Wayland

Wayland, a town in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, is a residential suburb of 14,000 (2020), with mostly families as residents.

Sudbury is a town with a population of 19,000 in the 2020 census.

Understand

First Parish Church, Sudbury

History

The Puritan Village

Wayland was the first settlement of the Sudbury plantation, established in 1638, and incorporated in 1639. Among the 60 original men, women, and children, were 15 Puritan families who had traveled in the ship Confidence from England. Bringing with them the English pattern of farming, with collective fields and grazing along with individual lots, they named their town Sudbury after the town in Suffolk, where their pastor Edmund Brown and some of their company had lived. The original settlement was clustered one half mile northwest of where the town center is now located. Wayland and Sudbury residents established the Sudbury Valley Trust in 1953 in part to protect these lands. Today Wayland is in the top 5 communities in the state in conservation acreage.

East Sudbury 1780-1835, renamed Wayland in 1835

The first US census in 1790 showed that East Sudbury was a farming community of 801 people in 112 houses. Today’s Boston Post Road ran through it on the way to Albany. Travelers stopped at the Corner Tavern where Old Connecticut Path split off down to Hartford, near today’s Old Coach Grill. The Pequod Inn stood at the intersection of the Post Road and the roads north to western Sudbury and Concord. Baldwin ’s tavern was near the four arch bridge over the river. The First Parish Church was built in 1815, complete with a bell by Paul Revere.

In 1835, the men attending a town meeting voted to change the name East Sudbury to Wayland, to honor Rev. Francis Wayland, President of Brown University, who was a friend of Judge Edward Mellen (whose law offices are found in the Wayland Historic District in a small white house at the intersection of Boston Post Road and Old Sudbury Road).

Get in

The Mass Pike, or I-90 is the main highway accessible in the town. Take Exit 117 to Route 30 eastbound to access Wayland. Two additional routes, MA-30 and US-20, run through the main commercial areas of the town; Cochituate and Wayland Center, respectively. These roads connect the town with the retail centers of Framingham, Natick and Marlborough to the west, and Boston’s inner suburbs to the east.

There is no public transit in Wayland. The closest stations are West Natick on the commuter rail, and Riverside on the green line. Neither is convenient and it would be a pricey Uber or Lyft to get you into Wayland.

Get around

Wayland is mostly bustling with people traveling by car and bicycle. It is a small enough town for everything to be accessible by car or bike alone.

See

• The war memorial at the town building.
• Wayland Public Library, which has been argued to be Massachusetts' first public library.
• North Cemetery, resting place of Lydia Maria Child, a famous radical abolitionist.
• The Sudbury Militia passes through the town each year, re-enacting the march to Concord on 19 Apr 1775. They even begin their march at precisely the same time of day as the Militia did 200 years ago.
• 1 Lake Cochituate (Cochituate State Park). The Lake Cochituate watershed includes Beaver Dam Brook and Course Brook to the South that feed into South Pond from as far away as Ashland and Sherborn; Pegan Brook, now known as Pegan Cove, which also feeds South Pond; and Snake Brook that flows into the connector between North and Middle Ponds. Ultimately Lake Cochituate drains through Cochituate Brook where it is joined by an un-named tributary before flowing into the Sudbury River. A great place to explore the wonders of New England’s natural beauty. (updated Nov 2022)
• 2 Tippling Rock, Brimstone Lane (Sudbury). 24 hours daily. After a moderate hike and ascending the rock, you're rewarded with sweeping views of MetroWest as well as the tippy-tops of a few of the tallest buildings in Boston. Small parking lot for a dozen or so cars. Free. (updated Oct 2022)

Do

• Cochituate Baseball Field, 20 West Plain St. 24 hours daily. This field is a popular destination for children and is equipped with two baseball diamonds and two basketball courts. A few parking spots and a small playground. Free. (updated Nov 2022)
• Hannah Williams Playground, 79 Main St. Sunrise-sunset daily. A favorite of all families, safe and tons of fun for kids. Free. (updated Nov 2022)
• Wayland Community Pool, 258 Old Connecticut Path. M-F 6AM-9PM Sa Su 6:30AM-6PM. This is a great place to bring kids and family. Passes available to residents with higher prices for non-residents. Swim classes available. (updated Nov 2022)
• Wayland Town Beach (Lake Cochituate), 25 Parkland Dr. Sunrise-sunset. This well groomed beach is a great place to spend a day with family or friends. Home to the local Scout Troop, Troop 1 Cochituate, and to the Wayland-Weston Rowing teams. Day passes available to all through the town recreation department. (updated Nov 2022)

Eat

• Mels Cafe, 310 Commonwealth Rd, ☏ +1 508-653-7777. 6AM-2PM daily. The ultimate breakfast spot for sports teams, friends, and family. Great prices and family owned. (updated Nov 2022)
• The Villa, 124 East Plain St, ☏ +1 508-653-8570. F-Su noon-9PM, Tu-Th 4-9PM. Another family owned gem with tons of dinner and lunch options at low prices. (updated Nov 2022)
• Wayland Pizza House, 336 Boston Post Rd, ☏ +1 508-358-7316. 11AM-9PM daily. A small pizzeria offers thick crust pizza, calzones, and other traditional dishes. It’s a great place to grab a quick slice of pizza or sub. (updated Nov 2022)
• The Coach Grill, 55 Boston Post Rd, ☏ +1 508-358-5900. M-F 4:30-9PM, Sa Su 11AM-9PM. Opened as The Red Coach Grill in 1935, it is now owned by Back Bay Restaurant Group. The Coach Grill reigns as the classic steakhouse of the suburbs. Its laid-back atmosphere, attentive service and first rate steaks make it a popular destination for customers looking for a fancy night out. (updated Nov 2022)

Sleep

Wayside Inn, Sudbury

• 1 Longfellow's Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Road (Sudbury), ☏ +1 978-443-1776. Check-in: 11AM, check-out: 3PM. This 10-room bed and breakfast immortalized in Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn originated as a 1716 tavern. The oldest continuously operating inn in the United States. Non-guests are still invited to stroll the beautiful grounds, or dine in the excellent restaurant. Occasionally offers historic events and tours, highlighting early inhabitants. No pets. $200. (updated Oct 2022)

Go next

• Natick — Right outside of Wayland is the Natick Collection, one of the US's biggest shopping malls.
• Boston — visit the harbor and all of the lovely shops and dining available in the city.

Routes through Wayland

Worcester ← Sudbury ←

W  E

→ Weston → Boston