Get Out of Town: The Heart of Massachusetts is Full of Kids Activities Just a Drive Away - Rhode Island Monthly (2025)

Table of Contents
Day Trip 1 Day Trip 2 Day Trip 3

Family fun at Old Sturbridge Village.

Old Sturbridge Village.

I’m a tried and true cheerleader for Rhode Island, but sometimes I like to get out of town, too. As an editor at Rhode Island Monthly magazine for more than thirteen years and a mom of two kids, ages eight and eleven, we’ve done nearly everything there is to do for family activities in the Ocean State. We’ve been to the Providence Children’s Museum, we’ve done the children’s tour at the Breakers and other Newport Mansions, we’ve explored Biomes and the RISD Museum countless times – all great spots – but now that my kids are getting older, I’m looking for more activities to do with them to get them out of the house and off electronics, especially over school vacations. They have only a few days left before they head back to school after the holidays, so why not take a day trip or do an overnight stay at a nearby location that’s just driving distance away?

Recently, me and my kids hit the road to explore nearby destinations in North Central, Central and MetroWest, Massachusetts, an area that has been coined “the Heart of Massachusetts.” Each of these places can be visited for day trips, as they are only about an hour- to ninety-minute drive from Providence. Tack on a hotel and make it an overnight stay to fit in a few more activities to your road trip adventure.

Here’s what to see and do, places to eat and where to stay:

Day Trip 1

See: Old Sturbridge Village

I explored Old Sturbridge Village as a kid on a field trip more than thirty years ago, and it was fun to go back as an adult and see it again through my children’s eyes. The 240-acre outdoor museum features a grassy common surrounded by fully furnished homes decorated with antiques and artifacts as well as trade shops showcasing various crafts. We loved learning about how tradesmen and women made all kinds of items from yarn to pottery back in the day. We observed hands-on skills like metalsmithing, cooking, letterpress and shoe-making from costumed interpreters. Visitors can explore the whole village by foot and take a ride on the horse drawn carry-all wagon to learn about historical traditions. My kids enjoyed seeing all the farm animals, including baby piglets, cows and chickens, and they also loved exploring the underbelly of a saw mill powered by the nearby creek. Old Sturbridge Village is the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, but did you know the same organization also owns Coggeshall Farm in Bristol, Rhode Island, which was recently featured on the cover of Rhode Island Monthly’s November issue? OSV is a larger opportunity to explore a historical working farm with even more things to see and do. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge, Massachusetts, 800-733-1830, osv.org

A costumed interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village.

Eat: BirchTree Bread Company

The whole family loved the wood-fired brick oven pizzas as BirchTree. I got a margherita pizza for the little ones, and I just had to try to fungi e tartufo with white sauce, sautéed mushrooms, truffle salt and pecorino romano for me. You can order at the counter, or sit at a table and order and pay through your phone and servers will bring your food directly to your table. 138 Green St. #5, Worcester, Massachusetts, 774-243-6944, birchtreebreadcompany.com

Mushroom pizza at BirchTree Bread Company.

See: EcoTarium

We visited the EcoTarium in Worcester for the first time, where we got to see mountain lions, a bald eagle, an owl and other birds, and they also have otters. I loved the simulated drive up Mount Washington and the wind tunnel that replicates 80 mph winds. We also checked out carnivorous venus fly traps and pitcher plants, snakes, lizards, creepy bugs and other crawlies. They also have cool fossils, taxidermy birds and a pergola filled with precious stones and minerals. An outdoor area has a train ride and playground with a discovery center too. We also watched a cool 3D film on the solar system and stars inside the planetarium. The place is expanding in the spring and I look forward to returning to see what else they have in store. 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, Massachusetts, 508‍-929-2700, ecotarium.org

A mountain lion at the EcoTarium.

Eat: Chashu Ramen and Izakaya

Both of my children are adventurous eaters, and downtown Worcester’s Chashu gave each of them the opportunity to add their own ingredients for a more neutral chicken ramen version or the fully spicy tanjun pork ramen all decked out with housemade chili oil and sriracha. Meanwhile, I was more into sushi at the moment and the tuna avocado crispy rice satisfied my cravings with tuna tartare, yuzu guacamole, spicy mayo, house-made ponzu, pickled red onion and furikake on a bed of crispy sushi rice. I washed it all down with a Osaka 75, which is a play off the French 75 with hanjan soju, Roku gin, yuzu and prosecco. Even the kids got to try something fun to drink with fun yuzu and plum flavored sodas. 38 Franklin St., Worcester, Massachusetts, 508-304-7183, chashuramen.com

Tuna avocado crispy rice and a cocktail at Chashu.

