GAME ON!
An Unbeatable Summer Road
Seven FIFA World Cup 26™ matches are coming to Foxboro, MA, and nearby MetroWest Boston is ready to celebrate! Escape on a summer road trip, and you too can be part of the fun.
JUNE 11-13
DAY 1 Just an hour from Providence, kick things off in Marlborough, home to one of the MetroWest Regional Fan Zones showing four matches on a jumbotron during the opening weekend of World Cup. Don’ t have tickets to see Haiti play Scotland on June 13? Watch it in the Fan Zone instead! This free festival features a beer garden, food trucks, arts & crafts and other vendors, soccerthemed activities, and more. Celebrate with fellow fans, then explore the rest of what Marlborough has to offer, including their Cultural District, where shops offer locallymade goods. Walk their floating boardwalk, explore Ward Park, or head to the Apex complex for an indoor amusement park, paint bar, axe throwing, or trampoline park. Stay overnight at one of MetroWest’ s many hotels, including the Best Western Royal Plaza, Courtyard by Marriott or Hyatt Place in Marlborough.
DAY 2 Discover the beauty of New England’ s native plants at the enchanting Garden in the Woods. Wander along woodland trails with a babbling brook, lily pond, family activity area, and multiple gardens that make up this 45-acre hidden gem. Then head to Natick for either a little retail therapy at the Natick Mall and some family fun at Bosse Pickledom, Dave & Buster’ s, Immersive Gamebox or Puttshack, or explore Natick’ s charming Cultural District with boutiques full of artisan-made goods, a ton of public art, and TCAN, a fantastic theater in a restored fire station. Have a farm-totable dinner at Buttercup or a flight and a traditional German Schnitzel at Jack’ s Abby Craft Lagers while you plan the rest of your weekend’ s explorations.
JUNE 25-26
DAY 1 Catch the much-anticipated Norway vs France World Cup match in Franklin’ s Fan Zone surrounded by their own free festival with a beer garden, food trucks, a wide variety of vendors, farmer’ s market, and interactive activities, from inflatables to photobooths. When you’ re all played out, wander through the nearby Cultural District( look for all the painted ladybugs!), then have dinner at either GlenPharmer Distillery where you can sample their award-winning spirits while dining on their charming covered bridge, or visit La Cantina Winery’ s tasting room for sensational wine and terrific gourmet flatbreads. Check in to the Residence Inn Franklin or Doubletree Milford for a super comfy night to give you energy for the next day’ s adventures.
DAY 2 Start the day at Southwick’ s Zoo getting up close and personal through Keeper Talks or Animal Encounters with some of the 900 animals that call the largest zoo in New England home. Let the little ones take a turn on the carousel or ride the train through the North American Wetlands for a view of the elk and trumpeter swans. Experience the thrill of the Soaring Eagle Zip Line or Skyfari Sky Ride then enjoy a Cape Cod Reuben at Galliford’ s, the Zoo’ s sit-down restaurant. In the afternoon, take in a round of disc golf at Louisa Lake in Milford, or rent a paddleboard or kayak on-site to explore Hopkinton State Park’ s natural beauty. On your way back to Rhode Island, try your luck at the slot machines at Plainridge Park Casino, or cheer on your favorite horse at their live harness racetrack.
Discover even more attractions, dining, and places to stay in the region’ s free visitors guide at www. metrowestvisitors. org / guide.
For World Cup Fan Zone information, visit www. metrowestvisitors. org / world-cup.