22nd International Drying Symposium at WPI in Worcester, MA

Welcome to the City of Worcester, Massachusetts

New England’s Second Largest City!
Located in the heart of Massachusetts, Worcester combines the historic charm of a small New England town with the conveniences and attractions of a thriving urban setting.

More about Worcester:

10 colleges and universities
Plenty of unique dining options
Home to more than 60 parks and picturesque Lake Quinsigamond https://www.mass.gov/locations/quinsigamond-state-park
Worcester has a blossoming craft beer scene.
Newly renovated DCU Arena and Convention Center
The Hanover Theatre for Performing Arts, Worcester Art Museum, Mechanics Hall, and the Worcester Center for Crafts

Plan Your Visit to Worcester and Central Mass

Visit

Worcester Art Museum
The Worcester Art Museum has over 38,000 objects including mosaics, arts, and prints. There are over 3500 prints documenting the entire Japanese printmaking process, and the museum is host to the second largest collection of arms and armour. Check the schedule for a tour, lecture, or gallery talk that might be taking place on the day that you visit.

Canal District
Grab a bite to eat a bakery, cafe, or restaurant or shop in one of the local shops or maker spaces. The Canal District is an up and coming neighborhood and soon to be home of the Red Sox development league team, the WooSox. The Canal District is a great area to explore to see what Worcester has to offer.

Experience

Sports

Worcester Bravehearts
The Worcester Bravehearts is a baseball team that plays in a wood-bat summer collegiate baseball league at Fitton Field on campus at College of the Holy Cross.
Massachusetts Pirates
The Massachusetts Pirates play American football in the National Arena League. Their home field is the DCU Center.
Music + Arts
Worcester has a wide-range of options to experience live music and the arts. Check these venues for schedules during your time in Worcester.
Mechanics Hall
DCU Center
Hanover Theater

Shrewsbury Street

Worcester’s “Restaurant Row” has over 40 places to eat with a wide-ranging foods inspired from all over the world. Here are some options.
Brew City Grill & Brew House
Flying Rhino
Nuovo
Pomir Grill
Simjang
Via Italian Table
Volturno

Craft Beer

Worcester has a blossoming craft beer scene. Here are a few options to get a taste (and often a bite to eat).
Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company
Redemption Rock Brewing Co
Wormtown Brewery

Worcester – Gateway to New England

If you plan on doing some travelling before or after the event, Worcester is a great place to access all of what New England has to offer.

Greater Boston, Massachusetts

1 to 1.5 hour drive from WPI
Boston has such a large variety of things to do and see. Here a few ideas of popular attraction to help you plan a trip.
Freedom Trail
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Museum of Fine Arts
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United State Senate
Boston Public Market
Boston Public Library – Copley Square
Tsongas Industrial History Center – Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Minute Man National Historical Park – Concord, Massachusetts, USA
Plimoth Plantation – Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Cape Cod and the Islands in Massachusetts

1.5 to 2.5 hour drive from WPI depending on what part of the Cape you’re visiting.

From Sandwich to Hyannis to Chatham to Provincetown, “the Cape” has a lot of quintessential New England destinations to offer. From beaches to main streets full of small shops and restaurants, there is a wide variety of ways to enjoy your trip. The Cape is home to the Cape Cod National Seashore. You’ll also find the departure points for ferries to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard off the coast. The Cape can be very busy in the summer, so be sure to plan your travels well in advance and all for extra time in travelling to and from.

Western Massachusetts

Approx 1 hr 30 min drive from WPI depending on what city of Western Mass you’ll be visiting. Western Massachusetts also offers all kinds of options for travel. Here are some popular sights and experiences.
Hampshire County – Towns of Amherst and Northhampton
Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and Sculpture Garden in Springfield
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams
Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Lenox

Portland, Maine

2 hour drive from WPI
Portland has developed a reputation as a foodie destination with more restaurants per capita than almost any other city in the US. Bon Appetit also declared the city 2018 Restaurant City of the Year. Portland has more than just food to offer its visitors include the picturesque Maine coast.
Here are some resources and sites to help you plan a trip to Portland:
Bon Appetit Restaurant City of the Year
Cape Elizabeth Maine near Portland
Three Days in Portland, Maine, USA

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

1 hour 25 minutes drive from WPI
Portsmouth is a perfect base camp to explore the Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine. Visitors will find everything from beaches to quaint New England villages along the seacoast. You’re also just over the border from Kittery, Maine, home to a large selection of outlet shopping.

Kennebunkport
Kittery Outlets
Strawberry Banke Museum in Portsmouth
Maine Lighthouses

Newport, Rhode Island

1 hour 20 minute drive from WPI

Newport Mansions
Rail Explorers Newport
International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport
Cliff Walk in Newport
Fort Adams State Park

New London. CT Ferry to North Fork of Long Island “Wine Country”

1.5 hour drive from WPI to Ferry; 40 min to 1 hour Ferry
Just a quick ride from Worcester, visitors can catch the ferry for another quick ferry ride to the North Fork of Long Island, New York where you’ll find

Cross Sound Ferry
Long Island Lighthouse Tour
Bedell Cellars
Kontokoska Winery
The Old Field Vineyards
Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard
Sep’s Farm Stand
Greenport, New York, USA

July 4th Celebrations

If you’re travelling after the event and will still be in the area on the weekend of July 4th, expect to find more festive events taking place including traditional fireworks shows in many towns. Here are some local New England July 4th celebrations that are larger.

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
Harvard, MA at The Fruitlands Museum
Oldest 4th of July Celebration in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA
Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, USA