This is, as the name suggests, the central region of Massachusetts. While there may be varying definitions of the specific boundaries, it is generally recognized to encompass parts of Middlesex and Worcester counties. It also comprises the cities of Leominster, Marlborough, Gardner, and Fitchburg.
Central Massachusetts consists predominantly of woodland and hills, and is often referred to as a hidden gem. It is rich in culture and arts, and offers visitors beautiful vistas and a variety of family friendly activities. It also has a rich history, as can be seen in the Old Sturbridge Village Living History Museum.
Read on for our list of the best things to do in Central Massachusetts
The 97 Most Popular Things To Do In Central Massachusetts, Massachusetts
97. Boston Athenaeum
4.3 (72 reviews)
Location: 10 1 2 Beacon Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 227 0270
96. Newbury Street
4.8 (91 reviews)
Credit: Daderot, License, Wikimedia commons
95. Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM)
4.6 (96 reviews)
Credit: Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM), Google Maps
Location: 460 Commercial Street Provincetown MA
Tel: 508 487 1750
Web Address: http://paam.org/
94. Rose Art Museum
4.6 (100 reviews)
Location: 415 South Street Waltham MA
Tel: 781 736 2028
Web Address: http://brandeis.edu/rose/
93. Chesterwood
4.6 (122 reviews)
Credit: David, License, Flickr
Location: 4 Williamsville Road Streetockbridge MA
Tel: 413 298 3579
Web Address: http://chesterwood.org/
92. Williams College Museum of Art
4.6 (124 reviews)
Location: 15 Lawrence Hall Dr Williamstown MA
Tel: 413 597 2429
Web Address: http://artmuseum.williams.edu/
91. Lowell National Historical Park
4.6 (187 reviews)
Location: 67 Kirk Street Lowell MA
Tel: 978 970 5000
Web Address: http://nps.gov/lowe
90. The Mary Baker Eddy Library
4.4 (218 reviews)
Location: 210 Massachusetts Ave Boston MA
Tel: 617 450 7000
Web Address: https://marybakereddylibrary.org/
89. Smith College Museum of Art
4.7 (219 reviews)
Location: 20 Elm Street Northampton MA
Tel: 413 585 2760
Web Address: https://scma.smith.edu/
88. Boston Harbor
4.6 (230 reviews)
Credit: Nelson48, License, Wikimedia commons
87. Race Point Lighthouse
4.7 (249 reviews)
Credit: Kenneth C. Zirkel, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Provincetown MA
Tel: 855 722 3959
Web Address: http://racepointlighthouse.org/
86. Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site
4.7 (251 reviews)
Location: 105 Brattle Street Cambridge MA
Tel: 617 876 4491
Web Address: http://nps.gov/long/index.htm
85. Fuller Craft Museum
4.5 (253 reviews)
Location: 455 Oak Street Brockton MA
Tel: 508 588 6000
Web Address: https://fullercraft.org/
84. Museum of African American History
4.4 (280 reviews)
Location: 46 Joy Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 725 0022
Web Address: http://maah.org/
83. Mount Greylock State Reservation
4.8 (303 reviews)
Location: 30 Rockwell Road Lanesborough MA
Tel: 413 499 4262
Web Address: https://mass.gov/locations/mount-greylock-state-reservation
82. Massachusetts State House
4.4 (321 reviews)
Credit: King Hearts, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 24 Beacon Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 722 2000
Web Address: https://malegislature.gov/
81. Adams National Historical Park
4.6 (325 reviews)
Credit: Chris Devers, License, Flickr
Location: 133 Franklin Street Quincy MA
Tel: 617 773 1177
Web Address: http://nps.gov/adam/index.htm
80. Granary Burying Ground
4.6 (341 reviews)
Credit: Jlmachlin, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Tremont Street Boston MA
Web Address: https://boston.gov/cemetaries/granary-burying-ground
79. King’s Chapel
4.6 (413 reviews)
Credit: Upstateherd, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 58 Tremont Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 227 2155
