Other attractions in the Sterling area
Apple Tree Studios is quartered in the picturesque town of Sterling, in the very heart of central Massachusetts, near a wide array of other attractions. If you visit us, please take the opportunity to explore these other destinations!
Sterling, MA
The Cider Mill Building
The Cider Mill Building was once a working cider mill, in the early years of the last century.
A large cider press was located exactly where my studio now is. A railroad stop at the building
carried the product to far-flung customers.
Though Sterling is still dotted with many orchards, the cider mill is history.
The building has been recycled into studio and retail space for artists, craftspeople,
antique shops and other small businesses.
The tracks are idle and are being converted into a walking & biking trail.
The variety of shops & studios makes the Cider Mill a fascinating place to browse.
Do visit some of the other tenants while here!
Oh My Gosh! Antiques
Nesting... home & garden
Heritage Antiques
Indigo & Green
Sterling Creations
: decorative painting & classes
Cornerstone Studios
: jewelry, metalworking & classes
The Book Lady: seller of antiquarian & scholarly books
Wolftracks Studio:
Phil Cote
, sculptor
Bill Amidon, woodworker <billamidon@aol.com>
Vicki Graw, painter, stained glassworker, storyteller <vgraw@aol.com>
Matthew Lein, "White Hot Art": glassblower & painter <mattworks@comcast.net>
Sharon Marini, painter
Julia Vera
, sculptor
Neil Warr
, potter
The Cider Mill Concert Series
Inaugurated in February 2005, the Cider Mill Concert Series is held more or less monthly.
It is a cooperative venture between the Cider Mill and the Sterling Music Exchange.
It has the dual purpose of providing entertainment for patrons of the Cider Mill,
and providing a performance venue for new, and especially young, musicians in the area.
The first two concerts in the series were a resounding success and more are planned.
For more information contact Pete Cormier at the
Sterling Music Exhange
.
Davis' Farmland and Megamaze
The Davis family has been farming the area for seven generations, since 1846. One of their operations was a dairy farm in the Redstone Hill area of Sterling. When the bottom dropped out of the dairy market in the early 1990s, they faced a hard choice: belly-up, or adapt. They adapted. Using a winning combination of generations of traditional knowledge, with innovative new marketing and educational ideas, they created Farmland, a "children's discovery farm". It combines an extensive collection of rare and endangered farm animals, with many fun and age-appropriate activities like play areas and rides. One of the newest additions is "Play and Spray", a zero-depth water park.
Farmland appeals primarily to the 1-8 year-old age group and their parents (though some of the activities are fun at any age). A few years ago they began a new adventure, the "Megamaze", billed as one of the world's largest and most complex outdoor field mazes. Each year they commission a new design by an award-winning Welsh mazemaker. The design is cut through a field of sorghum (maize - need I belabor the pun? ;-) using precision GPS technology. The maze is ready for exploration when the corn reaches above eye level. The season ends when the corn withers. Navigating the maze is a challenge, and is recommended for adults and older kids.
The Sterling Fair
Sterling has, for most of its history, been a largely agricultural community. This heritage is reflected in a landscape still dotted with many orchards and barns. It is further celebrated every year, in early September, when the town of Sterling holds its annual agricultural fair. This 3-day event draws tens of thousands of visitors. It features tractor pulls, rides, produce & livestock exhibits, art & craft displays, music, bake sales, food, food, and more food. And did we mention food?
Restaurants...
Barbers Crossing North
Barbers Crossing North is one of the better restaurants, not just in Sterling, but in the region. It shares the same menu as its sister restaurant in Leicester. The menu is varied, the food is good to excellent, and the prices are unpretentious. Service is fair to good, depending on how busy they are. Special treats to try, include the Maryland crabcakes, and the ice cream truffles.
The Corner Cafe
The Corner Cafe is located on the former site of the old "Country Fare" restaurant, so has a tradition of good food to live up to. Happily, it does so. The food is simple, basic, well-prepared and reasonably priced. Breakfasts (all day) and lunches only. Popular with the locals.
The Countryside Cafe
The Countryside Cafe is a pleasant small country restaurant out in the middle of orchard country. It serves hearty breakfasts and lunches at reasonable prices. Service can be slow during the busy times, though.
Meadowbrook Orchards
Meadowbrook Orchards is a farm stand and restaurant. They are open year-round. Their sandwiches, soups and baked goods are outstanding. You can also pick up frozen entrees and desserts to take home and bake later.
