Fall Foliage in New England probably tops the list of attractions, although there is plenty to do year round in this beautiful state.   In the heart of historic Massachusetts, Pine Needles Bed & Breakfast is located just a short distance from many places of interest.  Following is a list of over one hundred things to do and places to see in less than a one hour’s drive from Westford..

Westford: is a beautiful town located about 25 miles from Boston and 10 miles South of tax-free Nashua, New Hampshire.   With a population of only 22,000 spread over 30 square miles, the area retains its old homes and country settings with lakes, stone walls and meandering roads.  The town boasts many marked hiking trails and bicycle trails.  The “Westford Knight” is a stone carving showing the presence of the Vikings in 1399.  Visit Kimball Farms for home made ice cream and family games.

Lowell:  (15 minutes)  One has to appreciate the superb restoration going on in this once thriving, largest city of the industrial revolution.  Lowell has made an incredible comeback from the days of its demise when the huge mills went out of business.  The mills are now being turned into condominiums, museums, and shops as the city works to revive itself. See the list for the many things to do in the new-born City of Lowell.

Concord:  (20 minutes)   Visit historic Concord.  Walk the battlefield of the Battle of Concord and Lexington on the Minuteman trail.  See the old North Bridge where the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired.

Boston:  (40 minutes) One can walk the Freedom trail in Boston’s North end.  Stop to visit Paul Revere’s house, the old North church, Fanueil Hall, and the Quincy Market.  Take the trolley around the city getting on or off as you please.  Cruise around Boston Harbor, or go whale watching.  Enjoy a concert after eating dinner at any one of Boston’s fine restaurants

Here’s the List! (Click to find out more!)

Antiques   Over 100 antiques shops qualify for Pine Needles list.  A few that are particularly close by are:

AAA in Littleton:  978 952-0072  http://www.journalofantiques.com
Carlisle Antiques:  978 369-0129  http://www.antiques-usa.com
Hobart Village Antiques in W. Townsend: 978 597-0332   Closed Tuesdays
Sea Gull Antiques: Concord 978 263-0338
Sweet Pea in Westford:  978 692-7144
Upton House in Littleton:  978 486-3367
Wolf’s Den in Westford:  978 692-3911

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Corporations within five miles of Pine Needles

Matrix Corporation
Concerto                        Juniper Networks            MIT Haystack Observatory
ENSR International          LightLab Imaging            Netscout
IBM                                Lucent Technology         Sanborn, Herd & Assoc.
Jenkin & Johanson          Mack Technologies         Vitesse

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Crafts  The town of Westford boasts of its many artisans, all of whom are distinguished in their fields and all of whom would be happy to share their artistry with guests of Pine Needles BB. We have arranged the opportunity for you to dabble, learn, or purchase materials and products during your stay with us.

Basket Weaving:
Beading:  Lily’s Beads & Gifts (978) 635-0068 www.lilysbeads.com 77 Great Rd.
Calligraphy:  Rachel Diamond-Calow 978 692-8896 will teach 18 Misty Lane
   Also Nancy Gower:  978 692-2744
   Also Winnie Liakow 978 251-3427  at 47 Lovett Lane
Ceramics:   “The Time to Clay Shoppe”  Deborah Griniard. 978 446-0588
   Drum Hill Road.  Closed Monday
   Suzanne Hill, Ceramic Artist 978 287-4380 
Chair Caning:  Carol Engel  978 692-7869
Faux Faberge` Eggs:  Claire Davis 978 399-0199
Handmade Wood Furniture:  Berghof Crafts,
Knitting:  Liz Adams, published designer  978 692-5216  63 Main St.
   Also Virginia Crowley, 13 Prescott Drive,  978 251-8025
Pottery:
Quilting:  Jody Geary
Rug Hooking:
Scrapbooking, Laura Roche 978 95704343,  Cathy Stewart  978
Stamping
Wood carving:  Westford,  Sandy Shephard,

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Cultural Institutions  Use our list of links to concert halls to call ahead for the schedule and ticket information.