Web Address: http://kings-chapel.org/
78. Mount Greylock
4.8 (443 reviews)
Credit: Miwasiwka, License, Wikimedia commons
77. Walden Pond
4.5 (450 reviews)
Credit: Radha Raman Gargeya, License, Wikimedia commons
76. USS Constitution
4.8 (487 reviews)
Credit: Lfleur04, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 93 Chelsea Street Charlestown MA
Web Address: https://navy.mil/USS-CONSTITUTION/
75. Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
4.6 (493 reviews)
Credit: A.Davey, License, Flickr
Location: 11 Divinity Ave Cambridge MA
Tel: 617 496 1027
Web Address: http://peabody.harvard.edu/
74. Old South Meeting House
4.6 (496 reviews)
Credit: Brian-R-Phillips, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 310 Washington Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 482 6439
Web Address: https://revolutionaryspaces.org/osmh/
73. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
4.6 (505 reviews)
Credit: Francesca.hyanna19, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Columbia Point Boston MA
Tel: 617 514 1600
Web Address: https://jfklibrary.org/
72. Berkshire Museum
4.4 (552 reviews)
Credit: Barbara Keegan, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 39 South Street Pittsfield MA
Tel: 413 443 7171
Web Address: http://berkshiremuseum.org/
71. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
4.6 (556 reviews)
Credit: Sam Leitermann, Google Maps
Location: 125 W Bay Road Amherst MA
Tel: 413 559 6300
Web Address: http://carlemuseum.org/
70. Whaling Museum
4.8 (563 reviews)
Credit: Chris Devers, License, Flickr
Location: 13 Broad Street Nantucket MA
Tel: 508 228 1894
Web Address: http://nha.org/
69. Swan Boats
4.7 (569 reviews)
Credit: TanRo, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 4 Charles Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 522 1966
Web Address: http://swanboats.com/
68. Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
4.7 (660 reviews)
Credit: Paul S. Darr, Google Maps
Location: 399 Lexington Road Concord MA
Tel: 978 369 4118
Web Address: http://louisamayalcott.org/
67. The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home
4.7 (697 reviews)
Location: 2 Plunkett Street Lenox MA
Tel: 413 551 5111
Web Address: http://edithwharton.org/
66. Coast Guard Beach
4.8 (858 reviews)
Credit: Nhatchimai8, License, Wikimedia commons
Web Address: http://nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/coast-guard-beach-eastham.htm
65. Old North Church
4.6 (925 reviews)
Credit: Matthewconti, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 193 Salem Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 858 8231
Web Address: http://oldnorth.com/
64. Chatham Lighthouse
4.7 (960 reviews)
Credit: Aprof2, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 37 Main Street Chatham MA
Tel: 508 945 3830
Web Address: http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php
63. Butternut Ski Area and Tubing Center
4.5 (966 reviews)
Credit: Butternut Ski Area and Tubing Center, Google Maps
Location: 380 Streetate Road Great Barrington MA
Tel: 413 528 2000
Web Address: https://skibutternut.com/
62. Sandwich Glass Museum
4.5 (989 reviews)
Credit: Chris Devers, License, Flickr
Location: 129 Main Street Sandwich MA
Tel: 508 888 0251
Web Address: http://sandwichglassmuseum.org/
61. Catamount Mountain Resort
4.5 (993 reviews)
Credit: Slawomir Medon, Google Maps
Location: 78 Catamount Road Hillsdale NY
Tel: 413 528 1262
Web Address: http://catamountski.com/
60. Nashoba Valley Ski Area
4.2 (1,016 reviews)
Credit: Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Google Maps
Location: 79 Powers Road Westford MA
Tel: 978 692 3033
Web Address: http://skinashoba.com/
59. Nauset Lighthouse
4.6 (1,061 reviews)
Credit: Aprof2, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 120 Nauset Light Beach Road Eastham MA
Web Address: http://nausetlight.org/
