Bay State Basics
It makes sense that Massachusetts forms the central region of New England. After all, its founding was central to the country’s beginnings and for many, a New England vacation begins in what is commonly known as the Bay State. From its diverse coastline to its small town life to its big city gravitas, Massachusetts’ selling points even outnumber the championships tallied by its professional sports teams. (Sorry, New York.)
National Treasure
Beautiful beaches abound in Massachusetts’ North and South shore regions, but arguably the finest are found along the Cape Cod National Seashore, home to nearly 44,000 acres of public dunes and beaches, forests and freshwater ponds that invite exploration and relaxation. Spend your evenings relaxing at the Chatham Bars Inn, which garnered five stars from Forbes Travel Guide, or at the Greyfinch Chatham Inn, in the heart of Chatham village.
Beantown
Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England with 23 vibrant neighborhoods to explore. Its storied roots can be seen at every turn (the Old North Church, Boston Public Garden, Faneuil Hall Marketplace) but it’s not just about the past. Some of the country’s top chefs have built their careers in the city, while Newbury Street is a glitzy boulevard of boutique shopping. Anchor your stay in this city-on-the-water with a retreat to the Boston Yacht Haven Inn & Marina.
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Common Good
Established in 1634, when Puritan colonists purchased the land from the area’s first European settlers, the 50-acre Boston Common is the oldest public park in the county.
History’s Trail
More than just a rolling highlight reel of textbook early American history, the Freedom Trail paints a vivid picture of the American Revolution over the course of its 2.5 mile jaunt from Boston Common to Charlestown. Sixteen sites are on the itinerary, including churches, museums, meeting houses, parks, burying grounds, and even a ship. Guided tours help bring the past to life, while taking you even deeper into the story of this remarkable region.
Looking for more adventure? Here’s an itinerary just for you
Fine Discoveries
World-class art exists in spades across the Bay State, and in Boston, especially, with institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Still, the state’s greatest treasure might just be Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum, the oldest continuously operating museum in the country and one of its largest. Its collection includes not just a vast amount of New England, African and Native American art, but also a trove of Asian artifacts, most notably the only complete Qing dynasty house located outside of China.
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Park It There
Fenway Park, Major League Baseball’s oldest stadium, opened on April 20, 1912, five days after the sinking of the Titanic and two years before its home team, the Red Sox, acquired a young pitcher by the name of George Herman “Babe” Ruth. Maybe you’ve heard of him?
Splash of Color
It seems counter-intuitive that you’d discover awe-inspiring sunset views at an east coast beach but that’s exactly what you’ll find at Race Point. Located at the very end of Cape Cod, this National Seashore beach features frontage on Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Oceans. Find a spot to watch the falling sun illuminate the sky behind Race Point Lighthouse. Or, go one step further and secure a campfire permit and cozy up to take in the show. Not a camper? No problem: The colorful Mercury Hotel or the inviting AWOL Hotel (both in Provincetown) are here for you.
