Submitted by Icy_Razzmatazz_1594 t3_xtoi12 in WorcesterMA
Indoor or outdoor. I have 2 boys ages 5 and 3.
Just took them to the Ecotarium, they like the Acton Discovery Museum. I can take them to parks in the summer but now that the weather is getting chilly, some indoor activities would be cool just to get out of the house still!
I don't mind if it's outside of Worcester.
Davis mega maze in Sterling/Lancaster Giant corn maze!
Pretty sure the Worcester art museum is free today. They have some cool stuff on knights from the Higgins armory and I’m pretty sure there are some pieces of armor that the kids can try on and hold. There’s an old reconstructed chapel in there that’s kind of cool to be in. The modernist stuff upstairs is kind of trippy and the kids may enjoy looking at
Take music classes at the Joy of Music Program (JOMP) in Worcester!
And art classes at the Worcester Center for Crafts or the Worcester Art Museum!
The Worcester public library often has programs and events for kids.
Join the YMCA, they have classes for kids and special events and 2 different locations in Worcester itself plus several other nearby locations.
Go hiking in the woods looking for cool leaves!
Apple picking!
Pumpkin picking!
The Butterfly Conservatory in Deerfield is always a good visit. There's also the Eric Carle museum in Amherst, with Atkins farm right around the corner. Plus the Quabbin is on the way.
Worcester Public Library has museum passes for the Museum of Science, Children’s Museum, and New England Aquarium in Boston. The library isn’t open on Sundays yet but you can always reserve passes in advance.
Definitely one of those things that are cooler to adults than kids, kids will probably like the open field more than tower once they realize they can’t go in it. And also the whole time you’re there you’re annoyed at the second hand weed smell and parking lot shenanigans.
Stowe Farm in Millbury is $3 a person and is basically a mini version of Davis Farmland. I even prefer it because it’s smaller and like 5% the price for really just as much fun, and closer. You’re looking at $9 vs $81, or $12 vs $108 if you have a spouse, for honestly the same amount of fun for the kid.
It now costs $81 (discounted price, regular is $93) for a family of three to just get into Davis Farmland. That’s a lot for a maze.
Luv2play off route 146 is great
Central Rock Gym is a neat indoor rock climbing gym.
The first Sunday of every month, it’s free.
I’ve also used their Mystic Aquarium pass in the past. Lots of options from WPL.
Davis Farmland/ Davis corn maze
You can also go to Bancroft Castle in Groton, MA https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bancroft-castle
The Jordan's furniture in reading, ma has a "bean town" indoor ropes course! Super fun
Apex in marlborough has a ton of stuff. Theres an arcade, go carts, a rope obstacle course, bumper cars and more. That could be a fun time. Also tower hill botanical gardens in boylston usually has a bunch of events for kids of all age ranges. Its pretty cool to walk through and they have indoor spaces for events.
Davis got the Disneyworld-level swagger
Worcester Greendale YMCA has nice indoor heated family pool.
I've heard the EcoTarium is good for kida
Lot's of good events happening at Mt. Wachusett all October: https://www.wachusett.com/Events-Park/On-Mountain-Events/Event-Calendar.aspx
And they have a beer garden
Petting zoo at Green Hill Park, there's also a playground right there
Sweet! Will check this place out this is exactly the time of stuff I was looking for.
I'd be scared to take a 5 and 3 year old here haha. They like to touch stuff!
Cool never even thought of a place like the YMCA.
I would highly recommend Pyramids for disc golf. Has a huge store, go pick up a cheap disc for each one of you (putter definitely recommended to start) or ask one of the staff, they’re great, and it’s cheap to play. Have a blast throwing plastic through the woods and get a solid walk in.
The American Heritage Museum in Stowe, MA.
Tougas Farm in Northborough. Take the kids apple picking. There are a bunch of animals and a playground too.
