Massachusetts - The Bay State

About Massachusetts:

Ever since the Pilgrims arrived in New England, Massachusetts and its capital Boston have been at the heart of the action: the first university (Harvard) and the start of both the political and industrial revolutions. Even the Cultural Revolution started here, led by writers such as Thoreau and Emerson. The BayState stretches from the Atlantic, with Cape Cod and the rocky NorthShore, past the broad Connecticut River valley to the rolling Berkshire Hills. Attractive villages are everywhere, both inland and by the sea. 

 

 

Remarkably, it's also a part of the state with something wonderful to offer in every one of its regions. Find family attractions in Greater Springfield. Enjoy the rural charm of Franklin County. Let the wonder of the Berkshires be your backdrop as you revel in diverse culture and sophisticated entertainment. Or take in the fall foliage along the Mohawk Trail - America's first scenic automobile route. No matter what your interests, Western Massachusetts is where memories are made - all throughout the year.There's no mistaking Western Massachusetts. There are the eclectic communities. There's the natural beauty. There's the seemingly endless array of fun activities. It's practically a world unto itself, yet it's still distinctively Massachusetts.

 

Greater Springfield: The basketball hall of fame, the Dr Seuss National Memorial, and Six Flags New England's  roller coasters are a magnet for family getaways. Also in Springfield: The Quadrangle, a quartet of art, science, and history museums, and the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, the nation’s first armory. The new MassMutual Center hosts concerts and sports events throughout the year. The  Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst celebrates the imaginative art found in children’s books. A cluster of five private and public colleges adds a distinct cultural flavor to the valley. Three art museums, the Smith College Museum of Art, the Mead Art Museum (at Hampshire College) and the Mt. Holyoke College Art Museum, have impressive collections and exhibition schedules. Northampton is a laidback college town with a vibrant arts community. Browze the crafts galleries, then stop for a cappuccino, a local microbrew, or dinner at one of the many restaurants and cafes.

 

Franklin County: The Deerfield River offers spectacular whitewater rafting. Outfitters offer float trips on the mild side – ideal for families with children 5 or older -- as well as adrenaline-fueled runs through Zoar Gap for those with a sense of adventure. For outdoor fun on terra firma, the Northfield Mountain Recreation Area has 25 miles of hiking trails, groomed, in the winter, for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Great Falls Discovery Center in Turner Falls has exhibits about the Connecticut River watershed's rich natural, cultural and industrial history. Historic Deerfields mile-long street is lined with eighteenth- and nineteenth-century period homes. Shelburne Falls is home to a cluster of craft galleries and the Bridge of Flowers, an old trolley bridge that is now bedecked with thousands of blooms. The glass pavilion at Magic Wings is filled with thousands of butterflies. Clamber up the three-story Poets Seat Tower in Greenfield and you’ll get spectacular – and poetic – views of the Connecticut River Valley.

 

The Berkshires: Think music, museums, and mountains. On the western border of Massachusetts, the Berkshires provide an unbeatable array of visual and performing arts experiences and outdoor adventures in a magnificent rural setting.

Summer in the Berkshire is synonymous with Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a venue for popular and jazz artists. Cultural offerings run the gamut from the evocative Americana illustrations of the Norman Rockwell Museum to the Impressionists and Old Master’s of the Sterling and Francine Clarke Art Institute. Williams College Museum of Art has an active schedule of American, Asian, and contemporary art exhibitions. MASS MoCA is on the cutting edge of the art world; its sprawling mill complex is filled with large-scale contemporary art. Stage and screen stars return each summer to practice their craft at the Williamstown and Berkshire Theatre Festivals; the Bard rules at Shakespear & Company.Hancock Shaker Village provides fascinating insights into the Shaker way of life. For gardeners, two must-see Berkshire estates: Naumkeag and The Mount Estate & Gardens. The 11-mile  Ashuwillticock Raid Trail runs through the HoosicRiverValley from the Pittsfield/Cheshire line to Adams; bikers and walkers are rewarded with great views of Mt.Greylock. In winter, the trail is popular with cross-country skiers. When the snow flies, 19 friendly and affordable Ski Areas offer a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders.

