travel guide to massachusetts

Top 16 things to do in Massachusetts from whale watching to a Red Sox game

Jun 27, 2022 • 8 min read

Occupying a sprawling former factory complex in the Berkshires town of North Adams, MASS MoCA is one of the world’s most exciting places to view contemporary art © Barry Winiker / Getty Images

Whether you want to gain a new perspective on American history, explore unusual art venues or eat your weight in cannolis, Massachusetts is ready for you. 

Native Bay Staters and visitors from afar have little trouble filling their days with unique and exciting things to do all year long. For history buffs, art lovers, outdoor-adventure seekers and everyone else, here are the very best things to do all over Massachusetts.

Dump tea into Boston Harbor

The renowned Boston Tea Party helped pave the way to the American Revolutionary War – and nothing showcases this history quite like the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum . This in-person, interactive experience allows visitors to adopt a historic persona, engage in heated debates and shout “Huzzah!” as they join the Sons of Liberty in storming ships and hoisting crates of tea overboard. 

See amazing contemporary art at MASS MoCA

Set in 26 buildings on 19 acres, this extraordinary contemporary-art museum occupies the former site of the Sprague Electric Company. The sprawling post-industrial campus comes complete with brick facades, football field-sized rooms, open-air courtyards, hidden passageways, covered viaducts and other nooks and crannies. 

And every one of them is filled with art – bold, bizarre, eyebrow-raising, head-scratching, mind-boggling art, all frequently refreshed via rotating exhibitions. For a brilliant immersive experience, walk through Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing Retrospective , which occupies nearly one acre of wall space all by itself.

Treat yourself to cannoli in Boston’s North End

The North End is a little slice of the old country in the heart of  Boston . Dining out in the North End is a delightful and delicious experience – only most restaurants don’t serve dessert. 

That’s because they can’t top the sweets on offer at local bakeries. Light and crispy on the outside, sweet and creamy on the inside, cannolis are sheer perfection in a pastry – and a North End specialty. 

Where’s the best place to go for cannoli in the North End? The famous Italian bakeries are on Hanover St, though  Bova’s Bakery on Salem St serves equally scrumptious cannolis without the mile-long lines.

The best time to visit Massachusetts

Watch for whales at Stellwagen Bank

There’s nothing like the thrill of seeing a majestic whale launch its massive body out of the water or flip its tail as if saying hello. These types of sightings are (almost) guaranteed on a cruise to the offshore Stellwagen Bank , one of the world’s richest feeding grounds for marine mammals and birds.

Cruises depart from Gloucester, Plymouth, Provincetown and Boston. Common sightings include humpback, minke and fin whales, as well as dolphins, sharks and seals.

Ogle old-master paintings at the Gardner Museum

Isabella Stewart Gardner was a 19th-century socialite, a patron of the arts and a lover of the Boston Red Sox. Today, the unrivaled collection of art she amazzed on display at  a Venetian-style palazzo just off the Back Bay Fens. 

From rare books to ancient Roman objects to Italian Renaissance paintings, over 7500 pieces of art dazzle visitors. Watching over it all is Gardner herself,  via a captivating portrait by John Singer Sargent  hanging in the Gothic Room. If you close your eyes, it’s easy to imagine the salons and soirées that took place here back in the day. 

The interior courtyard – bursting with seasonal blooms, ancient Roman sculptures and mosaics – is worth the price of admission ($20) in itself. The museum was also the site of one of the world’s most brazen – and still unsolved – art heists, in 1990 : look out for the empty frames that still hang in the missing paintings’ place.

The best state parks in Massachusetts  

Summit the cliffs at Quincy Quarries

This former granite quarry is now a sort of unofficial, experiential outdoor art studio and rock-climbing center. Vibrant paintings cover every cliff – personal tags, political rants and murals wacky and whimsical, their colors exploding off the dull gray granite facades. 

The place has an offbeat, unkempt beauty that may not appeal to everyone. Rock climbers in particular have mixed feelings about the graffiti (which makes the granite extra slick), though the quarry is still a popular spot to rope up, with dozens of climbing routes around the grounds. An epic view of the Boston skyline awaits if you make it to the summit.

Catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park

The oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, Fenway has been the scene of countless triumphs and tragedies since 1912. It’s the home of the Boston Red Sox, a team that inspires unrivaled passion in their fan base. The scene isn’t always pretty – but it’s pure, unfiltered Boston. If you can’t get tickets to a game, the on-site Bleacher Bar (with a limited view onto center field) is the next best thing.

