15 Best Things to Do in Holliston (MA)
Located in the western metro area of Greater Boston, Holliston is a small city with a lot to like.
Halston Center is the type of city that will immediately draw you in, with businesses that have been here for years, no matter the client.
Recently, part of the railway line, abandoned since the 1980s, was converted into a track running along Holliston and through the city centre.
The local lake, located within walking distance of the centre, has two beaches with lifeguards on duty in summer, and farms in the surrounding countryside where you can pick your own fruit, or practice yoga with baby goats.
1. Downtown Holliston
It's hard not to fall in love with historic downtown Holliston, the civic and business heart of the city. Later in this list we'll talk about some of the businesses that have been part of the downtown Holliston scene for generations.
These await you at the intersection of Central Street and Washington Street, and you should give yourself plenty of time, from the old candy store to the antique shop, deli, gift shop, and historic restaurant. .
Washington Street here is preserved as the Thomas Hollis Historic District. Much of the development occurred before the Civil War, leaving the area with some of the best examples of Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate architecture.
See the Greek/Italian Town Hall (1855), the Federal-style First Collegiate Church (1822), and the Federal-style Asa Whiting House (1817), now home to the Holliston Historical Society.
2. Lake Winthrop
Head south from Holliston Center, and in a half-mile you'll reach the north shore of this grand 131-acre pond.
In the 17th century, when Holliston was in the area that is now a colonial prayer town, the Napamuk village of Mixcote was established on the southwestern shore of the lake.
Not only is Lake Winthrop a place of true natural beauty, but beach access is also easy, with state parks at Stoddard Park and Pleasure Point on the east and west shores, respectively.
Both parks have sandy beaches, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, and boat launches. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, a day pass is required on both coasts and can be purchased online or at the gate when we wrote this article.
3. Upper Charles Rail Trail
As we went to press, about seven miles of this rail track had been completed in Holliston from the Milford to Sherborne town lines.
It is located on the old Milford Branch of the Boston-Worcester Railroad, which dates from the 1840s and runs through Halston.
The trail is about ten feet wide and is paved with hard, rock-strewn dirt, and includes fascinating pieces of ancient infrastructure like the Phipps Tunnel.
Where the track passes through downtown Holliston are a pair of old warehouse buildings, one housing a tavern (Casey's) and the other a package store dating back to 1959. When completed, the Upper Charles Rail Trail will be 24 miles long, connecting Framingham to Milford. .
4. Holliston Superette
A longtime landmark of downtown Holliston is the deli and butcher shop, which first opened in 1960.
Holliston Superette prides itself on old-fashioned, personalized customer service, and attracts large lunchtime crowds for its handcrafted sandwiches made with cold Boar's Head cuts.
Hot sandwiches like chicken parm, bacon, meatballs, and pastrami and cheese are among the favorites, but the wide selection of cold options does not disappoint.
You could visit it every day for about a month and never eat the same sandwich twice. A wide range of delicious meats and cheeses, seasonal fruits and vegetables are available, as well as fresh baked goods daily, along with other prepared foods.
5. Holliston Grill
Open for more than two decades, Little Holliston Grill is a classic American restaurant, beloved for its simple breakfast and brunch dishes, prepared with quality ingredients and served in generous portions.
The building's story goes back a long way, and for half a century the place was known as "Pete's Lunch." You can sit in a booth along the wall or join the lively conversation at the table on one of the antique benches.
Menu selections include three-egg omelettes (with hash browns and toast), buttermilk pancakes, corned beef hash (prepared with a special recipe) and lunch options like grilled cheese and tuna and egg salad.
6. Putts and More
If you need an idea for a summer family activity, there's an 18-hole mini golf course along Concord Street in Holliston.
The course at Putts and More resembles an ornamental garden, with carefully manicured plants, hedges and shrubs, as well as lawns and water features.
If you consider yourself an accomplished putter who needs a challenge, the holes are a good test of skill, without a lot of crazy obstacles.
Putts and More has a few other attractions designed for younger members of the family, such as a splash pad and jumping pillow, while the snack bar serves takeout, cold sodas, and ice cream.
7. Fiske’s General Store
One of those old-fashioned businesses you hope to find in a small town, Fiske's General Store is several stores in one.
But most notable is its age dating back to 1863, making it the oldest business in the city to date.
