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Westford may seem like a buttoned up community during the winter, but come summer, fun is the operative word here. The community that is home to the original Kimball Farm location with its miniature golf courses and bumper boats, has a boat-load of additional activities to offer. WestfordCAT prepared this guide to help residents find nearby things to do.
WATER ACTIVITIES
The town has two lakeside beaches.
- Forge Pond is in the Forge Village section at the end of an access road that runs along the railroad tracks opposite the Abbot Mill, just south of the traffic light on Route 225/Pleasant Street. **Directions**
- Edwards Beach is located in the Nabnasset section at the end of Williams Avenue off Plain Road. While there, take a romp at the Ronan McElligott Playground. **Directions**
The season runs from June 17 to Aug. 25
“Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fees: Westford residents will be admitted free-of-charge, but must have proof of residency. Non-residents are $5 per person, per day. Those 3 and under, and seniors 65 and over are admitted free.
Town of Westford Season Beach Pass
Nonresidents may purchase a season pass at the beaches for $75 for a family of five.
Beach passes for non-residents are available during summer beach season.
Please note: only Coast Guard approved flotation devices in good and serviceable condition may be used at Westford Town Beaches.The PFD (Personal Flotation Device) must be the appropriate size for the intended user. No lifeguards will be on duty.
Beach Concession Stand Hours: Monday-Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Also known as “the snack shack,” the Parks & Recreation beach concession stands are located at both beaches, offering chips, candy, frozen treats, cold drinks, and lunch.”
Source: WestfordRec.org
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Burges Pond at East Boston Camps
66 Depot Street, Westford [at the train crossing]
Canoe, fish, swim, or sit quietly on the banks of Burges Pond and enjoy the tranquility. The pond is located inside the pristine 287 acres known colloquially as East Boston Camps — named for a summer camp for kids from East Boston held there from 1937 to around 2007. This town-owned property offers miles of hiking trails in addition to the water activities.
Source: http://westfordfriendsebc.org/
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One Stop Fun
49 Powers Road, Westford
888.375.4489
Pool Plaza at One Stop Fun
“Our outdoor interactive pool is designed specifically for kids. Five water slides, a mushroom spray and water features provide fun for children of all ages. Available for summer-long family fun. Swim lessons and pool memberships, packages and daily rates are available.”
Summerlong pool membership for a family – $499 (unlimited use)
One month pool membership for a family — $285 (start anytime)
Hours
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Editor’s note: One Stop Fun supports the Westford Coalition for Non-Violence and the Live for Liv Foundation.
Source: https://www.onestopfun.com/
PASSIVE RECREATIONAL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Locations with parking areas and trail access are noted on the website.
Hours
Sunrise to sundown
With phase 2a now completed, the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail stretches 11.7 miles from Lowell at the Cross Point building to Lowell, ending before the Route 2 rotary in Concord. Bicyclists, walkers, and rollerbladers all bring a contagious energy to the trail. Bikers riding through Chelmsford will get a close-up view of beautiful Heart Pond where they can stop and picnic on the sandy beach before continuing on to NARA Park in Acton offering another swimming area and other resources for tired riders in need of rest. Parking is not available in Westford, so check the website for legal parking areas.
Source: http://brucefreemanrailtrail.org/
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Kimball Farm
400 Littleton Road
Westford, Massachusetts
(978) 486-3891
Hours (Ice Cream Stand):
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Kimball Farm is famous for its freshly made ice cream in a variety of flavors. But the recreation destination offers much more, including a selection of grilled food, salads, fried plates, and seafood specials at its outdoor restaurant. Here’s a list of the activities offered at the Westford-based Kimball Farm.
Ice Cream
Grill/Seafood
Country Store
Mini Golf
Driving Range
Pitch & Putt
Bumper Boats
Animal Adventures
Grand Slam Batting Cages
Olde Sawmill Arcade
Soaring Eagle Zip Line
Spin Zone Bumper Cars
Pony Rides
Give Me Five
Corporate / Private Events
Gift Certificates
(Kimball Farm is also located in Lancaster, Carlisle, and Jaffrey, New Hampshire.)