Eat fried clams on the North Shore

The fried clam is one of the state’s iconic foods, with crispy breading on the outside, tender bivalve on the inside – and tasty all around. 

The North Shore is the place to sample this delicacy: it was invented here, and the clams harvested in Essex and Ipswich are consistently sweet and succulent. Sample them at Woodman’s of Essex (the original), at JT Farnham’s overlooking the salt marsh, or at the Clam Box , a restaurant that actually looks like...a clam box. 

The best beaches in Massachusetts 

Discover the street art in Salem

The Point (or El Punto) is a predominately Latinx neighborhood only a few blocks from Salem’s historic center. In recent years, the streets have transformed into a unique Salem attraction: the Punto Urban Museum , an open-air art exhibition with more than 75 murals on the neighborhood’s brick walls, painted by artists from around the world.

The paintings immortalize Latinx heroes, elevate cultural themes and comment on socioeconomic inequities. And they also enrich the neighborhood with their color, texture, detail and vibrancy.

Best things to do in Salem  

Learn about Indigenous culture at the Plimoth Patuxet Museums

The town of Plymouth on the South Shore is typically known as the site of an early English settlement – but the native Wampanoag people have inhabited the region for over 12,000 years, with the Patuxet resident in the 17th century. The Plimoth Patuxet Museums explore both these histories. 

At Historic Patuxet, you can visit a wetu (Wampanoag house), study the craftsmanship of a dugout canoe and observe how food was grown and cooked before the English colonists arrived.

Cycle through the dunes along Cape Cod National Seashore

Stretching along the outer edge of the Outer Cape,  Cape Cod National Seashore is 40 miles of utter paradise. Pristine beaches, sand dunes, pine forests and kettle ponds with a few lighthouses for effect make any trip here one you’ll remember forever. 

It’s impossible to see it all in one visit, but the Province Lands bike trail offers an excellent sampler along a surprisingly rigorous 5.45-mile loop – one of  Cape Cod ’s top activities. On a hot day, end your ride at wild and wonderful Race Point Beach to cool off in the waves.

Best free things to do in Massachusetts  

Spy on seals in Chatham

It’s not unusual to glimpse a sweet, whiskered face peeking out of the waters near Cape Cod, which is home to some 50,000 gray and harbor seals. If you want a guaranteed sighting, take a boat trip out to Monomoy Island , where you’ll see the creatures bobbing in the water or lounging on the beach. 

During mating season (especially September and October), the sheer number of bodies astounds, with the long, narrow beach packed with hundreds of seals piled on top of each other like anchovies in a tin.

Alternatively, you can usually spot seals from the observation deck at the Chatham Pier Fish Market (which is also a fantastic place for a lobster roll lunch).

Tip: no matter how cute you think these seals are, remember they are wild animals. Always maintain a safe distance. 

Get lost in the stacks at Montague Bookmill

On a wooded country road along the banks of the Sawmill River on the edge of the micro-town of Montague is a bibliophile’s bliss. The unexpectedly rich and locally beloved Montague Bookmill is a place to get lost for hours. 

The c 1842 building retains the rustic atmosphere the grist mill it was for nearly a century. Today, it contains tens of thousands of volumes in a maze of stacks and shelves, with plenty of comfy chairs and sunny corners to curl up with your treasures. 

With coffee available next door at the Lady Killigrew Café , this place is pretty much perfect.

Behold the dramatic colors of the Aquinnah Cliffs

It’s hard to outdo the red-clay cliffs at the western end of Martha’s Vineyard , both for their sheer natural splendor and their geology, which is unique in Massachusetts. 

Rising 150ft from the ocean , this dramatic glacial formation is a stunner, especially when it reflects rich jewel tones in the late-afternoon sun. Expect gorgeous views – and surprisingly few crowds – at Gay Head public beach.

Catch some of the world’s best artists at a Berkshire summer festival

Whether you’re into live music, theater or dance, you can get your cultural fix amid  the Berkshires ’ forest-covered hills and under star-filled skies. Massachusetts’ western mountain region has been an artistic hub ever since the Gilded Age elite came from New York and Boston to spend their summers amid the greenery. 

No longer as exclusive, it’s now a lovely region for packing a picnic, spreading a blanket and listening to live music at Tanglewood , or watching a dance performance at Jacob’s Pillow . This is Massachusetts summer at its best.

