Kids Tour

If you’re looking for a family-friendly vacation, then you’re coming home to Johnny Appleseed Country, which provides wholesome, fun activities and attractions that every age will appreciate. The Johnny Appleseed Trail Visitor Center in Lancaster even has a specially prepared packet of information that will appeal to kids. If a tour isn't quite what you have in mind be sure to check out our Ten Things To Do With The Kids page.

For example, start out your tour at Davis Farm/MegaMaze (www.davisfarmland.com) in Sterling, whose slogan is “Get lost in the Adventure!” A seven-generation family farm, the site is home to not only a functioning farm that houses endangered animals, but an award-winning three-dimensional field maze created from the farm’s cornfields. Open from August until October, the maze provides thrills to people of all ages. In addition, Davis Farm has teamed up with San Diego Zoo to create the world’s first “Frozen Zoo” for endangered farm animals by preserving their DNA. On a hot Summer day, there’s no need to swelter – you can enjoy Adventure Play & Spray, the nation’s largest zero-depth spray ground

Next stop is the Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum (www.topfunaviation.com) in downtown Fitchburg – the only toy museum in the world completely devoted to aviation-related toys. (Watch this site, as the museum expects to be moving soon!) Perfect for toy -plane lovers (or if it’s the odd, rainy day), the museum houses an international collection of over 2,000 toys, both contemporary and vintage. Whatever your generation – Elvis, Bugs Bunny, Buzz Lightyear, Star Trek or Star Wars – you’ll find something to smile about. You’ll rediscover the joy of flight, and witness the results of toy builders’ ingenuity and imagination. Don’t miss a visit to a virtual airport on the computer, or the chance to test-fly your own model. Open weekends.

Take advantage of the beautiful weather so beloved by Johnny Appleseed, and next make your way to Mount Wachusett (www.wachusett.com) in Princeton, the largest mountain in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River, and winter home to area skiers and snowboarders. . . and celebrated for its outstanding ski instructors and its SnowMonsters programs for kids and “snowbunnies.” 

Need help warming up or cooling down? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to get away to the tropical islands any time you want without having to leave Massachusetts? Now you can, at CoCo Key Water Resort, Massachusetts’ Newest Indoor Water Resort. CoCo Key combines the relaxation and enchantment of the islands with the wild excitement of a 55,000-sq. ft. indoor water park. Every day is a bright, sunny 84 degrees at CoCo Key, featuring a selection of signature attractions. Find more information at http://www.cocokeywaterresort.com/.

In Summer and Fall, you’ll find Wachusett Mountain the venue for various festivals ranging from the Chilifest to music festivals, September’s KidsFest, and October’s AppleFest. Add a fun hike along mountain trails, and you’re all set!

Round out your trip with a visit to Red Apple Farm (www.redapplefarm.com) in Phillipston, a farm whose nostalgic appeal will charm parents and children alike. Whether you pick your own apples, peaches, blueberries, or pumpkins, or take an old-fashioned hayride, or visit with the goats and barn cats, there’s plenty to see, taste and do. With seasonal weekend barbeques and walking trails galore, the farm is also home to an apple tree with 108 varieties on it, as well as a tree descended from the one that Sir Isaac Newton sat beneath – and to which we owe the concept of gravity. Don’t miss the cider doughnuts and the fruits of the labor of good, old-fashioned farming.

Farms and Families - A Perfect Fit
Enjoy playing with the farm animals here in North Central Massachusetts! Have you laughed with a llama lately? Petted a poitu? You can do all that - and much more! - at the farms along the Johnny Appleseed Trail.

Sholan Farms is owned by the City of Leominster and operated by the Friends of Sholan Farms. The Friends of Sholan Farms is a community-supported, non-profit organization. Visit the last working apple orchard in Leominster, the birthplace of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman). Your visit will be a memorable one! Situated on a hilltop with panoramic views of surrounding hills and even of Boston on a clear day, the farm provides cross-country skiing, walking trails, bird watching, picnic area and a variety of cultural and folk events throughout the year. In season, pick from a large variety of spectacular native apples as they ripen.

I Scream, You Scream - Everyone Loves Ice Cream
Once considered a warm-weather treat, or reserved for special occasions, ice cream has grown into a national passion year-round. Exotic flavor combinations have boosted the “fun” side of ice cream eating, and Americans flock to ice cream shops to see what’s new on the menu.
With such great interest in this chilly dessert, it’s easy to locate familiar ice cream shops no matter where you roam. Johnny Appleseed Country is no exception; popular national and regional chains handily satisfy those creamy cravings.
And sometimes it’s fun to get off the beaten path, to find shops that local residents know and treasure. With its agricultural roots — the region has been home to scores of dairy farms throughout its history — North Central Massachusetts is an ice-cream lover’s dream.
Are your taste buds longing for adventure? Sample these flavor ideas at shops along the Johnny Appleseed Trail: Totally Turtle at Lancaster Golf; Purple Cow at Bolton Orchards; Mud Pie Mojo at Cold Stone Creamery in Leominster. Or how about sipping an Apple Soder Float (the local pronunciation is imperative) at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston? Or see what’s new at Calico & Creme in Hubbardston; Kay’s Ice Cream Bar in Westminster; or Rota Spring Farm in Sterling. Some of the local stands are open seasonally, or limited hours, so it’s good to check ahead. And once you get there, you may just find stunning farm vistas, cozy picnic spots, or even friendly animals to visit!
Freshly made ice cream is still a special treat in Johnny Appleseed Country — and finding a favorite spot is half the fun!

The fun doesn’t stop here. Download your copy of The Guide to Johnny Appleseed Country to check out the calendar of activities. Find out about New England’s famous old-fashioned roadside ice cream stands, campgrounds, miniature golf, canoeing, roller skating. . . the list goes on.

Endangered farm animals are in the spotlight at Davis Farmland in Sterling. Larry Davis has spent years bringing in a variety of animals that are often a little...well, odd. Many of these critters are among the very last of their kind in the world, and while they bear strong resemblance to many of their more familiar cousins, they often sport unusually long hair or other distinctive attributes that set them aside from the pack. In addition to the unusual livestock, there's an abundance of more familiar animals, along with play areas and lots of farm equipment to fuel the imagination of young "farmers." Overlook Farm's 270 acres in Rutland, support the mission of Heifer International by educating visitors about the agency's efforts to eliminate hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture. You can visit farm animals, hike woodland trails and more.