Escape the fast-paced lifestyle and towering skyscrapers of Boston by journeying 40 minutes north to the rural town of Westford, Massachusetts. Spend your days exploring pristine countryside lined with lush apple orchards, crystal blue ponds and green rolling hills. In 2013, CNN Money named Westford one of the “Best Places to Live,” noting its picturesque setting, including the town’s two public beaches and 2,000 acres of conservation land.
The Strawberries and Art Festival is a one-day event held in mid-June. There are nearly 80 booths on hand with vendors selling strawberry-infused drinks, dishes and baked goods. The festival also showcases local vendors peddling handmade clothes, purses, decorative arts, home goods and jewelry. A stage showcases a host of entertainers, including dance troupes, choirs and street performers. Hosted by the Westford Kiwanis, the city’s famed Apple Blossom Festival dates back to 1968. The five-day event takes place in mid-May with a carnival atmosphere that includes rides, games and food. On Saturday morning, the event includes a parade with bands, floats and the Apple Blossom beauty pageant court. Fireworks cap off the Saturday evening celebration.
Explore nearly 300 acres of protected green space at East Boston Camps. Although the site includes cabins reserved almost primarily for underprivileged area children, the property is open to the public. Take a stroll along the rustic trails that cut through densely wooded regions and loop around the park’s various ponds. In the autumn, the site hosts the Fall Foliage Festival, complete with hayrides, campfires and apple bobbing. Enjoy a day at Kimball Farm, an elaborate ice cream stand set amid a real farmhouse. In addition to the shop that sells 50 varieties of homemade ice cream, the venue also includes a host of activities for kids, including a miniature golf course, bumper boats and batting cages.
Take a step back in time at the Westford Museum and Historical Society. Exhibits at the museum detail the town’s history via photographs, artwork, farming tools and everyday household items. The museum hosts special events as well, including guest lecturers and guided walking tours throughout town. The American Textile History Museum is in Lowell, 10 minutes east of Westford. The renowned museum examines the history of textiles throughout America via 5 million pieces. Exhibits cover everything from Hollywood costumes to historic machinery, such as spinning wheels and looms.
Enjoy an afternoon of high-speed adventures at Nashoba Valley Ski Area. Open to snowboarders and skiers, the resort has 17 trails ranging from beginning to advanced courses. A terrain park for boarders is outfitted with rails, jump lines and boxes, and a snowtubing park has 19 lanes and more than 600 snowtubes available for riding. Embark on a leisurely horseback ride at Bobby’s Ranch. Spread across 1,500 acres of pristine land, the stable provides hour-long journeys across farmland, through wooded regions and along majestic lakes. During the fall and winter, the stables provide private and group horseback riding lessons as well.
