Get All Wet
Think “summer” and you can’t help but think about the cooling effects of water.
Johnny Appleseed Country is awash in cool, clear streams, quiet ponds and popular pools. So where’s a good spot to cool off on a warm summer day?
How about the Olympic-sized pool at Benjamin Hill Park in Shirley — an affordable way to spend a day, with lifeguards to keep an eye on the kids, picnic tables for a casual lunch, and a playground for burning off some extra energy?
The region is home, too, to literally dozens of state parks, many of them with swimming areas. Try a visit to Lake Dennison State Park on Route 202 in Winchendon; Leominster State Forest on Route 31 in Westminster; Rutland State Park on Route 122A in Rutland; Dunn Pond on Route 101 in Gardner; Pearl Hill State Park on New Fitchburg Road in West Townsend; or Willard Brook State Forest on Route 119 in Ashby and Townsend.
If diving into one of those lakes or ponds is just a bit more than the kids are in the mood for, how about a zero-depth water park? Davis’ Farmland in Sterling has lots of animals to visit, of course — but it also sports an “Adventure Play & Spray “ area, where the kids can safely cool off while having a good time.
And if the clouds roll in, no need to call off your plans for a day at the beach! Head on up to the CoCo Key Water Resort off Route 31 in Fitchburg! It’s wet, it’s wild, and it’s all indoors — so you can ignore Mother Nature! It’s always warm and sunny, and the whole family can enjoy water slides, an adventure river, giant whirlpool and more at this 55,000 square foot indoor water park.
Look to the Skies
You don’t need nerves of steel to visit Jumptown skydiving center
in Orange — but if you’re planning to leap from an aircraft, it might help. While the center offers skydiving lessons, many visitors are there to watch, not to take the plunge.
The Jumptown skydiving club and dropzone, located off Route 2, welcomes spectators. And make no mistake about it, this is a great spectator sport as colorful parachutes drift downward.
Make yourself comfortable in Jumptown’s shaded spectator viewing area and watch the skydivers land right in front of you!
Be Ccreative
Make a mobile. Paint a t-shirt. Mold a masterpiece. You can do all that, and more, at the Hands On 4 Kidz shop on Main Street in downtown Gardner.
And, perhaps best of all, you can do it affordably — using recycled materials. Kids of all ages can get crafty, whether making a bracelet or creating stationery.
Families are welcome to drop in to satisfy that creative urge, or to attend a special program. Scouts can fulfill badge requirements, and kids can bring their friends in for unique birthday bash.
Feeling a bit more literary? Monthly poetry readings for the 12-and-under set are offered at The Rabbit Hole Bookstore on Fitchburg’s Main Street. Youngsters are invited to bring a poem — one they’ve written, or one by a favorite poet — to read. For dates of upcoming events, check the calendar section in this issue of The Guide to Johnny Appleseed Country.
Take a Hike!
This is Johnny Appleseed Country ... with the emphasis on “country” — so lace up your boots, stuff your backpack, and head out for a day on the trail.
What trail? That’s a hard question to answer, because there are so many from which to choose. You could follow the Monoosnoc Trail, starting near the Twin City Plaza off Merriam Avenue in Leominster, for an hour’s walk along a blue-circle blazed trail.
For an even shorter hike that ends with a nice view, head down Route 140 in Princeton and park at Redemption Rock. The site, incidentally, offers a history lesson; on this large, flat rock, Mary Rowlandson was “redeemed” by settlers after being captured and held hostage by natives during King Phillip’s War. From the rock, head north along the Midstate Trail, following the yellow triangles.
Wachusett Mountain in Princeton is a great reatplace to spend a day. While best known for the ski area that bears its name, Wachusett is attractive year-round for hiking, bird-watching and other outdoor endeavors. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation oversees the 3,000-acre state reservation, which offers nearly 20 miles of walking and hiking trails — including four miles of the Midstate Trail.
The John Hitchcock Visitor Center, located about a mile up Mountain Road from the base lodge, has maps, nature displays and other information about the mountain.
