Explore The Heart of Massachusetts
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Legendary sower of seeds and planter of apple orchards Johnny Appleseed was born here in 1774.
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Leominster
If you were driving over the only covered bridge in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River, where would you be?
Pepperell
Balance Rock on Wachusett Mountain is one of largest glacial erratic rock formations in Massachusetts – this double boulder formation has two boulders resting atop each other – each about six feet in diameter and weighing about 30 tons.
Princeton
30,000 runners now take on the Boston Marathon every year. If you ran the first race in 1897 though, where would you have started?
Ashland
John Hancock’s signature can be found on documents at what local History Center?
Framingham
Which city was so well known for shoe manufacturing that the city’s seal contains a shoe box and a pair of boots?
Marlborough
Isaiah Thomas, publisher of the Massachusetts Spy newspaper, performed the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence here in 1776.
Worcester
New England’s largest zoological experience spans over 200 acres. What’s it called?
Southwick's Zoo
The first ever purchased Monet painting of water lilies arrived here in 1910, followed by a Gauguin painting in 1921.
Worcester Art Museum
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The snow is melting; the days are getting longer. It’s time to rouse from hibernation, get the blood pumping, and experience the springtime splendor of the Heart of Massachusetts. Here, New England farms and orchards are coming into full bloom, and the region’s lush parks, forests, and scenic mountain trails beckon you to reconnect with the outdoors. And inside, there are plenty of activities and events that are sure to reanimate your imagination after a long winter. Because when the temps start rise, so does the action in this Super Region of the state.
The Heart of MA Super Region is a vibrant springtime destination, encompassing three unique regions: The peri-urban Discover Central Massachusetts around Worcester, the dynamic MetroWest Boston, and the picturesque Visit North Central Massachusetts. Each area boasts its own distinct character and charm, and yet, together, they create a harmonious and enchanting experience. This Super Region offers an affordable, accessible, and delightful escape, bursting with springtime activities and attractions for explorers of all ages. Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, or just a relaxing retreat, the Heart of MA is a springtime haven with something for everyone.
For instance, if you’re looking for outdoor adventure, you can hike, bike, kayak, or watch for rare and exotic birds through the lush hardwood forests and hillsides. Rather stay indoors? There are museums for history buffs, naturalists, and art lovers alike, as well as indoor amusements parks, escape rooms, virtual golf, or trampoline parks. Or if you prefer to taste your way through a vacation, cafes, wineries, breweries, and restaurants of every style of cuisine abound.
In the spring, the Heart of Massachusetts is hard to beat.
History blends into art at Harvard’s Fruitlands Museum, which houses historical Shaker collections as well as landscapes, folk portraits, and indigenous art and artifacts from New England and the Hudson River. The Danforth Art Museum in Framingham also features more than 3,500 pieces of art from the 18th century to modern times. And in the Natick Center, Franklin, and Framingham Centre Common Cultural Districts, the entire community is your gallery, with more than 100 artists working and hosting open studios and co-ops throughout the year, plus a wealth of boutiques, restaurants, festivals, public art, and special events.
In the Heart of Massachusetts, art is also a living, breathing thing. Performance spaces like the Groton Hill Music Center and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts have calendars packed with musicians and groups of all genres, as well as dance and theater productions. The DCU Center in Worcester is a targeted venue for many acts that travel around the country and around the world. Also look to Worcester’s Hanover Theatre or Mechanics Hall, The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), atac: downtown arts + music in Framingham, and The Black Box in Franklin for more traveling concerts and live performances.
Where is The Heart of Massachusetts
Fact provided by Visit North Central Massachusetts
Fact provided by Visit North Central Massachusetts
Fact provided by Visit North Central Massachusetts
Fact provided by MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau
Fact provided by MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau
Fact provided by MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau
Fact provided by Discover
Central Massachusetts
Fact provided by Discover
Central Massachusetts
Fact provided by Discover
Central Massachusetts
Test Your Knowledge About the Heart of Massachusetts
Springtime Splendor
Museums, Galleries, and Educational Centers Galore
If spring showers start to fall, take refuge inside a vast world of culture and knowledge on everything from our history to our art and music to our planet and the world around us.
Or even beyond the Earth. The EcoTarium museum of science and nature in Worcester has a state-of-the-art planetarium in which you can virtually explore the farthest reaches of the universe before investigating three floors of hands-on interactive natural history and physical science exhibits.
For history a little more recent than the Big Bang, check out the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, where your journey into the past begins in a WWI trench with bombs bursting above you and a nurse explaining what it was really like during The Great War on the Western Front. Then make your way through the museum’s immersive exhibits highlighting their one-of-a-kind collection of historic aircraft, tanks, classic cars, and rare relics from the Revolutionary War to present day.
A Taste of the Region
The quickest way to the Heart of Massachusetts is through the stomach — and when it comes to flavorful fare, the region has a full menu.
