The University Sports Complex is located at Starland Sportsplex & Fun Park in Hanover, Massachusetts, a sports and entertainment facility that offers many indoor and outdoor activities. Teams travel to the University Sports Complex to compete in basketball, soccer, and volleyball tournaments.
If your team is traveling to the University Sports Complex, finding things to do near your hotel is as important as finding a good restaurant. Fortunately, this area has lots of options for kids and parents alike. Here are just a few of our favorite suggestions.
Things to Do
South Shore Natural Science Center
Six miles from the University Sports Complex is the South Shore Natural Science Center, located in nearby Norwell. Their mission is to “educate, excite, and commit” every generation to conserve the environment. They specialize in hands-on, interactive learning experiences. Started in 1962 by a group led by the Father of Nature Education himself, Cap’n Bill Vinal, they’re committed to protecting nature.
Set on 30 acres of meadow, field, pond, and forest, their family programs include Mammal Munchkins, Tales from the Wild, and Nature Encounters. Youth programs include Animal Lego-Motion and Homeschool Scientist. The South Shore YMCA’s Nature Adventures Camp at the South Shore Natural Science Center offers exploration and discovery for children and teens in a fun and friendly environment.
Voted one of the “1000 Great Places to Visit in the State” by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, they welcome visitors all year-round. 48 Jacobs Ln, Norwell, MA 02061
Pilgrim Skating Arena
Whether you have kids who want to skate like professional hockey players, or you yourself have also wanted to learn to ice skate, Pilgrim Skating Arena, located 10 miles from the University Sports Complex in Hingham, has got you covered. Even if your kids skate like they’re on the Boston Bruins, they’ll appreciate the chance to practice their skills against skaters of equal caliber.
Top-notch instructors at Pilgrim Skating love to teach beginners the basics of skating. With the more advanced skaters, they tend to focus on meeting goals, skating technique, and attaining proper form.
Little People with Coach Rob Taylor runs every Tuesday and Thursday. He encourages “tiny children” to achieve balance on their own and waddle fearlessly out onto the ice. He works with preschool through kindergarten kids, and mittens and helmets are required. 75 Recreation Park Dr, Hingham, MA 02043
Starland Sportsplex & Fun Park
Right around where you are playing your tournament is an amusement park that definitely shouldn’t be missed. Starland Sportsplex & Fun Park boasts laser tag, an arcade, go-karts and double go-karts, bumper cars, mini golf, a rock wall, and batting cages. So something for everybody, pretty much! 645 Washington St, Hanover, MA 02339
South Shore Children’s Museum
Another attraction near the University Sports Complex is the South Shore Children’s Museum at the Hanover Mall. It offers a fun, interactive way to get your smaller kids engaged in American history.
Exhibits are designed to teach a different dimension of our nation’s history through play. Not only can their approach to learning be “therapeutic,” it can also be an excellent way to develop communication between you and your kids. By connecting American children with their history in an engaging way, the museum uses family involvement as a way to instill a love of history.
Popular attractions include the covered wagon and “cranberry bog” ball pit. Story time is Tuesdays through Fridays in the morning, with new stories every day and a fun craft activity to follow. During winter months they keep your kids busy. Even the Teddy Bear Picnic takes place in cold weather, as does the PJ Party Puppet Show. 1775 Washington St, Hanover, MA 02339
Plymouth Rock and Pilgrim Hall Museum
There is lots of history just down the road 16 miles from the University Sports Complex in Plymouth, including Plymouth Rock. Yes, that same Plymouth Rock that’s taught about in American history classes. If you are going to be this close Plymouth, you should definitely make the trip to go see it.
It’s part of the Pilgrim Hall Museum, a museum which has been recognized as the longest continuously operating public museum in the United States. It’s also the country’s primary museum of Pilgrim possessions. The extraordinary collection of 17th century artifacts you’ll find at the Pilgrim Hall Museum, some of which actually came on the Mayflower, will give you and your team some unique insight into the history of the early Plymouth Colony.
It’s a captivating story about the importance of family and culture; struggle and sacrifice; courage and perseverance. In many ways, it’s the one true story about America’s founding. 79 Water St, Plymouth, MA 02360; 75 Court St, Plymouth, MA 02360
Nelson Memorial Park
Also in Plymouth is the Nelson Memorial Park. This newly-renovated park is a popular outdoor destination for both local residents and visitors alike. The playground and picnic area are perfect for families with young children.
Nelson Memorial Park also features a splash pad area where kids come to cool off on those extra hot summer days. Other amenities that can be found at Nelson Memorial Park include a boat ramp and a bike path that traces the harbor and ends at Hedge Road in North Plymouth. Nelson St, Plymouth, MA 02360
To find hotel rooms closest to where your team is playing in Hanover or any city, visit hotels4teams.com. The Best Hotels at the Best Prices, Closest to the Action!
Places to Eat
Gunther Tooties
The guys at Gunther Tooties in Hanover see as their mission to make your day better starting with traditional New York bagels. They bake ’em daily with natural ingredients, proudly offering their award-winning French toast bagel. Slather on the special cream cheese spreads they work up to make it your own! 2053 Washington St, Hanover, MA 02339
Mother Anna’s Ristorante & Bar
If you want traditional Italian cuisine with homemade pasta, Mother Anna’s Ristorante & Bar in Pembroke, located five miles from the University Sports Complex, is the place for you.
Anna Travaglione first opened the restaurant in 1932 in the historic North End of Boston, quickly developing a group of regulars. The recipes there have been passed down through four generations directly to your table. 46 Columbia Rd, Pembroke, MA 02359
Pita Gyros
Pita Gyros brings the fire of the Mediterranean by combining the flavors of Lebanon, Greece, and Italy. This easygoing outpost serves up the best kebabs, freshest salads, and most authentic Mediterranean fare in a simple, no-frills café setting.
Everything they make is homemade and healthy, bringing new meaning to the only diet that really works: “the Mediterranean diet.” Their motto is “Food fast, but not fast food!” 2053 Washington St, Hanover, MA 02339
Wood’s Seafood
While you are in sightseeing around Plymouth, definitely don’t pass up the opportunity to visit a true New England lobster house.
At Wood’s Seafood you can indulge in seafood favorites such as fresh fried clams, buttery lobster rolls, or the popular Clambake Dinner. Offering fantastic views of historic Plymouth Harbor, Wood’s Seafood has offered diners freshly caught fish and live lobsters for over 50 years. 15 Town Pier, Plymouth, MA 2360
No matter where your team travels to, the bonding time separate from the team play is just as important as playing the games. So, after your day is done at the University Sports Complex in Hanover, enjoy this eclectic area of Boston.