 

The Mohawk Trail: The Mohawk Trail, State Route 2 from Millers Falls to Williamstown, was America's first scenic automobile route. Spectacular in all seasons, the trail is at its most brilliant in the fall. The Hail to the Sunrise monument commemorates the Mohawk Trail's origins as a Native American trail; it depicts a Mohawk Indian looking to the east with arms uplifted to the Great Spirit. Stop at the Whitcomb Summit, the highest point on the Trail, for a four-state view. Every summer, some of the world’s finest chamber musicians gather at the acoustically-perfect Charlemont Federated Church to play at much-celebrated Mohawk Trail concerts.

 

 

It's the heart of Massachusetts. Explore the region and you'll discover unique cultural delights, gorgeous natural vistas and the opportunity to experience Massachusetts history. Take a glimpse back in time at Old Sturbridge Village, a re-creation of an 1830s rural New England settlement. Visit the Fruitlands Museum and enjoy a tour, along with views of Mt. Wachusett and Mt. Monadnock. Stop by nearby Wachusett Mountain, one of southern New England's most popular ski areas. And be sure to go to the Worcester Art Museum, one of the leading small art museums in America.

 

Sitting squarely in the heart of the state, the region encompasses New England's third largest city, a major living history museum, and a rural landscape dotted with orchards and pristine village greens. Old Sturbridge Village re-creates a rural New England town of the 1830s. Homes, stores, craft shops, and meetinghouses are clustered around a traditional common, and visitors join in the community’s many seasonal celebrations. The Worcester Art Museum's collection spans 50 centuries; the Higgins Armory, a steel and glass art deco structure, displays a dazzling array of Medieval and Renaissance armor. Worcester’s DCU Center and Mechanice Hall present major music acts and cultural events. Wachusett Mountain is one of southern New England’s most popular ski areas. The Fruitlands Museum includes the site of an ill-fated utopian community, founded by the father of Louisa May Alcott. The Johnny Appleseed Trail – named for the folk hero who roamed far and wide planting apple tress -- traverses the orchards and small towns of the region. The Blackstone River Valley Natinal Heritage Area is a great opportunity to explore the valley’s rich industrial heritage and recreational opportunities.  The Eco Tarium has interactive exhibits, a wildlife center, and nature trails. Davis Farmland has cuddly animals, a chance for children to pick eggs or help milk cows, and a water spray park. In late summer and fall, a Mega Maze, made of corn, is popular with all ages.

 

 

North Of Boston:

Love to experience as much as possible when you travel? If so, you may want to make the North of Boston & Greater Merrimack Valley area your next stop.  With beautiful harbors nestled throughout 30 miles of rocky coastline, North of Boston is a haven for beach lovers and seafaring types alike. But, with a rich history, it's also the perfect destination for those interested in cultural activities - from Salem Witch Trial attractions to art museums to the many sites dedicated to the areas seafaring heritage. Then there's Greater Merrimack Valley, where not one, but two revolutions took place. Lexington and Concord offer a vivid view into many of the most critical American Revolution events. While Lowell, with its 19th century mill buildings, is a testament to the Bay State's large role in the Industrial Revolution and the textile industry.

 

Discover north of Boston and Greater Merrimack Valley, where maritime lore meets American history. The North of Boston region features picture-perfect harbors, long sandy beaches, and a wealth of attractions and activities that celebrate the region’s rich arts and maritime traditions. Great seafood, too!  Gloucester’s seafaring heritage is commemorated by the Man at The Wheel statue and by the 2000 movie, The Perfect Storm. Motif #1, a red fisherman’s shack, perched on the edge of a wharf in Rockport’s Bearskin Neck, has been the subject of thousands of paintings, photographs, and postcards. Marblehead is a yachting mecca; its winding streets are lined with grand mansions and modest artisans’ houses, many of them predating the Revolution. Salem offers a coven of museums that explore the infamous witch trials of 1692, including the Salem Witch Museum. Essex’s main street is lined with antique emporiums and seafood restaurants, where the fried clam, was invented. Elegant Federal homes, built from fortunes made in shipbuilding and the maritime trade, line Newburyport’s High Street. On nearby Plum Island, birders flock to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge to view migrating shore birds. Foote Brothers rents canoes on the Ipswich River. Families flock to Salisbury Beach State Reservation for swimming, fishing, boating, and camping. Whale watching trips leave from Gloucester and Newburyport.  The region has long inspired artists. Winslow Homer and Fitz Henry Lane painted at the Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester; their work is on display at the Cape Ann Historical Museum.  In Salem, the Peabosy Essex Museum showcases two centuries of art, architecture, and culture. And every summer, the Rockport Chamber Music Festival presents nationally-acclaimed concerts in an intimate setting.