The Sterling Inn
The Sterling Inn is a small country inn just outside the center of Sterling. It has a well-regarded dining room which is open to the public.
Rota-Spring Farm
Just some of the best ice cream in the Sterling area!
Meola's Wayside Ice Cream
Another very good ice cream stand.
Ayer, MA
Ayer is about 10 miles northeast of Sterling, accessible via routes 2A and 111.
Restaurants...
J.P. O'Hanlon's
J.P. O'Hanlon's is an Irish "pub and grub" style of restaurant. The food is excellent and varied, the prices modest, and service fair to good. They draw upon a number of talented local musicians for the occasional free entertainment.
Tiny's, 2 Groton School Road (978-772-2917)
Tiny's is one of those little hole-in-the-wall places. You could easily miss it, passing by the juncture of Groton School Road and Route 2A. However, if you notice it and stop in, you'll find a friendly, unassuming staff & menu. The restaurant is divided into smoking & nonsmoking areas, take your pick.
Berlin, MA
Berlin is about 5 miles southeast of Sterling, accessible via route 62.
Restaurants...
The Train Stop
The Train Stop is a well-kept little secret just east of Clinton. The food and service are generally very good. Prices are moderate. Especially recommended menu items include their stir-fries, Italian sautes, and seafood casseroles.
Bolton, MA
Bolton is about 5 miles east of Sterling, accessible via routes 111 and 117.
The Bolton Fair
Not to be outdone by its neighbor Sterling, the town of Bolton also holds an annual town fair. This usually occurs in late September, and kicks off the apple-picking and leaf-peeping season. Typical activities are horse and livestock shows, arts & crafts exhibits & sales. And again, an embarrassment of riches in the food department.
Compared to the Sterling fair, there is usually a bit more emphasis on arts and crafts in Bolton.
Bolton Orchards
Bolton Orchards is another spinoff of the Davis family dairy farm (see Farmland and Megamaze), albeit an earlier one. Their very large farmstand on Route 117 offers a variety of products.
Restaurants...
Great Brook Farms
This farm stand and restaurant is located on Route 117, east of the town center.
The gift shop includes a wonderful array of high-quality gifts, garden ornaments and furniture. The small restaurant serves excellent sandwiches and baked goods for lunch.
J's Restaurant at Nashoba Winery
This is actually two destinations in one.
J's restaurant is a small, upscale, pricey restaurant, reservations recommended, & totally worth it. You will not find better food or service anywhere else in the region. Attire is "professional casual".
The scenic grounds of the surrounding Nashoba Winery include a gift shop.
Boylston, MA
Boylston is about 10 miles southeast of Sterling, accessible via route 70.
Tower Hill Botanic Garden
Boston has their Emerald Necklace, anchored at one end by Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum.
The Worcester area has nothing like the Emerald Necklace, but has a worthy counterpart to the arboretum, in the Tower Hill Botanic Garden. This gem of a botanical park is operated by the Worcester County Horticultural Society. It includes an indoor, year-round semitropical greenhouse (the "Orangerie", which houses exactly what the name suggests). It also includes extensive outdoor gardens and wooded trails, with several ponds. Interesting sculptures and ornaments decorate the gardens and buildings. The main building contains a restaurant, gift shop, gallery, auditorium and meeting rooms.
The resident cat, "Annie", is quite friendly and apparently well fed :-)
Clinton, MA
Clinton is about 3 miles east of Sterling, accessible via routes 62 and 70.
Restaurants...
The Old Timer
The Old Timer is the bright star in the small constellation of restaurants around Clinton. The food is consistently excellent, and the service very good. The style and ambience is distinctly Irish.
Fitchburg, MA
Fitchburg is about 10 miles north of Sterling, accessible via routes 2, 2A, 12, 31, 140 and 190.
Fitchburg Cultural Alliance
The Fitchburg Cultural Alliance is an umbrella organization for local artists, arts venues and art lovers.
For artmakers, the Alliance actively promotes the arts in the Fitchburg area, and provides resources for making artists and their works better known. It also serves as a forum for communication and discussion of ideas. Artists and arts organizations in the area should all consider joining it.
For art lovers, the Alliance provides profiles and contact info for local artists and venues. It also provides a comprehensive calendar of events, both on its website and in print.
Coggshall Park
Coggshall Park is a wooded park with a pond, near Electric Avenue and South Street.
The pond is noted for the ducks, geese, and especially, the swans, that call it home. It is also bordered by a concert band shell, and a small outdoor stage. A function hall nearby can be rented.
