Spencer is a small town in the Worcester Hills of Central Massachusetts near Worcester. As a rural community, there is not much in the way of nightlife but there are many opportunities for outdoor exploration and recreation.
Get in
[edit]There are no major highways through Spencer, so you will need to take either the state routes or backroads. MA Route 9 runs east-west through the center of Spencer, and MA Route 31 runs through the center of Spencer north-south. If you take MA Route 49 northbound from Sturbridge, you will intersect with Route 9 in the western part of Spencer.
Get around
[edit]
Traveling by car is the most practical way to navigate Spencer. A bus line does go through the town center, but outside the town center places can be far-flung.
See
[edit]- 1 Saint Joseph's Abbey, Greater Spencer Area, 167 N Spencer Rd (MA Rt 31), ☏ +1 508-885-8700, [email protected]. A Trappist monk community. Visitors are welcome to walk the areas in front of the church entrance but should not enter the areas of enclosure. The monks are happy to talk to visitors, and pray with or for them if asked. Guests are also allowed to join in with mass and prayer services, and are welcome to visit the gift shop. Check the website for the hours for the gift shop, mass and prayer services, and the showroom hours for the Holy Rood Guild.
- 2 Spencer Vietnam Memorial Park, S Spencer Cmn Rd (the park is at the junction of S Spencer Rd, S Spencer Cmn Rd, and Lyford Cross Rd. If on MA Rt 9 (Main St), turn onto S Spencer Rd. Continue on until you reach Lyford Rd and Lyford Cross Rd on your right. S Spencer Cmn Rd will be on the left. If on MA Rt 49 (Podunk Pike), take Adams Rd eastbound. Adams Rd will terminate at S Spencer Rd, take a left to go northbound and continue until you reach the intersection with S Spencer Cmn Rd). A small war memorial established in 1975 to honor three Spencer men who died in the Vietnam War. It was the first memorial of its kind in the United States.ad
- 3 Burncoat Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, 116 Greenville St (take Greenville St off of Main St (MA Rt 9)), ☏ +1 978-464-2712, [email protected]. Daily 7AM-7PM. A Mass Audubon wildlife preserve on the west bank of Burncoat Pond. Has 2 miles of moderate to rugged walking trails. Free.
- 4 Bemis Memorial Park, 157 W Main St (MA Rt 9). A park commemorating Samuel Bemis, the first permanent European settler of Spencer, and Captain Edmund Bemis, who served in the Seven Years' War. In addition to the monuments, the park has two Parrott guns used during the American Civil War.
Do
[edit]- 1 Spencer Fair: August – September Annual, 48 Smithville Rd (take Smithville Rd off MA Rt 31), ☏ +1 508-885-5814, [email protected]. Annual event featuring amusement rides, games, vending booths, competitions such as tractor and livestock pulls, and live musical performances. (date needs fixing)
Outdoor
[edit]- 1 Spencer State Forest (Howe State Park), 51 Howe Rd (take Howe Rd off of MA Rt 31 (Maple St/Charlton Rd)), ☏ +1 508-886-6333. Daily 7:30AM-7PM. 965-acre state forest. Has miles of trails for hiking, mountain-biking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. The ponds and rivers are available for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. You can also horseback ride or go hunting.
- 2 Moose Hill Wildlife Management Area (The reserve is along Paxton Rd. Paxton Rd can be reached via Thompson Pond Rd, which in turn is off of Spencer Rd (MA Rt 31)), ☏ +1 508-835-3607. A nature reserve spanning across Spencer, Leicester, and Paxton. Lots of hiking areas, as well as being available for public fishing, hunting, and trapping.
- 3 Four Chimneys Wildlife Management Area, Borkum Rd (Take Bacon Hill Rd off Maple St (MA Rt 31). Keep straight and this will become Clark Rd. Continue on Clark Rd until your reach Borkum Rd. Turn onto Borkum Rd and continue until you reach the trailhead.), ☏ +1 508-835-3607. A 200-acre wildlife management area transversed by the Midstate Trail
- 4 Luther Hill Park, Luther Hill Park (take Park St off of Main St (MA Rt 9). This will become Luther Hill Park). 14-acre lakefront park in the center of town. Has picnic tables and play ground, skateboard park, and disc golf course. No swimming.
Indoor
[edit]- 5 Bayberry Bowling Center (Bayberry Bowladrome), 326 Main St, ☏ +1 508-635-5699. M-Sa 9AM-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Bowling alley, arcade center, and billiard hall with a beer and wine bar.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Klem's, 117 W Main St (MA Rt 9), ☏ +1 508-885-2708, [email protected]. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 9AM-5PM. Local, woman-owned general store. Has typical department and hardware store items as well as knick-knacks and souvenirs. Klem's is a popular shopping destination for the area.
- 2 AvalonRose Cottage (Lulu's Herbal and Spiritual Apothecary), 137 W Main St (MA Rt 9), ☏ +1 774-745-8550. W-Su 9AM-5PM. Spiritual health and wellness items: Soaps, incense, stones, essential and fragrance oils, and jewelry.
