catch your favorite sports teams on one of 10 DirecTVs. Children's menu, late nite, full bar, reservations only accepted for parties of 15 or more. Handicap accessible.

Cheers, Faneuil Hall
Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Boston, MA  02109  
Phone: 617-227-0150
Fax: 617-227-8416
Email: restaurantmanager@cheersboston.com

Casual, $ - 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. (Food served until 11:45 p.m.)

The newest Cheers in Boston at Faneuil Hall Marketplace is the replica of the bar seen on the TV series, Cheers. Offering a mouthwatering menu of traditional pub fare and an abundant beverage selection, featuring award-winning Bloody Marys and a variety of draft beers. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. Full menu available until 11:45 p.m. Casual dress. Live entertainment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Children's menu, late nite, full bar, reservations only accepted for parties of 15 or more. Handicap accessible.

Concord Museum
200 Lexington Road
Concord, MA  01742  
Phone: 978-369-9763
Fax: 978-369-9660
Email: cm1@concordmuseum.org

Open: January-March, Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday,1-4 p.m.; April-December, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; June, July, August, Sundays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Renowned as the site of the battle that began the American Revolution and as the home of the most original thinkers and writers of the American literary renaissance, the town of Concord has played a remarkable part in the history of New England and the nation. The Concord Museum is the one place where all of Concord' s past is brought to life through a nationally-significant historical collection including the famed Revere lantern, literary treasures such as Emerson's Study and Thoreau' s Walden desk, Concord-made clocks, silver and furniture -- all in engaging, self-touring galleries with hands-on family activities and the award-winning "Exploring Concord" film.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace
4 South Market Bldg.
Boston, MA  02109  
Phone: 617-523-1300
Fax: 617-523-1779
Email: info@faneuilhallmarketplace.com

There’s a magical place in the center of Boston like no other. It’s Faneuil Hall Marketplace. It’s always a festival with free entertainment and incredible shopping, 18 fine restaurants and outdoor cafes as well as over 40 eateries in the historic Quincy Market Building. Faneuil Hall Marketplace is Boston’s hottest new spot for dining and entertainment. For information call 617-523-1300.

Franklin Park Zoo
One Franklin Park Road
Boston, MA  02121  
Phone: 617-541-LION (5466)
Fax: 617-989-2025
Email: info@zoonewengland.com

Opened in 1913, this 72-acre site nestled in Boston’s historic Franklin Park features an array of wildlife from all over the world. Come face-to-face with an African lion in the Kalahari Kingdom, visit Masai giraffe and Grevy’s zebra of the Giraffe Savannah and discover the Tropical Forest, home to western lowland gorillas, lemurs, mandrills and much more! Be sure not to miss the Tiger Tales exhibit or Butterfly Landing, open seasonally from mid-June through mid-September. Franklin Park Zoo has many activities for children including education classes, Zoo Camp and Snorin’ Roarin’ sleepovers. The zoo is available for rentals and offers unique indoor and outdoor facilities and catering services to turn your child’s birthday party or your next meeting or event into an adventure! Open year round - except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Freedom Trail Foundation
99 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA  02111  
Phone: 617-357-8300
Fax: 617-357-8303
Email: tavia@thefreedomtrail.org

Boston's Freedom Trail® is a 2.5 mile Trail through this sophisticated city connecting 16 of the country's most significant historic sites linked to the American Revolution. Take a 90 minute walking tour with a lively and informative 18th century costumed - Freedom Trail Player® - guide along the Trail daily between April and November. Great for all ages (5 to 75+) and groups large and small. Specialty tours of Pirates and Patriots, African American Patriots, Historic Pub Crawl, and the Historic Holiday Stroll are offered throughout the year and seasonally. Buy your ticket on line at our website. It's American history, but not the same old story.

Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau
Information Centers on Boston Common
and Prudential Towers (Center Court)
Boston, MA
Toll-Free: 888–SEE-BOSTON Ext. 8

Create your own customized getaway weekend in Boston – it’s so easy. Start with a fabulous hotel, add dinner, theatre, a world class museum, a visit to a spa or shop till you drop. Boston, the city where American history and patriotism began offers a rich experience for all visitors., Speak to a visitor information representative who will help plan your trip. Or visit www.BostonUSA.com for all the information you need to book a getaway to Boston. The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau invites you to visit Boston and Cambridge, just for the fun of it! Call 888 SEE BOSTON.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Columbia Point
Boston, MA  02125  
Phone: 617-514-1600
Toll-Free: 866-JFK-1960
Fax: 617-436-3395
Email: kennedy.library@nara.gov

Open: Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Situated on a 10-acre park overlooking Boston Harbor, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is the nation's official memorial to John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States. The museum at the Kennedy Library enables visitors to step back into the recreated world of the early 1960s and experience first-hand the life and legacy of John F. Kennedy. In 25 dramatic exhibits, including three theaters and 20 video presentations, visitors are inspired by the stirring eloquence of John F. Kennedy and by the grace of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.

Mary Baker Eddy Library™
200 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA  02115  
Toll-Free: 888-222-3711

Home of the world-famous Mapparium®

The Mary Baker Eddy Library features some of the most thought-provoking and fun exhibits in the city, exploring the life and achievements of Mary Baker Eddy. She was a controversial New England woman who defied conventional 19th-century thinking to become an influential religious leader, author, teacher, and founder of the Christian Science Monitor at age 87. The museum also houses the world-famous Mapparium®, an achievement in art and architecture from 1935 giving visitors a unique look at how ideas have the power to change the world. The Lending & Reference Services and Research Room provide access to further subject reading, books, archival documents, photographs, and artifacts of the Mary Baker Eddy Library Collections.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA  02115  
Phone: 617-267-9300
Email: customerservice@mfa.org

Come to the MFA and see masterpieces from around the world and across the ages. At every turn, you’ll find breathtaking works of art, from masters of American painting to the icons of Impressionism, from exquisite Asian scrolls to ancient Egyptian mummies. We have a rich collection of American art including such icons as Paul Revere’s silver Liberty bowl and masterpieces by John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, and Winslow Homer. Our collection of Asian art is unrivaled in size, scope, and distinction in the Western world, and we own the finest collection of Monets outside of Paris. Gallery tours, audio tapes, and maps of the Museum are available in foreign languages. Open daily, the MFA also offers films, concerts, artist lectures, and family programs. Visit mfa.org for more information.

New England Aquarium
Central Wharf
Boston, MA  02110  
Phone: 617-973-5200
Email: webmaster@neaq.org
   

A mere stone’s throw from Faneuil Hall and the North End, you’ll find a place of wonder. The New England Aquarium is built around a four-story, 200,000-gallon Caribbean coral reef exhibit called the Giant Ocean Tank. Sea turtles, toothy sharks and huge stingrays peer out at you. Electric green moray eels, barracudas and a rainbow of tropical fish swim together. Both harbor and fur seals have training sessions several times a day that you can watch. More than 60 penguins of three different species fly underwater through one of the largest penguin exhibits in North America. Thousands of sea jellies will surprise you with their beauty. The IMAX Theatre has state-of-the-art 3D technology and the largest movie screen in New England. At the New England Aquarium, you will find the marvels hidden in the world beneath the waves!

Spirit of Boston
World Trade Center
200 Seaport Blvd. Ste 75
Boston, MA  02210  
Phone: 617-748-1499
Fax: 617-748-1425
Email: customerservice@spiritcruises.com

Step aboard our beautifully redesigned ship in the Seaport District and come alive with the most entertaining lunch and dinner experience in Boston. You'll enjoy a fabulous all-you-can-eat buffet, dancing, live entertainment with star-quality performers, and dazzling views on the largest outdoor deck in Boston, all for one price. Elegant but never stuffy, the Spirit is perfect for parties of two all the way up to 600. We offer year-round lunch and dinner cruises as well as seasonal Lobster Lunches and Sunset Cruises. Looking for a private setting? Then try a customized yacht charter aboard Spirit's sister ship, the Seaport Elite.

Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Junction Route 6 and Route 132
Hyannis, MA
Toll-Free: 888-33CapeCod
Email: info@capecodchamber.org

With 559.6 miles of coast and 400 square miles of landmass, Cape Cod is big by anyone’s measure. But with its 83 museums, 50 miles of cycling trails, 75 nature paths, 115 beaches, 52 harbors, 365 ponds, 13 lighthouses, 43 golf courses, 2,254 places to shop, 78 band concerts, 14 parades, 97 fairs and ten baseball teams, the Cape stands taller. Nowhere else can one find such diverse activities. From tracing early history in Provincetown to visiting a full-size model of Alvin, the underwater submersible in Woods Hole, the Cape is indeed rich with sights, attractions and activities. Then, there is the beauty and wonder of the Cape itself—a timeless gift of sea, sun, sand and its ethereal light.

Cape Cod National Seashore
Salt Pond Visitor Center at Nauset Road and Route 6
Eastham, MA  02642  
Phone: 508-255-3421

Open: Daily, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (longer during the summer)

Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses, cultural landscapes, and wild cranberry bogs offer a glimpse of Cape Cod’s ways of life. Swimming beaches and walking and biking trails beckon visitors. The park's six oceanside swimming beaches have life guards from late June through August. Eleven self-guided nature trails are open year-round. Parking lots are open year-round, daily, 6 a.m. to midnight.
Salt Pond Visitor Center is Cape Cod National Seashore's main visitor facility, with orientation movies, a bookstore, a museum, and restrooms. The Visitor Center is also convenient to the popular 1.5-mile Nauset Marsh Trail and the Buttonbush Trail, a quarter-mile trail that features a guide rope and text panels in Braille, and the Nauset Bicycle Trail.
The Province Lands Visitor Center is located on Race Point Road, off Route 6, at the northern end of Cape Cod National Seashore, approximately one mile from Provincetown. It is open May 1 through October 31, daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone number is 508-487-1256. The observation deck at this Visitor Center provides a 360-degree view of the Province Lands dunes, the Outer Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. Exhibits about local plants and animals and the Pilgrim's landing in Provincetown are featured.
Other highlights of the National Seashore are the Fort Hill Area off Route 6(Eastham); the Coast Guard and Nauset Light beaches, Nauset and Three Sisters Lighthouses off Route 6 (Eastham); the Marconi Station Site(Wellfleet); the Highland Lighthouse (Cape Cod Light) and Highland House (Truro); and the Old Harbor Life-Saving Station (Provincetown).

EcoTarium
222 Harrington Way
Worcester, MA  01604  
Phone: 508-929-2700
Fax: 508-929-2701
Email: info@ecotarium.org

Inspiring a Passion for Science and Nature

Discover the EcoTarium, a unique indoor/outdoor museum dedicated to exploring science and nature. Set in an urban oasis in the city of Worcester, the EcoTarium offers a chance to walk through the treetops and see the forest from a new perspective, learn about the night sky in the planetarium, even peer at the tiniest creatures through powerful microscopes. You’ll meet the creatures of New England’s forests and wetlands (and Worcester’s “native” polar bear), learn about the landscape as you stroll along easy trails, and find out what you can do to protect our natural resources. EcoTarium offers special events, exhibits, and programming year-round, from behind-the-scenes animal care programs for kids and an annual Earth Day Festival to a summer jazz series. For a special offer, visit www.ecotarium.org/coupon.

Fitchburg Art Museum
Merriam Parkway - main entrance
185 Elm St.
Fitchburg, MA  01420  
Phone: 978-345-4207
Fax: 978-345-2319
Email: Info@fitchburgartmuseum.org

Open: Tuesday through Sunday, noon – 4 p.m.

