Although first settled in 1669, Norfolk, Massachusetts, did not officially become a town until 1870. This semi-rural suburban community is situated on a valley of the Charles River. Though fairly small, Norfolk's best asset lies in its proximity to neighboring areas like Boston, Providence and Foxborough, home to Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots. Area towns offer privately owned and chain hotel accommodations, authentic eateries and dozens of shops.
Nestled four miles due south of Norfolk is The Proctor Mansion Inn. Built in 1861, this French-Victorian manor house now houses three individually designed and decorated guest rooms, all of which are furnished with period antiques and cable televisions. A homemade breakfast is prepared daily using locally sourced and organic ingredients. Gillette Stadium is just over four miles from the inn, as is Patriot Place, a 1.3-million-square-foot shopping and dining plaza adjacent to the stadium. The plaza features stores like Bass Pro Shops, Victoria's Secret, Bed Bath & Beyond and GameStop, while dining options include Bar Louie and Red Robin. Fifteen local antique shops are located within a 10-mile radius of the Proctor Inn.
Located just over five miles southeast in neighboring Foxborough and adjacent to Gillette Stadium, the Renaissance Boston Hotel is the area's sole luxury hotel. This hotel offers 150 guest rooms and suites, each furnished with a flat-screen web TV, floor-to-ceiling windows and a CD stereo system. Some rooms also provide views of the stadium, while suites include added luxuries like complimentary snacks and beverages, bathrobes and access to the hotel's club lounge. The on-site Twenty8 Food and Spirits restaurant serves a selection of modernized New England comfort foods and seafood dishes like Sam Adams beer-battered Georges Bank cod fish and chips, while its bar mixes a variety of sports-inspired signature cocktails. A 10,000-square-foot full-service spa is also housed within the hotel. The Spa Epoché provides an extensive variety of personalized services including wild lavender scrubs and wraps and Swedish and deep-tissue massages. An indoor pool and fitness center are both available for guest use, and a half-dozen golf courses are located within 12 miles of the hotel.
This Hampton Inn is a little more than five miles southwest of Norfolk in Franklin, Massachusetts. The hotel offers simply furnished rooms and a variety of complimentary services and amenities, including a daily hot breakfast or breakfast bag, high-speed Internet access and access to the Boston Sports Club. A state-of-the-art fitness center is available on site as well. The Hampton Inn is near several popular area attractions including Southwick's Zoo, New England's largest zoo. Gillette Stadium is about five miles east of the hotel, while Wrentham Village, New England's largest collection of designer outlet stores, is just three miles away. Home to more than 170 retailers, Wrentham Village includes shops such as Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, American Eagle and Coach.
