Local Secrets, Big Finds - MassachusettsLocal Secrets, Big Finds - Massachusetts

Local Secrets, Big Finds - Massachusetts

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Davis' Mega Maze
Sterling

978.422.6666
Ever been amazed by a maize maze? You can have this "very enjoyable experience" in Sterling, MA. Every year, the Davis Farmland owners carve an intricate labyrinth out of their cornfields, and invite visitors to share the "unique experience" of finding their way through it. The most amazing thing is that "each year, the maze and theme for the maze change." There's also a large, "enjoyable" petting zoo on the farm. Read more.

Gallery One at the New England School of Photography
Boston

617.437.1868
Catch a rising star at this gallery, where students and "many local photographers" exhibit their work. Things really pick up around graduation time when students "exhibit their work in Gallery One and in the halls." Exhibits are constantly changing, and you can usually expect "a lecture on opening day and a reception." Be sure to check out the "brag board" in the office, filled with news clippings about students and alums. Read more.

Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
Springfield

413.263.6800
Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
Funny things are everywhere at this memorial to Springfield-born Dr. Seuss. As if being a "lovely park" with a "family atmosphere" (and free admission) weren't enough, the Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden also features a few more unusual features, such as "lifelike statues of Seuss characters," and "the compete script of "O, the Places You'll Go." Read more.

The Old Mill
South Egremont

413.528.1421
Tucked away in the Berkshires you'll find this "classic New England dining experience." The rustic interior design, including "wide plank floors" and a "beamed ceiling," works to "set the perfect ambiance for a delicious meal." In the kitchen, the chef works magic on "traditional American food with a few twists." The menu takes advantage of local produce from the New York State farms just over the Massachusetts border.

World's End
Hingham

781.740.6665
This wilderness reserve, "jutting out into Hingham harbor," may be the end of the world as we know it, but the locals feel fine about it. What's not to like about "more than four miles of beautiful rocky shoreline," "wonderful views," "verdant meadows," and wildlife, including occasional seal sightings? There are "excellent walking paths" and landscaped areas designed by Frederick Law Olmstead ("of Central Park fame"), making this refuge an "excellent place for picnicking, walking, snowshoeing, and skiing." Read more.

Christina's Homemade Ice Cream
Cambridge

617.492.7021
Gourmet essences from the next-door spice store make for ice cream that is "sooooooo incredibly good," probably because "even the staples are made with only the best ingredients." Locals call this a place where "visitors can experience the true flavors of Cambridge." Offerings range from vanilla to "the best adzuki (sweet red bean) ever!" Prepare for flavors including "ginger, walnut, and lemon hibiscus" that are "really intense." Christina's is "a wonderful treat after dinner at one of the amazing places in Inman Square."

Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory

413.665.2805
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory
Even in the pastoral Connecticut River Valley, the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory is "a unique experience." Nothing can prepare you for the sight of "thousands of butterflies flying around" in a burst of color. Spot everything from the beautiful but common monarch butterflies to some that are "extremely rare." Don't be surprised if the gentle creatures land "nearby, or even on" you. "Children love it!" Read more.

People's Republik
Cambridge

617.492.8632
Even in a town "known for its leftist leanings," the People's Republik stands out as "Cambridge's only known Communist bar." Expect "Soviet propaganda" and "a replica atomic bomb" hanging from the ceiling. Even though the clientele is "decidedly toned down from its revolutionary '60s heyday," this is still "a unique place," favored by locals looking for "interesting conversation."

MIT Museum
Cambridge

617.253.5927
Art, science, education, and entertainment all converge at the MIT Museum, full of "very interesting exhibits" of "strange machines" built by MIT students past and present. Exhibits at the museum are "both educational and fun." A highlight includes a computer-enhanced labyrinth "projected on the floor;" visitors "step on the image to make a virtual marble move around the labyrinth." Read more.

The Rockmore Floating Restaurant
Salem

781.639.0600
Accessed by a ferry ride that takes "15 glorious minutes," the Rockmore Restaurant floats in the middle of the Salem Harbor. The unique eatery at sea, only open during the summer, features a "festive bar," and serves "great, easy food," like burgers and fried clams. Patrons recommend that you time your dinner so that you can "take a delightful moonlit ride back" to Pickering Wharf (ferries tie up at the Dry Dock Restaurant there). Note that the restaurant is closed any time there's rough weather. Read more.