Now that we’ve shoveled the first snow of the season, it’s time to remind ourselves of the reasons that snow is awesome. After all, it isn’t disappearing anytime soon! Consider making the most of the wintry weather with a day of snow-filled fun. And there’s no better place for outdoor thrills than the tubing slopes at Ski Ward.
Located in Shrewsbury, 42 miles or an hour’s drive west of Boston, Ski Ward is already open for the season.
Tubers do need to be at least 6 years of age and 42 inches tall to take part.
On weekdays, an hour’s tubing costs $15, while two hours of fun is $20. On weekends, holidays, and school vacations, two-hour passes cost $29 per person.
Since the season has just started, Ski Ward is currently only open on weekends. However, once the season’s in full swing, Tuba Slide opens on weekdays between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Hours are much longer during weekends, holidays, and school vacations, when you can zip down the lanes from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. (or until 5 p.m. on Sundays).
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Unlike skiing and snowboarding, you don’t need to be athletic or have any experience to go snow tubing.
However, if you do happen to be a skiier or snowboarder, you can take advantage of Ski Ward’s nine trails.
When it comes right down to it, we really think that fall is the absolute prettiest season in Massachusetts, and it also happens to be crammed with scores of time-honored traditions such as visiting delicious apple orchards, heading to colorful pumpkin patches, and exploring meandering and exciting mazes of all kinds. And if you live in the Boston area, you don’t have to venture far from the busy big city to find yourself surrounded by soaring stalks of corn and getting totally lost! But that’s all part of the fun this time of year. So without further ado, here are six incredible corn mazes near Boston you’ll want to check out this fall!
Connors Farm goes all out for fall with pumpkin bowling, a miniature hay maze for little ones, hayrides, pedal carts, and so much more included in the price of general admission. A past year’s themed corn maze paid tribute to racecar driver Bentley Warren - it’s amazing how artistic you can be with corn! There are different price points for general admission, for seniors, children under two are free with a paying adult. The weekdays are a little cheaper than weekends and holidays too. Expect to spend several hours or a full day at this fun-packed farm.
Who wants to meet football legend Tom Brady? Well, that's exactly what happened (well, sort of) a few years ago at Sauchuk Farm in Plympton. Visitors were able to get up close and personal with our favorite football player with that year's Tom Brady-themed corn maze! No matter what theme you experience this time around, once you’ve finished navigating through the awesome maze, you can hop on a cow train (pictured), release some stress with the corn cannon, or go for a hayride. Dates and times vary depending on the day and if it is a holiday weekend or not. And the prices are nominal as well, making it a great budget-friendly activity for the entire family.
Pumpkins galore, ice cream, and a corn maze all await visitors from all over the state at Flint Farm in the beautiful town of Mansfield. Once a dairy farm, Flint Farm now specializes in veggies, corn that is picked fresh every day, and loads of colorful pumpkins. In the past, they have offered separate prices for the hayride and maze cost, and for the maze alone.
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To find out all of the current information, simply hop on over to the Flint Farm website or Flint Farm Facebook page.
Marini Farm is an old-fashioned farm that’s been run by the same family since 1928. Their highly anticipated corn mazes run the gamut of themes every year, and you can work your way through them during daylight hours or go in the evening and explore the maze by flashlight. Best of all, they also offer a wide array of other attractions including a rope maze, a potato cannon, duck races, a pirate ship, a giant slide, a barnyard, and more!
Find out more, including about their special Flashlight Nights, on the Marini Farm website or Marini Farm Facebook page.
At Hanson's Farm, located in the beautiful town of Framingham, you’ll find a really, really fun corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins, and, during October, a haunted hayride. While you’re at Hanson’s, you can load up on the 180 varieties of absolutely delicious fruits and veggies available to take home for your family and friends. There are different price points for general admission, seniors, and children, but overall they are very reasonable and budget-friendly.
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Find out more information about all they have to offer on the Hanson’s Farm website.
Honey Pot Hill Orchards is so good and offers such variety that it is one of the favorite stops along the Massachusetts Apple Cider Donut Trail! This orchard offers hedge mazes rather than a corn maze; however, your experience winding through endless green passageways will be just as epic. The largest maze, known as the Big Green Monster, is 1.5 miles long and offers multiple bridges and a lookout gazebo. England’s Hampton Court is legendary for its hedge maze and the Mini-Monster Hedge Maze at Honey Pot Orchards is a precise replica of this 17th century attraction. Finally, little ones can enjoy the Tunnel Maze, which is on a fun yet manageable scale.
