Things to See and Do in Central Massachusetts

Basketball Hall of Fame Worcester Art Museum Heritage Country Club

Central Massachusetts is home to a variety of interesting attractions and things to do for the whole family to enjoy. Many attractions including Cedar Lake, Old Sturbridge Village, and Heritage Country Club are located within minutes of Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center. Six Flags New England, the Basketball Hall of Fame, DCU Center and The Salem Cross Inn are a short drive from the hotel. Below is sampling of fun things to do during your vacation to beautiful Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the new Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors all levels of the sport and its most influential players, coaches, referees, mentors and more. Celebrated names who grace the Hall of Fame include Magic Johnson, The Harlem Globetrotters, Larry Brown and Lute Olson. The Basketball Hall of Fame is open daily, excluding Christmas and Thanksgiving. Visit www.hoophall.com.

Old Sturbridge Village.

Step back in time to the late 1700s and early 1800s for a taste of life in rural New England. Old Sturbridge Village, located next to Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center is the largest outdoor living history museum in the northeast region of New England. The 200-acre complex features resorted and reproduced buildings to depict an actual township. Docents are dressed in period clothing. Hands-on activities and educational programs are offered throughout the year. Visit www.osv.org.

Six Flags New England.

Buckle up for adrenaline-pumping family fun at Six Flags New England theme park in Springfield, Massachusetts. Six Flags New England offers everything from thrilling roller coasters for big kids to mild rides for young children, live entertainment, a water park with wave pools and water slides, and calendar full of special events including the annual Fright Fest. Visit www.sixflags.com. [Top]

Worcester Art Museum.

Established in 1898, the Worcester Art Museum boasts a collection of over 35,000 pieces of art from nearly every civilization on the planet. Worcester Art Museum is known for its impressive collection of photographs and was one of the first museums in the country to recognize photography as a fine art form. In addition to its permanent galleries, Worcester Art Museum features traveling exhibits and offers public lectures and art classes for children and adults. Visit www.worcesterart.org.

DCU Center.

DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, is the top arena and convention complex in New England for headline entertainment, concerts, family performances, sporting events and large-scale conventions and exhibitions. DCU Center is home to the NHL’s Worcester Sharks, an affiliate team of the California-based San Jose Sharks. Visit www.dcucenter.com.

Wachusett Mountain.

Enjoy the thrill of winter sports at New England’s favorite family ski resort, Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts. Wachusett Mountain offers 110 acres of terrain accessed by eight chairlifts for all levels of skiers. Trails are groomed twice a day for optimum enjoyment and fresh tracks. Wachusett Mountain offers group and private ski lessons for children and adults. Wachusett Mountain is open from November through April, pending snow conditions. Visit www.wachusett.com. [Top]

Heritage Country Club.

Heritage Country Club is recognized as one of the top public golf courses in central Massachusetts. The championship par -71, 18-hole course plays to 6,468 yards over rolling hills and through often tight fairways. Heritage Country Club is home to the Central Massachusetts Professional Open golf event. Instruction and tournament play is available. Visit www.heritagecountryclub.com.

Brimfield Antique Show.

The Brimfield Antique Show is the granddaddy of antique shows. Founded in the 1950s, the show today is the largest outdoor show of its kind in the United States. More than 5,000 antiques dealers show their inventory at the six-day event held in Brimfield, Massachusetts. The show is held three times a year and spans roughly one mile. Visit www.brimfieldshow.com.

Sturbridge Pottery.

Collectors of fine pottery will find a treasure trove of artful pieces at Sturbridge Pottery. Locally-owned and operated since 1976, Sturbridge Pottery prides itself on one-of-a-kind hand-thrown pottery that is lead-free, dishwasher safe, and microwavable. The Sturbridge Pottery collection features everything from bowls and pitchers to platters and pie plates. Visit www.sturbridgepottery.com. [Top]