The best places to hike in Massachusetts

Pick (and eat) your own apples amid the fall foliage

Apple picking is the perfect way to get your fix of eye-goggling fall foliage and crispy, local produce. In September and October, apple orchards around the state lure families with hay rides, hedge mazes and other farm animals. 

Others forgo these extras:  Bartlett’s Orchard in Richmond only has trees, yielding a dozen varieties of apples (the local favorite: tart, juicy McIntosh). But the surrounding Berkshire hills – dressed up in extravagant yellows, oranges and reds – make Bartlett’s one of the top places in Massachusetts to take in the splendor.

A word to the wise: no matter where you get your apples, do not pass on apple-cider donuts, an autumn rite of passage each year.

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55+ Things to Do in Massachusetts: Your MA Travel Guide

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You might be thinking to yourself, what is Massachusetts known for? What is there to do in Massachusetts? Well, the Bay State is well-known for all kinds of very Massachusetts things to do, attracting as many as 31 million visitors each year! From the big city of Boston to the quaint towns of the Berkshires , there is no shortage of fun things to do in MA!

In this post, we hope to provide a Massachusetts bucket list for you: a list of the essential activities, sites, and fun places to visit in Massachusetts. While this is certainly not a comprehensive list of all the best things to do in MA, this Massachusetts travel guide has been designed to cover as much as possible. If you want to dive deeper into a destination or activity, each item has links to lead you to further information.

Ready to get inspired for your next trip to Massachusetts? Let’s go!

Table of Contents

55+ Fun Things to Do in Massachusetts

Walk boston’s freedom trail.

Boston is at the top of the list for cool places to go in Massachusetts, for sure. There are tons of things to do in Boston for visitors of all kinds. Whatever your interest, there are plenty of activities in Boston MA that will call to you, but it may be especially intriguing to history buffs.

Boston is home to a tremendous depth of American History. One of the key activities for a visitor to the city is to walk the Freedom Trail .

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile path that takes you around Boston on a route passing 16 important historical sites, including the Paul Revere House, Old State House, and Granary Burying Ground.

Also check out:  18 of the Best Free Things to Do in Boston | Weekend in Boston: A Perfect 2 Day Itinerary

Experience a classic New England Christmas

As the year comes to an end, the magic of the holiday season holds Massachusetts in its grasp. There are countless things to do for the Christmas season in Massachusetts , especially if you want to experience a classic Christmas. From cutting down your own Christmas tree to Christmas events in Boston , the Norman Rockwell classic Main Street Christmas in Stockbridge at Christmas , you truly can’t pick a better region in which to celebrate the holidays.

Sip some Sam Adams

Sampling craft beer is a longtime staple of Massachusetts fun. While we recommend making time to tour a variety of breweries, one of the most essential is the Sam Adams brewery. If you can visit this Boston brewery, do so, as it’s a good time. If not, just grab a Sam at a local restaurant or pub. Cheers!

Explore the witchy history of Salem

Salem is one of the most fascinating places to visit, and if you’re looking for things to do in Massachusetts in October, this should be at the top of your list!

We recommend visiting Salem in October for the iconic fall/Halloween experience, but Salem is a great destination at any time of year (and is likely to be far less crowded in the other months)! Scope out the sites where Hocus Pocus was filmed , sample the goods of the local restaurant scene , and enjoy all the free things to do in Salem that make it one of the most popular Massachusetts tourist attractions!

Salem was home to the infamous Witch Trials of the 1690s. There’s lots to discover about that time during your visit, but Salem has plenty more to explore, including literary legends, maritime history, and more.

Brush Up on Your Boston Slang

Visiting Boston MA? Wicked cool, but you’d bettah brush up on your Boston slang first! Don’t want to get Southie and South End confused, and if you’re a coffee drinker, you’re going to want to know what you’re in for if you ask for a regular coffee!

Visit the literary legends in Concord

Speaking of literary legends, Massachusetts may have some kind of record for them; so many well-known authors and poets have been born or lived here, so if you’re a lover of literature and looking for what to do in Massachusetts, a visit to Concord needs to be at the top of your list!

Concord, MA is one of the best MA destinations for those in search of literary sites. Among the authors who lived here are Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.

Read Next: Exploring Concord’s Literary History |  25 Must-Read Books Set in New England

Cheer on the Red Sox

Taking in a Red Sox game at Fenway is a rite of passage for a New Englander, and an absolute must do in Massachusetts for any self-respecting baseball fan! If you’re unable to attend a game, consider taking a guided tour of historic Fenway Park . You can squeeze one in during this guided 24 hour itinerary of a fun day in Boston !

