Outdoors

Experience the great outdoors with Choice Hotels. Our Massachusetts hotels are conveniently located near a number of picturesque gardens, stunning parks, and astounding wildlife. Take a look at the scenery and greenery that Massachusetts offers.

In Western Massachusetts

Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center
99 Millers Falls Road
Route 63
Northfield, MA   01360
800-859-2960

Experience the beauty of western Massachussetts like never before at the vibrant Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center, where guests will be beguiled to trek down 25 miles of open hiking trails past the bubbling brooks, spring wildflowers and seasonal hues which make Massachusetts the perfect getaway for nature lovers of every caliber.

Poets Seat Tower
Mountain Road and Maple Street
Greenfield, MA   01301
413-773-5463

This beautiful spot is rumored to have inspired many poets whose work moved the minds of many. Now you can see what moved these poets as you hike down miles of woodland trails which offer spectacular opportunities for bird and eagle watching, along with vistas that will blow your mind.

In Central Massachusetts

Green Hill Park
Green Hill Parkway
Worcester, MA   01605

Explore this magical park in the center of Massachusetts, with attractions such as a barnyard zoo, a golf course, a playground and a picnic area.

Massachusetts Audubon Society/Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
414 Massasoit Road
Worcester, MA   01604
508-753-6087

If you’re traveling to Massachusetts, you won’t want to miss out on this beautiful nature reserve which has been maintained and preserved for your naturalistic enjoyment. At the largest urban sanctuary in New England, guests and residents alike can enjoy 400 acres of wooded land while they trek past fields and streams and alongside marshes. Keep your eyes plastered on the wildlife, as there are more than 78 different species of butterflies which reside here.

Purgatory Chasm
Purgatory Road
Sutton, MA   01590
508-234-3733

Purgatory Chasm is one of Massachusetts’s most exciting nature attractions, where travelers can plunge into a 70-foot-deep gorge to explore the area’s caves and hidden chambers. Enjoy a nature-enclosed picnic, or climb the beautiful rocks at the gorge before hiking down trails which lead to a plethora of rock formations.

In North of Boston and Greater Merrimack Valley

Atlantic Yankee Whale Watch & Deep Sea Fishing
75 Essex Avenue
Gloucester, MA   01930
800-942-5464

With Atlantic Yankee Whale Watch & Deep Sea Fishing, see the beautiful Goliaths of the sea as they leap and plunge acrobatically, and cast your fly to find out just what lies beneath of the nation’s most beautiful and diversely populated waters.

Bradford Ski Area
South Cross Road
Haverhill, MA   01835
978-373-0071

Guests who’ve come to Massachusetts to ski will be amazed at the facilities which Bradford Ski Area provides. All the downhill skiing you could ever imagine is provided on these beautiful snowy slopes, and a chair lift, t-bar, and rope tow are among the many amenities afforded to visitors. Snowboarders and hikers also welcome.

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
87 Perkins Row
Topsfield, MA   01983
978-887-9264

This is one of the biggest wildlife sanctuaries in the country, encompassing over 2,000 acres of land whose diversity is exemplified in various ecosystems such as meadowlands, swamps, and forests. Hike past picturesque ponds on your way to the observation tower, and don’t feel the need to slow down, as there are over 10 miles of trails which guests will feel compelled to explore.

In Greater Boston

Blue Hills Ski Area
4001 Washington Street
Canton, MA   02021
781-828-5070

Ski the slopes at Blue Hills Ski Area, where you’ll find all your skiing needs, wishes, and dreams located conveniently a mere ten miles away from the bustling metropolis of Boston. Great programs for kids will turn your junior into a pro-skier in no time, and various amenities such as a chair lift and a row tow make this downhill skiing destination complete.

Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
293 Moose Hill Street
off Rt. 95
Sharon, MA   02067
781-784-5691

Moose and other fascinating fauna await you at this flora-rich sanctuary. Established in 1916, it is the oldest sanctuary operated by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and as such is open year round for your hiking, picnicking, and otherwise general nature-loving inclinations.

New England Aquarium Whale Watch
Central Wharf
off Rt. 95
Boston, MA   02110
617-973-5281

Guests to the New England Aquarium Whale Watch will be enticed to view some of nature’s most fascinating creatures. The largest mammals on earth are whales, and now you can see them plunging and surfacing as you gape with awe. Reservations are required, so call the number listed above ahead of time to make your Massachusetts trip complete.

In South of Boston

Demarest Lloyd State Park
Barney's Joy Road
North Dartmouth, MA   02747
508-636-3298

Serene Massachusetts beauty awaits you at this natural destination, which provides close-up action to the beachfront and the surrounding wilderness area. Trek through the woods to reach your waterside destination, and lay down for the day as you bask in the beautiful Massachusetts sun.

South Shore Natural Science Center
48 Jacobs Lane
Norwel, MA   02061
781-659-2559

Discover the nature of the country the Pilgrims first set foot on at the South Shore Natural Science Center. Indoors, guests will find an environmental education center and museum, along with an art gallery. Outdoors, the fun begins with nature trails and ends back indoors at the EcoZone, where a live frog pond awaits guests.

Lloyd Center for the Environment
430 Potomska Road
Dartmouth, MA   02748
508-990-0505

At the Lloyd Center for the Environment, 55 acres of woods and marshland await naturalistic guests wishing for a glimpse into the biological ecosystem of the beautiful state of Massachusetts. Hiking trails are abetted by exhibits which showcase nature at its finest.

In Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket Island

Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
291 State Highway, Route 6
South Wellfleet, MA   02663
508-349-2615

Learn about the Cape Cod area’s fascinating variety of ecosystems. Trek down a salt marsh boardwalk or attend programs specializing in communicating natural history to children, families, and adults. Explore 1,000 acres of wildlife sanctuary before going down to the nature center to find out exactly what it was you just witnessed.

Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary
286 Ashumet Road
East Falmouth, MA   02536
508-563-6390

At the Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary, guests are encouraged to trek down pre-labeled nature walks for their own enjoyment and education. Take in the variety of flora and fauna which await you in this beautiful Massachusetts region before visiting the barn swallow colony. Open May through August.

Aquinnah Cliffs
Lighthouse Road
Aquinnah, MA   02535

Guests traveling to Martha’s Vineyard will want to make a stop-off at this national landmark. What are the Aquinnah Cliffs? These cliffs were actually formed by a glacier in the days of the ice age, and as such are multicolored, making a beautiful homage to nature’s past as they gesture into the present.

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