Boston Opera House: www.tickco.com
The Colonial Theater, Boston   www.broadwayboston.com
Indian Hill Music Center, Littleton   www.indianhillmusic.org
Merrimack Repertory Theater, Lowell   www.merrimackrep.org
North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly  078 232-7200 www,nsmt.org
Parish Center for the Arts, Westford.  Chamber Music, Folk Music, and Contra  Dancing.   Also Art Exhibits.   www.pca@westford.com
U of Mass Arts Center, Lowell  www.studentactivities@uml.edu
Symphony Hall, Boston.  Boston Symphony Orchestra   www.bso.org
Wang Theater, Boston  www.wangcenter.org

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Festivals are held throughout Spring, Summer and Fall.  The larger ones are listed here.  Call for proper dates for the current year

Annual crafts Festival in Andover:  May 8
Apple Blossom Festival, Westford, mid May
Folk music Festival, Lowell, Last full week-end in July  978-970-5000
4H County Fair, Chelmsford,  Aug 22-24 www.middlesexctyfair@aol.com Phone 978 256-6823.
Lowell’s Southeast Asian Water Festival  Enjoy boat racing on the Merrimack River. 978 454-4286
Strawberry Festival, Westford,  Always on Father’s day
Tewksbury Common Autumn Craft Blowout Sept 11, 2004
Riverfest, Concord and all along the Merrimack River – September
West Concord Family Festival, September 11:  Family golf tournament Phone: 978 369-8600
Winterfest, Lowell  Call for information  9798 970-4257

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Museums

American Textile History Museum, Lowell.  978 441-0400
Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Lowell.  978 459-7819
Brush Art Gallery & Studios, Lowell.  978 459-7817
Butterfly Place, Westford.  978 392-0955
Children’s Museum, Lowell.  978 459-9899
Concord Museum, Concord  www.concordmuseum.org
Fruitland Museum, Harvard,  Features four museums depicting early American cultures including the Indians, the Shakers, the farmers and Hudson River Artists. Outdoor exhibits.  Open May – October  www.fruitlands.org
Garden in the Woods, Framingham –New England Wildflower Society - 508 877-7630      “There can be few more beautiful places on the planet.”- The Boston Globe
Lowell National Historic Park – 978 970-5000
Lowell National Historic Park Canalways and River Cruises – 978 970-5000
National Heritage Museum, Lexington – www.monh.org
National Street Car Museum, Lowell  978 275-1821
New England Aquarium.  www.neaq.org
New England Quilt Museum, Lowell  978 452-4207  www.NEQuiltmuseum.org
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem  www.pem.org
Whistler House Museum of Art, Lowell.  978 452-7641
Salem Witches Museum, Salem  978 744-1692

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Private Schools

The Groton School
Lawrence Academy
Middlesex College
U of Mass., Lowell

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Sightseeing

Duck tour around Boston Harbor via WWII amphibian – www.www.bostonducktours.com
Faneuil Hall, Boston  www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com
Freedom trail, Boston.  www.nps.gov/bost
Lowell National Historic Park. 978 970-5000.
Minuteman National Historical Park Visitor’s Center, Lexington www.mps.gov/mima
Nashoba Valley Winery, Bolton.  www.nashobawinery.com
New England Aquarium,  www.neaq.org
Orchard House, Concord – Home of Louisa May Alcott   978 369-4118   www.louisamayalcott.org
Paul Revere’s House, Boston  www.Paulreverehouse.org
Sturbridge Village. A restored village depicting early America   www.sturbridge.org
Tower Hill botanic garden, Boyleston.
USS Constitution:  Tour of old Ironsides, Long Wharf, Boston.  Daily April-Nov. 15 www.bostonharborcruises.com
Walden Pond State Reservation, Concord.  978 369-3254  www.massparks.org

