Waltham, MA Road Trips

One of the oldest of American cities, Waltham was first settled by British settlers in 1634 and was incorporated in 1738. In 1813, the Boston Manufacturing Company was formed in Waltham by Francis Cabot Lowell. It was the first modern factory in the United States and history books have credited this as the beginning of America's industrial revolution. In 1854, the Waltham Watch Company was established by Aaron Dennison. The company went on to make the first watches with interchangeable parts and the first 100% American-made watch, designing advanced machinery that spread to other industries and led to America's industrial power. Waltham is also noted as the home of such famous persons as Governor Christopher Gore and General Nathaniel Banks.

1 Charles River Museum Of Industry & Innovation, 154 Moody St, ☏ +1 781 893-5410, [email protected]. Th-Sa 10AM-5PM (closed due to Covid and renovation until spring 2022. Check website for outdoor events). Exhibits on textile mills, American Waltham Watch Company and a power plant. (updated May 2021) 2 Waltham Museum, 25 Lexington Street, ☏ +1 781-893-8017, +1 781-893-9020. Tu-Sa 1PM-4:30PM. An extensive collection of memorabilia including watches, clocks, automobiles and other industrial products made in Waltham. Fee. 3 Bentley College Bowles Performing Art Series, 175 Forest Street, ☏ +1 781 891-3424. M-F 10AM-6PM (art gallery). Theatre, music, dance, and lectures. 4 Rose Art Museum of Brandeis University, 415 South Street, ☏ +1 781 736-3432. $10. (updated Jan 2021) 5 National Archives and Records Administration, New England Region, 380 Trapelo Road, ☏ +1 781-663-0130. M-W F 7AM-4:30PM, Th 7AM-9PM. New England historical records including census, naturalization, passenger arrival lists for Boston, military service, pension, and bounty land application records from 1789 to 1970s. Primarily of interest to family history researchers. Free. 6 Girl Scout Museum At Cedar Hill, 265 Beaver Street, ☏ +1 781-893-6113. By appointment. Exhibits and archives of Girl Scouting. Free. 7 Gore Place, 52 Gore St, ☏ +1 781 894 2798. Indoor tours: M WF 10AM, 11AM, noon, 1PM, 2PM; Sa 10:30AM, 12:30PM. Outdoor tours: Sa 11:30AM, 1:30PM. Historic mansion built in 1806, and now operated as a museum. $16. (updated Jun 2021)

1 Concerts On The Waltham Common, ☏ +1 781 893-2787. Tuesday evenings at 7:30PM. Summer only. Evening concerts on the Waltham Common. Free. 2 Boston Rock, Prospect Hill. Daily 10AM-7PM. This is good place to take a quick little car ride, and have lunch at the top. There are picnic tables and grills scattered around the viewing area. The view of the Boston skyline is beautiful. It is also a good work out, if you want to run up the road up instead of driving. 3 Veterans Memorial Rink, 295 Totten Pond Road, ☏ +1 781 314-3474. Public skating hours: Su 2PM-3:50PM, Tu 10AM-11:50AM, W 10AM-11:50AM, Th 10AM-11:50AM, F 7PM-8:50PM, Sa 2PM-3:50PM. The ice rink is a fun place to go and mess around for a couple hours. You can get pick-up games going, or skate around for fun. They do not rent skates. But if you have your own gear it's not expensive and usually not very busy. $2, $1 reduced. 4 Landmark Embassy Theater, 16 Pine Street, ☏ +1 617 499-1995. Sx screens. They usually have a good mix of popular new releases and independent films. Also, they run different daily specials and discounts which is a good way to catch a cheaper movie.

Most of the good restaurants in Waltham are along Moody Street. This includes Thai, Chinese, Indian, and American diner fare. Start at one end and walk the length before deciding on one spot. 1 99 restaurant, 110 South Street, ☏ +1 781-893-4999. The 99 is a good family restaurant, with American style food. The price is reasonable and is a good, quick little dinner option. 2 Waltham India Market food court, 315 Moody Street (in basement of supermarket). Check out the curries. 3 Pizzi Farm, 549 Lincoln Street, ☏ +1 781 891-1032. Deli and market, great place for sandwiches, soup and ice cream. 4 The Prime Deli & Cafe, 580 South St, ☏ +1 781 622 9144. M-F 7AM-10PM, Sa 8AM-10PM, Su Closed. Simple, casual deli, open late. (updated Jun 2021) 5 Little India Restaurant, 475 Moody St, ☏ +1 781 894-8755. This restaurant is one of many Indian places along Moody St. Little India is probably the smallest tucked into a small front, although they have a second dining room in the back. They have a well spiced menu. Try the Saag Paneer. 6 Naked Fish, 455 Totten Pond Road #1, ☏ +1 781 684-0500. Naked Fish is a nice place to eat, and is with in 5 minute walking distance of the Doubletree and Hilton Hotels. It is primarily a seafood restaurant with a very good selection. They do also have a children's menu and it is an upper scale family dinner spot. It is middle-priced and good quality food. They do serve alcoholic cocktails with a tropic flair; the Mui-Tui is delicious. 7 Charcoal Guido's, 482 Moody St, ☏ +1 781 373-2733.