- 3 Sarah's Emporium, 158 Main St (MA Rt 9) #1, ☏ +1 774-757-8237, [email protected]. W-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 10AM-3PM, M-Tu closed. Health food store that also offers psychic readings and spiritual healings
- 4 Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn, 1 Northwest Rd (take N Spencer Rd (MA Rt 31). Oakwood Farm is at the junction with Northwest Rd.), ☏ +1 508-320-0389, [email protected]. F-Sa 10AM-3:30PM, Su noon-3:30PM. Sells made-on-the-farm Christmas decorations and paraphernalia.
- 5 Primitive Thymes, 4 Northwest Rd (take N Spencer Rd (MA Rt 31). The shop is along the route.), ☏ +1 508-885-4958. F-Sa 11AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM. Gift shop. All items are handmade in the United States.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Black & White Grill, 206 N Rd (MA Rt 31), ☏ +1 508-885-5018. Su-W 11AM-9PM, Th-Sa 11AM-10PM. Family-owned. Booking link: https://www.opentable.com/restaurant/profile/1048327?ref=1068 $20-$30.
- 2 Savage Smash, 148 Main St, ☏ +1 774-745-0043. M 5-11PM, Su, T-W 11AM-9PM, Th-Sa 11AM-10PM. Burger restaurant, also serves drinks $20-$30.
- 3 Kostas Cafe Breakfast and Lunch, 31 Pleasant St, ☏ +1 508-885-7705. Daily 6AM-2PM. Breakfast, brunch, and lunch $10-$20.
- 4 John's Pizza, 158 Main St, ☏ +1 508-885-6936. Daily 11AM-9PM. $10-$20.
- 5 Dashboard Diner, 6 W Main St (MA Rt 9), ☏ +1 508-864-5472. Th-Sa 11AM-7PM. Family-owned seasonal roadside food stand. Serves hot dogs, fries, and similar. The ice cream and frosty drinks are homemade. Has call ahead, take out, and outdoor seating. $10-$20.
- 6 Charlie's Diner, 5 Meadow Rd, ☏ +1 508-885-4033. W-Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 8AM-8PM. 1950s-style diner with full bar. Serves American-style home-cooking. $10-$20.
- 7 Yamato Asian Bistro, 62 W Main St (MA Rt 9) (in Spencer Fair Shopping Center), ☏ +1 508 -85-5288. Tu-Th 11AM-9:30PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-9:30PM. East Asian dishes and sushi, both dine-in and take-out
- 8 George's Pizza, 62 W Main St (MA Rt 9) (in Spencer Fair Shopping Center), ☏ +1 508-885-1110. Daily 11AM-10PM. Offers dine-in, delivery, and drive-through $10-$20.
- 9 Zenshi Handcrafted Sushi, 62 W Main St (MA Rt 9) (in Spencer Fair Shopping Center), ☏ +1 508-885-0003. Daily 9AM-7PM. Sushi restaurant with dine-in and takeout
- 10 The Goods Bakery & Cafe, 320 Main St (MA Rt 9), Suite 1, ☏ +1 774-745-0357. Tu-F 7AM-3PM, Sa 8AM-1PM, Su-M closed. Local bakery with dine-in, take-out, and purchase options $10-$20.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Rapscallion Brewery & Taproom, 8 Meadow Rd (At the junction of Meadow Rd with W Main St and Olde Main St. W Main and Olde Main St both junction with Main St (MA Rt 9)), ☏ +1 508-885-9972. M-Th 4-9PM, Fr-Sa noon-9PM, Su noon-8PM. Brewery and taproom.
- 2 Granville's Pub, 40 Chestnut St, ☏ +1 508-885-5939. Tu-Su noon-1AM. Local pub $20-$30.
- 3 Ethier's Cafe, 52 Chestnut St, ☏ +1 508-885-5774. Su, M, W: Closed; Tu, Th-Sa 6-11PM. Local cafe and bar
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Spencer Country Inn, 500 Main St (MA Rt 9), ☏ +1 508-885-9036.
- 2 CK Cottage, 24 Oak Ln (The house is on a small dirt road. Take Thompson Pond Rd off of N Spencer Rd (MA Rt 31). Oak Ln will be on the right.). Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. An AirBnB on the shore of Thompson Pond. Whole house, maximum 6 guests. Has kayaks and a dock for activities on the lake. Pet friendly.
- 3 Luxury Tuscan Themed Getaway, 2 Buteau Rd (Take Bacon Hill Rd off Maple St (MA Rt 31). Keep straight and this will become Clark Rd. Continue on Clark Rd until Buteau Rd appears on the right.). Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. Whole house AirBnB listing. 2-night minimum. Has capacity for up to 10 guests.
There are a handful of other AirBnB/Vrbo listings for Spencer, in addition to the two listed above.
Go next
[edit]Nearby towns
[edit]Nearby attractions
[edit]- The Old Sturbridge Village living history museum is nearby in Sturbridge.
- Six Flags New England amusement park is an hour away in Agawam, south of Springfield
- Rock House Reservation is in the nearby town of West Brookfield. Outdoor Trustees' of Reservations land that historically was a Nipmuc gathering site. Has some beautiful geologic deposits from the last ice age.
| Routes through Spencer |
| Worcester ← Leicester ← | E  W
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→ Brookfield → Amherst |
| END ← | N  S
|
→ Sturbridge → Ends at 
|
Becomes  ← Princeton ←
|
N  S
|
→ Charlton → Ends at 
|