The Fitchburg Art Museum was founded by the bequest of Miss Eleanor Norcross. During the years between 1880 and 1920 when Miss Norcross lived in Paris, she became deeply impressed by the quality of small rural museums and their impact on public education. Today the Fitchburg Art Museum has fourteen galleries distributed through a block-long complex of three connected buildings, and is the region's most important center for art study and appreciation. In 1995, the museum began a highly innovative collaboration with the Fitchburg public schools. In 2002, the school officially became a Focus School of Lincoln Center Institute, the first such school outside New York. The museum is open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday, 12 – 4. Admission Adults $7, Seniors & Students $5, Members & Children Under 12 Free.
Handicap accessible, Museum available for functions, Run studio classes all year long as well as lectures, tours, and family days.

Higgins Armory Museum
100 Barber Avenue
Worcester, MA  01606-2444  
Phone: 508-853-6015
Email: higgins@higgins.org

Open: Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; closed major holidays

The Higgins Armory Museum enjoys the distinction of being the only museum in the western hemisphere entirely devoted to the study and display of arms and armor. Artifacts ranging from Corinthian helmets of ancient Greece to ornate suits of armor from the height of the Renaissance give the visitor an exciting glimpse into the past. The permanent collection contains more than 4,600 pieces, mostly dating to the 16th and 17th centuries in addition to a variety of arms and armor from around the world. The eclectic collection is housed in a building of steel and glass Art Deco exterior. Closed Mon and select holidays.

Old Sturbridge Village
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Off Rte 20
Sturbridge, MA  01566  
Phone: 508-347-3362
Toll-Free: 800-SEE-1830

Old Sturbridge Village: The Story of a New Nation

Step out of your world and into ours. Explore early New England in the company of farmers, craftsmen, and fascinating characters. Celebrate yesterday's proud traditions on your remarkable journey into America's past. Old Sturbridge Village offers a variety of ways to experience the artifacts, activities, and seasonal celebrations of rural New England during the first 50 years following the American Revolution (1790-1840). The centerpiece of the museum is a recreated rural New England town of the 1830s encompassing a center village, mills area, and countryside. Period handcrafts, heirloom gardens, and heritage breeds of farm animals are part of every village visit. Hands-on opportunities abound. The Visitor Center is home to our new History Gateway, including Kidstory an early learning gallery and Icons of New England exhibit, focusing on the history of what makes New England unique. Open year-round, daily except Mondays. Call ahead for holiday schedules.

Southwick’s Zoo
2 Southwick Street
Mendon, MA  01756  
Toll-Free: 800-258-9182
Fax: 508-883-0242
Email: info@southwickszoo.com

Southwick’s Zoo is situated within the historic Blackstone Valley. Surrounded by 300 shady acres and home to hundreds of animals representing many species, Southwick's is more than a zoo, it's an adventure for all ages! As well as an impressive display of animals, Southwick's also offers educational programs, live animal presentations, a petting zoo, deer forest, elephant rides, and children’s play park. There are also picnic grounds, kiddie rides, food venues, and free parking. Visit our new and extensive gift shop, the Purple Peacock. Operating hours for Southwick's Zoo are 10:00am to 5:00pm from April 14th through October 21st... 7 days a week including holidays. Check out our non-profit Earth Eco-Education Center. NEW for 2007 - African Leopards, Mandrills, and Warthogs!

Tower Hill Botanic Garden
111 French Dr. / PO Box 598
Boylston, MA  01505  
Phone: 508-869-6111
Fax: 508-869-0314
Email: thbg@towerhillbg.org

Experience "a world class garden, that's always in season!" Located on 132 bucolic acres in Worcester County, less than an hour from Boston, Tower Hill is one of the largest and most comprehensive botanic gardens in the region. It is the home of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, founded in 1842 to "advance the science, and encourage and improve the practice of horticulture." The breathtaking view provides an extraordinary setting for a variety of garden styles, at once stunningly beautiful and highly educational. Stroll through a Lawn Garden, Secret Garden, Cottage Garden, Vegetable Garden, Systematic Garden, and magical woodland paths. In winter, the Orangerie is filled with flowering subtropical plants. Browse the Gift Shop and enjoy lunch at Twigs Café.