58. New Bedford Whaling Museum
4.8 (1,094 reviews)
Credit: Chris Devers, License, Flickr
Location: 18 Johnny Cake Hill New Bedford MA
Tel: 508 997 0046
Web Address: http://whalingmuseum.org/
57. Race Point Beach
4.7 (1,100 reviews)
56. Trinity Church
4.6 (1,169 reviews)
Credit: Townsendma30, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 206 Clarendon Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 536 0944
Web Address: https://trinitychurchboston.org/
55. Worcester Art Museum
4.7 (1,183 reviews)
Credit: Daderot, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 55 Salisbury Street Worcester MA
Tel: 508 799 4406
Web Address: https://worcesterart.org/
54. Crane Beach
4.6 (1,245 reviews)
Credit: NARA record: 8467939, License, Wikimedia commons
Web Address: http://thetrustees.org/crane-estate/about-the-crane-estate/crane-beach-the-crane-estate.html
53. Harvard Art Museums
4.7 (1,412 reviews)
Location: 32 Quincy Street Cambridge MA
Tel: 617 495 9400
Web Address: https://harvardartmuseums.org/
52. Boston Harbor Islands State Park
4.7 (1,412 reviews)
Credit: Giovanni Variottinelli, License, Flickr
Location: 191w Atlantic Ave Boston MA
Tel: 617 223 8666
Web Address: http://bostonharborislands.org/
51. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
4.7 (1,420 reviews)
Credit: Ralph Stan, Google Maps
Location: 51 Sandy Pond Road Lincoln MA
Tel: 781 259 8355
Web Address: https://thetrustees.org/place/decordova/
50. Nickerson State Park
4.7 (1,426 reviews)
Location: 3488 Main Street Brewster MA
Tel: 508 896 3491
Web Address: https://mass.gov/locations/nickerson-state-park
49. Old State House
4.6 (1,454 reviews)
Credit: ArthurBowes, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 206 Washington Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 720 1713
Web Address: https://revolutionaryspaces.org/
48. Heritage Museums & Gardens
4.8 (1,477 reviews)
Credit: Chris Devers, License, Flickr
Location: 67 Grove Street Sandwich MA
Tel: 508 888 3300
Web Address: http://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/
47. Hammond Castle Museum
4.6 (1,511 reviews)
Location: 80 Hesperus Ave Gloucester MA
Tel: 978 283 2080
Web Address: http://hammondcastle.org/
46. Halibut Point State Park
4.8 (1,549 reviews)
Location: Gott Ave Rockport MA
Tel: 978 546 2997
Web Address: https://mass.gov/locations/halibut-point-state-park
45. Lizzie Borden House (A Bed and Breakfast & Museum)
4.7 (1,550 reviews)
Credit: Lizzie Borden House (A Bed and Breakfast & Museum), Google Maps
Location: 230 2nd Street Fall River MA
Tel: 508 675 7333
Web Address: https://lizzie-borden.com/
44. Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
4.4 (1,555 reviews)
Credit: Elye Grossman, Google Maps
Location: 37 Corey Road Hancock MA
Tel: 413 738 5500
Web Address: https://jiminypeak.com/
43. Salem Maritime National Historic Site
4.6 (1,650 reviews)
Credit: Upstateherd, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 160 Derby Street Salem MA
Tel: 978 740 1680
Web Address: http://nps.gov/sama/
42. Boston Public Library – Central Library
4.8 (1,687 reviews)
Location: 700 Boylston Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 536 5400
Web Address: https://bpl.org/
41. EcoTarium
4.5 (1,724 reviews)
Location: 222 Harrington Way Worcester MA
Tel: 508 929 2700
Web Address: http://ecotarium.org/
40. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
4.7 (1,758 reviews)
Credit: Chris Devers, License, Flickr
Location: 33 William Street New Bedford MA
Tel: 508 996 4095
Web Address: http://nps.gov/nebe
39. Berkshire East Mountain Resort
4.7 (1,793 reviews)
Credit: Mikolaj Janusz, Google Maps
Location: 66 Thunder Mountain Road Charlemont MA
Tel: 413 339 6618
Web Address: http://berkshireeast.com/
38. Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum
4.6 (2,071 reviews)
Location: 1 High Pole Hill Road Provincetown MA
Tel: 508 487 1310
