Things to See and Do

(In and near Worcester, MA)

Science Centers
Zoos and Farms
Sports (to do)
Other Local Activities
Other Day Trips
Camping
Amusement Parks
Sports (to watch)

Science Centers

Science Centers:

• Ecotarium - Lots of educational material and some live animals. It is right here in Worcester. As of 7/4/04, no longer free the first Sunday of each month. The trail around their lower pond is a 30 minute walk.
• Discovery Museums - Located in Acton, MA (about one half an hour from Worcester, MA). The Science Discovery Museum offers more hands-on science than it would seem possible to fit into the building - a fun time for the little scientist. The Children's Discovery Museum caters to the even younger crowd (toddlers).
• New England Aquarium - Located in Boston, MA (about one hour from Worcester, MA).
• Museum of Science - Located in Boston, MA (about one hour from Worcester, MA).
• Science Centers on Nessie - The New England Space Science Initiative in Education provides an index by area to science centers.

Zoos and Farms

Area Zoos and Animal Farms:

• Barnyard Farm at Green Hill Park in Worcester - the easy way to see animals in the City. Ideal for Tigers (First Graders).
• Overlook Farm - an educational farm in Rutland, MA (20 minutes from Saint George Church).
• Davis' Farmland - Petting zoo and recreation area in Sterling, MA (about 20 minutes from Worcester, MA).
• Southwick's Zoo - Located in Mendon, MA (about 35 minutes from Worcester, MA).
• Franklin Park Zoo - Located in Boston, MA (about one hour from Worcester, MA).
• Roger Williams Park Zoo - Located in Providence, RI (about one hour from Worcester, MA), this is the biggest and best zoo this close to Worcester.

Area Sports

Area Sports:

• Bowling (Candlepin) - Candlepin is good for the smaller kids because the ball is smaller and lighter. Colonial Bowling Center, in Worcester, is the closest location, and Thunderbird Bowl, in Auburn, MA, is also nearby.
• Bowling (10 Pin) - 10 Pin is for kids big enough to pick up the larger bowling ball. Closest to Worcester are AMF Auburn Lanes in Auburn, MA and AMF Town & Country Lanes in Shrewsbury, MA.
• Roller Skating - Skylite Roller Skating Center, is right in Worcester, MA.
• Ice Skating - Worcester Skating Rink, on Lake Avenue in Worcester, MA.

Other Local Activities

Local places for a Cub Scout den or family activity or Tiger "Go See It" (Tigers are first graders):

• Firestation - you can usually make an appointment for a brief tour of your local firestation. Kids of all ages like this.
• Newspaper printing plant - Well worth the 25 minute trip if you can arrange for a tour. The T&G printing plant has enough interesting information that Webelos Scouts are probably the best target audience.
• Fruit Picking - Several orchards and farms are within a 15 - 30 minute drive from Worcester. Just a couple nice ones: Tougas Farm, George Hill Orchards
• Wachusett Reservoir - This park is just north of Worcester. Start at the Old Church for short hikes with Tigers or further north for longer hikes.
• Broadmeadow Brook - This park features hiking trails and a visitor center, located approximately 20 minutes from St. George.
• Lowe's of Worcester - Store #1206 (533 Lincoln Street) offers a Kids Clinic the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM. Sign up in advance at the customer service desk.
• Home Depot of Worcester - Store #2684 (130 Goldstar Blvd) offers a kids workshop the first Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM. Advance Sign up is not required.
• Worcester Art Museum - Our city's own museum, right in Worcester, has some very good collections, as well as a Discovery Gallery for participation in art. Free admission 10AM-12PM on Saturdays (as of 6/1/04).
• Higgins Armory Museum - If you like knights and armor, this is the place to go, overlooking Greendale Mall in Worcester.
• Insectarium - Ford's Hometown Services, a division of Griggs & Browne Company, Inc., at the corner of Forest and Grove Streets, houses lots of exotic bugs. With the curator's supervision, you can even pet some of them.
• American Sanitary Plumbing Museum - A museum illustrating the history of plumbing is not something every town has.
• Quinsigamond State Park - on Lake Quisigamond (swim, pcinick, watch the rowers), the park entrance is on North Lake Avenue in Worcester, MA.

