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    Fruitlands Museum

    3.9 (45 reviews)
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    Cristina R.

    We loved our visit to the grounds of the Fruitlands Museum! Given the crisis, all of the buildings are closed, and you need to pre-reserve a parking pass for the day you want to visit ($10/car, free for Trustees members). When you arrive at the gate, they check off your name from the reservations list and then hand you a map and instructions on where to go. The views from the parking area and main building are spectacular! We could see mountains in the distance including Mount Wachusetts! It would be a lovely setting for a wedding. We then walked along the main path and checked out the Fruitlands Farmhouse, which was the site of an experimental living community in the mid-1800s and later the historic farmhouse which inspired Little Women. Then we headed over to the hiking trails, which are currently one-way so that you won't cross paths with anyone. There are a few different trails to take, and it was very easy to avoid getting close to others. We loved that there were signs along the way explaining what used to be on that spot (like native areas, roads, and farms). Our Fruitlands visit was a stress-free experience that allowed us to learn a bit of history & see some scenic views while getting some exercise and fresh air!

    Rachel B.

    The goat cheese BLT is creamy, bread is soft, tomatoes are lush, bacon is crisp. Incredible sandwich. Paired with beautiful view and friendly staff. Highly recommend.

    Sue M.

    Probably the most amazing museum I've ever visited! From the breathtaking views, well versed, brilliant and friendly docents, lovely gift shop, extensive art collections (currently featuring the Hudson Valley Artists) this is an amazing day trip! Currently awaiting lunch on the hillside attended by a professional and friendly waitress. I have no doubt the experience will be top notch overall. Brief Home of Louisa May Alcott, this collection also features a Native American building and a Shaker exhibit, as well as hiking trails.

    map
    Karen 2.

    what a cool spot to checkout for the day! very interesting history & place in general to go on a walk. the staff at the front are very accommodating & prompt.

    Shoot for the stars...always.
    Lee F.

    This is a beautiful and peaceful place. The staff is friendly, the views are magnificent, and the art is plentiful. They offer hiking trails, bird watching, and my favorite...Herb-Ade at the restaurant. The Native American building is a perfect example of how Fruitlands invites me to view my heritage. The exhibit spends little time trying to educate about the history of abuse heaped on the Native American population. I have visited other museums that teach, in detail, about the atrocities. It seems this exhibit focuses on the virtues of a people who, in spite of the atrocious abuses, created beautiful art and architecture, and did so while maintaining a peaceful coexistence with the earth they inhabited. I don't believe the exhibit turns a blind eye to the horrors of the past. Instead, it glorifies the love they had for art, home, family, and the earth. I think the exhibit shoots for the stars and hits it's target.

    Catie C.

    Amazing scenery from atop. The moment you the car door, you can feel why the Alcotts were here for transcendentalism! They lived in the farmhouse only for 7 months - the house was not insulated so who can live in Harvard in the winter months like that no matter what century! Also in service is a fine dining room that is open till 2 or 3pm in what looks like a tent adjacent to the section in the building. Frugal is my best friend at the moment so I did not give this a whirl. When fall foliage is around the corning, this will be on top of my list to try! They created galleries in the houses on the property. They certainly should come to the trend of the 21st century - allow photography!!! Outdoors are sculptures in various spots. Interestingly enough, some are made from tree trunks/branches. I also took a quick stroll in the trails. It would've been quicker if they had drew a better trail map!!!!! Technical difficulties upon forks - not all visible paths are on the map. There are not much signs either on directions. They are kind enough to mark the trail color but when the color forks in the same color???? I went one direction then I got a hunch that it was the opposite direction that I was suppose to go, so I turned around and walked the other way. Phew - good call! When in doubt, trust your guts! When all else fails, pull out the GPS map on the cell.

    View from my table
    Heather R.

    Had a lovely lunch here while visiting the grounds. Food was very fresh and artful. The view was amazing from our seats under the tent. The setup was very nice with iron tables and flowers/plants. Our service started out great but when our server got assigned both indoor and outdoor tables we did see a slow down. However as we were taking a break from site seeing it was nice to relax at the table. If they tweak the server ratios and/or add a runner to help with food delivery and refills on drinks, I think it would alleviate the service issues others noted. With that said, I would definitely come back again.

    Chris R.

    As a museum, Fruitlands has a small collection spread among a handful of buildings. You get a different perspective on Bronson Alcott from the dosens here (he was a dreamer) from the museum dosens in Concord at the Alcott House (he was a deadbeat dad). The landscape and views are fantastic and would be wonderful for walking through in the fall.

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    13 years ago

    Decent food and service, spectacular views!

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    9 years ago

    Beautiful landscape, interesting exhibits, friendly staff, cute cafe...well worth a visit on a nice summer day.

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    Ask the Community - Fruitlands Museum

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    Review Highlights - Fruitlands Museum

    A 210 acre museum which has several galleries and a Shaker Museum.

