Great Day Trips from: Your Home in Sharon, MA to Old Sturbridge Village

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Visiting Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA is a great day trip from your home in Sharon, MA. Journey back to the world of rural New England during America’s early years (1790-1840). The whole family will enjoy chatting with costumed Villagers, watching craftsmen make items by hand, or actually doing a hands-on activity.

Old Sturbridge Village was not an actual settlement in the late 18^th century. It is a living museum with more than 40 buildings from that time period which were gathered from all over New England and re-assembled at Old Sturbridge Village. Once you pass through the Visitor Center, you are in the 18^th century. There are no golf carts whizzing along ferrying guests or staff.

You can easily spend 3 hours walking the paths and stopping in at each building. At some, you’ll be able to watch a workman demonstrating his craft. The knowledgeable staff is extremely friendly. You’ll learn a lot of interesting facts about life in the late 18^th century, including the cost of everyday items, and what it was like to apprentice in these trades. The costumed staff shares this information in a way that will hold your attention, and possibly, that of your children.

On a recent visit, we saw the shoemaker carefully stretching, cutting, and tacking leather around the soul of a shoe. He can make one pair of shoes per day. There are several pairs in the shop that you can try on…though none are for sale.

The tin smith amazed us with the fact that he can punch a design in a sheet of tin in 9 ½ minutes! And, wait until you hear the stories from the organist at the Center Meetinghouse…but I don’t want to give it away!

The variety of activities will interest even younger children. They can pump water from an old hand pump in the town center, and there are usually several hands-on crafts that they can make to take home for around $5 each.

There are lots of fun photo opportunities they will enjoy, too. Such as sticking their faces through a cut out of a soldier, or school children. You can ride a river boat or stagecoach, watch a musket firing demonstration, or maybe see a milking demonstration.

     When you need a rest, the Bullard Tavern has a cafeteria that serves hot lunches and sandwiches daily. The Village Café at the entrance to the Oliver Wight Tavern serves Starbucks coffee, hot and cold drinks, baked goods and sandwiches and salads daily. The Oliver Wight Tavern is also open for lunch, brunch and dinner on certain days and times. Check the website http://www.osv.org for more information. Kids will want to spend time pouring over the candy, baked goods and items available at the Grant Store & Bake Shop. The Museum Gift Shop and Book Store also has some old fashioned toys, candy, jewelry and other interesting items.

A nice feature of Old Sturbridge Village is that you can enjoy a free second visit within 10 days of your first. Plus guests who join you for the second visit receive a 25% discount on their admission. Just have your receipt validated at any gift shop.

In November, the Village is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can find special events on their home page http://www.osv.org. Check their calendar before you go, as the days on which they are open changes in December.

Old Sturbridge Village is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from your house in Sharon. The easiest route is to take I-495 North to the Mass Turnpike (I-90). Take the Mass Turnpike West to exit 9 (I-84 West). Take exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto Route 20 West. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village. The signs will direct you to make a right turn off of Route 20 in order to turn left across Route 20. As soon as you cross Route 20 you’ll be on Stallion Hill Road. Make an immediate right and follow the signs into the parking lot. The tolls are a little more than $1 each way from I-495. Enjoy your visit!