1 The Skellig, 240 Moody Street, ☏ +1 781 647-0679. 2 Mighty Squirrel Brewing Company, 411 Waverley Oaks Road, ☏ +1 781-839-9242, [email protected]. (updated May 2021)

1 Embassy Suites by Hilton Boston Waltham, 550 Winter Street, toll-free: +1-800-HILTON (445866). (updated Jun 2021) 2 Holiday Inn Express, 385 Winter Street (at exit 27 off of I-95 (Rte 128)), ☏ +1 781-890-2800, toll-free: +1-800-824-2538, fax: +1 781-890-1021. Get free Wi-Fi (bring your own computer and wireless card -- they don't have any loaners). Make sure to book a room on the first floor of the main building to get access from your room as there is only one access point in the main lobby. Room charge was $89/night plus tax. Includes a well-stocked complimentary breakfast with fruits, cereal, bagels, and cinnamon buns. A quick ten minute drive to downtown Waltham. 3 Hyatt House Boston/Waltham (former Hyatt Summerfield Suites), 54 Fourth Avenue, ☏ +1 781 290-0026. In the heart of the Route 128 corridor. 4 Hilton Garden Inn Boston/Waltham, 420 Totten Pond Road, ☏ +1 781 890-0100. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. 148 guest rooms, café, lobby lounge, an indoor heated pool and exercise room. 5 The Westin Waltham Boston, 70 Third Avenue, ☏ +1 781-290-5600. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. 15 miles from downtown Boston and provides access to nearby corporate headquarters. This hotel has 346 guestrooms. Gym.

1 Logan International Airport, East Boston. Logan is the closest airport to Waltham; it is about 20 minutes east. Logan Airport has flights from all around the United States and at least 28 other countries. From Logan Airport, you can take the T to North Station, and then take the commuter rail (Fitchburg line) to Waltham. Or you can take a taxi the entire way. (updated Jun 2021) There are several commuter rail trains from Boston daily. From North Station in Boston, take the MBTA Commuter Rail on the Fitchburg line to either 2 Waltham Station or 3 Brandeis/Roberts Station. The trains are a good way to get into Boston, especially on the day of a sports game, because they go directly to the Boston Garden. They are moderately priced. Although there are no T stations in Waltham, 4 Riverside Station is fairly close to Waltham. Riverside is the last station on the Green Line's D branch. From Riverside, take a short, 3-mi (5-km) taxi ride to Waltham. Local MBTA buses 70 and 70A run from Central Square in Cambridge to Waltham. Several MBTA Express Buses (553, 554, 556, 558, 505) also serve Waltham. They originate several blocks from South Station in Boston and go to Waltham on weekdays only. Buses are usually reliable and inexpensive, but tend to get crowded around rush hour as well (4:30PM to 6:30PM). Waltham is accessible via Interstate 95, also called Route 128, which connects to the Mass Pike (I-90). This is important if you are flying in or out of Logan Airport because you are going to take I-90 West to get into Waltham and vice versa to get back into Boston.

Driving around Waltham is not difficult and you can be just about anywhere in the city in 15 to 20 minutes. There are three main streets to Waltham: Main Street, Moody Street, and Lexington Street. During rush hour(4:30 to 6:30PM) you will hit some traffic that may slow down your commute 10 to 15 minutes. Main Street is probably the worst during that time, and Moody Street can also be busy on a Friday or Saturday night. Parking is accessible with several public parking lots in high traffic areas, as well as on street parking. Local city buses are a dependable way to get around the city. They are cheap and usually reliable, but can get crowded and stuffy at times. The best place to catch the bus from is on the Common, the bus stop is across the street from the train stop, with buses leaving fairly frequently to go throughout the city and surrounding towns, as well as to downtown Boston.