Huh? No iPhones? Old Sturbridge Village transports kids to the 1830s

Unhand your smartphones, computers, iPads and tablets! Just a few hours from NYC is the perfect opportunity to unplug with your whole crew, which might be just what you need this summer. Old Sturbridge Village, New England’s largest living history museum, comes complete with period actors, restored buildings from the early 1800s, working farms (veggie and livestock) and plenty more to enchant your city-slicker kids.  

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A post shared by Old Sturbridge Village (@oldsturbridgevillage) on Jul 4, 2017 at 7:53am PDT

The tech-free, stroller-accessible experience offers an entire village to explore (as the name implies), and kids can romp through root cellars, hay barns filled with chickens and period homes with actors who will puzzle over the mention of television and telephones. In order to get the full experience, you’ll want to check the day’s schedule on the website, which lists off things like log-cutting with huge saws at the fully-functioning riverside sawmill, or visit the forge to see tools and horseshoes being made. You’ll also find things like wool-spinning or dyeing, shoemaking and woodwork demos.

Why a field trip to Old Sturbridge Village? Among the many reasons is the fact that while Old Sturbridge Village depicts daily life in 1830s rural New England, it is also a great jumping off point to explore the era’s recent colonial past and see the beginning of the industrial revolution in action. Understanding the way people lived in the past also helps build empathy and understanding among students. Book your spring field trip to Old Sturbridge Village today athttp://www.exploreoldsturbridgevillage.org/ #FieldTrip #oldsturbridgevillage #livinghistory #museum #sturbridge #massachusetts #newengland #explore #makehistory #makeconnections #education #museumeducation #historymuseum #history #dayaway #daytrip #visitcentralma #visitma #visitnewengland #igmass #igmassachusetts #ignewengland #kidstagram #youthgroups #schoolgroups #school #homeschoolgroup #fieldtrips #historyisawesome

A post shared by Old Sturbridge Village (@oldsturbridgevillage) on May 2, 2017 at 12:28pm PDT

To top off your day, visit the onsite general store for period-specific hard candy (think stick candy), or buy tokens at the store to be used on a carriage ride around the premises.

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A post shared by Old Sturbridge Village (@oldsturbridgevillage) on Jun 29, 2017 at 9:43am PDT

Old Sturbridge Village is located at 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA (800-733-1830, osv.org). *Bonus: In July, kids 4–17 (up to three kids per paying adult) go free, plus military and kids ages 3 and under are free all day every day! For more opportunities to get out of town, visit our roundups of the best summer weekend getaways from NYC, even more family weekend getaways and our top Poconos family resorts.