Massachusetts Travel Guide

Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the United States of America.

Regions

• The Berkshire Mountains

• Pioneer Valley

• Blackstone Valley

• Cape Cod

• Greater Boston

• The North Shore (Cape Ann)

• The South Shore

Cities

• Andover

• Amherst

• Billerica

• Boston

• Chelsea

• Framingham

• Natick

• Plymouth

• Salem

• Springfield

• Waltham

• Westborough

• Worcester

Hotel - Flight - Car Rental

• Massachusetts Discount Hotels Directory

• Click here for discount air fares.

• Click here for rental cars.

Other destinations

• Martha's Vinyard

• Nantucket

• Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, (508) 347-3362.

• Tanglewood, 297 West Street, Lenox, (413) 637-1600. Situated in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Understand

Massachusetts is an excellent travel destination, noted for many of its historical sites as well as diverse regional flavors. The eastern bay area of the state from Gloucester to Plymouth is very metropolitan, with Boston at its hub. Here you can find great cooking, fresh seafood, and an intense concentration of colleges and universities. To the south of Boston is Cape Cod, a tremendously popular vacation spot and home to the Kennedy family, one of America's more influential political families. West of Boston you'll find the Blackstone Valley National Corridor, a vast expanse of rolling hills and small towns, as well as some of the most unique vineyards in the East Coast.

To the far west, you'll find the Berkshire mountains, the Appalachian Trail, and excellent skiing. Massachusetts has a lot to offer the prospective traveller!

History

Massachusetts is one of the oldest states in America, dating back to the foundation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1620. The name Massachusetts comes from Algonquian Indian words that mean the great mountain, an apparent reference to the tallest of the Blue Hills, a recreation area south of the town of Milton. Massachusetts is nicknamed the "Bay State", for the early settlement on Cape Cod Bay.

Massachusetts is a state of firsts - the first public school (Boston Latin School), the first public library (Boston Public Library), the first American university (Harvard), and the home of the Boston Massacre, the event that set off the American Revolutionary War.

Massachusetts also has its dark side, the Salem Witch Trials being one of the most significant black spots on the state's history.

Today

Massachusetts today is a blend of old and new - walk the 3.5 mile Freedom Trail in Boston to see more than 20 historical sites, then hop over to Cambridge and see some of the world's most advanced biotechnology, not to mention the legendary Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the gold standard for technical education in the United States.

Get in

By plane

The easiest way to get into Massachusetts is through Logan Airport in Boston. Other regional airports include Manchester, New Hampshire and Providence, Rhode Island. If you fly Southwest, your only bet is Providence or Manchester.Click here for discount air fares.

By train

Boston is part of the Northeast Corridor serviced by Amtrak. You can reach the eastern portion of the state from South Station by taking the MBTA (http://www.mbta.com/) commuter rail.

By car

Massachusetts has several large interstates that serve it, including:

I-90, the Massachusetts Turnpike, I-93, I-91, I-84, I-95. Click here for rental cars.

Boston Guide

Boston is the largest city in New England, the capital of Massachusetts, and one of the most historic and influential in the USA.

Do

Boston Common and Public Garden A must-see for all visitors during the warmer months. Accessible from Park Street (Green, Red Lines), Boylston (Green Line), and Arlington (Green Line), and a short walk from any other downtown station. Ride the famous Swan Boats and generally enjoy the park with its shady trees, fountains, statues, sidewalk vendors, and greenery. Visit the "Cheers" bar. A great starting point for visitors interested in local historical sights, or on your way to Downtown Crossing or the Back Bay. Very nice foliage in the fall. Technically, the part west of Charles St. is the Public Garden, and the eastern part is Boston Common. Freedom Trail A 2.5 mile walking tour of 16 historic sites that travels through Beacon Hill, downtown Boston, the North End and Charlestown. Includes the USS Constitution and the Old North Church. http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/ Faneuil Hall, downtown Boston. (Green Line to Government Center) Faneuil Hall contains Quincy Market, a great set of mainly tourist-oriented shops and eateries. You can also find the Old State House and colonial meeting hall here. Copley Square. (Green Line to Copley) Take a Duck Tour, enjoy the fountains, visit the top of the John Hancock building, see the Boston Public Library, or go shopping. Fenway Park The home of the Boston Red Sox. Take a B, C, or D Green Line train to Kenmore Station. You'll also be able to see the famous Citgo Sign. There are a few good restaurants in the Square. The local architecture is quite attractive. A short walk to the East is the grassy boulevard of Commonwealth Avenue, and to the West is Boston University, which has some interesting landmark structures. Minuteman Bikeway (T Red Line to Davis or Alewife). One of the most heavily used rail trails in the United States, this eleven mile paved path closely follows the route taken at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. http://www.minutemanbikeway.org/

