Things to do in Norwood, Massachusetts

Norwood is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, that is part of the Greater Boston Area. It is on the Neponset River and has a total landmass of 10.5 square miles and an elevation of 45 meters.

Norwood Memorial Municipal Building

The Norwood Memorial Municipal Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 1996. It has the seventh-largest carillon in the United States.

Oak View Mansion

Abraham Lincoln passed through Norwood during his pre-inaugural tour. Oak View Mansion in Norwood has hosted American presidents including William Howard Taft (27th US President) and Calvin Coolidge (30th US President.)

Visit the Oldest Continuous Weather Recording Station in the United States

Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory in Norwood is the oldest continuous weather recording station in America. It was founded in 1885. The tower offers stunning views of Boston and the surrounding areas. The observatory and the tower are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Celebrate Your New Year in Style with First Day Hikes

Every New Year’s Day, Blue Hills Reservation in Norwood offers First Day Hikes. This is a program of free, guided hikes that started in Norwood in 1992 and went nationwide in 2012.

First Day Hikes promote an alternate way of celebrating the New Year by going outside, exercising and enjoying the best of local nature.

Enjoy Candlepin Bowling the Way It Should Be

Old school bowling does not get better than in the Norwood Sports Center. Get ready to step back in the 70s. You will love it! Everything from the throwback vending machines, the wooden pins, the lighthouse motif designs, and the bad 70s carpet.

Go back in time when things were simpler: no text, no internet, no email, no phones. This place is still the same place it used to be back in time.

Go Grab a Beer in Castle Island Brewery

Grab a beer, try new food, and play some board games in Castle Island Brewery. You will enjoy drinks, chips, guacamole, and salsa. There is a grocery store nearby where you can order snacks.

You will love the Castle Island experience and you will surely make a repeat visit in the future. Castle Island has an amazing selection of beers and foods. The overall atmosphere is great.

Visit Norwood Theater for the First Time

If it is your first time to visit Norwood, do not leave before visiting Norwood Theater. You will love the experience. The Norwood Theater has been fully restored to its original beauty. The seats are comfortable, the acoustics are excellent, and the performances are energetic.

Sample the Diversity of Norwood’s Flora and Fauna

Blue Hills Reservation is the place to be if you want to encounter endangered animal species such as copperhead snake and timber rattlesnake. Other flora and fauna you will encounter include Atlantic white cedar dog, white-tailed deer, turkey vultures, red fox, wild turkey, coyotes, and lady’s slipper.

Fish in Neponset River

The Neponset watershed is a great place for fishing. The coldwater period is the perfect time to catch yellow perch, bluegill, pickerel, and bass. The Neponset watershed has a number of brooks and ponds where you can fish.

Enjoy Charles River Canoeing and Kayaking

Kayaking is a fun summer activity. Charles River is the perfect place for kayaking. You will enjoy more than twelve miles of uninterrupted water flow. The boats are in good condition and the people are extremely helpful. You will love paddling up and down the Charles River. While paddling, you might encounter turtles and blue herons.

Make a Special trip to Blue Hills Ski Area and Do Some Skiing & Mountain Biking

Go on a skiing adventure at Blue Hills Ski Area right at Boston’s backyard. The uphill trek is a challenge but it is totally worth it. You will enjoy amazing views of Boston when you reach the peak.

Blue Hills is a great place for beginner skiers. You kids will learn skiing in less than a day. The beginner ski area is spacious and has a magic carpet that is easy to use.

Enjoy Outdoor Sports and Recreation

Francis William Bird Park is the perfect place for outdoor sports and recreation. Established in 1925, it has four tennis courts, an outdoor stage, a basketball backboard, benches, bike racks, and a parking lot. Bird Park is ideal for team sports.

Walk the Warner Trail

Warner Trail is one of the most famous hiking trails in New England. It extends from Diamond Hill in Rhode Island through Norfolk County, Massachusetts, up to Canton, south of Boston.

Warner Trail is hilly and occasionally rugged. It has a forest cover of oak-hickory type. It passes through three state forests and has a number of water bodies.

Enjoy Treetop Adventures

What about some family-friendly fun? Norwood treetop adventures are great for the whole family. They are ideal for family bonding. Your kids will love these treetop adventures.

Visit Norwood Memorial Municipal Building

This building is among the 188 National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) that are found in Massachusetts. The 50-bell carillon tower on the building is one of the nine carillons in Massachusetts. Explore this historic building and its Gothic revival architecture.

Many visitors normally mistake it for an ancient church. Its stained-glass windows do not depict a saint but Aaron Guild, a local patriot.

Nearby Attractions

You can make day trips from Norwood to these nearby attractions.

Noanet Woodlands

Noanet Woodlands in Dover, Massachusetts, is a great place for leisurely strolls, birding, mountain biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and skiing. You can make a day trip from Norwood to Dover to explore Noanet Woodlands among other attractions.

Tilden Place

This is a historic place in Canton, Massachusetts. Canton is less than 4 miles from Norwood. Tilden Place was built 50 years before the American Revolution in 1725. Presently, it is under the management of the Canton Historical Society.

The Sky Zone Trampoline Park

A day trip from Norwood to Hyde Park, MA, will make it possible to explore Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Everett Square Theatre, Sally Brook, and other attractions. Sky Zone Trampoline Park is a chain of indoor trampoline parks featuring fitness programs, dodge ball, and freestyle bouncing.