Worcester (Massachusetts)

Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.

Understand
Worcester was established as a town on June 14, 1722 and as a city on February 29, 1848. It has a population of around 200,000 and is the second largest city in New England, behind Boston. Worcester is the home of nine colleges and universities, the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, the Massachusetts Bio-Technology Research Park, and the American Antiquarian Society. Despite their large number, Worcester's colleges and universities have not left much of an imprint on the overall feel of the city--for better and for worse, it is not the least bit a college town. Worcester has a very low rate of violent crime compared to the comparably sized city Providence, Rhode Island. It also has lots of parks, greenspace, small bodies of water, and tree-lined streets.

Climate
Worcester is one of the snowiest cities in New England, receiving around 70 inches (175 cm) a year on average. Typically, snowfall is dominated by large, long duration events and the city is usually hit with several noreasters each year and the occasional blizzard. As an older, hilly city, snow removal is very poor and only the main roads will be well cleared. Some side streets may be snow covered for days after a storm. Summers can be pretty hot, but not for extended periods of time. Spring and fall are both exceedingly pleasant, with temperatures during the day between 60-70°F (16-21°C) and either blooming flowers or brilliant fall colors. Worcester's reputation for snow doesn't carry over into rain, although it does have a decent amount of rain.

Neighborhoods

 * Downtown: Downtown Worcester is the area around Worcester Common, radiating out several blocks in all directions. Much of downtown is devoted to office workers, so most restaurants close before dinner.  Downtown is where many of the city's larger music venues and theaters are as well as the DCU Center, but unless there is an event, the area is mostly deserted at night although there are a few highly respected restaurants that are exceptions to the rule.  The city is trying to change this state of affairs by encouraging the construction of more housing, which will spur more after work activities in the area.
 * Blackstone Canal District: Commonly referred to as the Canal District, this area of the city used to be an industrial zone centered on the long covered up Blackstone Canal.  While there are still some industrial uses, much of the space has been converted into restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.  There are also some fairly expensive condos/apartments.  There is an effort to re-open the canal in this part of the city, but it has yet to gain much traction.
 * Main South: This is the area south of downtown along Main St until it ends at Webster Square. Main South has a reputation for crime, although the southern end of the neighborhood is increasingly dominated by Clark University and is home to coffee shops and college bars.  The neighborhood is one of Worcester's most diverse and there are many cheap restaurants serving cuisine from all over the world.
 * Piedmont: Piedmont is defined roughly by Chandler St to the south, Salisbury St to the north, Park Ave to the west, and Downtown to the east. The neighborhood is filled with beautiful old houses and a few grand apartment buildings, but is largely student housing for WPI and Becker College students, both of which are in the neighborhood.  Elm Park, the city's oldest, is at the western end of the neighborhood.  Highland Ave is the main dining and nightlife destination, running east-west along the northern side of the neighborhood.  Worcester Art Museum is at the eastern edge of the neighborhood.
 * Westside: The largely residential Westside is Worcester's most affluent neighborhood.  The definition is somewhat fluid, but is essentially anything west of Park Ave/West Boylston St.  This is a fairly hilly, tree covered area filled with large homes, many of which were built during Worcester's industrial peak.  Worcester State University and Assumption College are on the Westside, but the area feels more like a suburb than a college town.  There are many parks, small restaurants, and even a few lakes.
 * Greendale-Burncoat: This is the area north and northeast of downtown.  There are a lot of factories in the valley stretching north of downtown while the hills above it are filled with residential areas.  Green Hill Park, the largest in the city, is here as is Greendale Mall and quite a few restaurants.  Great Brook Valley, the most dangerous part of the city, is found at the fringe of Greendale-Burncoat, but there is little that would take a traveler here.
 * Eastside: People visually associate Worcester with two things: hills and triple deckers (boxy, narrow, 3-floor houses).  Both of these are found in abundance in the Eastside.  There is very little flat ground in this part of the city.  Worcester's main dining area, Shrewsbury St, is at the northern end of the neighborhood as is UMass Medical School.  The eastern boundary is Lake Quinsigamond and the southern boundary is Route 20.  The Ecotarium is here as are Quinsigamond State Park and Lake Park.
 * South Worcester: South Worcester is home to the College of the Holy Cross and everything south of it.  For travel purposes, the developed parts of the town of Auburn are here which includes most of the city's hotels and Auburn Mall.