Stay: AC Hotel Worcester

This comfortable, modern and contemporary hotel is modeled after hotels in Spain. Each room is warm and neutral with pillowtop mattresses and a convenient breakfast is served each morning in the lobby restaurant space. 125 Front St., Worcester, Massachusetts, 774-420-7555, marriott.com

Day Trip 2

Military tanks at the American Heritage Museum.

See: American Heritage Museum

Our next adventure took us to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, Massachusetts. I had no clue what to expect when I learned it was a war history museum, but I understood when we walked into a vast warehouse filled with more than eighty military tanks, humvees, a jet, and more from the many wars the United States has been involved in around the world. Some of the most remarkable boats, vehicles and planes included a U-boat from D-Day in Normandy, a M18 Hellcat Destroyer Tank from World War II, and tanks and a Thunderchief fighter jet from Vietnam. My father served in Vietnam, so seeing all of these vehicles and memorabilia and learning about the war was really hard. I got emotional just picturing the things he must have seen, heard and been forced to do. He still suffers from some of those memories today. The museum also transported and reconstructed what prisoners of war called the Hanoi Hilton, which was a stone prison from Vietnam where soldier hostages were kept for as long as a year and up to seven years in solitary confinement. We sat inside the prison and watched a documentary film made up of recounted stories from the survivors about how they kept themselves from going crazy by communicating with each other through a code system that involved knocking on the walls. The museum also has a train car from the Holocaust as well as a large piece of concrete that fell from one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. This was one of the darkest places I’ve taken my kids, but they learned so much about history. It’s horrific that crimes of war are still taking place today in other parts of the world. You’d think we would learn our lessons through history, but no. It’s important to understand the consequences of those actions. 568 Main St., Hudson, Massachusetts, 978-562-9182, americanheritagemuseum.org

A U-boat from D-Day at the American Heritage Museum.

Do: Level99

This social gaming playground gets both kids and adults off their devices and doing creative mind and body challenges in real life. There are two locations, including Providence Place and in the Natick Mall. Since we were in the neighborhood, we headed to the Natick mall location, but I’m glad we have the Providence Place location closer to home. Participants are mentally and physically challenged to complete various tasks in dozens of private, themed rooms, each with a one-to-four-minute time limit. Sometimes the most obvious answer to the challenge isn’t the right one, so you have to think about alternative ways of looking at things to solve problems. Our favorite challenges involved dodging swinging axes while walking across a balance beam and hitting balls through a net toward blinking lights and using giant chopsticks to balance balls on platforms. Level 99 also has a full service restaurant and craft brewery, Night Shift Kitchen and Tap, on site. Natick Mall, 1235 Worcester St., Suite #3330, Natick, Massachusetts, 617-865-8599, level99.com

Eat: Lookout Farm

Lookout Farm is mostly known for apple and pumpkin picking in fall, but it also has a year-round restaurant with some of the best barbecue around as well as live music on select evenings. The restaurant has its own brewery and cidery and guests can sample pours in tasting paddles. I opted for hard cider while my husband chose beer. We shared the Lookout Farm nachos complete with pickled jalapenos, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole with burnt ends on top. And since we each wanted a little of everything, the combo plates were perfect. I chose baby back ribs and brisket for a choice of two, served with broccoli crunch salad, slices of Texas toast and coleslaw, and an order of cornbread on the side. The housemade ice creams, apple tart and doughnuts are a must, so even if you think you’re full, do everything you can to spare some room. 89 Pleasant St., South Natick, Massachusetts, 508-745-3697, lookoutfarm.com

Barbecue platter at Lookout Farm.

Stay: Hyatt Place Marlborough Center

This hotel is a fun place to stay with or without nearby attractions, simply because it has its own pool. When winter cabin fever hits, there’s nothing an indoor pool can’t fix. This hotel is in a very convenient location, walking distance from yet another fun kids attraction, Apex. Apex is loaded with go-karts, bumper cars, bowling, laser tag, mini golf, a ropes course, sports simulators, and an arcade and other indoor games, so you could make a day out of Apex (with an overnight at the Hyatt) and everyone will go home happy. 169 Apex Dr., Marlborough, 508-506-8100, hyatt.com

Day Trip 3

The fireplace at Mountainside Cafe and Bakery.

Eat: Mountainside Bakery and Cafe

Before heading to ski or snowboard, stop at the Mountainside Bakery and Cafe for some breakfast and packed sandwiches for your afternoon adventure. This locally owned cafe is located in the historic Wachusett Mountain superintendent’s house and was fully restored and renovated in recent years. The owner has documented the restoration in original photos on the walls of the mansion. Place your order at the counter, whether its a simple breakfast sandwich with eggs, cheese and maple butter or a house-baked apple cider doughnut muffin, pecan sticky bun or everything bagel danish for breakfast. They also have sandwiches for lunch, like the Vickery with house-roasted turkey, creamy havarti cheese, cranberry sauce and herb stuffing on white bread or a caprese baguette with sliced tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil walnut pesto with balsamic glaze. Don’t leave without sipping one of their fresh-brewed lattes and grabbing a bag of cookies for the road. They have tables set inside the dining room or you can take your order to go. The cafe is closed until January 8 and will reopen with winter hours Wednesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountainside will also host bourbon tasting nights on January 17 and 24. 213 Mountain Rd., Princeton, Massachusetts, 978-464-0300, mountainsideprinceton.com

The Vickery turkey sandwich from Mountainside Cafe enjoyed on Wachusett Mountain.

