Typical New England landscapes and towns; beautiful beaches, eg on Cape Cod; the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket; historical heritage in Boston; Tanglewood, week-long open air festival every summer.
Boston Attractions A great way to start a sightseeing tour is with a bird’s eye view of Boston. The Skywalk Observatory, located on the 50th floor of the Prudential Center, offers a 360 degree panoramic view of the harbour, Boston Common, and across the Charles River of Cambridge, home of America’s oldest university, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
North Boston
According to usaers, this region is not only a beautiful stretch of coast but is also rich in history. Salem , better known for its infamous witch trials in 1692, was also a prosperous spot; We recommend a guided tour to the Salem Maritime National Historic Site to see the riches and a Chinese shop at the Peabody Essex Museum.
Just outside of Cape Ann is Gloucester, the real-life city of The Perfect Storm. Board a schooner and go on a whale watching tour. Rockport is an artists’ colony, while Essex, Ipswich and Newburyport are veritable colonial gems. Take a river cruise, eat the famous fried clams and browse for antiques.
Southern Massachusetts
Plimoth Plantation
Who Were the Pilgrim Fathers? How did you speak? What did you think of your new home? If you visit the Plimoth Plantation in south Boston, you can ask yourself, because time has stopped in 1627 in this “Living History” museum. Disguised actors fully immerse themselves in their roles, presenting a real insight into the harsh conditions the settlers faced. At the Wampanoag Homesite, Native Americans carve canoes and build cabins. In Plymouth itself, visitors can admire a replica of the Mayflower II. This is the small ship that transported 102 passengers across the Atlantic in 1620.
137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth MA, 02360
Cape cod
The Cape is known for its long, clean and beautiful beaches – and there are 115 to choose from. The dunes and beaches of Cape Cod National Seashore stretch more than 40 miles along the Atlantic. It was John F. Kennedy himself who set up the nature reserve. But there is much more to discover here: romantic inns and bed and breakfasts as well as art and craft galleries. The peninsula stretches nearly 60 miles into the Atlantic Ocean and is home to some of America’s oldest villages, such as Sandwich (1637), Chatham (1656) and Wellfleet (1650). At the far end of the cape is one of the top rated beaches in the United States on the 50 mile long Cape Cod National Seashore. At the tip of the cape lies Provincetown, a bohemian enclave of artists and restaurants
Provincetown
Eccentric Provincetown has left the stern piety of the Pilgrim Fathers behind and blossomed into a free-spirited artists’ colony. Writers like Sinclair Lewis, Norman Mailer and Tennessee Williams appreciated the cosmopolitan atmosphere. The city also became a meeting point for homosexuals from all over the world.
Martha’s Vineyard
South of Cape Cod, two islands attract presidents and celebrities alike. Less than an hour ferry ride from the mainland is Martha’s Vineyard with its pristine beaches, clapboard cottages, excellent bike trails, upscale shops and restaurants.
Nantucket
Just 30 miles from the mainland lies the picture-perfect island of Nantucket, an island of unspoiled beauty that is 14 miles long and 3.5 miles wide. Originally a booming whaling station, it’s now a National Historic District. Architecturally, it has changed little since the 17th century. Old mansions and old-fashioned lamps still line the streets today. Nearly half of Nantucket has been preserved in its original form, as have many of the beautiful natural beaches. Today, Nantucket is an elegant vacation island that offers the simple things in life: fishing, relaxing days on the beach, shops, restaurants, boutiques, galleries, museums, music, film, literature, and much more.
New Bedford
The town of New Bedford on the Massachusetts coast was a whaling stronghold in the 19th century. He brought enormous wealth to New England – and literary fame in the 20th century. “New Bedford leaves the waterfronts of New York and London far behind,” wrote Herman Melville in his novel Moby Dick, an encyclopedic work about the heyday of America’s fishing fleets and the obsessive hunt for a white whale.
Western Massachusetts
The Berkshires are located just 3 hours from Boston in western Massachusetts.
European and American paintings, sculptures and other artworks (with a particular focus on French Impressionists) can be seen in Williamstown, specifically at the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute.
Modern art lovers can enjoy extensive exhibitions at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) in North Adams, just a few miles to the east.
Nature in its purest form is a source of every inspiration. It’s with you every step of the way as you hike (or drive) to the top of Mount Greylock, the highest mountain in the country.
On warm summer nights you can listen to the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Tanglewood, watch international dance ensembles in Jacob’s Pillow, admire excellent acting during the Williamstown Theater Festival in the Barrington Stage Company and Shakespeare & Company. Other cultural highlights in the region include the Norman Rockwell Museum www.nrm.org and the Hancock Shaker Village www.hancockshakervillage.org .
Central Massachusetts
OldSturbridgeVillage
What was country life like in America in the 1830s? Find out in Old Sturbridge Village. The Village is a recreated 1830’s American town in central Massachusetts, with more than 40 original buildings including a farm store, bank, lumber mill and blacksmith shop. The largest historic outdoor museum in the Northeast features demonstrations of fire pit cooking and local artisan making. Take a stagecoach ride or watch a 19th-century baseball game.