The store, whose tagline is "Almost Everything," offers craft supplies, children's toys, home decor, fashion accessories, Holliston-themed souvenirs, board games, puzzles, greeting cards, candy, and other items based on a large sequence. to
8. Happy Goats Farm
If you've ever wondered what it's like to practice yoga surrounded by friendly baby goats, you can find out at this farm, located less than a mile from downtown Holliston. Happy Goats Farm began raising goats in the 2000s because of their playful personalities.
The farm also produces raw goat milk as well as certified organic eggs which you can purchase at the farm's self-catering stand. A full season of outdoor yoga classes, starting in the spring, accompanied by baby goats, who enjoy the chaos and relaxation in equal measure.
Also visit the annual Holiday Market in December, where friendly goats wearing reindeer antlers greet you, and an array of handcrafted organic gifts for sale.
9. Ashland State Park
This state park is located on the Holliston/Ashland city line on the edge of a former reservoir built in 1895 and retired shortly after World War II.
Ashland State Park deserves your attention any time of year, but especially in the summer when you can relax on the beach and enjoy a cookout at the adjacent site.
Besides swimming, Ashland Reservoir is a destination for kayaking, canoeing and fishing, and has small islands you can explore by paddleboarding out.
Out on the water, the hiking loop that surrounds the reservoir is 4.6 miles long and takes you past a 19th-century dam and spillway, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
10. Vietnam NEMBA Property (Adams Street Conservation Land)
At the southwest corner of Holliston and crossing the line at Milford and Hopkinton are over 1,000 acres of publicly available land with several miles of single-track and double-track trails designed for mountain biking.
Surrounding this landscape is a prime 47-acre parcel of land that was purchased by the New England Mountain Bike Association in 2003 to prevent development.
Vietnam is known throughout the region for its high-tech trails, aimed at intermediate and advanced riders. There is parking along Adams Street on the Holliston side, and the city's website has a detailed map to help you navigate the trails and locate NEMA property.
11. Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
One of the three mission centers in the United States for the Xaverian missionaries can be found in Holliston. Established in the 1940s, it is located in a rural area southwest of the city, just off the upper Charles Railroad track.
In the church grounds is a shrine to Marian apparitions allegedly seen by shepherd children in Portugal in 1917.
An interesting detail is a cross-section of a 3,000-year-old California sequoia tree, with a plaque indicating the size of the tree during important events in history.
There is a beautiful Christmas light display on December evenings, which can be enjoyed with some hot cocoa and whipped cream.
12. Patt’s Blueberries
Off large reservations in rural Holliston, this locally owned fruit farm welcomes the public during a short window each summer.
Patt's Blueberry offers pick-your-own blueberries — and nothing more — and is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during picking season, which is usually mid-to-late July.
The berries can be plentiful depending on annual conditions, and it's not difficult to fill the provided can with 5 pounds of coffee.
The owners have a Facebook page to keep you up to date on what's in season, and you can grab a recipe card from afar for some cooking inspiration.
13. Goodwill Park
This small public park is located on the west side of downtown Holliston, within walking distance of local shops and restaurants.
Despite its close proximity to the city, Goodwill Park is located in a quiet residential neighborhood with a row of homes along Forest Street and Green Street.
On these five acres are a baseball/softball field, a large field used for soccer, as well as a pickleball field and a newly updated children's playground.
The area is fenced, with a sandbox, toddler-friendly equipment, and a picnic pavilion nearby.
14. Holliston Lions Carnival
For more than 60 years, the Holliston Lions Club has organized a summer carnival in town. This usually takes place over four nights in mid-July at Holliston High School.
There are a host of crowd-pleasing rides and game booths, as well as a food tent serving fairground fare like burgers, hot dogs, pizza, chili, chicken nuggets and fries.
Admission is free, and you can purchase a wristband to give you access to all the games. The event ends on Saturday night with a huge fireworks display.
15. Old Fashioned Harvest Fair
The Holliston Historical Society is located in the magnificent Asa Whiting House, built in the Federal style in 1812 and attached to an 1817 barn.
Every September, for over 40 years, the house's garden has hosted a much-anticipated antiques and crafts fair.
You can come and spend some time browsing over 70 vendor booths in search of a unique handcrafted item, a historical treasure, and more to keep you interested.
The society hosts an outdoor exhibition of interesting pieces in its collection, and there is a silent auction as well as a hot meal served by the society in the historic barn.