Gore Place, a Federal period house built in 1806, was the estate of Massachusetts governor Christopher Gore. Rescued from demolition in the 1930s and restored by the nonprofit Gore Place Society, the 48-acre property consists of the mansion, manicured grounds, gardens, and a barnyard that tots will adore.

You can go right into the fenced-in barnyard to say hello to the animals— sheep, goats, chickens, and seemingly dozens of rabbits. Gore Place’s fantastic backpack program for kids is called Take A Walk and is offered year-round and changes with the seasons. For $5, you have use of a backpack that contains binoculars, a magnifying glass, and seasonal activities that take kids around the property for an hour. Backpacks for kids ages 3 to 8 are available, as well as themed ones, such as Archaeology, Raised Garden Beds, and Math Challenge for elementary-school-aged children. The backpacks are available Mondays through Fridays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. In winter, you can also rent snowshoes for $5.

On a 10-acre field, Gore Place grows a variety of crops; much of the food is donated to charities, but some of it is for sale. An honor-system farm stand is located behind the Farmer’s Cottage next to the barns. In season, a flag with the word “open” means you can come see what’s in stock. You might find squash, garlic, onions, or other produce. Bring exact change and leave it in a box provided.

Several fun events are scheduled at the property over the course of the year, including a sheep-shearing festival, a Jane Austen tour, Santa’s tea, full-moon house tours, and preschool story hours. Visit the website for details.

Remember: The mansion is open only for guided tours. Call ahead to check the hours in case a special event is scheduled.

Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary offers a chance to see more animals in the wild.

You’ll find places to eat on Main Street.