Web Address: http://pilgrim-monument.org/
37. Springfield Museums
4.7 (2,202 reviews)
Credit: Kenneth C. Zirkel, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 21 Edwards Street Springfield MA
Tel: 413 263 6800
Web Address: https://springfieldmuseums.org/
36. New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
4.7 (2,513 reviews)
Credit: Allison Richards, License, Flickr
Location: 11 French Dr Boylston MA
Tel: 508 869 6111
Web Address: http://nebg.org/
35. Minute Man National Historical Park
4.7 (2,664 reviews)
Credit: Elizabeth Rowe, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 250 N Great Road Lincoln MA
Tel: 978 369 6993
Web Address: http://nps.gov/mima
34. The Witch House at Salem
4.4 (2,881 reviews)
Credit: RoastedGarlic2018, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 310 Essex Street Salem MA
Tel: 978 744 8815
Web Address: https://thewitchhouse.org/
33. Wachusett Mountain
4.5 (3,001 reviews)
Credit: Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism, License, Flickr
Location: 41 Mile Hill Road Westminster MA
Tel: 978 464 2300
Web Address: http://wachusett.com/
32. Peabody Essex Museum
4.7 (3,074 reviews)
Credit: Caseyleebrown, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 161 Essex Street Salem MA
Tel: 978 745 9500
Web Address: https://pem.org/
31. Plimoth Patuxet Museums
4.5 (3,084 reviews)
Location: 137 Warren Ave Plymouth MA
Tel: 508 746 1622
Web Address: http://plimoth.org/
30. The Paul Revere House
4.4 (3,124 reviews)
Credit: PerriAndMe, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 19 N Square Boston MA
Tel: 617 523 2338
Web Address: http://paulreverehouse.org/
29. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
4.5 (3,129 reviews)
Location: 1000 Hall of Fame Ave Springfield MA
Tel: 877 446 6752
Web Address: http://hoophall.com/
28. The House of the Seven Gables
4.6 (3,188 reviews)
Credit: Karen Mayhall, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 115 Derby Street Salem MA
Tel: 978 744 0991
Web Address: https://7gables.org/
27. The Harvard Museum of Natural History
4.7 (3,257 reviews)
Credit: Sheraz Choudhary, Google Maps
Location: 26 Oxford Street Cambridge MA
Tel: 617 495 3045
Web Address: http://hmnh.harvard.edu/
26. Charles River Esplanade
4.8 (3,327 reviews)
Credit: King Hearts, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Charles River Esplanade Boston MA
Tel: 617 227 0365
Web Address: http://esplanade.org/
25. Old Sturbridge Village
4.7 (3,400 reviews)
Credit: Lupinemomma, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 Old Streeturbridge Village Road Streeturbridge MA
Tel: 800 733 1830
Web Address: http://osv.org/
24. Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
4.8 (3,480 reviews)
Credit: Chris Devers, License, Flickr
Location: 125 Arborway Boston MA
Tel: 617 524 1718
Web Address: http://arboretum.harvard.edu/
23. Blue Hills Reservation
4.7 (3,509 reviews)
Credit: NARA record: 8464447, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 695 Hillside Street Milton MA
Tel: 617 698 1802
Web Address: https://mass.gov/locations/blue-hills-reservation
22. Cape Cod National Seashore
4.8 (3,582 reviews)
Credit: Astoddard73, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 99 Marconi Site Rd. Wellfleet MA
Tel: 508 255 3421
Web Address: http://nps.gov/caco/index.htm
21. Plymouth Rock
4.3 (3,757 reviews)
Location: 79 Water Street Plymouth MA
Tel: 508 747 5360
Web Address: https://seeplymouth.com/listing/plymouth-rock/
20. Boston Public Market
4.6 (4,756 reviews)
Location: 100 Hanover Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 973 4909
Web Address: http://bostonpublicmarket.org/
19. Castle Island
4.7 (4,922 reviews)
Credit: Edmundmp, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2010 William J Day Blvd Boston MA
Tel: 617 727 5290
Web Address: https://mass.gov/locations/castle-island-pleasure-bay-m-street-beach-and-carson-beach
