Each year around the holidays, Boston is lit with sparkling lights from the illuminated trellis at Christopher Columbus Park to Blink! at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. However, one spot near the city is especially enchanting.
Stone Zoo in Stoneham is an ideal winter destination.
During the holidays, the zoo puts on ZooLights. This event runs between November 24 and December 31, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The addition of twinkling lights transforms the zoo into a magical place that the whole family can enjoy.
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Even from a distance, you can tell you're in for a treat.
Admission to ZooLights doesn’t provide access to all of the animals like a regular zoo ticket does, however, you can view the Canada lynx, Arctic foxes, and bald eagles.
For the first time, black bears Smoky and Bubba are participating in ZooLights.
Sunday December 10, 2017 is Intergalactic Night. That’s right, we’re talking animals, Christmas lights, and folks roaming around in Star Wars attire. Intergalactic Night runs from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. – feel free to dress up!
ZooLights isn’t just for kids. In fact, the Ugly Sweater Party on Friday December 1, 2017 is an adults-only affair.
Then, on New Year’s Eve, the zoo has a reindeer parade! This totally adorable affair takes place between 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on December 31, 2017.
Parking is limited so it’s best to either arrive early or late to avoid the rush. Stone Zoo is located at 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA 02180. For more information or to buy tickets for ZooLights, visit this website.
Are you planning on seeing any light displays this holiday season? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below - and don't forget to share your dazzling photos with us on the Only In Boston Facebook page or on Instagram (@only.in.boston) for a chance to see them featured!
Important announcement: apple cider donuts are here! Now there is something worth cheering for! Of course, so are apple orchards, freshly-pressed apple cider, and caramel apples. The excitement is overwhelming! Now is the ideal time to head to one of the many fabulous orchards near Boston to pick your own fruit. Doesn't that sound amazing? Fortunately, there's a great crop of farms within convenient driving distance of the big city, where all your fall dreams can become an apple-flavored reality! Here are 8 of the best apple orchards near Boston. Get ready to have a wonderful time enjoying fall!
Throughout the year at Brooksby Farms, you can pick your own berries, peaches, and apples at this orchard. Inside the farm stand, feast your eyes on goodies like apples, apple cider, apple cider donuts, and much more. The store is open every day and when crops are available, u-pick also runs daily. This charming farm is located in Peabody.
You can’t just go to Wilson Farm one time; after stepping inside this "farm stand," which is the size of a small supermarket, you’re guaranteed to become a devoted customer. Rather than a pick-your-own set up, Wilson offers a CSA program and, of course, the store. The farm covers more than 500 acres of land, divided between Massachusetts and New Hampshire and grows 125 types of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Founded in 1884, the folks here have had plenty of time to perfect their products, including their own apples, apple cider, cider donuts, and hand-dipped caramel apples. Head to 10 Pleasant Street in Lexington and try these treats for yourself.
It’s hard to resist the pull of motto like the one for Dowse Orchards, which claims to have been producing "America’s Best Crunchin’ Apples Since 1778." Here you’ll find a farm store stocked with preserves made in-house, apple cider freshly pressed each week, and much more. Dowse Orchards grows 20 different varieties of apples and you can pick your own fruit here. The stand is in Sherborn. Call 508.653.2639 for details about picking hours.
Depending on the time of year, you can gather your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins at this farm, which has been family-run for 12 generations! Unlike many farm stands, this market isn’t seasonal and you can stop by daily. At this time of year, load up on cider donuts and caramel apples. Then buy some feed and make friends with the farm’s sheep, goats, chickens, and rabbits. Boston Hill Farm is located on Turnpike Street, but please note that it is also known as Route 114.
Confession time: I recently drove two hours round trip just for one of the apple cider donuts at the incredible Bolton Spring Farm (don’t judge before you’ve tasted)! Everyone has their favorite donut spot, but the freshly made, warm puffs of heaven sold at this farm stand should top any list. From Labor Day weekend, you can also pick your own apples or go to the farm stand.