The museum is extremely kid friendly. I would not worry about it at all
Old Sturbridge village has an AWESOME indoor pretend play area. My kids would spend hours there fully occupied when they were that age.
Chuck E. Cheese is underrated. And ultimate obstacles in west boylston could also be fun.
Brookfield Orchards in North Brookfield. It's a classic New England apple orchard with apple picking, hay rides, a huge general store, and some really nice food! I went there every Fall growing up. I have a lot of great memories playing at the playground and climbing apple trees. It's about 20-30 mins West of Worcester off of Route 9.
Launch (trampoline park) in Westborough has toddler time 9-11am on weekends.
Animal adventures in Bolton, MA.
Lot's of farms have corn mazes this time of year.
A few McDonald's and Chick Filets have indoor playgrounds.
Bowlero in Shrewsbury.
Claytime paint your own pottery in Shrewsbury.
Can burn an hour in a dollar store, spend less than $20, and then another hour+ at home with whatever you buy.
WPI basketball. Teams are good, games are 90 minutes, no admission fee, and the gym is a lovely, old barn.
Holy Cross has both a bunch of sports options, the football team is currently undefeated and hoops/hockey are just starting up, and there's a brand new theater complex that's set to open on campus to. Could go to shows there.
And I'll always hype Wrestling Open at the White Eagle on Thursdays at 8. $10 for the best two hour show in town and one of the best crowds I've ever been a part of.
If they like outside, Oxbow
Isn’t that ridiculous? It’s right up the road from me and I always wanted to check it out. I brought my son, my girlfriend and her three daughters and had to bite my lip the whole day.
I grew up next door in Barre and sadly have never been. I’ll definitely have to bring my son since my Nana is still out that way in East Brookfield. Good one! Thank You
WHAT!?!? 🤣😂🤣😂 holy crap I HAVE to bring my son to wrestling!! He won’t know what the hell is going on. I’m cracking up thinking of the look on his face. Oh man… SUCH a great idea! Thank You
Actually, do you think it’s ok for an 8yr old? All of a sudden I thought it could get a little too wild if they are serving hard liquor.
Next Weekend on the 9th Mass DCR is doing on of their twice annual Dam Days at the Wachusset Resevior Dam.
It's a beautiful area, and it's one of the few times you'll be able to walk along the top of the dam
Not worth it at all, I’m not sure how they get away with it. Combination of good marketing and probably used to be cheap so people have good memories of it. But it’s crazy for a family of four to pay $100+ to see some animals and go in a maze. Especially with a lot of other places closer to Worcester. Stowe Farm as I previously mentioned is $3 a person. West End Creamery in Northbridge right off 146 is $18 a person and pretty fun. Tougas in Northborough is even free entry and then pretty pricey if you wanna pick apples or something.
But the “farm family fun” experience can be had for a lot cheaper and better than Davis Farmland.
Crazy isn’t it?! I guess as long as people keep paying, the cost will probably keep going up.
Thank you very much for the suggestions! What is the Creamery all about?
West End Creamery is just a nice ice cream place most of the time, but during fall weekends there’s a real nice fall festival. Haven’t been this year, but last year it was $18 for anyone over 3 feet tall. And they were kinda scummy and charged my 3 year old who was actually around 34 inches full price. It was annoying at the time, but I’m sure the high school age kids working the gate didn’t mean any harm and try to scam me out of money. I’d still recommend it over Davis Farmland.
There's always kids there and the crowd looks after its own and self-polices. That said, alcohol is served and sometimes someone has a few too many. I've been going to shows for that company for seven years and have seen three people total get tossed for being belligerent or unruly. It's a safe place and a good place.
The venue is up a large staircase with no elevator because it's a super old building so I hope that's not a problem.
No problem at all and thank you kindly! I checked out the website and emailed some questions and they immediately replied saying just that. I think it’ll be a fun and certainly unforgettable night for him. Thanks again!
jpm01609 t1_iqqvbf8 wrote
garlic fest in ORANGE MA oct 1 and 2