Wheaton College has been the home of The International Herb Symposium since 1992. The warm and friendly staff and lovely campus have been a perfect fit for the event. Founded in 1834, Wheaton College is set on a picturesque New England campus that includes an adjoining 200-acre woodland (perfect for herb forays!). The Campus itself is endowed with a variety of beautiful old specimen trees. Wheaton is located in the small rural town of Norton, Mass ideally situated between Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island allowing easy access from airports, train stations, and highways.
Travel Information
The International Herb Symposium is held at Wheaton College, 26 East Main St., Norton, Massachusetts, 02766
Wheaton College is approximately 40 minutes from both Logan International Airport in Boston, MA and T.F. Green Airport in Providence, RI. We suggest flying into T.F. Green as it is a smaller airport and less hectic, but you will have a much better choice of flights and ground transportation if flying into Logan. (Try to avoid rush hour traffic from 4-7pm).
Wheaton College is approximately 30 minutes from Amtrak stations in both Providence, RI and Boston, MA. The MBTA operates a rapid transit service from the airport to South Station, connecting to commuter rail service with stops near the Wheaton Campus.
Commuting to the IHS?
People are welcome to commute to the IHS. Commuters will have the option to register for Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday. There is free public parking around the campus that is “first-come-first-serve”. For those that choose to commute or lodge off-campus, there are several hotels, motels and campground opportunities in the area as well as a couple of small basic restaurants in Norton.
Campus Lodging & Meals
I want to stay on campus, what are my lodging options?
The College provides on-campus dormitory-style lodging. These basic rooms provide an affordable lodging option for those who want stay close to the action.
Detailed information on meals and lodging can be found on the Registration Page as soon as it becomes available.
Dining Information
The meals at Wheaton are tasty and healthy. As you can imagine at an event such as this, there are many food concerns, issues, and expectations (i.e., vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, carnivores, and localvores). The Wheaton crew does an excellent job serving a variety of healthy main courses, hearty soups, salad, and sandwich bars that feature local greens and veggies and low-sugar desserts. View the complete menu here. Past attendees have really loved the food options!
“Whether it’s served on fine china or a paper plate, food brings us together and stimulates conversation. We feast to wed, mourn, celebrate, strengthen friendships, assert mana, and simply to be hospitable. Good eating is one of life’s great pleasures.”
— Unknown
Did you enjoy your meals while at the International Herb Symposium?
“Even with my food allergies, I was able to find plenty to eat.
Great tasting and very satisfying” — Jenny
“Actually, this was the best food I’ve ever had at a conference.
Great choices and always quite delicious.” — John
“The cooks did a great job providing a variety of satisfying meals. As a die-hard vegetarian, I’m always a little skeptical about food at these events, but there were plenty of choices for me and they were all good. Thanks!” — Marianne
Area Attractions
If coming from a distance, you might wish to stay and explore the area. There is so much to see and do in Southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring states. For plant-related adventures, be sure to visit the Garden in the Woods in Framingham (about 1 1/2 hours north). It was one of the first wildflower gardens in the U.S. and is very worth visiting. There is also an organic cranberry bog close to Wheaton College Campus. In the next town over is Seven Arrows Herb Gardens and Farm, a lovely herb garden/farm. Plymouth Plantation and Sturbridge Village offer the visitors a trip back in time; both feature period herb gardens. Of course, many visitors enjoy visiting Cape Cod and downtown Boston. There’s too much to do to mention here so please contact the Chamber of Commerce and/or go online for an endless list of pleasurable things to do and enjoy.