Worcester Art Museum
55 Salisbury Street
Worcester, MA  01609  
Phone: 508-799-4406
Fax: 508-798-5646
Email: information@worcesterart.org

Open: Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; third Thursday of every month, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Experience the extra-ordinary history of human creativity at Worcester’s world-class art museum. View paintings by Rembrandt, Cassatt, Gauguin, Sargent, Homer, and Monet; admire ancient mosaics; see contemporary art; and discover many other treasures. Special exhibitions showcase the masterworks, seldom-seen gems, and important works on loan. Enjoy a delectable lunch in the Museum Café, and browse the Shop for unique gifts. Art classes, library. Public tours are offered Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m., September through May. Audio tours are also available in English and Spanish.

Wed-Sun, 11am - 5pm; Third Thursday’s of every month, 11am-8pm.; and Sat, 10am-5pm

Free for members, $10 adults, $8 seniors, free for youth 17 and under. Free for all Saturdays, 10am-noon

Worcester Center for Crafts
25 Sagamore Rd
Worcester, MA  01605  
Phone: 508-753-8183
Fax: 508-797-5626
Email: wcc@worcestercraftcenter.org

For over 150 years the Worcester Center for Crafts has been New England’s center for craft education. We offer beginning to advanced studio-based adult and youth classes in clay, glassblowing (shown), beadmaking, metals, jewelrymaking, photography, fiber arts and woodworking. Students can choose from one-day, 5-, 8-, 10-, or 15-week classes. No experience necessary! The Craft Center offers a Certificate Track program, which allows students to develop a foundation in craft through a series of progressively challenging and intensive classes, as well as, a Craft Gift Store, Craft Gallery, and Artist-in-Residence program. Visit the website for a course catalog or call to request a class schedule today!

Concord Museum
200 Lexington Road
Concord, MA  01742  
Phone: 978-369-9763
Fax: 978-369-9660
Email: cm1@concordmuseum.org

Open: January-March, Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday,1-4 p.m.; April-December, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; June, July, August, Sundays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Renowned as the site of the battle that began the American Revolution and as the home of the most original thinkers and writers of the American literary renaissance, the town of Concord has played a remarkable part in the history of New England and the nation. The Concord Museum is the one place where all of Concord' s past is brought to life through a nationally-significant historical collection including the famed Revere lantern, literary treasures such as Emerson's Study and Thoreau' s Walden desk, Concord-made clocks, silver and furniture -- all in engaging, self-touring galleries with hands-on family activities and the award-winning "Exploring Concord" film.

Amesbury Sports Park
12 South Hunt Road
Amesbury, MA  01913  
Phone: 978-388-5788
Fax: 978-388-4397
Email: soccer@nesoccerschool.net

Amesbury Sports Park offers the perfect opportunity to spend an exciting day tubing with individual runs for all age groups that will excite and thrill. A great family fun sport on Thursdays, Fridays, weekends and school vacations. Amesbury Sports Park also features The Corner Kick Pub, where you can enjoy an excellent view of the hill whilst having a drink and a bite to eat. The family atmosphere is superb and if you tire from tubing you can enjoy watching sports on one of the HD wide screen TV’s. The park opens in December on Thursdays and Fridays from 3:30 pm – 9:30 pm and weekends/holidays and school vacations from 10:00 am – 9:30 pm. Both two hour and four hour passes are available as well as season passes. Group reservations require a one week advance booking. Amesbury Sports Park is also a unique venue for parties, corporate events or meetings.

Rockport, Massachusetts

Located on the tip of Northeastern Massachusetts, eight miles out in the ocean with over 13 miles of natural Atlantic coastline is Rockport. Settled in 1639, incorporated in 1840, Rockport is known for its winding streets, fine old houses, stone wharfs, sandy beaches, art galleries, museums, shops, fine restaurants and distinctive inns. Enjoy the sight of the sailboats sailing in the breeze; explore Halibut Point State Park, or a walk along Atlantic Coastline, stroll historic Bearskin Neck or listen to wonderful musical concerts. With the flavor of old New England, Rockport is a place