By plane
Logan International Airport in Boston or T.F. Green Airport in Warwick carry the bulk of passengers in the area, although they are each around an hour away from the city. Or, you could fly into Bradley International Airport in Hartford which is a little over an hour west of the city. There is train service from Boston to Worcester. Worcester does have its own airport, but it's not well served.

By train
Train operators:


 * MBTA's Framingham Worcester Line: $12.50 one-way. Often takes an hour to an hour and a half, between South Station in Boston and Union Station in Worcester, depending on if on a local or express train. MBTA Commuter Rail is generally not reliable in extreme winter weather so plan around that if necessary. The Worcester line is also susceptible to warping in warm weather, which forces the trains to slow down sometimes in the summer. Trains to Worcester are infrequent in the morning while trains to Boston are infrequent in the evening.
 * Route stopping at Worcester:
 * Lake Shore Limited operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer).  The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City.  Stops between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer) include South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and Boston include Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham. The train does not accept boardings at Worcester in the direction of Boston (though you may ride from Boston to Worcester). In most cases, train travel to Worcester is most reliably and conveniently made by traveling to Boston on Amtrak, then on MBTA to Worcester (or vice versa).

By car

 * Worcester is well served by highways. Interstate 290 runs through Worcester and connects to Interstate 495, Interstate 190, Interstate 395, and Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike). Most visitors to the city will arrive by car. Traffic on I-90 near Worcester can move very slowly at almost any time of day, especially on holiday weekends. Once you arrive, parking probably won't be an issue as there is ample street parking and public parking lots and garages.

Get around
Many of Worcester's points of interest are far spaced from one another. The only practical way to get around is by car (or bike). Public transit in Worcester is focused mainly on commuters. Cabs are often more expensive per mile than cabs in other cities. If you're there for more than just a visit, bicycles are available from many used stores and are the best way to get around and explore. Buses in the city usually run every 30 to 60 minutes, with some running only every two hours depending on the route. Fare is $1.75; true day-passes are no longer offered—available now is an 8-ride pass good for one person, good one day only. Buses on certain routes are often a half-hour or more late, but be at your stop early as they often fly by a few minutes early in order to catch up for previous late stops.

By bus
Worcester does have a bus system, but it can be infrequent and confusing to navigate. Depending upon where you are going, the bus system may be an inefficient way to get around the city as nearly all routes run in a spoke-like fashion from the terminal adjacent to Union Station. Planning a route with ample time for connections and schedule deviations is essential. Real-time stop predictions are generally available.

On foot
Worcester is surprisingly hard to navigate on foot. The city covers a large area by New England standards and despite having a "downtown," the focal points for visitors are spread throughout the city, making them hard to reach on foot. Throw in poor sidewalks and aggressive drivers and you can understand why there aren't very many pedestrians.

By car
The most efficient, if not the most enjoyable way to get around the city. Driving in Worcester is not for the timid. Although Boston may get the most attention for aggressive drivers in New England, Worcester is by most measures worse. An insurance study ranked Worcester as the worst city to drive in in the United States, based on accident rate. Traffic is not nearly as bad as in Boston, but there are significant backups at rush hour and lane markings may be nonexistent in parts of the city. Road quality is good on most roads, but unpaved streets still exist in some areas.

There is no street grid to help orient yourself and driving here will probably require a GPS or someone else using a map to direct you. Interstate 190/290 can become very congested at rush hour (4-6 pm). Streets in the core city like Park Ave, Highland Ave, Main St, and Cambridge St, can be backed up at nearly any time of day, even on weekends.

See
There is a surprising amount to see in Worcester. Many travelers might only consider it worth a day trip, but this would be mistaken. The Worcester Art Museum alone is big enough to occupy an entire day. Leaving aside the city's museums, you may still want to take a stroll through one of the city's historic parks or college campuses.

Museums and galleries
Worcester has a museum for everyone. In addition to the Worcester Art Museum, there is an interesting little history museum and a science and nature center that is great for kids. The Museum of Russian Icons is in nearby Clinton.