Your kids will adore you if you take them to Connors Farm. Okay, maybe they’ll just put down their tech and talk to you for a minute, but after that they’ll be too busy mining for gems, taking a hayride, exploring the intricate corn maze or checking out the "destruction zone," which has an apple cannon! (You do need to pay admission for these attractions.)
With all the entertainment options, it’s easy to forget that you can pick your own apples, blueberries, peaches, and raspberries here as well. Call 978-777-1245 to find out what’s currently available to pick. Alternatively, shop for your produce at the farm stand, which is open every day (seasonally). Connors Farm is sure to become your family's new favorite place to celebrate fall!
Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm is a great pick-your-own option if you want to stock up on apples (you need to purchase at least half a peck). Call 508-376-5024 for the most up-to-date picking information. An impressive 98 percent of the produce here is organic and you can also buy from the farm stand. This farm boasts a petite on-site restaurant and ice cream shop and, on weekends, the "Fun on the Farm" program featuring hay rides and a hay maze is currently in full swing. Tangerini’s is located in Mills.
Reasonable PYO prices (bring cash), a wine tasting room, bakery, freshly-pressed apple cider, and hayrides await you at Russell Orchards. In addition to apples, blackberries and blueberries are also ready to be harvested – double check the website for the most up-to-date picking information. You can pick your own fruit and feel connected to the land and the season. Russell Orchards is located in Ipswich.
What's your favorite orchard, farm stand, or pick-your-own operation? Apple picking near Boston is so much fun that we need every suggestion we can get! Let us know on the Only In Boston Facebook page or in the comments below. We would love to hear all about your experiences.
If you want to make the most of autumn, check out these predictions for peak foliage viewing times in Boston. Who doesn't love taking in all the fall leaves and really living life to the fullest in the autumn season? It's time to have the dream fall that you've always wanted! If you're planning a fun getaway with your family or friends this upcoming season, check out Expedia.com and choose a great accommodation.
‘Tis the season to adorn your front door with harvest wreaths and decorate with gourds and pumpkins! Get into the swing of this cheerful tradition with a trip to one of the many pumpkin patches in the Boston area. From pick-your-own places to farms offering hayrides and activities that will entertain the whole family, here are 7 pumpkin patches you won’t want to miss this season.
This family farm south of Boston offers pick-your-own pumpkins at extremely reasonable prices. While you’re visiting, you can enjoy a hayride and load up on fall-themed decorations. Nihtila Farm is open Friday through Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. It is located at 12 Nihtila Lane in Holbrook.
If selection is more important to you than family-oriented activities, Packard Farm Garden Center offers oodles of pumpkins and decorative items for fall. This nursery is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is located at 543 Pearl Street in Brockton.
Escape to Carver Hill Orchards for a rustic, pick-your-own pumpkin experience. Afterwards, hit the country store for ice cream, cider donuts, baked goodies, and produce. This family-run orchard is open daily between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. It is located at 101 Brookside Avenue in Stow.
Apple-picking season is still going strong at Berlin Orchards. Take a hayride out to the you-pick area or just grab a bag from the farm store, along with some cider donuts. Then select your pumpkin from the patch. Got kids in tow? They’ll love the pony rides, face painting, and pumpkin painting (the latter is only available on weekend). Berlin Orchards is open every day until the end of October, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. It is located at Route 62 and Lower Sawyer Hill Road in Berlin.
This charming farm features a playground, a barnyard full of goats, and pumpkins galore. In the farm store, baked goodies await, from apple crisps to pumpkin pie. The u-pick section of the farm is open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., while the farm store hours are 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. daily. Tougas Family Farm is located at 234 Ball Street in Northborough.
More than just a u-pick pumpkin patch, Ward’s Berry Farm offers a massive hay pyramid for visitors to scale, play areas, and barnyard animals. Admission costs $3 per person. The on-site farm store includes a deli, smoothie bar, and bakery items. Current hours are 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on weekends. The farm is located at 614 S Main Street in Sharon.
Russell Orchards is a fun fall destination, with a winery, pick-your-own apples, plenty of barnyard animals to visit, and all the pumpkins you could wish for. The pumpkin patch is part of the farm store, which is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. This orchard is located at 143 Argilla Road in Ipswich.