The woods are quite rugged and hilly, but trails have been cut around the periphery of the pond. This makes a pleasant and invigorating walk. In late May and early June, the blossoms of the Mountain Laurel trees that surround the pond make this a very special place.
The Fitchburg Art Museum
Fitchburg has a small but disproportionately nice art museum in its midst.
Located on Elm Street, highlights of this little treasure include galleries of Mediterranean and Mesoamerican antiquities, and early American painting. Visiting exhibits fill a hallway gallery, and several large galleries are usually given over to changing exhibits including an annual arts & crafts show.
The Longsjo Classic
The Longsjo Classic has become an internationally famous bicycling event. This four-day competition, held in midsummer, includes a variety of well-attended bicycle races. Hundreds of cyclists at all levels compete for thousands of dollars in prizes.
It is named in memory of Art Longsjo, a resident of Fitchburg and an Olympic skater & cyclist whose promising career was cut short by an auto accident at a tragically young age.
"Fitchburg Hosts the Longsjo" - 2004 Community Art Project
In July 2004, the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance sponsored a group of photographers from across the region, who photographed behind-the-scenes preparations for the Longsjo events. These photographs were mounted and displayed publicly in Riverfront Park on July 5th. The purpose was to pay tribute to the event from a point of view seldom covered by the media, and the project succeeded beyond all expectations.
You can view the project website (which includes a slide show of the photographs) HERE .
Stratton Players
One of the oldest community theaters in the United States. Some very talented people with a passion for what they do.
Design at 639
A new gallery for antiques, crafts, fine arts, and interior decorating, at 639 Main Street. The owner, Amy Newburg, also teaches at the art museum and performs with the Stratton Players.
Christ Church
The "performance ministry" at this church, located at 539 Main Street, sponsors a very active schedule of concerts and theater performance. (Their annual production of "The Tale of Three Trees" as an interpretive dance program is simply magical!)
Fitchburg Access Television (FATV)
This is the local public-access cable channel for Fitchburg. They produce a variety of public-service programming, make their studios available to the public for special projects, and offer classes in TV production and how to use the equipment. Want to create a TV show? They can show you how!
Fitchburg Historical Society
This building, at 50 Grove Street, is a treasure trove of historical & genealogical artifacts. In addition, they sponsor trolley tours of Fitchburg neighborhoods, and educational workshops such as "archaeological digs".
Center Stage at Fitchburg State College
This cultural events series, sponsored by Fitchburg State College, brings many big-name as well as cutting-edge acts to town.
Thayer Symphony Orchestra
This regional symphony orchestra, and their affiliated music school, continue to provide quality jazz, "pops" and classical entertainment and education to Central Massachusetts.
Restaurants...
Cookie Jar Bakery
Excellent lunchtime takeout sandwiches and baked goods.
Il Forno
Brick-oven pizzeria with a diverse Italian menu. Excellent food & service, moderate prices. The owner & staff are noted for their community outreach.
Marceau's Coffee Shop
A restaurant recommended to me by friends and family.
Slattery's
Slattery's was recommended to me by friends and relatives, but only recently did I finally eat there. What an eclectic menu! Something for just about everybody, and imaginatively prepared too.
S.S. Lobster
Frankly, your best seafood experience will be in one of New England's coastal cities: Portland, Ogunquit, Portsmouth, Gloucester, Boston, or Providence, to name a few.
However, here inland, the S.S. Lobster is one of the better seafood restaurants in the Fitchburg area. The casual decor and ambience remind me of the No-Name in Boston, or of the original Legal Seafoods in Cambridge (before they went upscale and moved out to Boston and the 'burbs). The food is decent and reasonably priced.
West Fitchburg Restaurant & Pizzeria
A pleasant, unpretentious little place with decent service, good food and fair prices. Some Greek specialties on the menu, for you adventurous types.
Framingham, MA
Framingham is located about 35 miles (as the turtle crawls, not as the crow flies) southeast of Sterling,
accessible via route 9.
Danforth Art Museum
The Danforth, from humble community-based beginnings, has grown into a respectable regional museum. Besides a range of permanent and visiting exhibits, it hosts art classes, lectures, and other activities.
Restaurants...
Framingham, being a fairly large town and the site of a major shopping center, has quite a few restaurants. I won't attempt to describe them all, but will mention my special favorites.
Tennessee's BBQ
About the best barbecue y'all can get north of the Mason-Dixon line.