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    EcoTarium - City science Interactive exhibits

    EcoTarium

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    Follow the instructions to science and technology. Let's explore !…read more Our nations majestic bird greets you as you walk down a path from the parking lot . The parking is plentiful and free! As you walk this beautiful place it's divided between different animal paths and eco systems! You will learn visual and physical features from each habitat. Make sure and enjoy the experience that has been created to show how these creatures interact and exist in their surroundings . They maintain well funded environment by individuals that care for the animals. Thank you for this opportunity. If you're a local to the area the yearly pass would benefit greatly . Make sure and visit the gift shop for a souvenir. Until the next time.

    We recently visited the Ecotarium which is almost an hour away from where we live; and while it had…read moresome highlights, I left feeling the admission price didn't quite match the experience--especially with a toddler. For our family, it came out to around $55, and for a 2-year-old, there wasn't a lot to engage with at this age. Many of the exhibits are better suited for older children who can read, explore independently, and understand the science concepts. Both the planetarium and the train ride require an additional fee beyond admission. My toddler enjoyed the train and we thought the planetarium was nicely done, but it would've been nice if there was an option to just purchase tickets for those experiences instead of paying full admission. We were excited to see the mountain lions, but learned they're often resting high up and out of view. It was a little disappointing since that's one of the main animal exhibits. The bubble exhibit was also not functioning properly during our visit. Overall, the grounds are nice and I can see older kids having a great time exploring all the exhibits. For families with toddlers, though, the value just isn't quite there. I'd recommend this more for kids 4-5 and up who can really interact with and appreciate the exhibits.

    Discovery Museum - Leonardo da Vinci workshop

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    I don't have kids but I went with my mom, sister and nephew. It was so cool to see what kinds of…read morebusinesses and opportunities there are for kids to receive enrichment beyond the home & classroom (e.g. daycare). It sounds like this is a popular place in the winter given its wide range of indoor activities. It's organized very well and provides different types of stimuli for children to choose from. The staff inside support and encourage parents & guardians to utilize the Discovery Museum's facilities to the best their kids are able to. The outdoor areas & trails seemed fun, as well as the giant chair and swing set.

    The Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum for families that opened in Acton, Massachusetts in 1982…read more It was founded by math teacher and naturalist Donald B. Verger. The museum blends science, natural and play. A second museum building opened in 1987. After an $8.8M expansion and renovation, the museum reopened as a single-building museum in March 2018. A 550 -square-foot tree house and accessible nature playscape were also added to the campus in July 2016. The current museum now has twice the exhibit space of the original museum and includes significant galleries for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) experiences including water, air, tinkering, design, engineering, early brain development, math, light and color, and sound. My family and I recently visited the Discovery Museum while we were visiting the area. We visited a local brewery for lunch and my wife and I were interested to see if there was a place nearby that we could take our sons. The museum came highly recommended. We're glad that we heard about it because we all had a blast. The whole campus was beautiful! There are a variety of different interactive exhibits devoted to topics such as math, airplay, water, music & sound, illusions, simple machines, light & color, and Leonardo da Vinci. My sons never wanted to leave. After exploring the museum, we all headed outside to explore the Discovery Woods. My sons really liked checking out the tree house, the nature playscape, Adventure Hill, the slap-a-phone, the outdoor da Vinci exhibits, and Bessie the Dinosaur. Overall we had an excellent experience at the Discovery Museum and we highly recommend it to families who are visiting the area!

    Museum of Fine Arts - Miniature display, AKA: doll house for eccentric rich women "too old" for dolls --  aka: 19th century version of me minus "rich" -- haha!

    Museum of Fine Arts

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    A museum filled with an endless amount of national and international treasures, each with its own…read morestory. Let me just start by saying this museum is HUGE so expect to spend the entire day here to see every single exhibit and piece available. The jewels has to be my favorite part of the museum, alongside the beautiful sculptures from Greek history. Tour guides, multiple shops, restaurants and very friendly customer service to give you recommendations on where to begin once entering the great hall! If you're in Boston, you MUST give this place a visit and you'll leave perplexed with the level of importance many pieces carry! I see something new everytime I come in here! The gift that truly keeps on giving.

    Great collection. They have a few Van Gogh landscapes (including a rendition of the wheat field)…read moreand their Monet collection is medium-sized and varied. John Singer Sargent's work can be found all around Boston, and the MFA holds the largest collection of John Singer Sargent in the world. Considering that he painted the ceiling murals that you see when you walk in, I think that's very fitting. I was able to catch the Winslow Homer exhibition-- walked in and bought my general admission ticket to the museum. The Homer exhibition was at no additional cost, but did require an additional timed ticket. They had spots open for the next slot, so all four of my friends and I were able to go see it together. One of us accidentally forgot to get the additional ticket at the general admission desk, but an employee in front of the exhibit was nice enough to do the computer work to issue us a ticket there. $30 for general adult admission is a higher price compared to similar art museums around the world, and it would have been nice if there were more ways to get a discount (such as expanding the list of universities they offer student admission for or being part of more city tourism passes). I spent an efficient four hours in there and saw almost every corner of the museum. The price tag means I'll skip it next time I'm nearby, but I still think it's a must visit for first timers.

