In spring 2019, we decided our growing family was quickly outgrowing our adorable but small starter home. After months of research, attending open houses, and stalking town Facebook pages, we decided to make the move to the rural town of Groton, Massachusetts.
Located in northern Massachusetts near the New Hampshire border, Groton is a wonderful community of about 11,000 residents. With a cute downtown, barns around every corner, great schools, and a rich history, we are so happy with our decision.
FOOD
For such an out-of-the-way town, Groton has a surprisingly large selection of great dining options, ranging from trendy and upscale to comfortable and casual.
Upscale
Gibbet Hill – People all over New England know of The Barn at Gibbet Hill as a stunning wedding venue. But right next to the Barn is Gibbet Hill Grill, a gorgeous, full-service restaurant. Located on a working farm, the talented chefs utilize ingredients grown right on their own property as well as other local farms. Perfectly cooked steaks are one of their most popular items, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the fresh and enticing menu. With a classy, rustic vibe and sweeping views of the farm, you’ll want to head to Gibbett Hill Grill for every occasion.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a tent has been set up outside the Grill for dining (reservations required) and takeout is available. Since most events have been put on hold, the Barn has opened its large back deck and lawn to diners for a limited menu in a pop-up style restaurant called GBQ.
Station House – Scheduled to reopen in October 2020 due to COVID precautions, the Station House is a beautiful fine dining experience with elegant dining inside and an intimate patio for outdoor dining. The menu is filled with delicious modern American dishes, and make sure you don’t miss out on the creative craft cocktails created by skilled mixologists behind the bar. Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned – yum.
Forge & Vine – Located directly behind the iconic Groton Inn in downtown Groton, Forge & Vine is the the definition of farmhouse chic. Opening in 2018, you’ll find an open kitchen, huge wood fired grill, large wooden bar, and floor to ceiling windows overlooking Gibbet Hill’s farm. Enjoy modern takes on classic dishes such as the 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken with Peaches, Cippolini Onions, and Polenta or the Zucchini Blackout Cake with Salted Caramel. The food plating is always unique and beautiful, so don’t be surprised if your appetizer comes out on a block of wood or your entree in a well-worn cast iron skillet.
Casual
Salt & Light – I’ve never been to a place quite like Salt & Light. The building is half cafe and half boutique shop. You can grab a fair-trade organic coffee and relax in one of many plush chairs, or enjoy a fresh and trendy meal such as the Pork, Guac and Jamaican BBQ Sauce Burrito or the Bread Pudding French Toast. The boutique shopping is beautiful but expensive.
Filho’s Cucina – A small local joint with yummy Italian comfort food. The best part? It’s BYOB – and there’s a market and liquor store attached to the restaurant. So grab a bottle of wine, settle in at a cozy table, and enjoy!
Groton Publick House – Located at the Groton Country Club, this is a relaxed, family-friendly spot overlooking the town golf course. The menu is typical bar food, and the back patio is a great spot to enjoy a meal and drinks. We love the full sheet pan nachos with pulled pork. It’s enormous and can easily be an entree for two.
Johnson’s Restaurant & Dairy Bar – When we drove into Groton for the first time and passed Johnson’s, we knew immediately that we would be regulars there. With a big ice cream cone at the parking lot entrance, picnic tables and cornhole in the lawn, and a sign proclaiming it BYOB, we thought “what else could we need??”. The food is tasty and available to order from the outside window or you can go inside and grab a table with service. They open early (6am) for breakfast and stay open through lunch and dinner, closing at 8pm.
More in town:
Main House
Ixtapa
Blackbird Cafe
Groton House of Pizza
Bruno’s Pizza (menu only)
Also – Groton has 3 Dunkin’ Donuts. Enough said 🙂
TOWN EVENTS & COMMUNITY
Farmer’s Market – Every Friday in the summer is the Groton Farmer’s Market behind the historic Williams Barn. With live music, delicious fresh produce, a variety of local vendors, and plenty of space for kids to run around, it’s the perfect way to kick off your weekend.
Halloween – I’ve always loved Halloween, but especially now that I have kids. Unfortunately, we live in a small neighborhood full of shared driveways, so there’s no trick-or-treating on our block. I think this is the case for a lot of families in Groton, so the town has arranged blocking off a few roads downtown to cars so kids can safely go from house to house and enjoy the fun. There are several places in town that accept candy donations to pass along to these neighborhoods to keep the tradition going.
There are two big town festivals – 4th of July and Grotonfest. On the 4th, families gather at the ball fields downtown for music, food, entertainment, and a fantastic fireworks display. Grotonfest, held every fall, hosts dozens of vendors representing all the shops, restaurants and services in town. Local dance companies perform on stage, police and firemen open up their vehicles for kids to explore, and artists display and sell their work.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Nashoba Paddler – Located on the Nashua River, Nashoba Paddler offers canoe, kayak, and stand up paddle board rentals from May through October. The staff is super friendly, the boats are clean, and the river is a beautiful ride through the woods. We were provided everything we needed including lifejackets, sized paddles, and even comfy pads for our girls to sit on. Fishing is popular on the river, as well as floating on tubes.
Groton Trails Network – Throughout Groton, there are over 100 miles of beautifully maintained and well labeled trails to explore. The Groton Trails Network has it all, including kid friendly hikes, river walks, bike paths and places to swim. There’s even an app to keep track of where you’ve been and where to travel next.
Bancroft’s Castle – Located at the top of the hill above Gibbet Hill is a turn-of-the-century castle with stunning views of the town below. Bancroft’s Castle is a easy little hike with lots of open space, beautiful sights, and of course an impressive castle filled with history. For more information, click here.
We adore our new hometown and if you have any questions, please reach out – I’m more than happy to help! Visited Groton before? What did you love? Comment below to share!