June 20th 2026: Hiking in Southborough and Westborough

 Today, we started out with a hike at Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough, where the path we took to get to the viewpoint is shown below in pink.

Pretty nice views of the farm area.

Next, we headed to Bigelow Wildlife Refuge nearby, where the path we took from 42 Bigelow Road is shown below in pink. 

Short walk to the viewing platform here, and decent views of the wetlands here.

Our final hike for the day was at Indian Pond in Westborough, where the path we took to get to the pond is shown below in pink.

Really overgrown here though, and no real views of the pond either. 

Disappointing end to an otherwise good day of hiking in Southborough and Westborough, although the Hazelnut S'mores smoothie we got from Fresh Monkee in Westborough did make it better a little.

Recommended Places to Visit: Southborough

Recreation

Museums

Southborough History and Arts Center

42 Central Street

Parks

Fayville Park
Central Street and Winter Street

Hiking
Recommended:
Crystal Pond
~9 Crystal Pond Road

Breakneck Hill Conservation Area
~74 Breakneck Hill Road

Beals Preserve
End of Red Gate Lane

Bay Circuit Trail

Clemmon Street and Nichols Street

Bigelow Wildlife Refuge

42 Bigelow Road

Chestnut Hill Farm

5 Chestnut Hill Road

Tried:
Turenne Wildlife Habitat
11 Walnut Drive

Water Bodies

Sudbury Reservoir
Maple Street and Framingham Road

Architecture

Monuments

Town Common
Common Street and Main Street

Town Facilities
Police Department
19 Main Street

Southborough Library

25 Main Street

Schools
St. Mark's School
25 Marlboro Road


Historical Buildings
Old Firehouse Plaza
5 Main Street


Places of Worship

St. Mark's Episcopal Church
27 Main Street

First Community Church of Southborough
137 Southville Road

St. Matthews Church
105 Southville Road

Pilgrim Congregational Church
15 Common Street

St. Anne Church
20 Boston Road

Restaurants

Tried:
Dessert
Cold Stone Creamery (chain)
154 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry Ice Cream

Diner
Mauro's Village Cafe (chain)
2 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes

Deli
The Vin Bin (chain)
154 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Pulled Pork Sandwich

Subway (chain)
21 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Rotisserie Style Chicken

Nan's Rustic Market and Kitchen (chain)

359 Turnpike Road

Recommended Dishes:

Chai Cider and Fig

Hot Honey Chicken Sammie

Italian

Tomasso Trattoria
154 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Tanglinieri Pasta with Beef Ragu
Meatballs

Southborough House of Pizza
5 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Five Alarm Fire!
Hawaiian
Meat Special


Latin American
Hola! Restaurante and Tequila Bar
154 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Guacamole
Tacos de Asada
Chiles en Nogada

Western
Owen O'Leary's
50 Turnpike Road
Recommended Dishes:
Baked Stuffed Shrimp
Pot Roast
PU PU 4 U

March 8th 2026: Historical Museums in Boxborough and Southborough

 Today, we checked out the Boxborough Historical Museum in Boxborough

and the Southborough History and Arts Center in Southborough.

Small town history museums, although Southborough was better. With that, we decided to get lunch at Nan Xiang Express in Shrewsbury, this time getting the Beef Tripe in Spicy Sauce (cold)

the Chive Shrimp and Pork Dumplings,

the Crispy Pork Chop Rice Bowl

the Crab Meat and Pork Soup Dumplings

and the Durian Puffs.

Other than the bones in the pork chops, everything was delicious as always, with fresh durian in the puffs. Probably coming back a third time soon.

Dessert was at MOTW Coffee and Pastries, getting the Honeycomb Bread,

 

which was interesting, but I didn't like the cheese aspect of it. Overall, glad we got to check off two more small-town museums off the list.

April 16th 2024: Second Time at Peppers Indian Cuisine, Northborough

 After checking out the popular Fayville Park in Southborough, 

we decided to have dinner at Peppers Indian Cuisine in Northborough, this time getting the Mutton Pepper Fry (goat served dry with green chilies, curry leaves and special spices).

Not bad in terms of flavor, but really spicy.

March 31st 2023: Cafe Belo, Framingham

 Today, after checking out the Southborough Library in Southborough, 

and ice skating at the Navin Arena in Marlborough,

we decided to check out Cafe Belo, a new restaurant that has taken the place of Angry Ham's, which I visited once a long time ago. Much nicer decor now I must say.

We got our plates by weight, getting a little of each of the Batata Frita (French Fries), Banana Frita (Fried Plantain Bananas), Coracao de Frango (Grilled Chicken Hearts), Salada de Repolho (Cabbage Salad), Torresmo (Fried Pork Belly Strips), Mandioca Frita (Fried Yucca),

the Cheese Bread, Bolinho de Bacalhau (Cod Fish Cakes), Picanha

and the Strawberry Cake.

The food was cold in general, the cake was stale, the fries generally soggy. Only the plantains, chicken hearts, yucca fries and chicken hearts were somewhat decent. Absolutely not coming back again.

We ended the day with dessert from Black Rose Bakery in Westborough,

this time getting Mini Red Velvet Cupcake, Raspberry Chocolate Cupcake, Mini Italian Rum Cake, and the Mini Tiramisu.

At least a decent end to the day after a terrible meal in Framingham.