Hidden Gems in the Heart of MA

The Heart of Massachusetts offers groups a tapestry of history, arts, culture, family fun, and culinary delights.

With three regions, each with their own Visitors Bureau eager to help plan your group travel, the Heart of MA provides easy access from New England's airports, plus affordable accommodations, and lovely hidden gems.

MetroWest Boston, 30-60 minutes outside Boston, is an excellent hub for tours to the rest of New England. History buffs love the Framingham History Center, featuring John Hancock's signature, suffragette pins, Indigenous artifacts and more. Explore the Wayside Inn's 100-acre property, America's oldest inn, with antique grist mill and beautiful grounds. Visit the American Heritage Museum's one-of-a-kind historic aircraft, tanks, and classic cars, immersive exhibits and living history events.

MetroWest Boston's arts attractions abound with the Danforth Art Museum, four Cultural Districts with theaters, galleries, museums, boutiques, festivals and more—plus fabulous public art. Tour the region's 17 craft breweries, cideries, winery and distillery to really get a taste of the region.

With eight state park recreation areas, lakes, rivers, rail trails and forests, there are places to hike, bike, swim, cross-country ski, boat and more. Explore the beauty of New England wildflowers at Garden in the Woods, showcasing native plants of the region.

MetroWest entertains families with paintball to goat yoga, splash pads to escape rooms, aerial classes to trampoline parks, indoor amusement parks to hands-on art & STEM classes. The MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau happily helps coordinate custom itineraries for any age and interest.

Discover Central Massachusetts helps groups navigate the richness of their region. Visit Worcester's vibrant Shrewsbury Street Restaurant Row, a culinary haven, or the Canal District's tantalizing array of local produce, artisanal goods and international cuisines.

The Worcester Historical Museum chronicles the city's evolution, highlighting pivotal moments, key figures, and surprising contributions such as the invention of the Smiley face.

Art-loving groups relish the Worcester Art Museum's world-class collection of ancient artifacts to contemporary masterpieces, engaging exhibits and educational programs.

Groups love Old Sturbridge Village, a recreated 1830s New England town. Chat with costumed historians and be inspired by stories of early 19th-century life.

Nature enthusiasts enjoy New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill's group tours, offering insights into the garden's rich botanical diversity and horticultural practices.

With Discover Central Massachusetts as your guide, your group tour promises to be a seamless and enriching journey.

Visit North Central Massachusetts region's scenic beauty is one of its biggest attractions, from the spectacular summit view at Wachusett Mountain to the peaceful meadows of the Mass Audubon Sanctuary to beautiful hikes through Leominster State Forest, you'll never feel closer to nature.

Spectacular fall foliage, apple and pumpkin picking, fresh cider donuts, or getting lost in a hay maze—fall fun is abundant at dozens of area farms and orchards. Wachusett Mountain Ski Area welcomes groups for a day on the slopes, but also offers themed festivals from August through November and scenic chairlift rides to the summit.

From antiquing at vintage shops to unique finds in area specialty boutiques, North Central offers numerous engaging shopping opportunities. Enjoy a seasonal ale at one of the region's craft breweries like Gardner Ale House or Wachusett Brewery or homemade ice cream at the many ice cream stands and farms, from Kimball Farm to Rota Spring and plenty more in between.

A stop at the Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center is a must for local memorabilia or history of the region's most famous son John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed.

Visit TheHeartofMA.com for a full overview, or contact each Visitors Bureau individually for help planning your next tour.

Courtesy of the Heart of Massachusetts.

 Photos Courtesy of MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau, Discover Central MA, Visit North Central MA.