Worcester Travel Guide

  1. Worcester

The city of Worcester is situated in the heart of Massachusetts, in the center of New England and denoted as the ‘Heart of the Commonwealth’. Worcester presents a rich history and is home to several sights and attractions including the impressive Blackstone Valley, a few charming walking trails and various museums and world-class art galleries. It even provides winter sports activities in the Wachusett Mountain Ski area.

One of the city’s major highlights is the EcoTarium, an exceptional indoor/outdoor museum devoted to exploring nature and science. Art lovers should not miss out on the Worcester Art Museum, which displays world-class art as well as contemporary art. Another point of interest is the Higgings Armory Museum, the only one in the western hemisphere totally dedicated to the display of arms and armor.

The nearby Blackstone River Valley is the origin of the American Industrial Revolution and provides diverse recreational activities. Families and children are welcome to Worcester’s surrounding farms and orchards, where farmers offer numerous activities and demonstrations. The city is also host to a few festivals including the African Cultural Festival and the unique Pet Rock Festival.

Highlights

EcoTarium: a center for environmental exploration, this one of a kind indoor/outdoor museum features a forest, miscellaneous creatures, astronomy programs and more.

Worcester Art Museum: visitors can view paintings by Rembrandt, Gauguin, and Monet as well as ancient mosaics, contemporary art and many other treasures.

Higgins Armory Museum: the museum’s permanent collection comprises over 4,600 artifacts, mostly from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Pet Rock Festival: this festival promotes kind-heartedness to animals and attracts thousands of visitors with bands, contests, a dog parade, doggie water park etc.

Blackstone Valley: this area has become one of the chief tourist attractions in Rhode Island and features historic sites and museums, river and land tours, parks, sports and recreation.****

Outdoor activities: Apart from its fresh water beaches, Worcester presents visitors a wide range of leisure activities such as hiking, biking, paddling, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, horseback riding, golfing and even ice skating.