Just 15 minutes from the ceremony and reception venues you’ll find the bride and the groom (and the bride’s father’s) favorite brewery: Tree House Brewing Company. With two indoor bars, plenty of outdoor seating, and food trucks, this is without a doubt the best spot to grab a brew. If you’re an IPA fan, you won’t want to miss it!

Many of our local guests will be familiar with Old Sturbridge Village, as it is a popular site for elementary and middle school field trips! Practically across the street from the wedding venues, you’ll find “the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast,” set in rural New England in the 1830s. (Fun fact: the bride’s mother worked here in high-school!)

If you’ve never had the chance to see where the bride and groom met, BC’s campus is a wonderful place to go for a walk. BC is a very special place for the bride and groom as it holds childhood memories for the bride as well as all of the memories the two shared while living on campus. Be sure to check out the bookstore for some BC gear, to take your picture in front of Gasson on Linden Lane, as all the BC folks do, and to stop into St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, where the groom proposed. And don’t forget to do a lap around the res!

Barcelona Wine Bar is the bride and groom’s favorite date night spot from college. On all of their visits back to Massachusetts they make it a point to dine there at least once! Known for its extensive wine collection and delicious tapas, Barcelona is a perfect spot to go with friends or as a couple! There are also locations in Cambridge and Back Bay (Boston). (Fun fact: Nate surprised Riley by taking her to Barcelona after he proposed!)

Boston has something for everyone! Be sure to check out Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, the North End, Fenway Park, Newbury Street (best shopping in the city), Boston Commons, the Freedom Trail, Seaport, and so much more!

If you’re a fan of spooky things, be sure to check out Salem, MA during your stay! Roughly an hour and a half from Sturbridge, you’ll find the historic town of Salem, MA. Home of the Salem Witch Trials in the late seventeenth century, Salem has a variety of historical sites that you can visit and tours you can take. Some popular places to visit there include the 1692 Salem Witch Museum, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the Witch House.

Roughly two hours from the wedding venues you will find beautiful Cape Cod. The bride grew up going to Cape Cod with her family and friends and it is still one of her favorite spots! The bride highly recommends sunset picnics on Mayflower beach, Chatham beach days, the Brewster tide pools, Katie’s Ice Cream in Hyannis, and Mary Lou’s Coffee (Cait’s favorite)! Other New England favorites include Truro, Provincetown (P-Town), Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Be sure to try the lobstah and and the oysters while you’re in town!

Though the bride and the groom would certainly recommend a visit to Chestnut Hill over a visit to Cambridge, we would be remiss not to highlight a chance for our out-of-towers to check out Harvard University and the area surrounding its campus. Cambridge is a diverse and up-and-coming cultural hub that highlights beautiful pieces of New England’s history. There are tons of shops and restaurants to make your trip worthwhile!

For any of our guests that will be passing though the western side of Massachusetts, be sure to check out the bride’s mother’s favorite museum, the MASS MoCA. Located in the Berkshires, the Mass MoCA prides itself on showcasing local artists inside its beautiful nineteenth century industrial buildings.