Whether you’re looking for white-tablecloth fine dining, a greasy spoon for breakfast, or street food, central MA has you covered. There is also a wide spectrum of ethnic and world cuisine for any taste and budget. Leave room for dessert, like warm pecan sweet rolls from the area’s
warm and lovely bakeries and cafes. Or grab some early spring produce from a local farm.
And if you’re thirsty, belly-up at one of the region’s outstanding craft breweries, cideries, wineries, or distilleries—check out page 8 of our digital guide to plan your brew tour!
LEARN MORE
Discover Central MA
Visit North Central MA
MetroWest Boston
Visit North Central MA
MetroWest Boston
Discover Central MA
As spring awakens the region, the Heart of MA comes alive with adventure and excitement
New England is fabled for its foliage, but Heart of MA is just as beautiful when the leaves are returning, the grass is green, and the flowers are budding and blossoming.
MetroWest Boston, alone, has more than 53 miles of rail trails, including a shaded waterside stroll on the Assabet River Rail Trail, a trek through the woods on Center Trail, and the perfect mountain biking adventure on the open and scenic Southern New England Trunkline Trail. You can hike with goats at Chestnut Hill Farm, kayak the Sudbury River or take the boat out on Lake Cochituate. And if wildlife is your thing, the gorgeous Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury has all manner of species, including the threatened Blanding’s turtle.
In Discover Central Massachusetts, hikers stay dry on the winding boardwalk through rare New England swampland in Douglas State Forest, take in the rushing waterfalls and covered bridges of Moore State Park, and share the postcard vistas with the family from atop Lookout Rock.
Explore the Lineup of Special Events!
Central Massachusetts
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston is an epic adventure. With more than 12 gardens and an amazing overlook, watching spring bloom at Tower Hill comes easy.
Broad Meadow Brook lets you take a walk through the largest urban wildlife sanctuary in New England.
The EcoTarium in Worcester has three floors of hands-on interactive natural history and physical science exhibits.
The Samuel Slater Experience is comprised of more than 20 unique immersive exhibits that transport the audience back to the early 1800s as the seeds of the American Industrial Revolution were sown.
The Samuel Slater Experience is comprised of more than 20 unique immersive exhibits that transport the audience back to the early 1800s as the seeds of the American Industrial Revolution were sown.
Hanover Theatre & Conservatory is a majestic downtown concert venue with a grand staircase, 7-foot-tall chandelier, and gilded accents.
Hopkinton Center for the Arts features a diverse calendar of musical acts and artists as well as theater and dance productions, art workshops, and special events.
The Danforth Art Museum in Framingham features more than 3,500 pieces of art from the 18th century to modern times.
Seventeen craft breweries, cideries, a winery, and a distillery all call MetroWest home and make for a great hops, grapes & barrels tour.
The American Heritage Museum in Hudson houses an astonishing collection of one-of-a-kind historic aircraft, tanks, automobiles, and immersive exhibits from the Revolutionary War to present day.
Hopkinton State Park has amazing scenic trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, as well as a lake and beaches for watersports.
Farms & Orchards abound in MetroWest, welcoming spring with everything from tulip-cutting gardens where you can build your own bouquets to bountiful farm stands with jams and jellies, baked good, and early spring produce.
MetroWest Boston
Mass Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton provides ample opportunity for hiking.
The Icon Museum and Study Center in Clinton hosts a collection of more than a thousand pieces of art from Russian to Greek to Ethiopian iconography.
Johnny Appleseed Visitor’s Center is a great stop along Route 2 in Lancaster for souvenirs and a little history about the region.
Groton Hill Music Center welcomes musicians and ensembles of all genres, along with dance and stage productions.
The Fruitlands Museum in Harvard houses historical Shaker collections as well as landscapes, folk portraits, and indigenous art and artifacts from the area.
The Wachusett Mountain State Reservation in Princeton invites outdoor enthusiasts for winter hiking, snowshoeing, skiing at the region’s biggest mountain and spectacular 360-degree views from the summit.
North Central Massachusetts
Feel the Heartbeat of Massachusetts
All these attractions and experiences are just the first birdcall of spring. Countless other adventures await you, your friends, and your family in central MA. To plan your springtime getaway, visit the Heart of Massachusetts website for more info.
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After all, there’s a reason people call this scenic part of the state.
Mechanics Hall in Worcester is a renowned venue for music and dance productions and stage performances.
Fact provided by Discover Central Massachusetts, Visit North Central Massachusetts, and MetroWest Boston Visitor Bureau.
For instance, if you’re looking for outdoor adventure, you can hike, bike, kayak, or watch for rare and exotic birds through the lush hardwood forests and hillsides. Rather stay indoors? There are museums for history buffs, naturalists, and art lovers alike, as well as indoor amusements parks, escape rooms, virtual golf, or trampoline parks. Or if you prefer to taste your way through a vacation, cafes, wineries, breweries, and restaurants of every style of cuisine abound.
In the spring, the Heart of Massachusetts is hard to beat.
