Mansfield
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Mansfield is a city of 24,000 people (2020) in Massachusetts. Mansfield is the home of the Xfinity Center concert venue, one of the most popular in New England. It is also the birthplace of Honey Dew Donuts, a regional New England chain of donut shops.
Easton is a town with a population of 25,000 (2020). Home to Stonehill College, The Rockery, and historically provided shovels which laid the Union Pacific Railroad.
Norton is a town with a population of 19,000 (2020). Home to Wheaton College and the Tournament Players Club of Boston, part of the PGA Tour's Deutsche Bank Championship.
Understand
[edit]Mansfield is in Bristol County, and was named in honor of William Murray, Earl of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The town was founded by Captain Miles Standish, followed by John Brown and others, on June 19th, 1640.
Get in
[edit]
By car
[edit]Interstate 495 cuts Mansfield roughly in half, and I-95 runs through the northwest corner of the town. Linking up with the town center, you may find the north-south MA-140 and east-west MA-106 of interest. Easton is crossed by Route 106 and MA-123, in which Route 123 intersects with Route 106 near the town's geographic center. Norton is bisected by Route 140 and Route 123.
By plane
[edit]- 1 Mansfield Municipal Airport, 265 Fruit St, ☏ +1 508-851-6464. Tiny Mansfield airport is about five minutes from the center of town. It's designed for very small planes, and is often used for blimps and hot air balloons.
By train
[edit]- 2 Mansfield Station, 1 Crocker St. Mansfield Station is in the center of town. Accessible boarding for certain train cars. 806 parking spaces. MBTA zone 6. $10.50 to Boston; parking: M-F $4, Sa-Su Free.
Get around
[edit]A car is the best way to get around Mansfield. GATRA Route 18 offers 2-3 stops in Norton, but you're unlikely to find it helpful.
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 8 Cottage St, ☏ +1 508-339-1760. M-F 8AM-5PM.
See
[edit]- Mansfield Common, 1 South Main St. 24 hours daily. A place where you can sit down on benches and take in the scenery around town hall and the downtown area. There's a few trees and a gazebo. Old town cemetery is also scenic and just across the street. Free.
- Rumford Ave Park (Fulton Pond), 45 Rumford Ave. 24 hours daily. A few parking spots are available at this tiny, but scenic and well maintained water feature. Free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Xfinity Center, 885 South Main St, ☏ +1 508-339-2331. Large open-air regional facility that pulls top-shelf celebrity concerts.
Buy
[edit]The historic town center provides a bit more local flavor, and offers a few shops to browse while waiting for your train.
- Grogan Marciano Sporting Goods, 363 North Main St, ☏ +1 508-339-2945. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-3PM. Grogan's is a one of a kind general sporting goods store. The twist here, is that it's owned by Patriots football legend Steve Grogan, who stops in occasionally and is always very friendly. He's more than happy to sign any kind of sports merchandise you like.
- Mansfield Crossing, 280 School St, ☏ +1 617-232-8900. 10AM-9PM daily. The most popular shopping mall in the town, is just off of Route 495. You'll find stores such as Kohls, Best Buy, Five Below, Sports Authority, L.L. Bean, and American Eagle to name a few. The complex is built around a pond which you can see as you stroll around from store to store.
Eat
[edit]Budget
[edit]- Flint Farm, 789 East St, ☏ +1 508-337-6473. Spring-Halloween noon-8PM. The best ice cream place in all of Mansfield. It's a giant farm, owned by the Flints of course, since 1868. They also offer fall activities; like a corn maze, hayrides, and a pumpkin patch.
- Cafe on the Common, 12 South Main St, ☏ +1 508-339-9130. 7AM-2PM daily. A delicious and locally famous breakfast place.
- Mansfield Deli, 72 Pratt St, ☏ +1 508-339-2994. M-F 6AM-7PM, Sa Su 7AM-3PM. This local gem is host to numerous uniquely named sandwiches such as the "Bumblebee", the Deli is the best sandwich place in town hands down.
- Stefano's Pizza, 30 Chauncy St, ☏ +1 508-339-6111. M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Most well known pizza place in town.
Mid-range
[edit]- Jimmy's Pub & Restaurant, 141 North Main St, ☏ +1 508-339-7755. Tu-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-8PM.
- Mcguire's Bar and Grille, 503 Foundry St (Easton), ☏ +1 508-230-8888. 11AM-1AM. Easton Massachusetts' oldest independently owned and continually operated restaurant and bar. They offer great food and drink, at a reasonable price in a comfortable atmosphere. Daily specials can range anywhere from yankee potroast to baked stuffed shrimp. This establishment is also phantom gourmet approved. $10-30.
- Cheng-Du, 249 N Main St, ☏ +1 508-339-5946. Noon-10PM daily. Phantom Gourmet approved.
- Flynn's Irish Pub, 219 North Main St, ☏ +1 508-337-2100. Tu-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-11PM.
Splurge
[edit]- The Chateau Restaurant, 48 Bay Road (Norton), ☏ +1 508 286-4050. On Lake Winnecunnet, Formerly Ann's Place, it was bought by the Norcera family in 2005 and fully renovated. It is a very upscale place, with a great waterfront view. Priced moderate-expensive.
Drink
[edit]- Catman Cafe, 16 Old Colony Rd, ☏ +1 508-339-0038. A very small sports bar.
Sleep
[edit]In all honesty, Mansfield is not one of the best places for hotels.
- Red Roof Plus+ Mansfield/Foxboro, 60 Forbes Blvd, ☏ +1 937-328-1608. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, a dining area, and on-site meeting facilities.
- enVision Hotel Mansfield-Foxboro, 31 Hampshire Street, ☏ +1 508-339-2200. Home to an 8,000 ft² (740 m2) fitness center, an indoor pool, and a restaurant.
Go next
[edit]- Providence — Anchored by Brown University and RISD, Providence supports a booming arts scene and creative economy. Stroll the riverfront on summer nights to partake in WaterFire, a free public art installation.
- Boston — Capital since 1630, in a variety of ways Boston finds itself in the center of it all. Explore the Freedom Trail and Quincy Market, or catch a game at baseballs "shrine"; Fenway Park.
- New York City — "The Big Apple", country's biggest city, home to Wall Street, big media and advertising, world-class cuisine, arts, architecture, and shopping.
- Maryland — Most notable for the world treasure that is the Chesapeake Bay, its port cities, and its fantastic crab feasts.
| Routes through Mansfield |
| Boston ← Foxborough ← | N  S |
→ Attleboro → Providence |
| Marlborough ← Foxborough ← | N  S |
→ Norton → Taunton |
| Plainville ← Foxborough ← | W  E |
→ Easton → Kingston |
| Franklin ← Foxborough ← | N  S |
→ Norton → Taunton |
| Canton ← Sharon ← | N  S |
→ Attleboro → Providence |