Sharon, Massachusetts, located 22 miles midway between Boston and Providence, has access to Boston and Providence via MBTA commuter trains, and to New York City and Washington, D.C., via Amtrak trains at nearby Route 128 station. Its population of 18,000 lives mostly in single-family houses ranging from relatively modest ranches to luxury properties.
Outdoor Activities l Shopping l Entertainment l Sports
The Town proudly holds the 2,250-acre Massachusetts Audubon Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, and has 1,260 acres of Borderland State Park within its borders, as well as the Warner, Massapoag Brook, and King Philip’s Rock nature trails. In addition, the Town has been successful in preserving an additional 1,500 acres of its area of 24 square miles as public conservation land, totaling more than 5,000 acres of protected open space in Sharon. Lake Massapoag is known for its concerts, fireworks, fishing, and good swimming on Memorial Beach.
Sharon Public Library patrons are able to find a large assortment books as well as magazines, music CDs, audio books, videotapes, e-mail, and the Internet. The Community Center, a former resort hotel that the Town acquired in 1967, has activities for all ages, such as dance, karate, yoga, language lessons, chorus, chess, theater, and community television, and a beach for swimming and fishing. The Recreation Department and citizens’ groups sponsor community events like Square Jam (music), Fourth of July and First Night (New Year’s).
Sharon was established as the 2nd Precinct of Stoughton in 1740. It was incorporated as the Town of Stoughtonham in 1765 and named Sharon in 1783. Native Americans hunted and fished in the area for hundreds of years before British settlers came in 1637. During the American Revolution, the townspeople--mostly farmers and craftsmen--made cannonballs for the Continental Army. Among the old homes surviving since those times are the houses of the patriots Job Swift and Deborah Sampson Gannett.
Beauty and diversity are the key words for Sharon, an attractive community among its neighbors Canton, Norwood, Walpole, Foxboro, Stoughton, and Easton.
Sharon Outdoor Activities
Lake Massapoag
Lake Massapoag is a 353-acre natural great pond located 1.5 miles or about 4 minutes from Hunter’s Ridge in Sharon. The Lake is considered to be one of the town's most prominent features and is a popular recreational site for swimming, boating and fishing.
Swimming at Memorial Beach is available during the summer months to the residents of Sharon and many concerts and fireworks are held at this location as well.
Boating can be accessed by a town owned boat ramp located on the north shore of the lake and is suitable for small trailer boats, canoes and kayaks. The lake also boasts a Yacht Club for sailing enthusiasts to join.
For fishing enthusiasts, the lake is stocked with Trout every spring and both early spring and summer fishing can produce many varieties of trout.
Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
Moose Hill is Mass Audubon’s oldest sanctuary and one of the largest with nearly 2,000 acres located just 2 miles or 7 minutes away from Hunter’s Ridge. The 25-mile trail system brings you through diverse habitats— explore the red maple swamp via the boardwalk, observe amphibians at a vernal pool, or watch swallows catching insects in the meadows. Each season brings another opportunity to explore nature’s wonders—enjoy a winter stroll, watch migrating warblers, or experience the beauty of the fall foliage. Our bird-feeding station and butterfly garden bring wildlife close to the nature center. Art exhibits are shown September through June, and the gift shop is open year-round.
Borderland State Park
Borderland State Park located only 3 miles or 7 minutes from Hunter’s Ridge is one of the most historically significant tracts of publicly owned land in the Commonwealth. Created in the early 1900s by artist and suffragist Blanche Ames and her botanist husband Oakes, Borderland offers many of the same pleasures that the Ames family enjoyed: walking and horseback riding on woodland trails, fishing and canoeing in the ponds, or in the winter, ice-skating and sledding.
The Ames' home, a three-storey stone mansion built in 1910, still stands. Its twenty rooms are furnished much as they were when the Ameses lived here; many of Blanche Ames' paintings grace the walls. Their illustrious histories remain in the house, which is open for scheduled tours.
Cobb’s Corner
Cobb’s Corner, also known as the Village Shoppes or the Village Mall, is only 4 minutes, or 1.6 miles, away from Hunter’s Ridge. This one stop shopping center has a great selection of stores where you can find anything from groceries at Shaw’s to clothes from Talbots to a great workout at the Canton Club gym. Designed to resemble a village square, Cobb’s Corner has both a great atmosphere and easy parking.