18. Bunker Hill Monument
4.6 (5,224 reviews)
Credit: Bestdaygirl, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Monument Sq Charlestown MA
Tel: 617 242 5641
Web Address: http://nps.gov/bost/historyculture/bhm.htm
17. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
4.6 (5,705 reviews)
Credit: Zahrahd, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 306 Congress Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 338 1773
Web Address: https://bostonteapartyship.com/
16. USS Constitution Museum
4.7 (6,093 reviews)
Credit: Lfleur04, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Building 22 Charlestown Navy Yard Charlestown MA
Tel: 617 426 1812
Web Address: https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/
15. Franklin Park Zoo
4.4 (6,389 reviews)
Credit: Nhatchimai8, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 Franklin Park Road Boston MA
Tel: 617 541 5466
Web Address: https://zoonewengland.org/franklin-park-zoo.aspx
14. Quincy Market
4.5 (6,826 reviews)
Credit: Av9, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 206 S Market Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 523 1300
Web Address: https://quincy-market.com/
13. Harvard Square
4.5 (7,898 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Brattle Street Cambridge MA
Tel: 617 491 3434
Web Address: http://harvardsquare.com/
12. Salem Witch Museum
3.8 (7,984 reviews)
Credit: Francesca.hyanna19, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 19 1 2 N Washington Square Salem MA
Tel: 978 744 1692
Web Address: http://salemwitchmuseum.com/
11. Public Garden
4.8 (15,017 reviews)
Location: 4 Charles Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 635 4505
Web Address: https://boston.gov/parks/public-garden
10. Six Flags New England
4.3 (17,919 reviews)
Location: 1623 Main Street Agawam MA
Tel: 413 786 9300
Web Address: https://sixflags.com/newengland
9. Boston Common
4.7 (29,769 reviews)
Credit: Swampyank, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 115 Boylston Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 635 4505
Web Address: https://boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation
Our Top picks
8. The Institute of Contemporary Art
4.4 (3,170 reviews)
Location: 25 Harbor Shore Dr Boston MA
Tel: 617 478 3100
Web Address: https://icaboston.org/
7. Boston Children’s Museum
4.7 (4,758 reviews)
Location: 308 Congress Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 426 6500
Web Address: http://bostonchildrensmuseum.org/
6. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
4.7 (6,478 reviews)
Credit: King Hearts, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 25 Evans Way Boston MA
Tel: 617 566 1401
Web Address: https://gardnermuseum.org/
5. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
4.8 (13,684 reviews)
Credit: Aschulkins, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 465 Huntington Ave Boston MA
Tel: 617 267 9300
Web Address: https://mfa.org/
4. Museum of Science
4.7 (17,105 reviews)
Location: 1 Museum Of Science Driveway Boston MA
Tel: 617 723 2500
Web Address: http://mos.org/
3. New England Aquarium
4.4 (18,704 reviews)
Credit: NewtonCourt, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 Central Wharf Boston MA
Tel: 617 973 5200
Web Address: https://neaq.org/
2. Fenway Park
4.8 (32,031 reviews)
Credit: RoastedGarlic2018, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 4 Street Boston MA
Tel: 877 733 7699
Web Address: https://mlb.com/redsox/ballpark
1. Faneuil Hall Marketplace
4.5 (37,261 reviews)
Credit: Ltam46, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 S Market Street Boston MA
Tel: 617 523 1300
Web Address: https://faneuilhallmarketplace.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Central Massachusetts, Massachusetts! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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