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SARATOGA FAMILY | FALL 2020
day trippin' with Just2FeetandaCamera.com
Enjoy a Weekend Stay in Worcester
“And just like that, we are on our way to everywhere.” ~ Emery Lord
“The Heart of the Commonwealth.” WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN
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ne of the country’s most vibrant and livable cities, Worcester, Massachusetts, has a population of a little more than 182,000 residents. The city is the second largest in New England and centrally located – just under an hour from Boston, Providence, and Hartford - and only 2.5 hours from Saratoga Springs. An easy-peasy ride down I-87 south and I-90 east – and let me tell you – it’s worth the drive! Travel is beginning to open again, and people are hitting the road, taking day trips and weekend get-aways. I visited Worcester, Mass, in early February before the world changed due to COVID-19. I was delighted with what I found; a very walkable city, with lots to see and do. If I couldn’t walk to one of the attractions, it was only a short drive away. I’ve included links below and strongly advise you to check with each to see what the new guidelines are during all reopening phases in the city. I decided to stay at the Marriott AC Hotel in the downtown area. I love everything about Marriott, and this was a new, upscale place – six-stories, 170 luxurious rooms, with a convenient parking garage on Front Street. The staff was super friendly, asking what I was in town for, and if I needed any help while there. I hadn’t been to Worcester since I was a kid, so they spent some time talking with me, letting me know that the city was revitalizing, that residents were happy to celebrate the city’s rich history and culture with visitors from all over the world. I love street art and look for it wherever I travel. Because Worcester is so walkable, I was able to stop, admire, and photograph many artist’s works throughout the area. I even got a map from Pow! Wow! Worcester. The route led me up and down city blocks to find some of the 130-plus pieces of public art – the most extensive collection of murals in all New England. I need to plan another trip so I can see more fantastic talent in and around the city streets. If you enjoy food from different cultures, the Worcester food scene is perfect. I chose a few cool places to try out, and you might enjoy them as well. Altea’s Eatery, named after the oldest daughter of owners Oriola Koci and Chef Enton Mehillaj, is their second restaurant in the city. “We spent a good deal of time, trying to figure out what Worcester was missing, and an eatery that served brunch seven days a week seemed to be the answer,” Oriola tells me while we sit together and share a cup of coffee. “We opened Livia’s Dish – named after our youngest child, in 2013. It was such a success – we decided to open a second restaurant in 2016.”