    New Hampshire Historical Society

    New Hampshire Historical Society

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    The NH Historical Society Museum is a very good museum that is packed with a variety of state…read morehistorical treasures. Admission is a very reasonable $7.00 per adult. There are exhibits on several floors and visitors get to prowl around on their own as they checkout the stuff. In one end of the Museum is a research library that is chock full of original NH documents, books, records, letters and so forth - all available to the public. The library staff are extremely friendly and helpful. All in all this is a very worthwhile stop! A WORD OF WARNING: the Museum sits close to the State House and if our legislators happen to be at "work" they sure make it hard to find a parking space!

    I visited this place last year in the spring sometime. It is not too far and close to shopping and…read morerestaurants. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised about this museum. A bit of everything and even the special exhibit was quite interesting on America's Kitchens. I especially loved the kiddy section where you can pretend that you are in a old country store shopping. There is also a cool observatory deck to teach you about forest fires, etc. Volunteers were great and explained about rural life back in the days on the first floor. Afterwards, you can visit downtown Concord with some nice quaint stores. Plus, the state capitol is just across the street. We just had bagel sandwiches for lunch down the street at the Works Bakery Cafe. I tried a honey bear smoothie which was especially good. Then, you can stop by the LL Bean factory store not too far away.

    Worcester Art Museum

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    Lovely museum with a variety of exhibits…read more I was very excited to view the new armor collection they have on exhibit. It's a vast collection with full suits of armor down to the smallest embelishment, cerfemonial or functional. Pieces include European and Asian examples. The exhibit is included with admission and has timed entry so be sure to book ahead to get your desired time slot. A small kids area in the exhibit has art supplies and books in case the adults are taking too long. Directly across from the armor exhibit we viewed the "Peaceable Kingdom" exhibit. Artists around the world have submitted works of their interpretation based on the original painting. Some artist included information explaining their thoughts working on the project. Many of the pieces are very insightful. A recreation of an Italian palazzo courtyard showcases a roman mosiac floor. Gorgeous. Also on this level is a 12th century Charter House moved from France. The museum has adorned this space with period stained glass from England and mimic candle light with electric candelabra to set the scene. A small cafe near the moasic floor offers sandwiches, coffee, tea, water, sweets, soft drinks, soup and salad. The gift shop is by the entrance on this side of the building and offers a large variety of gift items including note cards, ornaments, books, games, kitchen items, hand bags and more. On the next level up in the palazzo are a series of galleries flowing into each other displaying European art from the 11th century to the early 20th. Behind this area you will find egyptian art and more. One exhibit included a kiosk with more information about items in that collection and a comfortable sofa and seating. At the time of this review, the third level is being renovated. The fourth level is modern art (Andy Warhol and Christos for ex.) and collection preservation labs. Fifth level seems to be an event space. Free lockers are available in the coat rooms near the ticketing desk. Class rooms are located near the Lance St. entrance. See their website for available classes. A free parking lot for museum patrons is available across Lance St. There is a cross walk with wheelchair ramps on/off the sidewalks here. An elevator is available to the left of this entrance if you cannot navigate steps. Interior elevators move between levels as do staircases. Restrooms are on a couple of levels and have diaper stations. A water fountain (bubbla) is near the elevator and restrooms. A few wheelchairs are available on a 'first come' basis. Discounted entry is available, see website for details. Most definitely recommend. I very much enjoyed our visit. Plan to possibly spend a few hours. You can easily spend hours looking at all that armor. You can also make a quick run through if you are short on time. On a side note, the Salisbury Mansion is located behind the museum and well worth a look if you have time.

    The Worcester Art Museum is packed with memorable exhibits, and I had a great time exploring them…read morefor 2.5-3 hours. I was able to make it through the entire museum at a leisurely pace. The Asian art section, especially the Japanese prints exhibit "Reflections of a Changing Japan: The Evolution of Shin Hanga" was a standout. The Roman mosaics taken from a floor of a home were definitely memorable. They're incredibly well-preserved and shows stories about life, mythology, and religion. I was amazed by the amount of skill and detail it must've taken to puzzle it back together after transporting it across the world. The ancient Egyptian exhibit was super cool, packed with statues, sarcophagi, and other artifacts. They also have some restored European and American oil paintings that were truly stunning, some looked insanely realistic. I spent the most time admiring this exhibit. I wasn't a fan of the contemporary art but one can say that I lack whatever it takes to fully appreciate it. It's a small museum but worthy of a visit.

    Fruitlands Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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