The Heart of MA Super Region is a vibrant springtime destination, encompassing three unique regions: The peri-urban Discover Central Massachusetts around Worcester, the dynamic MetroWest Boston, and the picturesque Visit North Central Massachusetts. Each area boasts its own distinct character and charm, and yet, together, they create a harmonious and enchanting experience. This Super Region offers an affordable, accessible, and delightful escape, bursting with springtime activities and attractions for explorers of all ages. Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, or just a relaxing retreat, the Heart of MA is a springtime haven with something for everyone.
New England is fabled for its foliage, but Heart of MA is just as beautiful when the leaves are returning, the grass is green, and the flowers are budding and blossoming.
MetroWest Boston, alone, has more than 53 miles of rail trails, including a shaded waterside stroll on the Assabet River Rail Trail, a trek through the woods on Center Trail, and the perfect mountain biking adventure on the open and scenic Southern New England Trunkline Trail. You can hike with goats at Chestnut Hill Farm, kayak the Sudbury River or take the boat out on Lake Cochituate. And if wildlife is your thing, the gorgeous Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury has all manner of species, including the threatened Blanding’s turtle.
In Discover Central Massachusetts, hikers stay dry on the winding boardwalk through rare New England swampland in Douglas State Forest, take in the rushing waterfalls and covered bridges of Moore State Park, and share the postcard vistas with the family from atop Lookout Rock.
All these attractions and experiences are just the first birdcall of spring. Countless other adventures await you, your friends, and your family in central MA. To plan your springtime getaway, visit the Heart of Massachusetts website for more info.
History blends into art at Harvard’s Fruitlands Museum, which houses historical Shaker collections as well as landscapes, folk portraits, and indigenous art and artifacts from New England and the Hudson River. The Danforth Art Museum in Framingham also features more than 3,500 pieces of art from the 18th century to modern times. And in the Natick Center, Franklin, and Framingham Centre Common Cultural Districts, the entire community is your gallery, with more than 100 artists working and hosting open studios and co-ops throughout the year, plus a wealth of boutiques, restaurants, festivals, public art, and special events.
In the Heart of Massachusetts, art is also a living, breathing thing. Performance spaces like the Groton Hill Music Center and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts have calendars packed with musicians and groups of all genres, as well as dance and theater productions. The DCU Center in Worcester is a targeted venue for many acts that travel around the country and around the world. Also look to Worcester’s Hanover Theatre or Mechanics Hall, The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), atac: downtown arts + music in Framingham, and The Black Box in Franklin for more traveling concerts and live performances.
If spring showers start to fall, take refuge inside a vast world of culture and knowledge on everything from our history to our art and music to our planet and the world around us.
Or even beyond the Earth. The EcoTarium museum of science and nature in Worcester has a state-of-the-art planetarium in which you can virtually explore the farthest reaches of the universe before investigating three floors of hands-on interactive natural history and physical science exhibits.
For history a little more recent than the Big Bang, check out the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, where your journey into the past begins in a WWI trench with bombs bursting above you and a nurse explaining what it was really like during The Great War on the Western Front. Then make your way through the museum’s immersive exhibits highlighting their one-of-a-kind collection of historic aircraft, tanks, classic cars, and rare relics from the Revolutionary War to present day.
The quickest way to the Heart of Massachusetts is through the stomach — and when it comes to flavorful fare, the region has a full menu.
Whether you’re looking for white-tablecloth fine dining, a greasy spoon for breakfast, or street food, central MA has you covered. There is also a wide spectrum of ethnic and world cuisine for any taste and budget. Leave room for dessert, like warm pecan sweet rolls from the area’s
warm and lovely bakeries and cafes. Or grab some early spring produce from a local farm.
And if you’re thirsty, belly-up at one of the region’s outstanding craft breweries, cideries, wineries, or distilleries—check out page 8 of our digital guide to plan your brew tour!
Hopkinton State Park has miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding. And there’s no better place than the majestic Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary near Worcester to break out the binoculars and spot the vibrant robins, goldfinch, waterfowl, and blue jays that nest here.
In North Central Massachusetts, Wachusett Mountain State Reservation and the Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary invite you to get up close and personal with all sorts of picturesque natural splendor, from Brown Hill Summit and Glacial Boulder to tall pines and ancient Red Oak and beaver ponds. Leominster State Forest boasts miles of trails for hiking and is one of the region’s best-known areas for mountain biking. And rock climbers should check out nearby Crow Hill.
Hopkinton State Park has miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding. And there’s no better place than the majestic Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary near Worcester to break out the binoculars and spot the vibrant robins, goldfinch, waterfowl, and blue jays that nest here.
In North Central Massachusetts, Wachusett Mountain State Reservation and the Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary invite you to get up close and personal with all sorts of picturesque natural splendor, from Brown Hill Summit and Glacial Boulder to tall pines and ancient Red Oak and beaver ponds. Leominster State Forest boasts miles of trails for hiking and is one of the region’s best-known areas for mountain biking. And rock climbers should check out nearby Crow Hill.