Do: Ski, Snowboard or Hike Wachusett Mountain

Drive just an hour away from Providence and you could be skiing or snowboarding with the whole family. Rates are much more affordable at Wachusett, so you can bring the kids for a lesson and rent equipment here without making the huge investment required to head up north. Test out the sport to see if the family can hang on the slopes, then decide if a weekend trip to New Hampshire, Vermont or Maine is in order. Believe it or not, this mountain has eight lifts and twenty-seven trails to get you started, plus an onsite restaurant and tap room for all your apres ski needs. You can also wander some of the hiking trails if you’re feeling a brisk winter jaunt. The mountain also hosts festivals in the summer and fall, including Summer Fest, BBQ Fest, Oktoberfest, KidsFest, Applefest and more. During February school vacation, they also have lots of extra fun activities for kids. 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton, Massachusetts, 978-464-2300, wachusett.com

Wachusett Mountain just before ski season started.

Do: Letz Rage

The new year might be a tough time for some. I got out some of my 2024 election frustration at the Letz Rage rage room in Fitchburg, Mass., with my kiddos. It’s a fun spot to burn off some stress and make cool art in the Paint Splatter room. The owners set us up with coveralls (don’t mind my bright orange jumpsuit, I didn’t escape from prison), face shields and gloves and let us loose with a collection of TVs, cups, bottles, computer monitors, microwaves and more to smash to smithereens with mallets and axes, or simply our gloved hands. After we got out all the angst, it was off to the paint room. We donned plastic ponchos, put on gloves, boot covers and goggles and painted the room all the colors of the rainbow. They displayed blank canvases for us to paint along the wall with squirt bottles, paint guns and our hands, so we could take home paintings as a mind-numbing memory at the end of our anger-filled adventure. 49 John Fitch Hwy., Fitchburg, Massachusetts, 978-868-0999, letzrage.com

The dining room and mural at Bull Run Restaurant.

Eat: Bull Run Restaurant

Stepping into this historic, family-run restaurant is like a step back in time. Bull Run stands next to innkeeper Obadiah Sawtell’s original tavern from the 1700s. A sign marks the spot where the men of Shirley gathered before marching along the Great Road into Concord and Lexington in April of 1775. Bull Run went by many names, including the Stagecoach Inn in the 1800s, then Morse’s Tavern, Mulpus House and Farnsworth Hall, before taking on the name Bull Run, which it has maintained for more than a century. It supposedly got the name Bull Run from an argument and brawl that happened in the taproom after news that the Battle of Bull Run didn’t go so well for the north. The bar suffered its own Battle of Bull Run behind its doors. Today, the restaurant is run by George Tocci and Alison Guercio Tocci, who bought the tavern from Alison’s brother, Chip Guercio. The restaurant was previously owned by their dad, patriarch Lee Guercio Jr., since 1946, and he married their mom, Mary Winifred Ward in 1950, and they had five children. There’s a mural in the tap room that depicts a replica of the Drunkard’s Progress that was painted in 1948 by Nancy Affleck, Ben Affleck’s grandmother. The lettering was done by her husband Myron, Ben’s grandfather. Another sight to see, displayed above the fireplace, is the Egopantis – which looks like a cross between a gorilla and a horse – a beast said to have been tracked down on the banks of the Mighty Mulpus creek by Captain Nathaniel Smith. Tavern fare involves hearty steaks, prime rib, stuffed haddock, sandwiches and burgers, plus an impressive Sunday brunch. They also have a lineup of live music and trivia throughout the month. 215 Great Rd., Shirley, Massachusetts, 978-425-4311, bullrunrestaurant.com

The Egopantis at Bull Run restaurant.

Stay: Chocksett Inn

This peaceful New England Inn is a quiet spot to rest your head. The inn has various private rooms that can accommodate couples. The inn also hosts weddings and events in its adjoining space. It’s located near Sterling National Golf Club and various apple orchards for warmer weather months, and a quick drive away from Wachusett Mountain. 59 Laurelwood Rd., Sterling, Massachusetts, 978-422-3355, chocksettinn.com

Chocksett Inn.

Get Out of Town: The Heart of Massachusetts is Full of Kids Activities Just a Drive Away - Rhode Island Monthly (2025)
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