Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Walpole, MA

No more than 25 miles from downtown Boston, Walpole represents a charming example of small-town New England.

With an inviting town common, the historic center blends quaintness with freshness, featuring outdoor dining and a vibrant farmers’ market in summer.

The town has acquired extensive parcels of land for low-impact recreational activities. A comprehensive trail system, which includes segments of the Bay Circuit Trail, takes you from elevated wooded areas offering distant views to boardwalks traversing wetlands alive with diverse wildlife.

Foxborough is located just south of Walpole, positioning Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, a mere five minutes from the town center.

1. Walpole Center

If one were to envisage the quintessential New England small town, it would likely resemble Walpole’s downtown.

This area remains adjacent to a town common, home to the town’s initial meetinghouse established in 1739, which served as a gathering point for local militia prior to the revolution.

The Common Street side boasts charming architecture, including notable homes and landmarks such as the United Church (1839). The Town Common, located at the south end of Main Street, features a dining scene that exceeds expectations for a town of this size.

Within a few blocks, diners can choose from sandwich shops, pizzerias, and restaurants offering Chinese, Mexican, and classic diner cuisine.

To the east, civic buildings such as the Town Hall and the Walpole Public Library stand beside Spring Brook Park, which hosts Walpole’s lively farmers’ market on Saturday mornings from mid-June to late October.

2. Francis William Bird Park

Choosing a favorite public space in Walpole is challenging, yet a standout candidate is this park, established in 1925 by the industrialist Charles Sumner Bird, Sr. and his wife Anna in memory of their eldest son, who passed away in 1918.

Managed by the Trustees of Reservations, Francis William Bird Park encompasses 90 undulating acres, where open fields are bordered by groves of trees and adorned with water features, including streams and three ponds.

The park offers three miles of trails for light outdoor activities, in addition to facilities for more intense pursuits. Amenities include a basketball court, four tennis courts, and a playground featuring a sandy area and a paved section equipped with tricycles and pedal cars.

3. Walpole Trails

If you appreciate tranquil time in nature, Walpole is an ideal destination, thanks to its extensive town-owned lands interconnected by an expansive trail network, which merges with the 230-mile Bay Circuit Trail that encircles Greater Boston.

Divided into three sections (north, middle, and south), the Bay Circuit Trail enables you to traverse much of Walpole on foot, from Adams Farm in the north to the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in the south.

In total, Walpole features 32 publicly accessible trails, many of which are overseen and maintained by the Walpole Trails Committee, established in 1998. Subsequently in this guide, we will discuss various town-owned properties along this network.

4. Adams Farm

Located in northern Walpole, a vast expanse of countryside is available for passive recreation. Roughly half of this area constitutes the town-owned Adams Farm, acquired by the residents of Walpole in 1997.

Adams Farm offers over ten miles of trails, which provide ample shade during summer and are perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing during winter.

The rich deciduous forest at Adams Farm transforms fall into a breathtaking experience. This land adjoins properties owned by the New England Forestry Foundation and the Norfolk County Agricultural High School, both of which permit public access, collectively providing a total of 700 acres of pristine natural beauty.

5. Walpole Historical Society

Overlooking the Town Common on West St in Walpole Center is the Deacon Willard Lewis House.

This 2½-story wooden structure dates back to 1826 and was acquired in 1863 by Willard Lewis, the proprietor of the Kendall Company, which evolved into one of the nation’s leading textile manufacturers.

The property is now the home of the Walpole Historical Society, established in 1898, and is open to the public on Saturday afternoons.

The interior showcases Victorian decor, resembling the original appearance during the residence of the Deacon Willard Lewis Family in the latter half of the 19th century.

6. Walpole Town Forest

Situated within a mile of downtown Walpole, visitors can explore a 365-acre forested area, maintained for passive recreation and forestry.

Straddling Washington St, Walpole Town Forest, established in 1916, was notably the third town forest in the Commonwealth, and the first initiated by a town of Walpole’s modest size, with future president Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) having planted the inaugural tree.

The forest features nearly ten miles of trails, with downloadable maps available for both the western (behind Walpole High School) and eastern sections.

7. Gillette Stadium

Located just five minutes from downtown Walpole, this is the home field for the New England Patriots. The franchise moved to Foxborough in 1971 and began operations in this 65,878-seat stadium in 2002.

Under the ownership of Robert Kraft, the transition to Gillette Stadium has marked an extraordinary chapter in the Patriots’ history, significantly attributed to Tom Brady’s contributions.

Securing tickets for home games has become more manageable, and purchasers can access this option online via Ticketmaster.

Gillette Stadium also serves as the venue for the New England Revolution of the MLS and as a concert destination featuring artists such as Elton John, Beyoncé/Jay-Z, The Rolling Stones, The Weekend, Metallica, and Taylor Swift in recent years.

