Southbridge Voyage Tips and guide

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Southbridge is a town in southern Central Massachusetts, about 60 miles from Boston. Southbridge is a close-knit community with a downtown area of friendly small businesses. The area was initially inhabited by the Nipmuck and Mohegan tribes, with the Quinebaug River dividing their territories. In 1730, it was settled by Europeans. Water power from the Quinebaug River made Southbridge a good location for sawmills and gristmills in the 18th century, and textile mills in the 19th century. After the Civil War, many immigrants of Irish and French Canadian descent came to work and live there; by the 1930s they had been joined by Poles, Greeks, Italians and others.

Southbridge is located near the intersection of the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and I-84. I-84 provides access from Connecticut and points southwest while the Massachusetts Turnpike provides access from both the west and east. Travelers coming from Connecticut will use exit 3 from I-84 and take Mashapaug Rd into Southbridge. Travelers using the Massachusetts Turnpike from either direction will use exit 78 and take I-84 briefly to exit 6A for U.S. Route 20 West, then turn left at the light for Route 131 which will take you to Southbridge.

The nearest commercial airport is Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, about 30 minutes away from Southbridge. It has daily service to JFK International Airport in New York as well as occasional flights to destinations in Florida. Bradley International Airport in Connecticut is about 50 minutes away and has flights to many more cities.

The principal road in Southbridge is Route 131, known as Main Street through downtown and East Main Street past the "AO Rotary" and through Sandersdale, a village on the town's east side. North-south roads include Eastford Road and Elm Street (Route 198), and Worcester Street-Mechanic Street-North Woodstock Road (Route 169). Southbridge was formed out of portions of three of its neighboring towns: Sturbridge to the west, Charlton to the north, and Dudley to the east. The other neighboring towns are Woodstock, Connecticut, and Eastford, Connecticut to the south.

• The Notre Dame Church, Main Street. Worthy of being called a cathedral. What used to be a large wooden church on Pine Street in 1870, became church built of white marble bricks, originally intended as tombstones for the Spanish-American war. It was designed by Roman artist Gonippo Raggi and architect Joseph Venne of Montreal. 

• Gateway Players, 111 Main Street, ☏ +1 507-764-4531. Gateway Players is an all volunteer, non-profit, educational community theater organization that brings theater performances and workshops to Southbridge and surrounding communities. Gateway Players is located in a refinished barn behind the Arts Center on 111 Main Street. 
• Ruth Wells Center for the Arts, 111 Main Street, ☏ +1 508 764-3341. Ruth Wells Center for the Arts and Humanities is located in a stately old mansion in the heart of Southbridge. Gallery exhibits, lectures, workshops, classes, art classes, puppet shows, fashion, music and vibrant seasonal and annual events are offered to the public and the center hosts the Gateway Players Theater. 

Southbridge has limited retail options beyond local services. However, it is one of the communities that has embraced legalized cannabis in Massachusetts and there are a couple of dispensaries open to the public in town.

Green Meadows Cannabis Dispensary, 64 Mill St, ☏ +1 508 909-5880. (updated Aug 2022)

Cady Brook Cannabis, 208 Worcester St, ☏ +1 774 318-1105. (updated Aug 2022)

• Central Pizza, 55 Central Street, ☏ +1 508-765-5545. A clean, air-conditioned, open-dining pizzeria. A full menu that includes pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and baklava. Sells wine and beer. Delivers from 11am - 2:00pm & 4:00pm, and a half hour before closing. 
• Metro Bistrot, 176 Main St, ☏ +1 508 764-2073. (updated May 2015)

• Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center, 14 Mechanic Street, ☏ +1 508-765-8000. Opened in 2002, this hotel is expanded from the beautiful 100 year old American Optical Company which has been preserved as a focal point of Southbridge. Contains a state of the art Focus Fitness Center, Shades Lounge, Crystal Ballroom, and Prism Auditorium. All named after the historical optical company. A lovely hotel that blends the old with the new. 

• Experience early 19th century New England at Old Sturbridge Village
• Drink an award winning IPA at Tree House Brewery in Charlton
• Take in a WooSox game at Polar Park in Worcester