Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Natick, MA

Located near the center of the MetroWest region, 10 miles west of Boston, Natick was established in the mid-17th century by the Puritan missionary, John Eliot (1604-1690).

Natick was part of a network of “praying towns” inhabited by converted Indigenous Americans. For many years, the church in this area was led by a Native American pastor, Daniel Takawambait (1652-1716).

In 1874, almost the entire Natick Center was devastated by fire, but rapid reconstruction restored Main Street and adjacent roads with a series of uniformly styled brick buildings.

The renovated fire station serves as a significant venue for the performing arts, hosting a diverse array of prominent musicians over the past two decades.

Natick contains many large ponds, and adjacent to Natick Center is Lake Cochituate, which has transitioned from a reservoir to a state recreational area.

1. Downtown Natick

In 1874, a fire destroyed 18 business blocks in Natick Center, alongside several residences, two shoemaking factories, and the Congregational Church.

Fortunately, there were no casualties, and the silver lining is that modern downtown Natick exhibits consistency, featuring beautifully designed commercial blocks constructed shortly after the fire in Gothic and Romanesque Revival styles.

The downtown area showcases a range of local businesses, particularly in culinary offerings, featuring Korean, Italian, contemporary American cuisine, diner fare, bagels, sandwiches, pizza, and ice cream.

At the base of the restored First Congregational Church lies a charming town common, which hosts a farmers’ market on Saturday mornings during the spring and summer months, as well as outdoor concerts at the bandstand from late June to mid-August.

Natick is positioned near the midpoint of the Boston Marathon route, which traverses the common along Central Street on the third Monday in April.

2. Center for Arts in Natick

Another structure affected by the 1874 fire was the fire engine house, which was rebuilt the following year as the Natick Central Fire Station on the very block where the fire originated.

Since 2003, this historic location has housed the Center for Arts in Natick, a community organization dedicated to serving the MetroWest region by providing exceptional performances in Natick Center.

The auditorium, which accommodates 290 attendees, hosts concerts by internationally recognized recording artists, as well as theater productions and live comedy acts.

On the upper level, there is a 120-seat cinema that opened in 2016, featuring cutting-edge projection and sound systems, showcasing new releases, independent films, beloved family movies, and classic cinema.

3. Cochituate State Park

This day-use state park spans a considerable area in Natick, encompassing Lake Cochituate, which consists of a chain of three interconnected ponds that once served as reservoirs for Boston.

The park covers over 870 acres and offers a variety of activities including paddlesports, non-motorized boating, swimming, fishing, picnicking, barbecuing, hiking, and cross-country skiing during the winter months.

Canoe and kayak rentals are available during the warmer seasons, and from the eastern shore, visitors can embark on hiking or biking excursions along the picturesque Snake Brook trail.

The four-mile Cochituate Rail Trail follows an old branch line established in the 1840s during the construction of the reservoir’s dam and provides access to the outskirts of downtown Natick.

The main beach and most of the park’s amenities are situated by the middle lake, but paddlers can access the adjacent lakes through channels.

4. Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Along the Charles River and its tributary, Indian Brook, lies a captivating wildlife sanctuary managed by Mass Audubon. Broadmoor is an ecosystem in continuous transformation, hosting over 175 bird species that either nest or stop here.

The sanctuary comprises nine miles of trails that meander through mature woodlands, open fields, marshlands via boardwalks, and alongside ponds and streams.

Among these trails is the universally accessible All Persons Trail, featuring 430 feet of boardwalk with ample opportunities to observe painted turtles from late spring to mid-fall.

An observation platform located on a spur from this trail offers additional vantage points, and visitors can download an audio tour to enhance their understanding of the local ecosystem.

5. Natick Community Organic Farm

Established in 1975, this certified organic, non-profit farm offers educational programs, outdoor space, and exceptional agricultural products. The award-winning Natick Community Organic Farm is open year-round and provides activities for all age groups.

Visitors are welcome to stroll through the farm and observe enclosures housing cows, sheep, goats, pigs, turkeys, rabbits, and chickens.

An informative audio tour is available for those interested in learning about the domestic animals while covering topics such as energy efficiency, maple sugaring, and soil health.

Adjacent to the farmhouse, a market stand operates on an honor system, offering seasonal produce and fresh eggs.

Numerous educational programs throughout the year teach children about agriculture, the natural environment, the origins of food, animal husbandry, and much more.

6. Natick History Museum

Founded in 1870, the Natick Historical Society operates a remarkable local history museum located within one of Natick’s most intriguing structures.

This museum is housed within the Bacon Free Library (1881), a cornerstone of the John Eliot Historic District, preserving Natick’s early village center, now recognized as South Natick.

The museum has resided in the lower level of this building since its inception, showcasing exhibitions on various aspects of Natick’s history.

At the time of this list’s compilation, a display of rare books illuminated Natick’s Puritan and Indigenous heritage, including a Bible from 1685 translated into an Algonquian language. A series of rare stereopticon images of Natick from the 19th century was also on display.

7. South Natick Dam Park

This park offers a breathtaking view of the Charles River adjacent to the South Natick Dam.

Opening in 1933, South Natick Dam Park is located on the site of a historic grist mill that has been operational since colonial times; the old millstones are displayed along the pathways.

The dam, which was installed in 1935, is the most recent in a series stretching back to the mid-18th century.