Source: http://kimballfarm.com/westford/
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Westford Conservation Trust Trails
The Westford Conservation Trust website provides links to almost 30 trails in Westford open to anyone. Check out the trail guide or purchase a trail book for $5 at the Westford Town Clerk’s office, 55 Main St., Westford.
“Trails through forests and fields and along waterways in Westford are used in a variety of passive recreational activities like hiking, jogging, bird watching, horseback riding, and cross country skiing.”
Source: https://westfordconservationtrust.org
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
5 Gould Road, Westford
978-995-7002
info@themakerfarm.com
Directions
The Maker Farm offers activities for children and adults, and will be launching a farmers market on July 12. Children’s summer camps begin June 19 and run through the third week of August. The farm is the realization Emily Piper’s dream of bringing arts, crafts and farm life to the community, according to the Maker Farm website. Piper lives on the farm with her husband Eric,daughter, “Cora, their dog, two cats, four ponies, two goat, three sheep, and a flock of hens (and a silly rooster).”
Source: https://www.themakerfarm.com/
INDOOR ACTIVITIES
120 Tyngsboro Road, Westford
(978) 392-0955
butterflyplace@comcast.net
Directions
Hours:
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week
Admission fees:
Adults: $13
Seniors (65+): $11
Children (3-12 years): $9
Children (2 and under): Free
“See New England butterflies and tropical species from all over the world. Walk along a winding pathway. Observe butterflies sipping from flowers, basking in the sunshine and flying freely in a natural habitat. Enjoy our koi fish and quail birds which live among the butterflies. Visit the “show and tell bench” where a staff member is always available to answer your questions and help make your visit fun. See eggs, caterpillars or other interesting creatures up close.”
Source: https://butterflyplace-ma.com/index.html
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The Escape Room
434 Littleton Road, Westford
978-339-4468
Directions
Hours
By appointment
Admission
Tickets are $27 per person or $169 for a private room with up to eight people.
Escape from the Lost City of the Monkey God or the Titletown Ring Thief by finding clues and unlocking trunks and doors. Collaboration with your teammates is the key to fleeing the room.
Source: https://www.escaperoomwestford.com/faq/
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J.V. Fletcher Library
50 Main St., Westford
978-692-5555
Rock, Roll, and READ! Magic Show with Mike Bent kicks off the summer season for kids on June 27 at the J.V. Fletcher Library. Perfomances geared for kids, Camp Read-A-Lot, Lego City Build and Harry Potter’s Birthday Party are just a few of the rich programs offered this season. Some programs require registration so check here before going.
Source: www.westfordlibrary.org
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OUTDOOR DINING
The Sunset Tiki Bar & Grill
79 Powers Road, Westford
978-692-5700
2018 Summer Hours:
Monday – Saturday – 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Sunday – Closed
Take a swim in the pond, play an outdoor game or dine outdoors at dusk with heater lamps nearby. The Tiki Bar & Grill brings soft music before sunset and a band performance after 9 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Enjoy karaoke singing on Monday nights.
Click here to see a menu.
Source: https://sunset-tiki.com/
Rapscallion
Table & Tap
5 Strawberry Hill Road, Acton
978-429-8161
“An Old English word meaning “a playfully mischievous individual,” we adopted the name Rapscallion from a special line of beers within Concord Brewery’s portfolio when we became its fourth ownership group in 2007. As two young brothers from humble beginnings and a long line of small business owners, the name appealed to us for its history, its uniqueness and most of all its association with rebelliousness. We’ve always cheered for the underdog, the self-made man and the Robin Hoods of the world, because we believe in living with humility, working hard, and giving back. Nearly a decade later, the name “Rapscallion” continues to hold true as a moniker of a model which is defiantly small: Rapscallion is a MA-only microbrewery that puts freshness, quality and consistency above all else, honoring the craft, the Rapscallion customer and the communities we call home.” Click here to see a menu.
Hours
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Sunday – 12 p.m.-11:30.p.m.
Kitchen closes at 9:30.p.m.