Big Fresh Cafe
Located almost next door to Tennessee's (and apparently also owned by them), Big Fresh offers a lighter sort of fare. They serve a wide range of Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. Some are much-loved staples (like their hummus and felafel pitas), and others change from week to week (check the board).
Highly recommended.
Lancaster, MA
Lancaster is about a mile northeast of Sterling, accessible via route 62.
Deershorn Farm
A large farm stand with garden supplies, plants and flowers, produce, gifts, coffee, baked goods, etc.
Leominster, MA
Leominster is located about 5 miles north of Sterling, accessible via routes 2, 12, 117 and 190.
National Plastics Center & Museum
Leominster, as it happens, became a major center of the plastics industry.
The NPCM in Leominster chronicles the development of this industry through the last century. It contains many educational exhibits on applications of plastics in medicine, packaging, industrial and consumer products, etc.
The museum also contains several art galleries. Many area artists exhibit here for a month at a time.
Restaurants...
Leominster has an embarrassment of riches in its excellent restaurants. In particular, there is an extraordinary series of Italian eateries along the "Mangia Mile" (stretching from Route 117, through Monument Square, down Route 12 almost to Sterling).
Il Camino
An Italian restaurant noted for their fresh homemade pastas.
Cornerstones
A family-style restaurant with Mediterranean and Italian leanings.
The Gondola
An Italian restaurant noted for their "have it your way" menu.
Monty's Garden
A family-run Italian restaurant, the elegant centerpiece of the "Mangia Mile".
The Bagel Inn
The Bagel Inn is a local chain of bagel bakeries. They are all good, but the one in Leominster is a standout.
Panera Bread
Higher-priced than the Bagel Inn, but with a wider and more upscale variety of items on the menu. Excellent coffee.
Littleton, MA
Littleton is about 30 miles east-northeast of Sterling, accessible via routes 2A, 111, 117 and 495.
Restaurants...
Ken's American Cafe
A family-style restaurant with an eclectic menu.
Lunenburg, MA
Lunenburg is about 15 miles north of Sterling, accessible via routes 2A and 70.
Ewen's Sleepy Hollow
Ewen's is a maple sugaring and cidermaking operation in Lunenburg. Unlike Parker's, it does not have a restaurant or gift shop, just a basic sugarhouse & cider press. It's interesting to watch, in-season (March-April for sugar, & in the fall for cider), but there's not a lot going on there otherwise.
Restaurants...
The Bootlegger Restaurant
A family-style restaurant with an eclectic menu and playful ambience.
Marlboro, MA
Marlboro is about 15 miles southeast of Sterling, accessible via routes 20, 62, 70 and 495.
Restaurants...
Kennedy's
Eclectic family-style dining. Their maple corn popovers are excellent.
Natick, MA
Natick is just east of Framingham, also accessible via route 9.
Garden in the Woods
The Garden in the Woods, operated by the New England Wild Flower Society, offers up the wilder side of the gardening experience. This huge public garden (a good healthy hike to tour), displays a wide range of native and naturalized wildflowers in natural settings.
They also offer classes, gifts and publications. Check out their gift shop.
Pepperell, MA
Pepperell is about 20 miles northeast of Sterling, accessible via routes 111 and 119.
Restaurants...
Crumpets
Crumpets is a delightful new small restaurant and catering service in Pepperell.
Phillipston, MA
Phillipston is quite some distance northwest of Sterling, accessible via route 2.
Restaurants...
King Phillip's Restaurant
A family-style restaurant with an eclectic menu.
Princeton, MA
Princeton is about 5 miles west of Sterling, accessible via routes 62 and 140.
Mount Wachusett
The skyline of the region is dominated by the hills of the Montachusett range. The largest of these is Mount Wachusett.
The peak of Mount Wachusett is accessible by road, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It can also be reached via numerous hiking trails, for the more energetically inclined. The view from the peak is spectacular, and covers four states in good weather.
Much of the mountain is occupied by the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area
in winter. There is a constant tension between the expansion needs of this ski resort, and the conservation needs of adjoining old-growth forest.
Restaurants...
The Mountain Barn
Family-style restaurant, near Mount Wachusett. Good food & decent prices.
Shirley, MA
Shirley is about 10 miles northeast of Sterling, accessible via routes 2A and 70.
Restaurants...
The Bull Run
This pre-revolutionary tavern is still going strong, serving fine food and music (jazz and blues especially). There's a covered bridge out back, & a stuffed specimen of the legendary Egopantus over the mantel.