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Specialty Shops

Amy’s Provisions – Ayer, Homemade Belgian Chocolates and much more.  www.amysprovisions.com
Blue Northern Trading Company,  Ayer.  Hunting &Fishing supplies, Lessons.    www.bluenorthern.com
Doll House Miniatures  & wreaths.  Sells from home.   978 692-6992
Illuminations Book Store, Westford, on Littleton Rd.  978 486-4268
Ink about us – Westford.  Stamping and Scrapbooking needs.
Lily’s Beads - 77 Great Rd. Acton  www.lilysbeads.com
Marcus & Leslie Boutique, Chelmsford.  Handpainted clothing sold in NYC & Bloomingdales  978 250-1856
Needle Arts of Concord.   www.needlearts.com  978 371-0424
Pickety Place, Mason, NH.  Lunch and herb gardens.
Quilter’s Way   info@quiltersway.com
Sweet Peas Consignment Shop 978 392-0144
World in Stitches, Littleton.  978 486-8330

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Sports:  Find your sport listed here: Canoeing, Cycling, Golf, Horse Back Riding,  Family skiing, Skating, White Water Rafting

Canoeing –Southbridge Boathouse in Concord
Cycling - Pine Needles BB is located directly on one of the bicycle routes going from town to town.
Nashoba Valley Pedalers, Inc.  www.nspbike.org
Pedal Power Bike & Ski, Acton. Specializes in quick repairs  Bicycle map available.   www.mybikesite.com
Golf - Butter Brook Golf Club, Westford:  New.  9 holes will be 18 in 2005 www.butterbrookgc.com
Butternut Farm Golf Club
Chelmsford Country Club
Concord Country Club – Championship Course
Groton Country Club
Nabnasset Country Club
Nashawguc Country Club.  Fleet Boston Classic
Red Tail Golf Club
Shaker Hills Golf Club
Stony Brook Farms
Stow Acres Country Club – Stow North
Stow Acres Country Club – Stow South
Tewksbury Country Club – long 9
Trull Brook, Billerica
Townsend Ridge Country Club
Hiking:
Hike on any of Westford’s specially marked trails from less than one mile to  twenty miles long.  Ask for a trail map at Pine Needles.  Walk to the stone arch bridge built in 1872 without mortar.  Trails are shared by cross country skiers and bicycles. 
Horseback Riding:
Volo Farms on Powers Rd. in Westford 
Ice-skate:
On any one of our shallow ponds, weather permitting.
Skiing
Nashoba Valley ski area  Excellent family skiing on a 400 ft bump.
Great Brook Farm for cross-country skiing

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Things to do

Attend a festival (see listings)
Attend a concert
Contra dance at the Parish Center.
Bicycle on our endless bicycle trails connecting town to town.
Boston Celtics at the Fleet Center in Boston
Canoe on the Concord River.   Southbridge boathouse in Concord
Duck Tour, Boston,  A tour around Boston Harbor via a WII amphibious boat www.Bostonducktours.com
Gardener’s will be kept busy at the Worcester County Horticultural Society, the New England Wildflower Society, www.newfs.org  See the Garden Club Federation of Mass.  inc@mygardensontour, and the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boyleston.
Go Apple picking, or peach, or strawberry. Or whatever, at any one of our many orchards.  Hill Orchards is in Westford.
Go for a walk!
Go to a Lowell Spinner’s minor league, class A affiliate of the Red Sox, baseball game at LeLacheur Park in Lowell
Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro  www.afcchampionship.com
Play miniature golf or ride the bumper cars at Kimball’s.  Of course the day will end with a huge ice cream cone!!!
Red Sox at Fenway Park
Spend an afternoon at the Nashoba Valley Winery.
Take the children to Great Brook Farm, Carlisle:  an animal farm with a real corn Maize and homemade ice cream.  www.state.ma.us/dem/parks/gbfm.htm
Take the “Canal Tour” down the Merrimack River at the Lowell National Historical Park.  www.nps.gov/lowe
Walk the Battlefield of the Concord & Lexington on the Minuteman trail
Walk around Walden’s Pond and the Thoreau house in Concord
Watch Maple Sugaring in the late Spring at Parker’s Maple Barn.  March 5- April 5.  1 800 832-2308  www.parkersmaplebarn.com
Whale watching:  Boston Harbor Cruises, 877-see-whale  www.bostonharborcruises.com

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