Attleboro - Attleboro

Attleboro is a city of 45,000 people (2019) in Massachusetts on the border with Rhode Island. It has several museums, a major Catholic shrine, and a steampunk festival.

Understand

History

Attleboro used to be called the “Jewelry Capital of the World” because of the presence of numerous jewelry manufacturers. It was founded in 1634 under the name of Attleborough, after the English town of the same name where the founders had lived.

Cumberland (Rhode Island) and North Attleborough were part of Attleborough until the voted in a referendum in 1884 to separate. The town was renamed Attleboro in 1914.

Get in

Attleboro is about 10 miles (16 km) west of Taunton, the same distance to Providence, 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Fall River, and 39 miles (63 km) south of Boston.

By car

Interstate 95

By plane

• T.F. Green Airport in Warwick (Rhode Island) and Logan International Airport in Boston.

Get around

See

Museums

• The Attleboro Area Industrial Museum, 42 Union Street, ☏ 1 508-222-3918. Th F 10AM – 4PM. Collects and preserves historical information and artifacts related to Attleboro’s industrial times. Open to the public as a resource center, as well as a place of enjoyment. You can take a look at the several replicas of industrial workplaces. No admission charge and grouped guided tours available. 
• The Attleboro Arts Museum, 86 Park Street, ☏ 1 508-222-2644. The Attleboro Arts Museum in downtown Attleboro right across Attleboro city hall is one of the largest art galleries between Boston and Providence. It displays a wide range of visual arts along with being a home for performing arts. No admission charge.. 

Parks and outdoors

• Capron Park Zoo, 201 County Street, ☏ 1 774-203-1840. April – October: 10AM – 5PM. While not having many parks, Capron Park Zoo provides a habitat for wildlife from all around the world. They offer what they call Zoo Quest Adventures, where you receive a behind the scenes personal experience at the zoo. Walk through the Rain Forest and make your way to the home of black and white ruffed lemurs, and ending your trip by the bear den. Zoo Quest Adventure fee is $100 per person. No admission charge. 

• The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, 947 Park Street, ☏ 1 508-222-8530. April – October: 10AM – 5PM. A popular attraction, known to the locals as La Salette. It is composed of a church, monastery, and a place where you can rest and relax. It is a peaceful place that links the values of ecumenism, peace, and justice. Placed in a 10-acre ground is La Salette’s shrine, accompanied by a view of 350,000 lights spread across the 10 acres. It hosts events such as the Christmas festival of lights that runs from Thanksgiving day to January 2nd, healing service events, and recovery programs. No admission or parking fee. 
• Mass Audubon's Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary, 1417 Park Street, ☏ 1 508-223-3060. Located a short distance from downtown Attleboro, Oak Knoll features woodlands that are welcoming throughout the year. Be on the lookout for cottontail rabbits, red-winged blackbirds, yellow-rumped warblers, downy woodpeckers, and foxes. Salamanders and frogs are among the species you’ll see in the sanctuary’s vernal pool. If you’d prefer a guided tour of the sanctuary, the staff lead nature walks throughout the year. The Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary is located approximately 1 mile away and features an all accessible trail. 

Do

Activities

• The Attleboro Recreation Department, 81 Pine Street (Bartek Center), ☏ 1 774-203-1889. provides a place where individuals can participate in a wide selection of activities including boxing and volleyball. No admission charge. 
• Swimming The Recreation Department provides their services to three city-owned pools that are open to go to:
  • Fred E. Briggs Memorial Swimming Pool, 36 East Street. Daily 11AM – 6PM. 
  • Twin Village Swimming Pool, 700 South Main Street. Daily noon – 6PM. 
  • William Liddel Memorial Swimming Pool, 787 Washington Street. 
• Muhan martial arts, 25 North Main Street, ☏ 1 508-226-0707. Tae Kwon Do. Introductory courses open to Adults and children offered in spring, summer, and fall. Learn training techniques, self-defense skills and martial arts discipline. Held at Muhan facility 
• BattleGroundZ, 466 Washington Street (They have now moved.), ☏ 1 508-399-7700. Well known to the locals of Attleboro is BattleGroundZ. A place where family and friends gather to play a variety of activities such as: Paintball / Air Soft Indoor paintball and Airsoft at BattleGroundZ is a competitive team sport played on their indoor field. Has full service to paintball and airsoft store on second floor. Have to be at least 10 years old to play. Laser Tag: Throw a laser tag party or simply play a game of laser tag. They have a laser tag arena split into two rooms with a glowing cosmic surrounding. Unlimited games on Thursdays from 6-10PM. Arcade: Play games at their Money Shack Arcade and collect tickets then redeem them for prized at the redemption center. 

Events

• Jewelry City Steampunk Festival. A one-day celebration in October of steampunk with performances, costumes, and vendors (online for 2020). All events are within walking distance of the Attleboro commuter rail station on the Boston-Providence rail line. (updated Jul 2020)

Buy

Eat

Budget

• Mon Kou, 676 Washington Street, ☏ 1 508-299-8020. M-Th 11:30AM-1AM, F Sa 11:30AM-2AM. Mon Kou is a Chinese restaurant with a relaxed, spacious dining area for various occasions. They hold dinners, anniversaries, birthdays and other family functions. 
• Briggs Corner Pizzeria. 
• Tex Barry's Coney Island. 
• El Azteca. 

Mid-range

• Scorpio's. 

Splurge

• Colonel Blackinton Inn. 

Drink

Sleep

• The Colonel Blackinton Inn, 203 North Main Street, ☏ 1 508-222-6022. If you’re looking to stay in a place rather than a large hotel, a popular place in Attleboro is The Colonel Blackinton Inn. Built in the mid-19th century, The Colonel Blackinton Inn provides an elegant historic environment to settle in. The inn provides 11 guest rooms along with 4 dining rooms. Depending on the room, they include queen or king size bed, along with different options for private or shared bathrooms. On the other hand the inn also offers a tavern, sunny garden terrace, and The Carriage House. If you’re looking to get away or host an event like a private party or meeting, The Carriage House holds up to 55 people. As for the sunny garden, there you’ll find live music during the summer, and dining. 

Go next

Routes through Attleboro

Boston ← Mansfield ←	N  S	→ Pawtucket → Providence
END ←	N  S	→ North Attleborough → Warwick
Boston ← North Attleborough ←	N  S	→ Pawtucket → Providence
END ←	N  S	→ Pawtucket → Providence
Lincoln ← Cumberland ←	W  E	→ Norton → Brockton
Canton ← Mansfield ←	N  S	→ Providence → North Kingstown