Living in Worcester and Central Massachusetts
Worcester is New England’s second-largest city. Central Massachusetts offers plenty to do, see, eat & drink, with easy access to Boston and Providence. Here's a local resource guide.
Restaurants
Worcester & Central MAss offers a wide variety of dining options. View a list of restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries & wineries.
Breweries & Distilleries
The craft beer scene is highlighted by Wormtown Brewery and the world-renowned Tree House Brewing Co. The area features a mix of historic, downtown staples and small-batch producers, fostering a diverse local beer culture.
Entertainment
The DCU Center is Worcester's downtown arena with concerts, family shows and sporting events, including Worcester Railers professional hockey. Baseball fans can watch Boston's AAA affiliate, the Worcester Red Sox, in the Canal District.
The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts is a 2,300-seat theatre that brings Broadway, world-class musicians, comedians, and family performances downtown.
Mechanics Hall is a premiere pre-Civil War concert hall on Worcester's Main Street. Recent performances included classical, jazz, Boston Pops and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Worcester County Light Opera Company spans comedy to tragedy and contemporary to classical genres.
Seven Hills Symphony provides free performances to the UMass Chan community throughout the year.
Attractions
Worcester Art Museum has nearly 40,000 pieces dating from 3,000 B.C., representing cultures worldwide. Highlights include a Medieval Chapter House, the Worcester Hunt Mosaic, and the Flemish Last Judgment tapestry. WAM also houses the Higgins Armory Collection, comprising more than 2000 arms and armor objects.
Skiiers and snowboarders will enjoy Wachusett Mountain, located 30 minutes from campus.
History buffs should visit Worcester's American Antiquarian Society, with an extensive collection of printed materials from pre-colonial to pre-civil War eras - and Old Sturbridge Village, the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, depicting a rural New England town of the early 19th century.
The Ecotarium Nature & Science Museum, Davis Farmland & Mega Maze and Southwick's Zoo are other family attractions in Central Mass. There are also rail trails for cycling/walking/running, hiking trails, golfing, parks, and more.