Buy

The biggest shopping areas in the inner Metro are the indoor malls in Cambridge and the Back Bay. Both have ample parking and a wide variety of restaurants, from fast food to classy sit-down. The Cambridgeside Galleria is accessible by T from Lechmere Station (Take the Green Line D or E or one of many buses, cross under the tracks, then go straight ahead) or by free shuttle ("The Wave") from just outside the Kendall/MIT station on the Red Line. Restaurants include the Cheesecake Factory and a food court; shopping includes a convenience store, Best Buy, department stores, lots of clothes, bookstores, and everything else, at mainstream retail prices. Prudential Center is accessible on the Green Line from Hynes Convention Center/ICA/Auditorium (B/C/D), Prudential (E), and Copley (all branches). Copley Place connects with Prudential Center via an overhead pedestrian walkway. It houses a movie theater, lots of upscale shopping (including Nieman Marcus and Tiffany's), restaurants, and connects with several large hotels. Accessible via Copley (all Green Line branches) and Back Bay (Orange Line, some Commuter Rail lines) Stations. More local color can be experienced outdoors at any of several popular commercial areas: Newbury Street: Bay Bay, Boston. A wonderfully dense avenue colored by historic brownstones and lots of shops and restaurants. Extremely expensive near Boston Common, but gradually becoming more affordable as you move toward Massachusetts Avenue. One block north from Boylston Street (Arlington, Copley, Hynes Convention Center stop on the Green Line) which is similar but less so. Traffic can be very slow on Newbury Street itself; take parallel streets unless you have time to see the sights from your car. Downtown Crossing: Downtown Boston. It is obligatory to visit the world-famous Filene's Basement. Unlike most other stores of the same name, this flagship outlet is actually underground. Bargain Alley has the distinctive feature of the Automatic Markdown plan - every week, the items in this area get 25% cheaper, until they are either sold or donated to charity. Many excellent deals can be found on merchandise floating down from the larger department store upstairs. The aisles here are narrow, and the store is usually busy, so avoid bringing lots of shopping bags in by stopping here first. The rest of Downtown Crossing features large Macy's and Borders, music stores, souvenirs, general retail, and lots of street vendors and quick food. Accessible from Downtown Crossing (Red and Orange Lines) or a short walk from any other downtown T stop. An underground passage exists for free transfers between Park Streer and Downtown Crossing stations, but there is shopping above-ground on Park Street as well. Harvard Square: Cambridge. Take a tour of the University and the Yard, visit the historic cemetery, shop around. Several excellent bookstores, plenty of restaurants and cafes. See the famous chess tables outside Au Bon Pain where a scene in Good Will Hunting was filmed. Walk past the offices of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe, and say hello to the punks. A short walk down to the scenic Charles River. Street musicians often play near the famous Out of Town News. Accessible from Harvard Station (Red Line, many buses). Coolidge Corner: Brookline. A little less urban, more like your local village shops. Take the C Branch of the Green Line. Beacon Street has interesting shops along most of its length.

Eat

Boston has excellent seafood from the nearby New England coast. Local specialties include baked beans, cod, and clam chowder. Another local specialty is ice cream. A variety of excellent ethnic restaurants can be found in Chinatown and the North End (Italian). The best sit-down restaurants can be quite crowded in the evenings on weekends. Unless you have a reservation, be prepared to wait anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on how refined your tastes are. If you are indecisive, visit one of the outdoor commercial areas listed in the previous section (or the Prudential) and walk around until you find something that sounds tasty and in your price range.