 

Great Merrimack Valley: This region, west and north of Boston, is a hotbed of revolutionaries. The town greens and monuments of Lexington and Concord attest to the region’s critical role in the American Revolution; Lowell’s sturdy mill buildings are reminders of the city's prominent role in the American Industrial Revolution.  Exhibits and guided tours of the  Lowell National Historical Park chronicle the shift from farm to factory, the rise of immigrant labor, and the industrial technology that fueled these changes. Its Boott Cotton Mills Museum features an operating weave room whose 88 power looms generate a deafening clatter (ear plugs provided). Just steps away, you’ll find a cluster of lively art museums and galleries, including the New England Quilt Museum and the Revolving Museum. The Lowell Folk Festival is an exuberant celebration of the city’s multicultural heritage. Every Patriots’ Day (the third Monday in April), a band of Patriots and Redcoats gathers on Lexington Green at dawn to reenact the famous Battle of Lexington and the “shot heard ‘round the world." Concord lays claim to some of the greatest names in 19th-century American literature:  Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Wald Emerson.  The Butterfly Place in Westford is home to as many as 500 butterflies at any one time. In Lincoln, the 35-acre Sculpture Park at the DeCordova Museum is the largest outdoor exhibition of American contemporary sculpture in New England.

 

It's a big city, but you can cover the center on foot in just a couple of hours. And with the history of the Freedom Trail, the modern attractions of the Institute of Contemporary Art and everything in between, Greater Boston is worth exploring for a weekend, and for years to come. Hop on the T for a quick ride to the Kennedy Library and Museum, or stay close to the water for a visit to the New England Aquarium. When you're ready for a coffee or ice cream break, a short walk to the North End will put you in the midst of world-class dolci on Hanover Street. Take the kids to the Children's Museum, where they'll have so much fun they won't even realize how much they're learning. Just across the Charles River in Cambridge, enjoy the ethnic cuisine and plentiful bookstores of Harvard Square. If you're scientifically minded, the MITMuseum will give you a lot to think about. Also in Cambridge is the Museum of Science, where you'll catch fascinating exhibits - and a Duck Tour amphibious vehicle.

A city steeped in old-world ambience or a bustling, cosmopolitan urban center? Boston is both. A strikingly contemporary suspension bridge at the entrance to the city symbolizes the new; the nearby Paul Revere House stands as a testament to Boston’s revolutionary past. Add to the mix: great art museums, lively sidewalk cafes; and sophisticated dining and shopping. The Theater District now extends to the South End and the new stages at the Boston Center for the Arts.  Families flock to the New England Aquarium, the Boston Children's Museum, and the Museum of Science.  Boston Duck Tours' brightly painted amphibious vehicles and the elegant Boston Swan Boats appeal to all ages.  The Prudential Skywalk Observation Deck provides stunning views of the city and the harbor. Newbury Street is a stroller’s paradise – galleries, boutiques, and sidewalk restaurants cater to the fashionable and the funky. The Black Heritage Trail focuses on the city’s 19th-century African-American community; the Freedom Trail encompasses 350 years of American history. Pedal through Boston’s neighborhoods on an escorted bike tour; tour America’s oldest ballpark, Fenway Park; get an up-close look at the art and architecture of the Boston Public Library or immerse yourself in the food and vibrant Italian cu lture of the North End. Just 10 miles south of Boston, the Adams National Historical Park in Quincy features the splendid homes and gardens of two presidents: John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The ICA showcases contemporary art in its dazzling new home on Boston’s harbor front. Newly-opened Spectacle Island, one of 11 Boston Harbor islands accessible to the public, features a marina, a visitor center, and two sandy beaches.