*Reservations recommended
for Friday and Saturday evenings
Source: http://drinkrapscallion.com/acton/
-THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE WESTFORD
2 Taylor Road, Acton
978-929-6634
“The Arboretum boasts a trail system through open meadows, beside woodland ponds, along a glacial esker, and through a bog. A handicapped accessible trail provides access to the herb garden, butterfly garden, hosta garden, daylily garden, rhododendron garden, lilac fragrance garden, and a pond planting. The Wildflower Trail provides access to a wide range of woodland habitats.”
Hours
Open everyday, year-round, dawn to dusk.
Parking
Parking is available at the Arboretum’s main entrance, off Taylor Road. Much of the area adjacent to the parking lot is handicapped-accessible, and is open, with gravel paths, gardens, bridges, and picnic tables. Trails and paths crisscross the entire area.
Source: http://actonarboretum.org/
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20 Town Road, Littleton
978.540.2490 or 978.590.3220
Beach Passes
Annual Pass – $40/Residents
Annual Pass – $100/Non Residents
Annual Pass – $25/Senior 60+ Resident or Non Resident
Year-round Hours
Dawn to dusk, daily,
Summer hours
Weekend Only Full Operations: Saturdays/Sundays, through June 24, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Full Beach Operations: Monday-Sunday, June 25 – Sept.3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Beach Closes for Season: Monday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m.
Amenities
Snack Shack
Boat Rentals: Canoes, Kayaks, Paddleboards, and Sailboats
Swim lessons, sailing, junior lifeguard, beach yoga, paddleboard yoga, Triathlon Clinics
Space rentals for private group events
Source: https://www.littletonma.org/parks-recreation/parks/pages/long-lake-beach
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165 North Road, Carlisle, MA 01741
(978) 369-6312
“This 1000-acre park features more than 20 miles of trails. You can see notable Native American sites and 17th-century cellar holes leftover from English settlers. There’s also an active dairy farm that offers free tours on weekends.”
Activities
- Hiking
Horseback riding
Mountain biking
Biking
Canoeing and kayaking
Fishing
Cross-country skiing
Hours
Sunrise to sunset
Parking
Daily parking fees from April 1 through October 31
Massachusetts and non-Massachusetts residents – $3
Source: https://www.mass.gov/locations/great-brook-farm-state-park
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Splash Pad at Manning State Park
39 Chelmsford Road
Billerica, Massachusetts
978-671-0921
Hours
The Splash Pad water playground is open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. from early June to late August. Restrooms are only open when a Park Attendant is on duty.
Admission
$5 daily or $50 for a seasonal pass. Admission is allowed only when a park attendant is on duty. Passes can be purchased from the attendant or from the office with cash or check only.
Source: http://www.town.billerica.ma.us/Facilities/Facility/Details/Manning-State-Park-4
-AREA ICE CREAM STANDS
Gorham Street – Route 3A at Brick Kiln Road (across from Chelmsford Bible Church), East Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Hours:
Monday – Sunday – 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Source: http://www.garysicecream.com/
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247 North Rd
Carlisle
(978) 371-7083
Hours
Monday to Sunday – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Source: https://www.yelp.com/biz/great-brook-dairy-farm-carlisle
Kimball Farm (see above for hours of operation)
400 Littleton Road, Westford
(978) 486-3891
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343 Bedford Rd. (Rt. 225) Carlisle, MA 01741
(978) 369-1910
Directions
1543 Lunenburg Road (Rt. 70)
Lancaster, MA 01523
(978) 534-9800
158 Turnpike Road (Rt. 124)
Jaffrey, NH 03452
(603) 532-5765
Directions
Source: https://kimballfarm.com/
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176 Middlesex Road
Tyngsboro
978-649-9202
Hours
Monday – Sunday: 10 a.m. to 10 p..m.
Source: http://sullivanfarmsicecream.com/
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55 Graniteville Road
Chelmsford
(978) 256-5971
Hours
Monday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tuesday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m
Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m
Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m
Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Source: http://sullyschelmsford.com/
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