15 Best Things to Do in Wayland (MA)
Over the past few years, this suburban city in the MetroWest area has been ranked as one of the most livable and family-friendly communities in Massachusetts.
One of the many good things Wayland has to offer is the amount of natural space surrounding the city, from the shores of Lake Cochituate, to the gorgeous city beach, to the freshwater wetlands along the Sudbury River.
The Mass Central Rail Trail runs west to east through Wayland and Weston, providing a traffic-free stroll or bike ride up to the shopping center at its western terminus.
Wayland also has the distinction of being home to the oldest free public library in Massachusetts, and the second oldest in the United States.
1. Mass Central Rail Trail
Starting west at the intersection of Andrew Street and Boston Post Road, you can walk or ride several miles on the paved rail trail through much of Wayland and all of Weston.
All this on the 19th-century railroad in central Massachusetts that later became the Boston and Maine Railroad. Services ceased in the early 1970s and the right of way was converted into a safe and convenient route for pedestrians and cyclists.
In downtown Wayland you'll find the old Wayland Depot (1881), which was converted into a gift shop in the early 1980s.
The trail is part of the Mass Central Rail Trail, which, when completed, will run more than 100 miles between Northampton and Boston.
2. Wayland Museum
In central Wayland is the Grout Hurd House, the oldest parts of which date from the 1740s, adjacent to the Mass Central Railroad.
Over time, the building was reworked to meet the needs of the Grout family, who expanded in the 1780s and added to in the 1720s.
Notably, the house was also moved not once, but twice, to Sudbury Road in 1878 and soon after to its current lot at 12 Cochewitt Road.
Today the house is offered as a museum by the Welland Historical Society, and contains a series of interesting rooms.
The Campbell Room, in the original section dating from 1740, is decorated in the style of the late 18th century and displays the household appliances of the time.
The Draper Room features 19th-century décor and heirlooms from the local Draper family, while the Herd Room in L is finished in a mid-Victorian style.
3. Wayland Town Beach
Hidden amid deep forests on the eastern shore of Lake Cochituate (North Pond), Wayland has a public beach that would put any town to shame.
Open Memorial Day weekend through the end of August, it's an unusual facility, with a long dock that leads to a swimming area, where you can sunbathe on the free loungers and dip your toes in the water.
The health department monitors water quality, and amenities include a beautiful picnic orchard, snack bar, and sand volleyball, basketball, and corn toss facilities.
Even in the summer, you can rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, paddle boats and sailboats at Wayland Town Beach.
4. Hamlen Woods
One of the great things about Wayland is the rare number of city-owned, protected areas that are open to the public for passive recreation.
The largest and most famous individual property is the rocky Hamlen Woods, which surrounds the ancient Welland Reservoirs for waterside picnics.
In spring and summer, there are plenty of birding opportunities – great blue herons and wild birds on the water, and pileated woodpeckers in the forest.
The woods are surrounded by ancient stone walls reminiscent of centuries of farming, and trails lead to Mainstone Farm, an upscale country estate from the early 1900s.
5. Cochituate State Park
Overlapping Wayland and Natick, Cochituate State Park includes the north, east, and south pools of Lake Cochituate, as well as wide expanses of shoreline.
In Wayland, a great way to explore the park is via the scenic Snake Brook Trail, which takes you through the lush hardwood forest and wetlands between North and Middle Ponds.
Kayak Rental Company, Boating Boston in the summer can be found from the beach area on Middle Lake, offering kayak and paddleboard rentals and lessons, as well as summer day camps for teens and younger children.
Meanwhile, the South Lake is open to motor ships, and is a hot summer area for water skiing and tubing.
6. Wayland Free Public Library
Wayland is named after Francis Wayland (1796-1865), a prominent Baptist minister, economist, and president of Brown University.
He was a strong advocate of public libraries, and he and local judge Edward Mellon (1802-1875) donated money to establish a library in the city.
Questions were raised about the legality of taxing citizens for libraries, leading to a Massachusetts law in 1851 allowing free public libraries.
Therefore, it can be said that Wayland is the first public library in Massachusetts, and the second in America after Peterborough, New Hampshire (1833).
The current Georgian Revival-style building dates back to 1900 and is a vibrant community resource filled with services, programs and events for all ages.
7. Spellman Museum
Unusually, Regis College in Weston has a museum dedicated to the Fellowship (stamps).
The Spellman Museum was founded nearly 30 years ago through the personal collection of Francis Spelman (1889-1967), Archbishop of New York.
Since its founding in 1960, the Spellman Museum's collection has grown to more than two million pieces of stamps, including works by figures such as President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) and the distinguished violinist Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987). They are also included.