 

Cambridge: Cross the Charles River and you’re in Cambridge. Affectionately dubbed “Boston’s Left Bank,” the city is home to two of the nation’s most eminent educational institutions, Harvard University and the Massachusetts  Institute of Tachnology.  Both schools offer campus tours and an impressive array of art, ethnological, and science museums. Cambridge’s multicultural heritage is reflected in a dizzying array of ethnic restaurants clustered around Inman, Central, and Harvard Squares. Don’t miss the musicians, artists, puppeteers, and jugglers that roll out their crowd-pleasing acts on the sidewalks of Harvard Square. The city's many bookstores cater to a well-read crowd. The Longfellow National Historic Site was George Washington's Revolutionary War headquarters and, later, the home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.   Mt. Auburn Cemetery is a favorite destination for bird watchers, nature lovers, and walkers.

 

 

South Of Boston:

Watching cruise and take tea in an authentic Japanese garden? It has to be the region South of Boston, where Massachusetts is alive with history, beaches and quirky little surprises.  In Plymouth, "America's Hometown," you'll get a glimpse of Plymouth Rock - and of the Pilgrim way of life at Plimoth Plantation. For a more contemporary adventure, set out for a whale-watching expedition from Plymouth Harbor.  Duxbury is home to fabulous beaches, and to the Art Complex Museum, where you'll find an eclectic mix of Asian and American art, Shaker furniture and a Japanese tea garden.

Venture further south to New Bedford, and experience coastal life via the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Not far away is Seaman's Bethel, a chapel for seafaring families and one of the features that inspired Herman Melville's Moby Dick.

 

Bristol County: Nestled between Cape Cod and Rhode Island and just an hour from Boston, Bristol County encompasses two port cities rich in maritime and industrial heritage, charming seaside towns along Buzzards Bay, several wineries, and a major music venue. New Bedford’s heyday as the capital of the 19th-century whaling industry is preserved by the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The Seamen's Bethel was featured in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. The Rotch-Jones-Duff House, a Greek Revival Mansion, chronicles 50 years of economic, social and domestic life in New Bedford. Fall River’s Battleship Cove is the home port for the WWII battleship USS Massachusetts and five other naval vessels; the nearby Marine Museum features a one-ton model of the ill-fated Titanic. The Fall River Carousel has 48 steeds and two chariots in a splendid Victorian-style hippodrome. In Mansfield, the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts presents jazz, folk, rock, and classical music. Seekonk Speedway's NASCAR-sanctioned track packs a lot of excitement into its banked, 1/3-mile oval.  Check your calendar: if you’re planning to be in New Bedford on the second Thursday of any month, you’re in for a treat. The city’s museums, galleries, dance and theater groups, artists, and restaurants roll out the welcome mat for an evening of cultural happenings appropriately dubbed AHA! (Art, History, Architecture).  The Lloyd Center for the Environment's walking trails, which wind their way through forest, freshwater wetlands, salt marsh, and estuary, provide great views of Buzzards Bay, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

 

Plymouth County: First stop: Plymouth Rock and Mayflower II, enduring symbols of the Pilgrims’ arrival in the New World. The region also offers picturesque harbors, historic lighthouses, state-of-the-art golf courses, and acres of cranberry bogs that turn ruby red as harvest time approaches. Plymouth bills itself as "America's Hometown." The colonists’ struggle to build a new community and their relationship to the indigenous Wampanoag are brought to life at Plimoth Plantation, a re-creation of the 1627 Pilgrim community. Whale watch cruises and party fishing boats leave from Plymouth harbor.   Edaville USA's two-mile, narrow-gauge railroad and amusement rides are perennial family favorites. As is the Brockton Rox, a Minor League Baseball team whose home base is Campanelli Stadium in Brockton. The nearby Fuller Craft Museum is a dazzling showcase for contemporary crafts. Duxbury’s Art Complex Museum features a Japanese garden and tea hut. For dramatic views of Hingham Harbor and the Boston skyline, stroll or bike to the top of one of the four drumlins comprising World's End in Hingham.

 

Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket Island: 

There are times when you need to escape. Forget your worries. Act like a kid again. Those times call for a trip to the Cape or one of the islands.  Each locale offers sun-splashed beaches and a laid-back attitude, yet all are unique in their own right.  Famous for its rolling dunes and gable-roofed, gray-shingled houses, Cape Cod is where you'll find outdoor activities and loads of fun family attractions. On Martha's Vineyard, a 45-minute ferry ride from the mainland, you'll stumble upon quaint shops, natural sites, fine dining and lively nightlife throughout six picturesque towns. Then, of course, you have Nantucket. Located 30 miles off the Massachusetts coast, this island is characterized by cobblestone streets, antique stores, lighthouses and acres of conservation land. Take the time to find yourself on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, where all that matters is what matters to you.