South Shore Plaza
South Shore Plaza is located in Braintree, MA, only 19 minutes and 13 miles from Hunter’s Ridge. Situated right off of I-93 North, it is one of the South Shore’s premiere shopping destinations. This two-story mall is home to over 180 specialty shops including Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, and Sears. After a long day of shopping, you may find yourself at one of the fine dining restaurants, including Legal Sea Foods and Joe’s American Bar and Grill.
Newbury Street
This Boston Attraction is located only 21 miles from Hunter’s Ridge, about a 30 minute drive into the city’s Back Bay district. Up until the mid 1800s, this 2 mile long stretch was all part of the Boston Harbor. Now it serves as one of the most popular shopping streets in Boston, spanning 8 blocks.
Stop in one of the historic brownstone buildings filled with your choice of independent shops, dining establishments, or high-end fashion. Newbury Street is also home to many of Boston’s top hair salons and spas.
Boston
Drive 25 miles (roughly 35 minutes), or hop on the Commuter Rail in Sharon to visit Boston. Boston can't be beat for its historic intrigue, fine hotels, family attractions, shopping, multicultural dining experiences, theater performances, concerts, festivals, public events and of course, the Boston Red Sox! Take a walk down the freedom trail, visit the new Institute of Contemporary Art, enjoy a Duck Tour or catch a game at Fenway Park. No matter what your interest is, Boston has something for you.
Gillette Stadium
The home of the New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium, is merely 14 minutes, or roughly 7 miles, from Hunter’s Ridge. Replacing Foxboro Stadium, the new Gillette Stadium holds about 70,000 fans and also serves as the home of the New England Revolution soccer team. In addition to sporting competitions, Gillette also hosts concerts featuring a variety of performers.
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is located about 50 miles from Hunter’s Ridge, roughly an hour drive. Local residents and visitors best know the Cape as a cultural gathering of history, art and landscape. Venture to Falmouth, Hyannis, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, or any other Cape Cod town to enjoy a day relaxing on a famous Cape Cod beach.
Berkshires
Two and a half hours west of Hunter’s Ridge lay the Berkshires. The Berkshires are the mountainous western region of Massachusetts known for its gorgeous scenery, spas, theater and shops. Recreational opportunities are abound including downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, fishing and golf. The Berkshires are also known for their collection of antique stores.
Golf Courses
Sharon is home to several reputable golf courses, including the Sharon Country Club and Spring Valley Country Club. The Sharon Country Club, a private 18-hole course, is located just 6 minutes, less than 2 miles away, from Hunter’s Ridge.
Sharon is also home to Spring Valley Country Club, a great private course for all abilities. Spring Valley is home to a 7,000 yard championship caliber course, built by noted golf architect Geoffrey Cornish, featuring wide panoramic fairways, strategically placed bunkering and beautifully manicured, undulating greens; a golf course as interesting as it is challenging.
Brookmeadow Country Club is a public, 18-hole course located just 7 minutes and 2 miles away in Canton. Brookmeadow boasts a course rating of 71.7 and it has a slope rating of 123 on Bent grass. The course features 6,637 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.
Swimming Centers
The nearest public swimming center is at the Park Terrace Recreation Center in Plainville, just 24 minutes or 15.5 miles from Hunter’s Ridge.
Fitness Centers
The Canton Club is located in Cobb’s Corner, 4 minutes or 1.6 miles, from Hunter’s Ridge. The Canton Club invites you to engage in a healthier more fulfilling lifestyle. Their trained staff is available to help you find the membership package that suits your fitness needs best. Whether you are a regular exerciser or have never stepped foot in a health club in your life, the Canton Club can help.
Curves for Women is located just 2 minutes, or under a mile, from Hunter’s Ridge. Curves for Women of Sharon is part of the chain of Curves for Women fitness centers across the country. Curves is available to women only, and focuses on a proven 30-minute circuit workout.
Yoga Centers
Sharon is home to Breathe Joy Yoga, a yoga studio that offers weekly classes and weekend workshops in Hatha, vinyasa flow, power, prenatal, and other yoga styles. Breathe Joy Yoga invites you to visit the light-filled, spa-inspired studio nestled in the picturesque woods. Breathe Joy is located 2.8 miles or 8 minutes from Hunter’s Ridge.
Also in the Sharon-area, located just 7 minutes, or 2.5 miles, from Hunter’s Ridge is Open Doors Yoga Studio in Canton. This studio offers a wide variety of classes for the beginner to the advanced yoga practitioner. The instructors at Open Doors Yoga are professionally trained to guide you through the step-by-step process as you begin to enjoy all of the benefits that yoga has to offer.