Other Day Trips

Other Day Trips for Den or Family:

• Purgatory Chasm - Located in Sutton, MA (about 20 minutes from Worcester, MA, within the Mohegan Council). Dramatic scenery, hiking, camping, and other recreational activities.
• Battleship Cove - Located in Fall River, MA (approximately 1 hour from Worcester, MA).
• Springfield Museums - Four museums in Springfield, MA (just under one hour from Worcester, MA).
• New England Air Museum - Located in Windsor Locks, CT (approximately 1 hour from Worcester, MA).
• New England Air Show - Presented at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, MA (just under one hour from Worcester, MA). The last show was in August 2004; the nextshow is in 2006.
• Edaville USA - Billed as a "family fun park", Edaville USA, located in Carver, MA (about 1.5 hours from Worcester, MA) hosts a number of events, including the National Cranberry Festival in October.
• Mystic Seaport - Located in Mystic, CT (about 1.5 hours from Worcester, MA). The seaport features tall ships, historic buildings, exhibits, and a preservation shipyard.
• Tower Hill Botanical Garden - Located in Boylston, MA (about 20 minutes from Saint George Church).
• Providence Children's Museum - Located in Providence, RI (about one hour from Worcester, MA), this museum features hands-on science and history. Free the first Sunday of each month (as of 5/29/04).
• National Plastics Center & Museum - Located in Leominster, MA (about 30 minutes from Worcester, MA).
• Old Sturbridge Village - Located in Sturbridge, MA (about 25 minutes from Worcester, MA).
• The Children's Museum of Boston - Located in Boston, MA (about one hour from Worcester, MA).
• Butterfly Place - Located in Westford, MA (about 35 minutes from Worcester, MA).
• New Bedford Whaling Museum - Located in New Bedford, MA (about 1.5 hours from Worcester, MA).
• Field Trip Factory - Fun and free field trips arranged with local retailers.
• Wachusett Mountain - A ski slope in the Winter - check their website for Fall family acitivities, such as Musicfest, Kidsfest and Applefest.

Camping

Area Camping:

• Reserve America - Use this site to book a spot at any of the state forest campgrounds.
• Otter River State Forest - located in Baldwinville, MA (under an hour from Worcester, MA) - listed on Reserve America's "100 Best".
• Treasure Valley - Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts have access to the scout reservation in Rutland, MA.
• Buffumville Lake - located in Charlton, MA (under 25 minutes from Worcester, MA) - this recreational area was built and is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Camping (for groups only) is described as "primitive".
• Trout Brook - This park features a pond, lodge (indoor plumbing), picnic pavillion and trails (20 minutes from Saint George Church). Available to groups only.

Amusement Parks

A couple of the close theme parks:

• Canobie Lake Park - Located in Salem, NH (about one hour from Worcester, MA).
• Six Flags New England - Located in Springfield, MA (just under one hour from Worcester, MA).

Sports (to watch)

Some area teams:

• Worcester Tornadoes - Baseball team based in Worcester, MA.
• Worcester Sharks - American Hockey League affliliate, playing at the DCO Center, beginning with the 2006-2007 season (October 2006).
• Nashua Pride - Baseball team based in Nashua, NH (about one hour from Worcester, MA).
• New England Revolution - Soccer team based at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro,MA (about 50 minutes from Worcester, MA).
• Pawtucket Red Sox - Known more commonly as the "PawSox", a baseball team based in Pawtucket, RI (about 50 minutes from Worcester, MA). This is the farm team for the Boston Red Sox.
• Boston Red Sox - Major league baseball team (2004 World Champions) based at Fenway Park in Boston, MA (about one hour from Worcester, MA).
• New England Patriots - Professional American football team (2004 World Champions) based at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro,MA (about 50 minutes from Worcester, MA).
• Boston Celtics - Professional basketball team based at the Boston Garden in Boston,MA (about one hour from Worcester, MA).
• Manchester Monarchs - Professional ice hockey team based Manchester, NH.
• Hartford Wolfpack - Professional ice hockey team based Hartford, CT.
• Lowell Devils - Professional ice hockey team based Lowell, MA.
• Providence Bruins - Professional ice hockey team based Providence, RI.
• Springfield Falcons - Professional ice hockey team based Springfield, MA.
• Worcester Ice Cats - Formerly an American League ice hockey franchise affiliated with the St. Louis Blues, the Ice Cats moved to Peoria, IL after the 2004-2005 season.

Page updated 11/12/07.