The Phoenix Bar & Grill
An eclectic family-style menu in a relaxed & atmospheric setting.
Sudbury, MA
Sudbury is about 20 miles southeast of Sterling, accessible via routes 20 and 62.
Restaurants...
The Wayside Inn
Upscale family-style dining, in an historic pre-Revolutionary inn.
The inn itself was featured in Longfellow's poem "Tales of a Wayside Inn".
The inn (and eventually some 3000 acres around it) were purchased by Henry Ford in 1923. Ford was a collector of landmarks, and he decided to assemble several of them on the grounds surrounding the inn.
In 1925 Ford moved the little red one-room schoolhouse (of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" fame) from Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, to the Inn's grounds. In 1929 he built the gristmill that you now see down by the river on the same site. The chapel was built in 1940.
Townsend, MA
Townsend is about 20 miles north of Sterling, accessible via routes 13 and 119.
Restaurants...
Cliff's Cafe
Family-style restaurant with an eclectic menu.
J & B's Grille
Another eclectic menu. I've not eaten there myself, but it comes highly recommended by family & friends.
The Townsend House
The Townsend House Tavern & Restaurant specializes in plain & simple food, well made and reasonably priced, served with a minimum of fuss.
West Boylston, MA
West Boylston is about 5 miles south of Sterling, accessible via route 12.
Restaurants...
The Manor
A family-style restaurant. Eclectic menu with extensive Greek specialties (the owner is Greek).
Westford, MA
Westford is about 35 miles east-northeast of Sterling, accessible via route 225.
Restaurants...
The Outlook
Eclectic casual dining, overlooking the Nashoba Valley Ski Area.
Kimball Farm
Excellent ice cream. They also offer a number of recreational activities at their Westford location.
They have two other locations (Carlisle, MA and Jaffrey, NH) at which they serve ice cream and food only.
Westminster, MA
Westminster is about 15 miles northwest of Sterling, accessible via routes 2, 31 and 140.
Restaurants...
The Old Mill
The 1761 Old Mill is superb. I've never had a bad meal there. They do seafood, justice. Special touches include the sticky buns and the New England corn fritters with maple syrup that come with every meal.
There's a scenic millpond & waterfall outside, with ducks & geese to feed while you wait for a seat. Extensive gift shop downstairs, if you'd rather browse.
Worcester, MA
Worcester is 10 to 20 miles south of Sterling, accessible via routes 12, 70 and 190.
Higgins Armory
The Higgins Armory is a museum of ancient arms and armor.
It houses a superlative collection of artifacts and exhibits. Nothing outside New York rivals it, in this country.
A book & gift shop, classes, & hosting of many entertainment, social and cultural events make it a busy place.
The Worcester Art Museum
Worcester has one of the largest & best art museums in the state outside of Boston.
In addition to the galleries, a busy schedule of evening classes keeps the place hopping.
The Worcester Center for Crafts
The WCC offers classes in a wide assortment of crafts. It has particularly well-regarded programs in pottery, metalworking and photography. It has recently opened a new glassblowing studio.
It includes a gallery for sale & exhibition of student & faculty work.
Restaurants...
O'Connor's Restaurant and Bar
Excellent Irish-style family restaurant. Great food and hearty servings.
Mason, NH
Mason is about 40 miles north of Sterling, accessible via route 13.
Restaurants...
Parker's Maple Barn
This is a restaurant visit you won't soon forget. They serve breakfast all day, lunch, and Sunday Brunch. Most of the food, in some way, is made with maple syrup. Pancakes, waffles and French toast are of course the stars of the menu, but there's more surprising fare as well.
There can be a long wait for seats during the busy times (especially on weekends). Fortunately, there's plenty to do while you wait.
There's a maple sugaring house on premises. There you can watch maple products being made, in season (mostly the month of March, when the sap starts to flow).
There's also a gift shop, with a wide selection of maple products, gourmet foods, & native American crafts.
In September, they host a native American powwow in the field across the road.
In the fall (October especially) the maple-rich woods around the restaurant are a blaze of color.
Pickity Place
A delightful small restaurant specializing in herbal cuisine. Tucked away in the backwoods of southern New Hampshire. You can also stroll around the herb gardens outside, or browse the gift shop.
Milford, NH
Milford is about 40 miles northwest of Sterling.
Restaurants...
The Mile Away
This is a superb dining experience. The ambience and fare are Continental (the original owners, now retired, were Swiss). Desserts to die for - save room!
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