8. The Patriots Hall of Fame

This high-tech interactive museum operates seven days a week and is integrated into the Patriot Place open-air shopping center, located around Gillette Stadium.

This venue is the appropriate destination to reconnect with the recent illustrious history of the New England Patriots, reliving pivotal victories and defeats while browsing an extensive collection of memorabilia related to the team’s most prominent players.

The exhibition includes uniforms worn by Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Randy Moss, and Ty Law, among many others.

A collection of Lamar Hunt trophies is on display, alongside the Patriots’ impressive tally of six Super Bowl trophies (as of the current count).

9. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Adjacent to I-95, across from Walpole, lies a vast wildlife sanctuary, which became the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s first property in 1916.

Spanning nearly 2,000 acres, the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses fields, forests, wetlands, and kettle hole ponds.

The sanctuary includes 25 miles of trails traversing this diverse landscape, including segments of the Bay Circuit and Warner Trails. A memorable hike is the Bluff Trail, which ascends to an overlook with breathtaking views of the forest, especially stunning in fall.

The property features a farm, distinct from the nearby Moose Hill Farm, operating a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and a farm stand open on weekends.

Cookie’s Garden serves as a nature play area for children, offering various natural musical instruments to explore.

10. Moose Hill Farm

Adjacent to Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, the Trustees of Reservations manage a 347-acre expanse of historic farmland.

This location presents spectacular views near the summit of Moose Hill (466 feet), the second-highest peak between Boston and Providence, where visitors can glimpse the Boston skyline and Great Blue Hill, the highest peak in the area.

Among the mature stands of American chestnut trees, Moose Hill Farm is home to over 20 preserved farm buildings, along with woodlots and archaeological remnants dating back to the 18th century.

The Trustees also care for barnyard animals, including chickens, pigs, and a small herd of cattle raised for grass-fed beef.

11. Noon Hill Reservation

Another local segment of the Bay Circuit Trail, the Noon Hill Reservation is located just five minutes away in Medfield.

Encompassing over 200 acres, this area includes the summit of the prominent Noon Hill, which provides another inspiring vista. Once pastureland, these slopes and ridges now feature a dense forest of hemlock, pine, birch, and beech, with the forest floor adorned with vibrant wildflowers in spring.

Holt Pond dates back to 1764 when Sawmill Brook was dammed to power local mills. Additionally, one trail connects to the Trustees’ Shattuck Reservation along the Charles River, allowing for extended exploration.

12. Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated nearby in Norfolk, this 104-acre Massachusetts Audubon wildlife sanctuary is part of an expansive area of protected land adjacent to Bristol Blake State Reservation.

Stony Brook features the remains of a colonial-era mill revitalized by nature, interspersed with forests, fields, and extensive wetlands.

What makes this sanctuary particularly appealing is the scenic boardwalk (Sensory Trail) that meanders over the wetlands, allowing visitors to observe and appreciate a rich ecosystem teeming with turtles, waterfowl, and wading birds, including great blue herons.

13. Rodman Arena

The high-rated Rodman Arena features two ice surfaces, one Olympic-sized and the other NHL-sized.

As a premier sports facility, the Rodman Arena serves as the home ice for various local high school teams and hosts numerous hockey tournaments throughout the year, including the Battle of Boston, Premier Hockey League playoffs, and the Eastern Hockey League Showcase.

Moreover, the arena prioritizes community engagement, offering numerous programs for hockey development, local leagues, figure skating, speed skating, and skill-building activities. For a more relaxed visit, public ice sessions are available several times a week for both skating and casual hockey.

14. Concert on the Common Series

During the summer months, the Walpole Recreation Department coordinates a series of outdoor concerts throughout July and August.

The Concert on the Common Series has a long-standing tradition, with performances typically occurring on Tuesday evenings and occasionally relocated to the nearby Stone Field.

Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets, as well as to explore Walpole Center’s array of dining options before or following the performance.

In mid-September, the summer season culminates with the Main Street Live event that transforms downtown into a vibrant celebration featuring a diverse lineup of musical talent, food trucks, and beer and wine tents.

15. Showcase Cinema De Lux Patriot Place

Showcase Cinemas initiated its upscale Cinema De Lux brand at Patriot Place in 2008.

This inaugural location includes 14 screens equipped with stadium seating, while the Lux Level features oversized, powered recliners with swing-around trays for food and beverages.

The Lux Level additionally provides in-seat food service, accompanied by a comprehensive restaurant and bar menu.

Alternatively, Studio 3 offers a casual dining experience with a varied menu for lunch and dinner, or patrons can opt for traditional theater snacks during their movie experience.