Landmarks
Architecture buffs and photographers will appreciate Worcester's collection of historic buildings and monuments.

Parks
The city boasts many parks for the enjoyment of residents and visitors from the largest Green Hill Park to Elm Park and Institute Park which hosts many outdoor concerts during the summer season.

Colleges
Worcester is home to many colleges and universities. A lot of the campuses are newer, with fairly dull contemporary architecture. However, the city's three oldest private institutions are quite pretty. Look for lectures open to the public at all three while you're in town.

Do
Worcester has a plethora of activities for visitors to enjoy. In the spring, summer, and fall, there is nearly always some sort of festival happening. Worcester also has a track record of attracting solid musical performances. Pop stars at the DCU Center, classical at Mechanics Hall, and metal at the Palladium. Worcester's sports teams are all minor league, but offer affordable entertainment.

Festivals

 * Worcester St. Patrick's Day Parade, Mid-March. Park Ave. One of the largest Irish parades in the state.
 * Albanian Festival, early June, alternating odd numbered years, St. Mary's Albanian Orthodox Church. Largest Albanian festival in the country
 * Grecian Festival], early June, alternating even numbered years. St. Spyridon Church. One of the largest Greek Festivals in New England with over 25,000 attendees
 * Summer Nationals, July 4 weekend, hot rods and fancy cars take over Green Hill Park and downtown Worcester (the organizers have put the event "on hold" for 2017)
 * Italian Festival , mid-August, Mt. Carmel Church. Very popular annual festival in the city.
 * Latin American Festival, Mid-August, City Hall, Downtown Worcester. One of the largest Latin American festivals in New England.
 * Pet Rock Festival, early September, held at Quinsigamond Community College. Largest non-profit animal benefit in New England. Held annually to make money for shelters and other animal related services. "They can't talk so we will."

Learn
Worcester has a fair number of high schools, colleges and universities in its region.



Buy
Despite being the second largest city in New England, Worcester is not a shopping mecca. There is one small mall in the city that's of no interest to travelers. Downtown used to be home to many department stores and then a large indoor mall. The mall has since been torn down and the department stores are gone. There are three malls in the suburbs of Auburn, Millbury, and Berlin, but these also aren't of much interest to the traveler. Worcester does have a few interesting stores to check out though. There is no main shopping district; shops are spread throughout the city.



Eat
Worcester provides a dining experience to suit all tastes. Everything from massive, opulent fine dining restaurants to "is this even a restaurant?" holes in the wall can be found here. Major global cuisines (Chinese, Indian, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese) are quite common. You can even find Afghan, Salvadorian, and Polish food scattered around the city. Shrewsbury St. is the city's emerging "Restaurant Row," where you will find the greatest concentration and variety of dining options.

Budget
Worcester is full of cheap places to eat. Most of these will get you a meal for under $10.



Bakeries
Worcester is packed with neighborhood bakeries. Most people probably have a tribal loyalty to whatever their favorite is. You can find places that have been around for generations and hark back to the city's industrial heyday as well as newer, trendier spots.

Breakfast
Worcester is the center of the diner universe, being the hometown of the Worcester Lunch Car Company, which built most of the classic diner cars people associate with mid 20th century America. For breakfast the wealth of diners opens up and it is near impossible to choose. Here are some of the most cool and comfy:
 * Annie's Clark Brunch (formerly known as Wendy's). Regulars are allowed a tab.)
 * Annie's Clark Brunch (formerly known as Wendy's). Regulars are allowed a tab.)
 * Annie's Clark Brunch (formerly known as Wendy's). Regulars are allowed a tab.)
 * Annie's Clark Brunch (formerly known as Wendy's). Regulars are allowed a tab.)

Mid-range
Some of the most popular restaurants in the city are in the $10-20 price range.



Splurge
Worcester's fanciest dining establishments will set you back at least $20 and probably more than $30 per person.



Drink
Worcester has a nightlife option to suit everyone. You can attend a lecture or poetry reading at a coffeeshop, find a bar to quench all thirsts, dance the night away in a nightclub, or take in some live music.