State parks are an outstanding resource for walkers and hikers; visit the department’s website at www.mass.gov/dcr for a wealth of information about the parks and the activities available at each.
Let Your Imagination Take Flight
Have you ever wondered how an airplane stays up in the air? Or what it’s like to travel in space? Or what careers are available in the aviation field?
You can learn all that — and more — at the Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum in downtown Fitchburg. And while its Sunday afternoon programs are educational, the museum, of course, is packed with toys that will delight all ages. On any given date, between 700 and 800 of the over 2,000 toys in the Museum’s collection are on exhibit, so there’s lots to see. You can get a “sneak peek” at the museum by visiting www.topfunaviation.com.
place to spend a day. While best known for the ski area that bears its name, Wachusett is attractive year-round for hiking, bird-watching and other outdoor endeavors. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation oversees the 3,000-acre state reservation, which offers nearly 20 miles of walking and hiking trails — including four miles of the Midstate Trail.
The John Hitchcock Visitor Center, located about a mile up Mountain Road from the base lodge, has maps, nature displays and other information about the mountain.
State parks are an outstanding resource for walkers and hikers; visit the department’s website at www.mass.gov/dcr for a wealth of information about the parks and the activities available at each. Ten Things To Do With The Kids There is tons of fun waiting to be explored It seems summer has hardly begun - and the kids are complaining that there's nothing to do. If the scenario sounds familiar it's time to hit the Johnny Appleseed Trail! The region is filled with interesting and exciting ways to fill an afternoon, a day, or weekend.
Here are 10 fun things for your family to do in north central Massachusetts. For details on hours or admission prices, use the "Navigating the Trail" section in the back of this Guide.
1. Apple Picking. Bring the family to any of our great farms for some apple picking. You can chose from Sholan Farm in Leominster, Red Apple Farm in Phillipston or Marshall Farm in Fitchburg. No matter which farm you chose, it's seasonal fun for the whole family!
2. Take Flight. Well, you might not actually get off the ground, but you can learn all about the world of aviation at the Top Fun Aviation Museum in Fitchburg. You'll find a great mixture of educational and fun activities.
3. Get into the Swing Gone golfing lately? How about a bit of mini-golf? The Lancaster Golf Center, just off Route 2, has a famous mini-golf course, as well as a nine-hole pitch and putt course, along with batting cages and bankshot basketball. Take your best shot! Serving ice cream all year long!
4. Get out an adventure! Tired of the same old family activities? Try white water rafting or riding the zipline at Zoar Outdoor! Since 1989, Zoar Outdoor has offered the best in New England white water rafting trips, kayaking clinics, zip line canopy tours, canoeing instruction, rock climbing classes and bike rentals for adventurers of all abilities, from beginners to experts. Based of out Charlemont, MA, Zoar offers an adventire for any family.
5. Get Lost. For a while, at least. Test your navigating skills in the MegaMaze at Davis Farmland in Sterling. The Maze opens at the end of July. There's a new cornfield maze every year, so you never know what you're getting into!
6. Go Rollin' on the River. Take a steamboat ride on the Connecticut River. The Quinnetukut II riverboat offers a leisurely 12-mile round trip through the gorge, and on to historic Barton Cove, home to nesting eagles and the site of a former dinosaur track quarry. The boat leaves from the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center.
7. Pick a Peck. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and veggies galore are available at local farms all summer! Many farms allow you to pick your own or you can do it the easy way, and stop by a farm stand to see what's in season.
8. Pet a Poitu. Or maybe just a friendly baby goat or two. Davis Farmland in Sterling has a did-boggling array of endangered farm animals, and lots of real and play farm machinery to keep the young ones busy for hours. Be a pretend farmer for a day!
9. Pitch a Tent. There are campgrounds galore along the Johnny Appleseed Trail. Take a dip in a lake, set up the tent, cook hotdogs over a fire, and watch the stars come out! Get away from it all in a local park or campground.
10. Paddle Your Own Canoe. Or rent one at Nashoba Paddler in West Groton. The region has endless waterways to explore! Pack a picnic lunch, grab a fishin' pole, and se out for a lazy day with the family. |
