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Nature|Mountains

Everyone From Massachusetts Should Take This Awesome Mountain Vacation Before They Die

Mount Wachusett in Massachusetts offers year-round outdoor activities and charming local spots for a perfect vacation.

Published Feb 13, 2018

Written by 

Sophia

Most people associate a Massachusetts vacation with sunny days at the beach, but there’s plenty of fun to be had away from the coast! This epic mountain vacation is a great getaway for any season and can be customized however you like.

If you love exploring the great outdoors in Massachusetts, check out our Massachusetts Nature Lovers group on Facebook by clicking here!

Mount Wachusett is a gorgeous mountain in Worcester County and the perfect place for a weekend away.

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A vacation here works in any weather or season. It's equally beautiful in the snow or sunshine.

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The Wachusett Mountain Ski Area offers 25 trails and 100 percent snow-making capacity, so you’re practically garnered awesome powder.

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Snowshoeing, snowboarding and sledding are also great options.

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But the fun doesn't end when the snow melts!

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Hiking the mountain in the warmer months rewards you with views like this.

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Mount Wachusett also straddles the towns of Princeton and Westminster, giving you two quaint spots to explore off the slopes.

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Head to the 1761 Old Mill Restaurant in Westminster for a cozy dinner by a waterfall.

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Their warm pecan rolls are legendary.

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Address: 69 State Road E, Westminster

Princeton is full of historic homes and has a charming, small town feel. It’s only home to about 3,400 people, after all.

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Popping into the Mountainside Market in here for a quick bite is well worth it.

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Their in-house bakery offers delicious scones, pies, breads and more.

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Address: 23 Hubbardston Road, Princeton

Farmstands abound in the spring, summer and fall. There's nothing like snacking on fresh fruits and homemade pastries!

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You couldn't wish for a better vacation destination than this beautiful Massachusetts mountain.

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You can find Wachusett Mountain Resort at 499 Mountain Road, Princeton, Mass. Visit their website here to view current mountain conditions and activity information.

If you're looking for more vacation inspiration, check out these 10 romantic spots in Massachusetts that are perfect for a date or getaway with that special someone.

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Nature|Mountains

Wachusett Mountain is the Perfect Massachusetts Winter Travel Destination

Published Dec 13, 2023

Written by 

Kim Falchek

Do you love to get out and enjoy winter sports? Unfortunately, 2023 didn’t bring much snow to Massachusetts. However, the Farmers Almanac predicts a very different story for winter 2024. If you are looking for a fun place to enjoy all this snowy weather, you don’t have to drive very far. Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts is a wonderful place to enjoy a winter day! If you grew up in New England as I did, you probably recognize the Wa-Wa-Wachusett jingle!

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Wachusett Mountain is less than an hour’s drive from Boston, so it is a perfect place for a day trip or a quick weekend getaway. You can also take the commuter rail straight from Boston’s North Station to the nearby Wachusett stop. From there, you can easily get to the ski area via shuttle bus or Uber.

A group of skiers stands on a snowy slope, overlooking a frozen lake and forested landscape in the background.
Management/Tripadvisor

The resort has eight lifts and 27 trails. The trails range from easy to black diamond, offering great skiing for all levels.

A group of four skiers on a chairlift, wearing colorful ski gear, enjoying a winter day in the mountains.
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The ski area makes its own snow and the trails are fresh and white, even when the weather is clear.

A snowy ski resort with a lift station, surrounded by trees and a colorful sunset in the background.
Management/Tripadvisor

Wachusett is a fantastic place to learn to ski. The mountain offers a variety of lessons for beginners as well as more advanced skiers. Kids can start as early as age four.

A snowy ski slope with people skiing and snowboarding, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.
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Private and adaptive lessons are also available.

You can also learn to snowboard here.

A snowboarder performs a trick on a rail in a snowy terrain, surrounded by trees.
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The ski area also offers several really good places to eat. There is a food court, wine bar, coffee shop, waffle cabin, and full-service restaurants. A favorite place for a cozy treat is the Bullock Lodge Cider House (operated by Red Apple Farm).

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Cozy rustic interior of a shop with wooden beams, stone fireplace, and a counter displaying various products.
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The quaint building was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

Have you skied Wachusett before? What did you think of the trails? More information about the mountain, rentals, and lessons can be found on the Wachusett Mountain website and the Wachusett Mountain Facebook page. Although Wachusett does not have onsite lodging, you can still make your visit into a fun-filled getaway. The nearby Colonial Hotel is a wonderful place to stay for the night.

If you like outdoor winter sports, Nashoba Valley Ski Area and Ski Butternut are two other great local winter spots to explore.

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Nature|Mountains

Underneath This Massachusetts Mountain Lies A Creepy Yet Amazing Secret Bunker

Updated Oct 6, 2023

Written by 

Sophia

Few people know that just outside the town of Hadley, a Cold War secret lies buried beneath the earth. Incredibly, a massive underground bunker is built into the side of Bare Mountain in the Holyoke Range, and its original purpose was very dark. This is one of the most fascinating bunkers in Massachusetts!

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The Notch Bunker is formally called the Post-Attack Command and Control System Facility. It was built in the late 1950s as a shelter for the 8th Air Force command post in the event of a nuclear attack. It was a secret military base in Massachusetts. The bunker was meant to ensure that top military officials could survive a nuclear catastrophe and issue commands to any surviving military personnel aboveground.

The bunker was built to support 350 people for just over a month. It had surplus WWII rations, cots, and a microwave communication system.

The bunker was officially closed in 1970 in favor of another bunker in Louisiana. However, the Notch Bunker was still meant to serve a purpose in the event of a catastrophe. The Federal Reserve took over the facility and used it to store their records…and a vast sum of money to restart the American economy after a nuclear war.

Today, the bunker is actually used as a library storage facility for the Five Colleges. Unless you were a local librarian, you’d probably have no idea your library books were being kept in a former nuclear fallout shelter. Massachusetts bunkers are filled with secrets!

The implications of this bunker’s existence are chilling. Its construction means that the U.S. government took the possibility of nuclear war seriously and planned for the unthinkable. Let’s hope that such a scenario stays in the past.

Watch this rare insider footage of the bunker below:

The Notch Bunker from WGBY on Vimeo.

Have you ever seen any of the bunkers in Massachusetts? Let us know in the comments below! Looking for more significant pieces of history? This road trip in Massachusetts takes you to tons of great historical sites! And don’t forget the road trip snacks!

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