15 Best Things to Do in Auburn (MA)
South of Worcester, Auburn is a town of 17,000 and was incorporated as a "ward" in 1778. The name did not stick because it was too similar to the nearby town of Ware, so the new name Auburn was chosen in 1837.
Auburn holds a special place in modern history, as engineer and inventor Dr. Robert Goddard (1882-1945) launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, paving the way for the era of space exploration.
You can visit the launch site, which is now a golf course, while a replica of the rocket is located in Goddard Memorial Park at the Auburn Fire Department headquarters.
When it comes to shopping, Auburn is home to the Worcester area's premier shopping mall, and the outdoor shops of Blackstone Valley are minutes from Millbrae.
1. College of the Holy Cross
The Jesuit liberal arts college campus of Holy Cross is located on a steep hill north of Auburn, and is often ranked among the most beautiful colleges in the country.
One of the institution's landmarks is the magnificent Okan Hall (1895), which is surrounded by a clock tower. The building is adjacent to the main Fenwick Hall building, which is the oldest building on campus, dating from 1843, and features a pair of towers that frame its portico.
The 175-acre grounds are a registered arboretum and are self-guided walking trails. Athletically, Holy Cross is a founding member of the Patriot League, and one of only nine schools to have won NCAA championships in basketball (1947) and baseball (1952).
The football team, which plays at 23,500-seat Fitton Field, has been in great form lately, claiming conference titles since 2019.
2. Goddard Rocket Launching Site
Aviation history was made at Auburn in 1926 when engineer Robert Goddard successfully tested the world's first liquid-fueled rocket here.
Goddard launched this ten-foot rocket at Ward Farm at the time and it flew for 2.5 seconds to an altitude of 41 feet. The farm later became the Pakachoag Golf Course, and you can see two of the markers.
The most convenient of these is the northwest corner of the stadium, which is easily accessible from Upland St.
The actual launch site marker is located in the middle of the course on the ninth fairway. Your best bet is to arrive early on opening day, and visit this historic site before the first golfers reach the ninth hole.
3. Auburn Historical Museum
Founded in 1967, the Auburn Historical Society operates this small museum in the old Tuttle Square School building at 41 South Street.
The building dates from 1922, and is in the bungalow style, with a prominent Federal-style surround door and fanlights in the transom.
It was used as a school until the mid-1950s, became a warehouse, then headquarters for the Auburn Area Nursing Association, and then a museum when it was leased to the Historical Society.
Come on Tuesday and Saturday mornings to learn about the city through historical artifacts and photographs, covering topics such as public transportation, Robert H. Goddard, and the city's sudden postwar growth.
4. Auburn Mall
For many in the area, the name "Auburn" is still associated with the enclosed mall, which first opened its doors in 1971.
Like many similar malls, Auburn Mall has shrunk a bit over the past few years, but there were still plenty of national and international chains when we compiled this article.
The shortlist includes Aeropostale, Victoria's Secret, Hot Topic, Macy's, Kay Jewelers, Foot Locker, Lids, GameStop, Hot Topic and American Eagle.
You can choose from Korean fried chicken, Cajun seafood, and tacos in the food hall, with branches of chains like Papa Gino's, Outback Steakhouse, and Arby's near South Bridge St. Louis.
5. Elm Draught House Cinema
This cozy movie pub is located a million miles away from the corporate park ten minutes away in downtown Millbury.
First, the Elm Draught House Cinema is a theater that first opened in the 1930s and still retains the original seating from that time.
The venue was converted into a pub in 1983, and is a place to enjoy pub fare such as personal pizza, wine and beer, while watching the latest releases on the big screen.
Check the schedule for showings of classic and famous films, and you can request cushions in the lobby to make the 90-year-old seats more comfortable.
6. Worcester Flood Diversion Channel (Pakachoag Trail)
In Auburn and Millbrae, you can see the flood control channel built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1950s and since then has prevented untold damage to industrial, public, commercial and residential properties.
The project includes a dam across Kettle Brook, a 4,205-foot tunnel under Pacachog Hill, and an open channel extending another 11,300 feet to the Blackstone River.
You can see where the canal exits the tunnel by the Pakachog path out and back, which is approx. For a mile, then you'll come to two picnic tables.
7. The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley
To complement Auburn Mall, you have the largest outdoor shopping center in Central Massachusetts less than ten minutes away in Millbury.
Located near the intersection of I-90, Route 20 and Route 146, The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley features an upscale atmosphere and includes Nordstrom Rack, Barnes & Noble, LOFT, Old Navy and L.L. There are brands like Bean, Sephora, and Torrid.