 

Cape Cod: A name that’s synonymous with long, sandy beaches and rolling dunes, Cape Cod also offers biking, kayaking, summer theater, art galleries, and challenging golf courses -- all this in a peninsula known for its distinctive gable-roofed, gray-shingled houses. The Heritage Museums and Gardens features Americana, antique cars, the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame, and, in the spring, masses of rhododendron blooms. In the port of Woods Hole, the mysteries of ocean life are on display at the NOAA Aquarium and the Oceanographic Institution. The seaside resort of Hyannis is the summer home of the Kennedy family and the John F. Kennedy Memorial and Museum. On the tip of the Cape is Provincetown, a haven for artists, fishermen, and summer visitors. Whale watch trips leave from here and Barnstable Harbor. For a nostalgic evening of fun, bundle everyone in the car and head to the Wellfleet Drive-In for first-run double features. Hungry? Crack open a lobster or order up a plate piled high with fried clams.

 Hike through the 27,000-acre Cape Cod National Seashore, pedal the 25-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, or take your clubs to one of the Cape’s 27 public-access golf courses.  Asking for travel directions? Here’s what you need to know. The “Upper Cape” refers to the towns and villages just across the two bridges: Bourne, Sandwich, Mashpee, and Falmouth. “Mid Cape” refers to Barnstable (including the village of Hyannis), Yarmouth, and Dennis. The “Lower Cape” refers to everything else: Orleans, Wellfleet, Chatham, Brewster, Provincetown (often referred to as P Town), Truro, Eastham, and Harwich.

 

Martha’s Vineyard: Just a 45-minute ferry ride from the mainland, the Vineyard features pristine sandy beaches, golf courses, natural beauty, and more than its fair share of sun-seeking celebrities.

Oak Bluffs’ brightly-painted "gingerbread" cottages began as a nineteenth-century Methodist summer campground; the town’s Flying Horses are the oldest continuously working carousel in America. Vineyard Haven is a picturesque community and the island’s year-round ferry port. Edgartown is an elegant yachting center, its streets still lined with whaling captains’ stately homes; the Old Whaling Church is now a performing arts center. “Up Island” are the rural communities of West Tisbury and Chilmark and the dramatic, color-streaked Aquinnah Cliffs.  When 17th-century British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold discovered the island, replete with wild grapes, he named if for his youngest daughter, Martha. The island has five lighthouses, all originally built in the 1800s and subsequently replaced, and, in some cases, moved back from the encroaching sea. The Gay Head and East Chop lighthouses are open for sunset tours on a limited schedule.  Plan your transportation to Martha’s Vineyard well in advance, particularly if you plan to take a car since auto reservations are limited. Better yet, go car-free and take advantage of the island’s shuttle buses, taxis, bikeways, and pathways.

 

Nantucket Island: Thirty miles off the Massachusetts coast, this crescent-shaped island is in a world by itself. Cobblestone streets and an array of stately Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival homes reflect Nantucket Town’s history as a prosperous whaling port. Take time to adjust to the slower pace of life, Nantucket style and explore -- on foot or by bicycle -- the island’s unspoiled beaches, solitary lighthouses, and acres of conservation land. The sea beckons: take a dip in Nantucket Sound, surf cast for bluefish, or head out for a day’s deep-sea fishing. In Nantucket Town, sea captain's houses stand side by side with antique stores and galleries. For a taste of island history, explore the Nantucket Whaling Museum whose collections include a 47-foot sperm whale skeleton, scrimshaw, and the original fabric of the spermaceti candle factory. Cisco Brewers is an obligatory stop for beer lovers who subscribe to the “drink local” tenet.  Two great reasons to visit Nantucket in the off season: In April, the Daffodil Festival features 3 million bright yellow blooms planted by islanders to herald the arrival of spring; winter is celebrated, island-style, with Nantucket Noel and the Christmas Stroll. Plan your transportation to Nantucket well in advance, particularly if you plan to take a car since auto reservations are limited. Better yet, go car-free and take advantage of the island’s shuttle buses, taxis, bikeways, and pathways.