External Links

• Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor - Color map in PDF format showing routes, towns, bodies of water, tourist information stations, hiking and biking trails.
• Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor - 400,000 acres located within Worcester County in central Massachusetts and Providence County in Rhode Island is a cooperative effort between the National Park Service, state government, local municipalities, businesses, private citizens and nonprofit organizations. Information on Visitor Information Centers in Worcester and Uxbridge, Massachusetts and Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Downloadable PDF map provided.
• The Blackstone Valley - The song "Blackstone Valley," written by Charlie Ball and performed by Plainfolk, tells the tale of the river that launched the American Industrial Revolution.
• Boston African American National Historic Site - Comprised of 15 pre-Civil War structures in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood. Information on activities, downloadable PDF maps and directions to the area are provided.
• Rand McNally--Boston African-American National Historic Site - Includes overview and things to see and do.
• Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area - Includes 30 islands situated within the Greater Boston shoreline. Info on facilities, activities, fees, permits and points of departure for ferries is provided.
• Boston Harbor Islands Partnership - Extensive information from this a consortium of federal, state, city, and private agencies overseeing the 30-island park. Includes visitor guide and learning center.
• BostonLightKeepers - A guide to visiting and learning about the lighthouse on Little Brewster Island.
• Boston National Historic Park - Oversized (1782x1655 pixels) color map showing walking tour within the park and location of sites along the way.
• Boston National Historical Park - Official NPS site for this group of historic sites, including Faneuil Hall, Old South Meeting House, the Paul Revere House and Old North Church, which provide a look into the Revolutionary War period of U.S. history. PDF maps and information about individual sites, fees, and activities.
• Cape Cod National Seashore - 43,604 acres of shoreline and upland landscape, lighthouses, historic structures, swimming beaches, nature trails and picnic areas. Travel info and online book shopping provided.
• Cape Cod National Seashore Guide - Description of the area with information on area camping, hiking, resources and activities.
• Minute Man National Historical Park - Preserves and protects the significant historic structures, sites, properties and landscapes associated with the opening battles of the American Revolution. PDF maps, facts and data, plus online bookstore.
• Minute Man National Historical Park - Information on education programs, the Battle Road Trail, events, news, volunteer opportunities and touring the park, which is located within the towns of Lexington, Lincoln and Concord.
• The Wayside - Prior home of Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter; includes history and exhibit information.
• National Parks in Massachusetts - NPS recreation areas, heritage corridors, national historic sites, national seashores and national historical parks in state.
• Borderland State Park - English-style stone mansion created in the 1900's by artist and suffragist Blanche Ames and her husband, with 20 rooms surrounded by open meadows. One of the most historically-significant tracts of publicly owned land in Massachusetts.
• Cochituate State Park - Independent site with information on recreation, history, water quality, adjacent development problems and opportunities.
• Department of Environmental Management: Forests and Parks - Land management and natural resource planning agency provides information on camping, recreational activities, policies, events and individual park listings throughout the state.
• Massachusetts Amusement Parks - Directory of water and theme parks.
• Metropolitan District Commission - The MDC is the oldest regional park system in the country. Explore the many reserves, beaches and historic sites with this on-line guide.
• Mohawk Trail - Guide to the sites, history, lodging, dining and shops along the trail, which stretches from the Deerfield River near the town of Florida westward to North Adams.
• Boston Irish Pubs - Pub guide for state. With advertisements, directory and news.
• ChefMoz Dining Guide: Massachusetts - Detailed restaurant listings with reviews submitted by the public, and links to outside reviews. Search by name, cuisine, rating or location.
• Dining Massachusetts - Restaurant search engine sponsored by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. Database of more than 2,000 restaurants, plus links to official restaurant web sites.
• MA Eats - Includes guide to select set of establishments. Offers searching by cuisine, price range, and location. No menus, nor hours.
• MassLive - Restaurant finder for Worcester county and western Massachusetts. Includes reader comments and reviews from the Union News.
• Restaurants.com - Massachusetts restaurants guide - A restaurant web site search engine.
• Where-to-dine.com - Restaurant guide by town or city, featuring complete menus, establishment information, and reviews.

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