Summer Adventures You Don’t Want To Miss

Focus on All Things New England! [New England Focus Logo]( Summer Adventures You Don’t Want To Miss Sponsored by: [MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau]( [Carousel] Patrons ride the new “Within the Wild” Carousel at Southwick's Zoo We’ve thrown our grad caps into the air, said goodbye to the school year, and are ready for some warm-weather adventures. What better way to welcome summer vacation than a little road trip escape. We’ve put together some of the best hidden gems of central Massachusetts to inspire your trip planning. MetroWest MA is just 30 minutes west of Boston or east of Worcester, as well as an easy drive from Providence, Hartford, Portland, and more! Spend a Day in Holliston, MA This quaint New England town is just enough off the beaten path to be interesting, and a charming hidden gem with a lot to offer. Grab the kids (and your bikes!) and park downtown where you can wander lovely boutiques and gift shops like [Bird & Bear Collective]( or [Fiske’s General Store](—a throwback from another era that truly has a little of everything. See what programming the Holliston Library has to offer, or buy a great book at [Aesop’s Fable](. Then break out the bikes (or the rollerblades, skateboards, or just your legs) and hop on the Upper Charles Rail Trail. Head south from downtown about a ¼ mile until you reach the Holliston Mill, once a shoe factory, now home to a variety of artists’ studios and [WSK](, a great commercial kitchen that offers unique cooking classes for young and old alike. On Tuesdays starting June 18, the Mill’s parking lot will host the [Holliston Farmer’s Market](—a destination unto itself! Along with local farm staples, food trucks, and delicious baked goods, the market also offers handcrafted items from local artisans, a mini vintage car show, a petting zoo of adorable cuddlies from Willow Brook Farm, live music, and a beer garden in partnership with Rushford & Sons Brewhouse—a craft brewery from Upton, MA that will soon be opening a Holliston location. Spend some time enjoying all this farmer’s market has to offer, then jump back on the rail trail and head further south to [Boston Honey Company](. [Boston Honey Company] Hand-poured beeswax candles at Boston Honey Company Another two miles down the rail trail, [Boston Honey]( is a unique honey farm with a lovely shop offering locally-made products, including their own glorious honey-based soaps, lotions, and other bath products. Watch them pour gorgeous beeswax candles, then step up to their honey bar to taste the difference between local honey varieties. When you’re done browsing their wares, grab a cone from the ice cream stand, which will give the littles all the energy they need to head back up the rail trail again. Visit the new Holliston Farmer's Market for veggies and more Looking for even more exercise? Head north from Holliston’s downtown on the trail to see the beautiful 8-arch stone bridge. This section of the trail passes through woods and wetlands and is a great place for butterflies and birdwatching. Then head home happy, or treat yourself to a night in one of the region’s [hotels]( for a new adventure tomorrow. [Visit MetroWest Boston, A Region Chock Full of Exciting Adventures!]( From outdoor rec to indoor play, fine dining to BBQ, impactful art to amazing history, lovely boutiques to engaging performances—we have fun for the whole family. Plan your adventure with our free Visitors Guide. [Plan Your Visit]( SPONSORED [Natick Nights] Cirque de Light during Natick Center Cultural District's Natick Nights summer festival series Spend a Day in Natick, MA Winner of several different “most picturesque small town” awards, Natick makes for a great day focused on all the things we love about New England, from modern lures to historic attractions. It’s home to the [Natick Mall](, the largest mall in New England featuring a wide variety of luxury brands as well as entertainment like [Puttshack](—high tech mini golf—and [Level99](, which offers 50+ mental and physical escape rooms and challenges as well as a craft kitchen and beer hall serving Night Shift Brewing’s locally-made beer. But juxtaposed with all this modern glory is the artistic and historic draw of [Natick Center’s Cultural District](. This District’s majestic neo-gothic architecture serves as an impressive backdrop for the cultural offerings surrounding the town common. Stop in to the [Natick Historical Society & Museum]( to see memorabilia from Harriet Beecher Stow, or take one of their walking tours to hear the history of this fascinating town and its landmarks. [Natick Center Cultural District] The Town Common in the Natick Center Cultural District Wander the Cultural District yourself to see beautiful public art, dozens of working artists’ studios, independent restaurants, and lovely boutiques offering hand-crafted items. Check out the calendar of events at The Center for Arts in Natick ([TCAN](), housed in a c. 1875 fire station, which is a premier performing arts center. The quintessentially New England town common provides ample green space and a gazebo for public concerts and festivals, including Art in the Park, recurring ArtWalk open studios, a Juneteenth Festival, August’s Multicultural Day, and the not-to-be-missed [Natick Nights](, their summer festival series with vendors and performers. The District is famous for a vast array of public art including murals, mosaics, painted electrical boxes, temporary installations and more. End your day at [Buttercup](, a fabulous chef-owned farm-to-table restaurant where the season’s bounty is always celebrated. [Turn Whining into Winning in MetroWest Boston]( Relax with a fabulous drive vacation this summer! With fun for active kids, creative families, competitive teens, and curious bambinos, explore tons of hidden gems in MetroWest! Plan your adventure with our free Visitors Guide. [Plan Your Adventure]( SPONSORED [Bird Talk] A little bird talk at Southwick's Zoo Spend a Day at Southwick’s Zoo There is so much to see at [Southwick’s](, the largest zoo in New England, that you should spend an entire day here. They house over 850 animals in naturalistic habitats and are constantly growing their collection. New additions include Snow Leopards and a Eurasian Eagle Owl that just hatched a few weeks ago. Bird shows and daily Keeper Talks educate visitors on conservation and the species in the zoo. Guests can take a pony or camel ride, or wander through the aviary. Special animal Encounters allow you the opportunity to meet, touch, and even feed the giraffes, white rhinos, and two-toed sloths in the zoo. Take a train ride through the North American Wetlands and Forest for a view of the elk and trumpeter swans, as well as herons, turtles, ducks, and more. Walk-through the 35-acre deer forest and feed the fallow deer. Challenge yourself (or your friends!) to complete the Rainforest Adventure Maze, or learn more about how Southwick’s cares for their animals at the EARTH Discovery Center. Are you a thrill seeker? Try the Soaring Eagle Zip Line, or see the zoo from above on the Skyfari Sky Ride. Their newest attraction is the “Within the Wild” Carousel, where you can ride (not surprisingly!) a vast array of carousel animals. Proceeds from many of the rides and experiences go to animal conservation efforts, which makes you feel good about your outing too. As the sun goes down, head to the Savanna Grille for their summer concert series; the cover charge also gives you evening after-hours access to the park. To plan your next adventure, [download the free visitors guide]( from the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau and go explore! [Logo]( [Ad-300x250]( SPONSORED [New England]( [TRAVEL]( [FOOD]( [LIVING]( [WEEKENDS WITH YANKEE TV]( [YANKEE MAGAZINE]( [SHOP]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( You received this email because you signed for updates from [NewEngland.com](. If you do not wish to receive our regular e-mail newsletters in the future, please [click here to manage your preferences or unsubscribe](. *Please do not reply to this e-mail* © 2024 Yankee Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. 1121 Main Street | P.O. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444 [Contact Us]( [View web version](