If you were to do a search for “corn mazes near me,” there's no doubt that one of these spots would most certainly pop up at or near the top of the list!
Have you been to any of these Boston corn mazes? If so, which ones were your favorites? Where do you go when you want to embrace the spirit of fall? We'd love to read about your experiences in the comments section below!
If you’d like to explore hikes around any of these corn mazes near Boston, you can find some great trails by going to the AllTrails website.
Even people who’ve never been to Boston can list our city’s most popular attractions. But, after you’ve walked the Freedom Trail, watched a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, visited Faneuil Hall, and been for a spin on a duck boat, you may be wondering what else there is to do here in this historical city. Don't fret, we've got you covered. So, whether you’re a long-term resident or just passing through, here are 10 unique things to do around Boston when you're looking for something different to do.
If you’ve already reenacted the Boston Tea Party, try visiting the oldest wood-framed house in North America. The Fairbanks House in Dedham looks like it belongs in a fairytale. Dating back to 1637, it has none of the conveniences of modern life, like running water, heating, or electricity. This provides a more accurate picture of life in centuries gone by and hence makes it one of the
This is probably one of the only drunk tanks where you don’t have to dry out! Alibi, a fun, jailhouse-themed bar, (and one of the most unique places in Boston) is located inside the Liberty Hotel. Before being converted into a hotel, this building was the Charles Street Jail, and Alibi was installed in the old drunk tank.
Lightships are vessels that function as lighthouses in places where it wouldn’t be practical to build a traditional lighthouse. The biggest of these, the Nantucket Lightship LV-112, served for 39 years and is currently docked at the Boston Harbour Shipyard & Marina in East Boston. See what living conditions were like on this National Historic Landmark by taking a tour (between April and October or by appointment during the remainder of the year). When you visit, I'm sure you'll agree that this is one of the best places to visit near Boston.
When it's not so nice outside, you may be looking for indoor entertainment. If so, the Warren Anatomical Museum is definitely a thought-provoking place to visit. Harvard professor and surgeon Dr. John Collins Warren donated his collection of 15,000 specimens to the university, and this museum of medical oddities is the result. Exhibits include the skull of Phineas Gage, a railroad employee who suffered an accident in which a massive iron rod went through his head. Gage lived on for several years and his case helped us to better understand the functions of the human brain.
TreeTop Adventures is an aerial park in Canton where you can climb and zipline your way through the forest. With varying levels of difficulty, this is one of the best places to visit near Boston and an experience that the whole family can enjoy.
You may think you know Boston, but you’ll see a whole other side of the city on a ghost tour. These tours blend creepy stories with actual history, giving you an engaging and informative experience. Haunted Boston Ghost Tours is one option for when you're looking for unique things to do around Boston.
Have your very own Willy Wonka experience at the Taza Chocolate Factory in Somerville. As one of the tastiest hidden gems in Boston, If you love chocolate as much as I do, I guarantee you'll have a sweet experience!
Have you heard of the Cambridge Center Roof Garden? Situated on top of a parking garage in Kendall Square, this hidden gem serves as an urban oasis, complete with benches and even ping pong! You can access one of the most charming unique places in Boston via an elevator at street level.
You probably think of Island Creek Oysters as a delectable dining option, but did you know that the company also allows visitors at their oyster farm? If you love oysters as much as I do, head out to Duxbury Bay on a skiff and relax in the sun while an expert tells you all about oyster production. After that, the only thing left to do is to stuff yourself silly with oysters during your time at one of the best places to visit near Boston.
10. View a real Enigma machine and spy gear! - Editor's Note - This museum is now permanently closed.
The International Museum of World War II in Natick has the most comprehensive collection of World War II documents and artifacts on the planet! From Enigma machines and spy gear (pictured) to propaganda, you could spend hours absorbing information from the exhibits here. Visits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis on Fridays and Saturdays, and at other times by appointment. You’ll need to bring your ID and sign a waiver before you enter.
Do you have any lesser-known attractions to add to this list? What fascinating hidden gems do you love to visit in Boston? Let us know in the following comments section.
In addition to checking out the destinations you just learned about, take a look at our guide to unique staycation ideas. Here, you'll find helpful resources and suggestions for more fun things to do with your family.