Visitors may relax on one of the benches to fully appreciate the serene landscape, which features a spillway, waterfowl, stone walls, a river island, lush vegetation, and charming historic homes.

8. Henry Wilson Shoe Shop

The 18th vice president of the United States, Henry Wilson (1812-1875), rose from humble beginnings.

As a youth, Wilson journeyed over a hundred miles from New Hampshire to Natick to seek employment, eventually training in the shoemaking craft during a time when it was predominantly a backyard industry, prior to the emergence of mills.

After acquiring the necessary skills, he established his business in this ten-foot by ten-foot building, constructed around 1825, where he operated from the early 1830s until the onset of his political career.

At the Henry Wilson Shoe Shop, visitors can glimpse through the windows at 200-year-old shoemaking tools, while in the surrounding small park, a liberty bell pays tribute to Wilson’s commitment to abolitionism. Wilson’s residence and burial site is located less than a mile from this location.

9. Casey’s Diner

A century-old establishment, Casey’s Diner is situated at 36 South Ave. Built in 1922 by the Worcester Lunch Car Company, it has been operated by the same family for four generations.

Having produced over 670 prefab diners until 1957, Casey’s Diner remains one of the few still in operation in the area.

The diner features ten stools at the counter, with the kitchen extending to the rear. A signature dish is the “all around” steam hot dog, renowned for its snap, topped with raw onions, yellow mustard, and relish, all encased in a steamed bun.

A comprehensive menu is available for breakfast and lunch/dinner, with a selection of fish on Fridays and an array of pie options by the slice.

10. Memorial Beach

Adjacent to Natick High School, Dug Pond represents the southern terminus of a lengthy chain of lakes that commences with Dudley Pond in Cochituate.

This area serves as a venue for outdoor recreation, particularly during the summer months at Memorial Beach, located on the eastern shore. With lifeguards on duty throughout the season, the beach features a floating dock, a diving platform, a snack bar, changing facilities, and showers.

The water in Dug Pond is notably clear, and there is a daily entrance fee for residents and non-residents alike, with seasonal passes also available.

Additionally, Dug Pond boasts a renovated boat launch situated nearby Memorial Beach on Windsor Ave, which supports fishing activities where species such as largemouth bass, chain pickerel, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, bluegill, and perch are commonly caught.

11. Pegan Hill

At an elevation of 410 feet, Pegan Hill, a glacial drumlin located in the southeastern part of Natick, is the town’s highest point. For over a century, beginning in the 1650s, Pegan Hill was home to one of the towns of “Praying Indians,” established by the Puritan missionary John Eliot.

The farmland cultivated here continued to be in use long after the town was disbanded in the 1760s, with intriguing remnants found in the stone walls lining the ridge.

Pegan Hill is now managed by the Trustees of Reservations and features dense woodlands along with hilltop clearings that provide sweeping views extending as far as Mount Monadnock, approximately 60 miles to the northwest.

12. Natick Mall

Reflecting the affluence of the region, Natick Mall is an upscale shopping center situated along Route 9, close to the Framingham border. This mall exudes sophistication, having become the first enclosed shopping mall in the Boston area upon its opening in 1966.

The current structure dates back to 1994 and underwent expansions in the 2000s. Some of the more upscale retailers include Apple, Anthropologie, L’Occitane, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, and Tiffany & Co, alongside accessible brands like Uniqlo, Gap, H&M, Crocs, Lush, and Banana Republic.

The prominent anchor stores at the time of this list’s creation included Macy’s, JCPenney, Nordstrom, Dave & Buster’s, and Wegmans.

In terms of dining, the food court on the upper level is home to staples like Sbarro, Sarku Japan, Taco Bell, and Charleys Philly Steaks, along with sit-down restaurants such as Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro located throughout the mall.

13. Golf on the Village Green

This unique attraction in Natick combines a miniature golf course with an outdoor museum reflecting Colonial and Revolutionary history.

The 18-hole course is surrounded by charming scale replicas of 17th and 18th-century edifices, such as a governor’s house, a church, a fort, a water tower, and more.

As you progress through the course, you will encounter smaller scale models of historically significant sites and symbols, including the Liberty Bell, the Massachusetts State House, and Boston’s Old North Church, accompanied by brief informational panels that provide a light educational experience pertaining to early American history.

14. Tilly & Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm

This family-owned grocery store has been operating for over 85 years, partnering with local suppliers to offer meats, cheeses, fresh produce, craft beers, and more.

Tilly & Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm features a large deli counter, an extensive variety of prepared meals, a wide selection of specialty foods, everyday essentials, and a tempting assortment of freshly baked breads and pastries sourced from nearby bakeries.

Additionally, there is a garden center on the property showcasing herbs, annuals, and perennials during the growing season, as well as pumpkins in the fall and seasonal decorations including Christmas trees during the holiday period.

15. Dowse Orchards

Located off Route 27, just south of Natick in Sherborn, this family-operated farm has been cultivating apples since 1778.

Dowse Orchards established a roadside farm stand in the 1950s, continuing to sell homegrown, handmade, and locally sourced goods, including fresh produce, maple syrup, jams, preserves, freshly pressed apple cider, flowers, Christmas trees, and much more.

Starting in late summer, visitors can enter the 50-acre orchards for apple picking, with up to 20 varieties available during the harvest season. The orchard staff is always available to assist with any inquiries.