Bars
Worcester has a lot of bars as a result of its large college population. Unfortunately for the traveler, this makes many of them feel rather samey. For anyone interested in the raucous college set, the Blackstone Canal District is a good place to look, especially Water St. Still, with this many bars there are some unique and interesting spots that tipplers should explore.

A number of restaurants mentioned in the eat section also have good bars. The Boynton has one of the largest selections of craft beer in Worcester. O'Connors is a popular Irish pub with a decent beer selection. Smokestack Urban BBQ also has an extensive beer selection and outdoor seating. Bocado has a large wine selection and is known for their sangria.
 * Guertin's, Off Canterbury Street. Beautiful woodwork, $1.50 drafts.
 * Guertin's, Off Canterbury Street. Beautiful woodwork, $1.50 drafts.
 * Guertin's, Off Canterbury Street. Beautiful woodwork, $1.50 drafts.
 * Guertin's, Off Canterbury Street. Beautiful woodwork, $1.50 drafts.
 * Guertin's, Off Canterbury Street. Beautiful woodwork, $1.50 drafts.
 * Guertin's, Off Canterbury Street. Beautiful woodwork, $1.50 drafts.

Breweries
Worcester has a selection of established breweries that are well-known in the region as well as a handful of funkier upstarts. The city's brewing scene is not quite as dense as other better known New England brewing meccas, but Worcester is emerging as a beer destination in its own right.

Coffee
Worcester is not a coffee drinkers' mecca. There aren't many non-Dunkin Donuts options to begin with and those that do exist probably won't excite anyone from Seattle, yet there are a few places with a decent atmosphere where you can get your fix.

Oddly enough, two of the better places to get a coffee in Worcester aren't primarily coffee shops. Crust Artisan Bakeshop in the downtown serves Northborough's Armeno Coffee Roasters, although they do not have an espresso machine. Birch Tree Bread Company is a huge bakery in the old Crompton Loomworks building that also has good coffee options and an espresso machine.

Stay safe
Worcester is a somewhat notably dangerous city for the Northeast, to the point you might need some advice to stay out of danger. Street crime during the day is very rare but it can happen in dodgier neighborhoods. In particular, the entire southern half of the city is comprised of lower income neighborhoods that have somewhat common crime, but are safe to walk through during the day as long as you have common sense. The part of the city that tourists should really steer clear of is the Pleasant St/Chandler St area, going into downtown; while not one of the worse off parts of the city, it is infamous for being a hot spot for both violent crime and    drug related crimes, which for better or worse the police seem to have little control over. Most of Worcester's homeless population also lives in this area; be respectful and don't harass them, and if you want to help don't record it. Walking around this area at any time is opening yourself up to violent crime, and at night even driving through these streets can be dangerous, as a lot of Uber drivers will avoid the area during late hours. If you take the bus or are walking in a poor area do not show off your phone or anything else that could be valuable, pickpocketing is semi-common. You might also hear about gang activity in the more business oriented parts of the city near Auburn but this is not really a problem for most people. Just like any other city, keep basic caution even in the "safe" areas.

Sleep
The city of Worcester itself doesn't have very many hotels. There are a few downtown and a few clustered around UMass Medical School on the Eastside. There aren't any unique or boutique hotels, just standard chains aimed at business travelers and parents of college students.

Auburn
The following hotels are in Auburn, which is another town. This distinction is irrelevant except that you must remember to put in "Auburn" as the town on your GPS since some of the street names are also found in Worcester, Southbridge St being one of the city's main throughfares which extends into Auburn.

Go next
Worcester is in the center of New England and an easy drive to many destinations.
 * Boston and its numerous attractions are about an hour to the east.
 * Providence-Here you will find Brown University, renowned art museums, exciting food, and unique neighborhoods. All within a 45 minute drive south from Worcester.
 * Pioneer Valley-This valley is home to many colleges, funky towns, and the urban grit and cultural attractions of Springfield. In addition, there are hiking opportunities in the hills above the valley and the region has some of the Commonwealth's best farmland.  About an hour west of Worcester.
 * Monadnock Region-The Monadnock Region of New Hampshire is about an hour north of Worcester. Here you will find hiking opportunities and the adorable college town of Keene.