Posted On: 07/19/2019
With a plenitude of bed-and-breakfasts, beautiful orchards, and quaint18th-century villages, central Massachusetts is a perfect place for weekend getaways. Central Massachusetts typically has mild summer temperatures, with highs in the 70s and 80s, and picturesque snowy landscapes all winter long. From Boston to Worcester, central Massachusetts is the place to unwind from big city life, and enjoy the simple pleasures. Let’s explore this historic region of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The quaint 18th-century town of Boylston is just 45 miles west of the busy big city of Boston. The big attraction in Boylston is the Tower Hill Botanic Garden. This is an 18th-century farmhouse, with a complex of several gardens; the secret garden, cottage garden, and the winter garden. The Wachusett Reservoir neat West Boylston has more than 4,000 acres of wild, rural land crisscrossed with walking trails, ponds for fishing and picnic areas.
The nearby town of Bolton is home to the Nashoba Valley Winery. The winery offers wine-tasting and vineyard tours. Visitors to the Boylston area can make Charlotte’s House Bed and Breakfast their home base. Charlotte’s is an early 19th-century farmhouse, with three guest rooms, complete with a cozy fireplace.
Sturbridge is 60 miles west of Boston, on I-90, just 10 miles from Connecticut. Sitting on 150-acres of land, Sturbridge’s Hyland Orchard & Brewery offers guests the opportunity to pick their own apples, peaches, and pumpkins. The Sturbridge Country Inn is a beautiful mid-19th-century farmhouse; guest rooms feature modern, relaxing whirlpool bathtubs and cozy fireplaces. The Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum, depicting Massachusetts’s life in the late 18th century. The experience comes complete with historically costumed tour guides, a stagecoach ride and lots of antique stores.
The Wachusett Mountain Ski Area is based near Princeton, but it’s also just 15 miles west of Boylston. Majestic Mount Wachusett rises to 2,000 feet above sea level, and has 22 trails for both skiing and snowboarding. Ski season typically is open between Thanksgiving through early April.
The Wachusett Village Inn in nearby Westminster occupies 100 acres of gorgeous woodlands. The 1950’s hotel has 74 guest rooms, including vintage New England-style cottages and intimate suites with warm, cozy fireplaces.
About 90 miles west of Boston, Amherst was founded in the mid-18th century. The Allen House Inn is an ornate Victorian-era bed and breakfast featuring décor in the intricate style of the Victorian “Aesthetic Movement”. The inn has six guest rooms, each with genuine period furnishings and ornate carpets. Located near the Allen House Inn is the Emily Dickinson Museum. The museum is housed inside the former home of the poet. Visitors can not only tour the poet’s home, but also explore the 3-acres of beautiful period gardens. Nearby Quabbin Reservoir is a hidden gem, with scenic walking trails and explosions of colorful foliage in the fall.
From Boston to Worcester, you are never far from relaxing weekend getaways in historic and beautiful central Massachusetts. Need a lift? Knight’s Airport Limousine is waiting!