Thanks to Blackstone Valley 14 Cinemas De Luxe, you can enjoy an entire movie here.
There are also a few restaurant chains surrounding the movie theater, including Red Robin, QDOBA, and 110 Grill.
8. Worcester
Spread over seven Rome-like hills, New England's second-largest city is close enough to keep you interested for days.
Head straight to the Worcester Art Museum (WAM), which opened in 1898 and is prized for its Roman mosaics, America's second-largest collection of arms and armor, Japanese prints, American painting and Impressionism.
Kids will be amazed by the EcoTarium, a science and nature museum, with hands-on and interactive learning, indoor exhibits and outdoor enclosures showcasing New England wildlife.
Worcester's magnificent Hanover Theater is a stately home to the performing arts, built in 1904 and lavishly decorated in a Renaissance revival hall.
9. Lemansky Park
Auburn's premier community park is bordered by I-90 to the south and I-290 to the east, both hidden behind trees.
Lemansky Park is a place for active recreation, with facilities for basketball, tennis, pickleball, baseball, softball and soccer.
There are several multi-purpose fields, as well as a skate park, an elevated peeing field, a quarter-mile track, and a seasonal concession stand.
To the north is Auburn Dog Park, which has separate areas for dogs weighing 40 pounds or less. If you're here in the winter, the park has miles of great sledding hills as well as an ice skating rink.
10. Major League Roast Beef & Wings
One local restaurant that has gained international fame is a fast-food restaurant that serves anti-baseball and is famous for its roast beef sandwich.
The large menu has many roast beef options including platters. One of the stars is the Bullpen, which features thinly sliced roast beef, American cheese, tomatoes, onions and horseradish on a large toasted onion roll.
Onion rings, along with French fries, are a time-honored roast beef sandwich in this part of the world.
The restaurant also serves an array of other New England signature dishes such as lobster rolls, clam chowder, steak tips, fish and chips, fried scallops, and haddock.
11. Pakachoag Golf Course
Ward Ranch, where Goddard launched his rocket, was converted into a golf course in 1939. Purchased by the city in 1981, it was operated by private contractors until 2016 when Auburn took over day-to-day operations.
By all accounts, Pacachog Golf Course has improved dramatically since then, becoming an excellent nine-hole course with immaculate greens and exciting challenges.
In addition to being the launch site, the ninth hole represents the toughest test, with a dog's leg around a large water hazard that will make you think twice before taking a shortcut.
12. Blackstone River Bikeway
Auburn is located on the northwestern edge of the famous Blackstone Valley, which has been a center of industry since the late 1700s.
One of the best ways to experience this heritage is on the Greenway, which will eventually be 48 miles long, connecting the cities of Worcester and Providence. It will be a commuter-friendly route, but also a fun route full of history and beauty. land escape.
The bikeway is opening in phases, with three sections completed so far. In Auburn, you're adjacent to the Worcester to Millbury Extension, which is 2.5 miles long between the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center in Worcester and the Main Street parking area in Millbury.
13. Stowe Farm
Within walking distance of West Millbury is a historic 60-acre farm that the Stowe family has worked on for generations.
What was once an exclusively dairy farm has been converted into an equestrian farm and orchard, which welcomes the public for agritourism experiences in the fall.
In September and October, you can go here to pick apples and pumpkins, listen to some live music, and enjoy some hard cider.
Kids will love every minute at Stowe Farm, where they meet barnyard animals, ride the “cow train,” and climb the wooden monster truck play frame.
There's also a barbecue truck, and the Country Store has plenty of seasonal and local items. Horse riding lessons are available year-round, and the farm hosts a popular equestrian camp in the summer.
14. Bowlero Auburn
This massive 50-lane bowling alley in Auburn has been redesigned as part of AMF's iconic Bolero brand. Now you have soft lounge seating, black lighting, and large HD video walls that can play anything from live sports to music videos.
Friday and Saturday nights bring cosmic bowling, when the house lights go out and the music cranks up.
Bowlero Auburn offers all kinds of specials, especially if you come Sunday through Thursday. Along these streets you will find a large gaming area and a newly updated bar serving some regional beers.
15. Crystal Caves
Open more than 25 years ago, this seasonal family entertainment center combines a few attractions with an ice cream parlor offering more than 50 flavors.
For starters, there are 18 holes of miniature golf, interspersed with flower beds, shrubs and water features including a cascading waterfall.
Crystal Caves also has eight batting cages, with both baseball and softball, and a variety of pitch speeds. It contains a pair of trampolines and a human gyroscope, for those with strong frames.