With rotating displays drawing on this vast inventory, the museum is open to the public from Thursday to Sunday afternoon.
8. Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm
Located just off the Welland-Lincoln line, this country estate combines a working farm and a wildlife sanctuary. A highlight for children will be the farm featuring sheep, chickens, goats, pigs and cows, all kept in a rustic setting.
There are also four miles of trails, winding through crop fields and forests, up to the summit of the Glacier Drum that gives the reserve its name.
It's one of the highest points in Greater Boston, and if you visit on a clear day, you can see Mount Wachusett 30 miles to the northwest.
9. Weston Aqueduct Trail
Built at the turn of the 20th century to transport water from the Sudbury Reservoir in Framingham to the Weston Reservoir, just east of the Regis College campus, an underground canal lurks through an undeveloped corridor in Wayland.
The Weston Canal is 13.5 miles long, and in 1990 its entire route, as well as its infrastructure and buildings, were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Long stretches of the Aqueduct Course are open to the public, allowing you to walk or bike through much of Wayland.
The trail passes through residential areas along an embankment, is rough, and has more elevation changes than the Central Rail Trail, but it will help you see Wayland and the surrounding communities in a new light.
10. Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
The banks of the Sudbury River are bordered by important freshwater wetlands, protected by a 3,600-acre National Wildlife Refuge conservation area.
In Wayland, you're next to the headquarters of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
There are a few trails in this unit, including the stunning Red Maple Trail, which has lovely views of the lowlands from the boardwalk, and wraps around the pond.
If you come in summer, you have a good chance of seeing waterfowl as well as great blue herons, river otters and a variety of turtles.
11. Mel’s Commonwealth Cafe
The oldest family-run restaurant in Wayland is Mel's Commonwealth Cafe, dating back to 1958 when it opened as Elmwood Donut Shop.
In the early days, co-owner Mel Blumstein tweaked the menu as customers requested new items like eggs and lunch options. It's now a family-friendly brunch spot, run by his children and staffed by the third generation.
If you're a fan of classic restaurants, you'll be thrilled with Mill's Commonwealth Cafe, the big hitters being the omelets, breakfast sandwiches, but most of all, their famous No. 1 Eggs Benedict, all served with Mill's signature topping. Homemade potatoes
12. Verrill Farm
Just past the north end of Wayland, this 200-acre estate has been owned by the Wirral family for more than a century.
The Verrels switched from dairy to fresh produce in the 1990s, and in 1995 opened a permanent farm, becoming the first farm in the area to include a commercial kitchen and bakery. It's safe to say that Verrill Farm has been farm-to-table since before the term existed.
Head here for a large selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables, plus homemade sandwiches and prepared meals, fresh pies and pastries, flowers, handmade gifts, and quality specialty items from all over New England.
Look for events in December such as harvest festivals and visits to Santa's farm.
13. Alpine field
Located north of Wayland, this provincial park is embedded in the rural landscape, surrounded by reserve features.
Alpine Field is a must-see for families, with a fenced-in field set amidst pine trees and a multi-use sports field.
But it can also be the first step on a longer hike, as the park adjoins Castle Hill Conservation Area, another beautiful piece of eastern white pine forest.
Other city-owned natural areas are Trout Brook, Oxbow Meadows (former Nike missile site), and Upper Mill Brook, as well as the Hazelbrook Conservation Area, owned by the Sudbury Valley Trustees, a half-mile away.
14. Natick Mall
Cochituate is one of New England's largest retail areas near the western shore of the lake.
And at the heart of it all is the upscale Natick Mall, which is among the region's top two malls by number of tenants (214 at the time of writing).
At a time when retail locations are dwindling, Natick Mall is stronger than ever.
Among the wide range of national and international stores here you will find Michael Kors, H&M, Apple, Nike, Nordstrom, Uniqlo, Ann Taylor, Torrid, Lush, LEGO, L'Occitane and Abercrombie & Fitch.
There are about 30 dining options, ranging from food hall mainstays like Sarco, Taco Bell and Subaru to The Cheesecake Factory and PF locations. Chang
15. Sandy Burr Country Club
Established on two hillside farms in Wayland in the early 1920s, Sandy Burr Country Club is an 18-hole public course, designed by noted architect Donald Ross.
In the early days, Sandy Burr was the scene of some memorable tournaments and matches, including the 1928 showdown between Englishman Archie Compston and Walter Hagen.
The course declined significantly in the late 1900s, but is now widely admired for its conditions and razor-sharp greens.
You start the round with 5 points, giving you a chance to hit the net, and you have to be precise to avoid the unforgiving jab.
Don't miss the view from the clubhouse rooftop, a traditional Tudor Revival-style facility.