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Town in Massachusetts, United States
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sturbridge is a charming New England town of almost 10,000 people (2020) in southern Central Massachusetts approximately 60 miles (96 km) west of Boston. Sturbridge is probably most famous for the Old Sturbridge Village living history museum.
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(See Learn). Sturbridge's biggest draw, this living history museum promotes learning about the early 1800s through fun, hands-on activities. Great interpretive programs. Special and seasonal programs help people experience historical New England. There are reenactments of previous time period wars, as well as activities that were going on around the early 1800s. It is a great way to get the visitors involved as well as just allowing for a great show.
Carpenter Rock offers a sweeping panorama for those who are willing to trek up the trail. Wells State Park offers camping from late spring to early fall, with camp sites for tents and trailers. The pond, Walker Pond, is great for swimming, boating, and fishing. There are multiple trails that are color coded for easy access through the park. Pets are welcome.
Escape room games.
6 climate-controlled indoor courts. Booking link: https://widgets.courtreserve.com/Online/Public/EmbedCode/10865/28628
A woman- and veteran-owned paint and pottery studio that offers guided lessons as well as open studio sessions. No prior experience necessary! It is strongly advised to pre-register and pay ahead, as spots cannot be guaranteed without payments.
9 holes, semi-private.
Frequently has music and various festivals in their outdoor pavilion starting in spring and running through late fall. Kids enjoy the feeding the farm animals and taking a ride on the pickle barrel train.
Off of Route 20, border of Sturbridge and Brimfield.
Off of Route 49 (Podunk Pike). Camping, hiking, mountain biking, swimming, interpretive programs, and more. Make the half an hour climb to the top of Carpenter Rock for a fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding countryside and lakes.
Border of Southbridge and Sturbridge. Kayaking is very popular here. Great spot for a picnic, multiple fields with the river and trees surrounding you. There are a couple of trails leading around the Dam, with views of the river and woods. Very relaxing.
Behind Old Sturbridge Village. Parking available at 10 Shattuck Rd and on Old Sturbridge Village Rd. This is not well known to a lot of people, but the land is beautiful. Once used as a boys' and girls' summer camp in the 1950s, this is a nice place to take a hike. The old buildings are all gone now, but you can see where they once stood. There are many trails that leads you around the whole camp, with a couple of man-made ponds leading from a river. The ponds are a unique color of light blue and greens from the algae. It is told that sometimes the river contains salmon. It is a beautiful spot for a picnic and just a nice hike with your leashed dogs. There is a field, plenty of trees, and in the summer the water from the river is shallow enough to just rest a raft in and relax.
Walking and hiking trails at the site of a historical graphite mine. The mine was first established by the local Nipmuc, then later sold to European colonists. During the early 19th century it was a main source of graphite for the United States. Old pits and mine shafts can still be seen along the trails.
Possibly the best place to eat in town for breakfast. It is very popular with the locals, and rightly so. The meals are large and at a great price. There are a good amount of specials, from fun ideas with pancakes and waffles, to huge portions of almost everything on the menu on one plate. The atmosphere is cozy and feels like you are sitting in grandma's kitchen. It is not very large, with a small bar in the middle with tables on either side. The walls are covered in artwork from local artists, as well as photos of people in town, and the local Little League teams that the restaurant sponsors over the years. There is a kids menu as well as a lunch menu. Good food for lunch, but more popular with breakfast.
Serves coffee, alcoholic beverages, and pastries. Dinner hours also have daily entrees. Friday and weekend evenings have indoor live music.
Great local business that serves quality coffee and pastries. Serving breakfast foods as well as soups and sandwiches. Plenty of seating with tables and over sized couches/chairs. There is also a fireplace and internet access. It is a great place to go and meet up with friends and do your homework or just get work done.
Simple food, good quality, friendly service. The size of the meals are fairly large, with the muffins double what you would get at a fast food establishment. There are not a lot of tables, so getting there early is ideal, around 9AM or earlier. There is a variety of meals, from cereal, oatmeal, eggs, French toast, pancakes, waffles, and more. Great meeting place for a casual hangout in the morning. Typical small-town diner, what more could you want?
Family friendly pizza restaurant. Also serves ice cream. Has good seafood options.
Open seasonally in the late spring through the summer. A great family friendly atmosphere. Has a small lawn with some lawn games for outdoor eating and family fun.
Pub-style food with bar. Has weekly trivia nights.
In addition to the restaurant, there is live music in the evening, varies. Typically on the weekend.
Great brick oven pizzas, and selection of Italian fare. Great bar, good ambiance. Best seats are either at the bar or sitting right at the kitchen, watching them create your food front and center. A family favorite.
Thai food. Near entrance to Old Sturbridge Village. Great food and good prices. Food is spicy, no children's menu. Serving sizes are large, and very filling. The atmosphere is relaxing and cozy. Staff if very friendly and from the area. The decorations resemble a foreign land, and the smells remind you of being in a different country.
A BBQ joint right on the main drag. Incredibly popular, hard to find a parking space sometimes. They don't serve alcohol, but it is BYOB and there is a liquor store next door. BT's is that rare place that does all different meats justice and has a big selection: chicken, pork, two kinds of ribs, and brisket. Despite the crowds, it's usually not hard to find a seat and there are also a few tables outside.
Upscale in historic Publick House.
Visit this small brewery co-located on an orchard in the rural Fiskdale neighborhood of Sturbridge. Rapscallion brews a wide range of styles, but tends to focus more heavily on darker beers like stouts, porters, and black IPAs although they are best known for their very light Honey Ale. Samplers and full pints are available in the homey taproom which looks like the inside of a barn because that's exactly what it used to be. Rapscallion hosts frequent live music and occasionally a festival which will have multiple bands and sometimes a food truck. They give impromptu tours on weekends.
In an historic riverside mill building from the 1860s. Brewing company with a taproom, food menu, trivia night, and live music.
In a historic mill building. Brewery with taproom and food menu. Deep Roots also offers axe throwing in adjacent Unit 208.
Handicapped-accessible, smoking and non-smoking rooms are available.
Has over 200 RV sites, as well as cottage rooms and a resort. A lakefront property, you can fish.
One of the main attractions in Sturbridge. Right across the street from the common, located near the library and town hall. George Washington was even said to have stayed and eaten here. Built in 1771, there is a graveyard next to it with graves dating back to the early 1800. The historic building has a bake shoppe which offers everything from cookies and cakes to teas and coffee, and you can also call in an order and pick it up there, a 17-room inn, meeting rooms, and a tavern/bar. The unique history and the beauty of the building attract the young and old alike. There are special events throughout the year, including weddings, Breakfast with Santa, and Easter Breakfast. The large white building still has the decorations of the earlier centuries.
Hotel and conference center. Indoor courtyard and pool, restaurant and bar. Adjacent to Cedar Lake, with beach activities in the summer.
Shops located in a historic mill building
Backyard birding products, birdfeeders, birdfeed, outdoor products and gifts. Stop by and see Minnies the dove and Marley the cockatiel.
Owned by and sells stoneware works by the local mastercraftsmen Gary and Anne Malone.
Local farm stand. Woman and veteran owned.
By car
Many people find Sturbridge a convenient stopping point on their way either further north or south. There are many restaurants and accommodations within a very short distance of all the main roads.
By plane
The nearest large airport is in Worcester, but it has limited service. Bradley Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks, CT serves the Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts area.
Most people will find using a car the easiest way to get around town. There are a lot of small back roads that lead to hidden treasures and historic buildings.
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Worcester · Regional · ORH
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