Field Trip Survey Results

Recently we asked for your field trip suggestions across New England. Many of you responded, telling us your favorites and your hidden gems. Since we got so many good responses, we present the information in two sections: Science & Nature and Museums & History, and more.

How often do you go?

One of the biggest advantages of homeschooling is the freedom it gives to explore new places, and to do so at off-peak hours. So how often are homeschoolers in Massachusetts getting out there? We found that there is really a range—80% of you are getting out there anywhere from once a week to once a quarter. Some only manage a field trip a few times a year (15%) but some diehards (5%) are getting out more than once a week!

Where do you go?

With history all around us, lots of natural beauty, and tons of culture, there is no shortage of field trip options in New England. So where are you going?

Science & Nature

Top Recommendation

Not surprisingly, the Boston Museum of Science got the most recommendations in this category, but there are many other options across the region as well:

Museums, Zoos, & Aquariums

• SEE Science Center (Manchester, NH)
• Harvard Museum of Natural History (Cambridge, MA)—Famous for its glass flower exhibit
• Discovery Museum (Acton, MA)
• Franklin Park Zoo (Boston, MA)—The zoo playground was also noted as a hidden gem.
• Capron Park Zoo (Attleboro, MA)
• Southwick’s Zoo (Mendon, MA)
• Animal Adventures (Bolton, MA)
• Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory (Deerfield, MA)
• Wolf Hollow (Ipswich, MA)
• Drumlin Farm (Lincoln, MA)
• National Fish Hatchery (North Attleboro, MA) —nature trail and fish hatchery; find an employee and they’ll give you an impromptu tour
• Dinosaur State Park (Rocky Hill, CT)— make casts of dino prints to take home
• New England Aquarium (Boston, MA)
• Mystic Aquarium (Mystic, CT)—Pro Tip: Combine the aquarium with a visit to Mystic Seaport; also recommended in Mystic: The Village Shopping Plaza

Gardens

• Heritage Museum & Gardens (Sandwich, MA)
• New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill (Boylston, MA)
• Weezie’s Garden for Children at Elm Bank (Wellesley, MA)
• Garden in the Woods (Framingham, MA)
• Wellesley College Botanical Gardens & Greenhouse (Wellesley, MA)
• Acton Arboretum (Acton, MA)

Orchards & Pick-Your-Own

• Cooks Orchard (Brimfield, MA)
• Ward's Berry Farm (Sharon, MA)
• Green Mountain Orchards (Putney, VT)
• Mountain View Farm (Cheshire, MA)
• Osamequin Farm (Seekonk, MA)—Flower picking too. They also offer a camp out night.
• Tougas Farm (Northboro, MA)
• Adams Farm (Cumberland, RI)

Maple Sugaring Tours

• Trustees of the Reservations (Chestnut Hill, MA)
• Parkers Maple Barn (Mason, NH)
• Charmingfare Farm (Candia, NH)

Outdoor Activities

• Polar Caves (Rumney, NH)
• Davis Farmland (Sterling, MA)
• Ice Castles (North Woodstock, NH)
• Nashoba Valley Tubing Park (Littleton, MA)—snow tubing
• Devens Disc Golf Course (Fort Devens, MA)
• Salem Willows (Salem, MA)
• Lost River Gorge (North Woodstock, NH)
• Nemasket River (Middleborough, MA)—great for kayaking

Nature Areas and Trails

• Olivia's Outlook (Stockbridge, MA)
• Acadia National Park (ME)
• Walden Pond (Concord, MA)—combines history and nature
• Mount Tom State Reservation (Holyoke, MA)
• Skinner State Park (Hadley, MA)
• Borderland State Park (Easton, MA)
• Fresh Pond (Cambridge, MA)—Pro Tip: To make the most of your visit, take a tour guided by a park ranger
• World's End (Hingham, MA)
• Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary (Topsfield, MA)—wild will birds eat out of your hands!
• Purgatory Chasm (Sutton, MA)
• Franconia Notch State Park (Lincoln, NH)
• Frederick Law Olmstead National Historical Site (Brookline, MA)
• Lynn Woods Reservation (Lynn, MA)
• Breakheart Reservation (Saugus, MA)
• Boston Harbor Islands National Park (Boston, MA)
• Dinosaur Footprints (Holyoke, MA)
• Harvey's Beach (Old Saybrook, CT)—go at low tide
• Strongwater Brook Open Space (Salem, MA)

And a couple of you wanted us to know that we should get out to our local playground or any local hiking trail!

Museums & History

Most Recommendations

The big winner in our survey, with 10 votes, was the living history museum Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. OSV is a reconstructed 1830s-era village which also has regular homeschool days.

Top Museums

A number of museums made our list. Some of your favorites were:

• Boston Children's Museum (Boston, MA)
• New Bedford Whaling Museum (New Bedford, MA)
• Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA)
• American Heritage Museum (Hudson, MA)
• Maritime Museum & Battleship Cove (Fall River, MA)
• Sandwich Glass Museum (Sandwich, MA)
• De Cordova Sculpture Park & Museum (Lincoln, MA)
• Eric Carle Museum (Amherst, MA)
• House of Seven Gables (Salem, MA)

(Note: Science museums included in our next edition.)

Pro Tip: A couple of you reminded us that some museums have reciprocal memberships so if you get a family membership at one, you may be able to visit other area museums for a free or reduced rate.

Favorite Historical Sites

There is a lot of history in New England. To get some hands-on, in-person learning, you recommended the following:

• The Freedom Trail (Boston, MA)— Pro Tip: With younger kids, try the Boston by Little Feet tour
• Minuteman National Historical Park (various towns, MA)—Get up before dawn to see the re-enactments of the battles of Lexington and Concord on Patriots’ day
• Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II (Plymouth, MA)
• U.S.S. Constitution Museum (Boston, MA)
• Boston Tea Party Museum (Boston, MA)
• Lowell National Historical Park (Lowell, MA)— includes a number of historical sites; look for their field trip programs
• Mystic Seaport and Maritime Museum (Mystic, CT)—Pro Tip: Make it a day trip and visit the Mystic Aquarium too!
• Mansions of Newport (Newport, RI)

Hidden Gems

• Hammond Castle Museum (Gloucester, MA)—Pro Tip: The kids love exploring the many different floors and the outside back area that has both gardens and beach is breath-taking.
• Old Colony History Museum (Taunton, MA)
• Skinner Museum (South Hadley, MA)
• Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton, MA)—Pro Tip: Go on Dr. Gizmo days
• Vintage Radio and Communication Museum (Windsor, CT)
• Attleboro Industrial Museum (Attleboro, MA)
• Essex Shipbuilding Museum (Essex, MA)
• Plumbing Museum (Watertown, MA)
• Liberty Bell Replica at Ashburton Park (Boston, MA)—by the Boston Statehouse; currently inaccessible

Factories & Stores

• Table Talk Pie Factory (Worcester, MA)
• Taza Chocolate Factory (Somerville, MA)
• The Book Barn (Niantic, CT)—Pro Tip: While you’re there, stop by Rocky Neck State Park
• Don’t forget the value of simple field trips—like one to your local grocery store (they may be able to arrange a tour) or Home Depot (check out their free crafts on the first Saturday of the month)

Religious Sites

• Fatima Shrine (Holliston, MA)
• Divine Mercy Shrine (Salem, MA)
• Livingstone Foundation (Leominster, MA)