Frolic in the daffodils

You can’t pick the flowers at Parsons Reserve Daffodil Field in Dartmouth, but you can most certainly walk amongst the sunny daffodil fields and take in these gorgeous bursts of color as they bloom mid-April to early May. If you’re looking for spring things to do in Massachusetts, this is perfect!

See some incredible lighthouses

Home to nearly 50 lighthouses, it’s no wonder that basically every Massachusetts vacation guide you’ll come across is going to include a visit to a lighthouse! Those traveling from outside of New England are likely to want to see (and photograph ) some of these incredible structures. After all, when it comes to things to do in Massachusetts, seeing lighthouses are some of the most essential items on any MA bucket list!

Take a duck tour in Boston

Boston’s Duck Tours are a classic Boston activity for any visitor. These amphibious boats bring you on a tour of the city by river and by land; the perfect way to travel!

Click here to book a duck tour.

Stroll down Rockport’s Bearskin Neck

Just an hour or so north of Boston is the quaint town of Rockport . This spot has been known as an artist’s colony for years, and it’s easy to see why. Rockport is one of the most beautiful places in Massachusetts. In fact, the old fishing shack pictured below, Motif #1, has been called the most painted structure in the US, as it is the subject of countless paintings and works of art.

A visit to Rockport is a great addition to any Massachusetts things to do list.

Eat a fresh lobster roll

In Rockport, Boston, or pretty much anywhere along the coast of MA, you will want to try some lobster during your vacation. If you’re not a fan of a full boiled or steamed lobster, you may like the variation of a cold lobster roll sandwich; a lobster roll is definitely the best of Massachusetts!

“Summer” on the Cape

Cape Cod is one of America’s summer playgrounds, and you will fall in love with it as have countless before you. Beaches, vineyards, horseback riding, sailing, biking. Don’t miss this top MA destination, because when it comes to Massachusetts in summer, it doesn’t get much better than Cape Cod !

Attend New England’s best renaissance festival

I love a Renaissance festival, and Massachusetts has a fantastic one in Carver: King Richard’s Faire . This annual event is one of the best things to do in Massachusetts in the fall, bringing with it live entertainment, performers and guests in costume, themed weekends, amazing food, music, and even a jousting tournament; how’s that sound for fun in Massachusetts?

Stand in line for one of the North End’s famous cannolis

The question of where to find the best cannoli in Boston has been the subject of heated debate. You’ll have to answer the question for yourself. But that sounds like a particularly delicious project, doesn’t it? It might even take you to some of the best restaurants in Boston MA !

You could also sample more of Boston’s culinary favorites on a food tour .

Go to a concert at Tanglewood

Tanglewood is a summer music venue in Lenox, MA. It is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as hosting many contemporary acts in their venues, including open air concerts that can be attended from the lawn. James Taylor is a frequent performer at Tanglewood; this is definitely one of the top summer activities in Massachusetts!

Go whale watching

One of the best things about Massachusetts is that from April through October, it’s whale watching season on the MA coast. Hop aboard a whale watching tour to go and catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures.

I have personally sailed twice with 7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester, and I have greatly enjoyed my experience both times! Spotting the whales is an exhilarating experience, and you learn a lot about them on the ride out to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, where the whales are seen.

Catch amazing theatre at Shakespeare & Company

This professional theatre company in the Berkshires presents stellar performances in a lovely setting; this is definitely one of those Mass things to do that is very New England!

Party in Provincetown

Provincetown , also known as P-Town, has a rich history and a modern vibe. Today, it’s known for its vibrant community that is extremely LGBTQ+ welcoming. The calendar is stocked with constant activities and events, and there are lots of great restaurants and places to stay to choose from, too!

Discover Revolutionary History in Concord, Lexington, and beyond

Looking for history-heavy attractions in Massachusetts? Head to Concord. The first rumblings, protests, and finally the battles of the Revolutionary War were all fought in Massachusetts. You can delve deep into history of MA, and especially in the Concord and Lexington areas. Don’t miss Minute Man National Historical Park, where the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life.

Read More: Top 13 Historic Sites in Massachusetts

Pick apples in September

One of the best things to do in Massachusetts in September, the apple orchards are filled with ripe fruit ready to be picked! Heading with your family to a local farm or orchard is an autumn tradition. Definitely something to add to your MA travel itinerary, especially if you’re looking for family fun Massachusetts style!

Read Next :  7 Great Places to Go Apple Picking in Massachusetts

Step back in time at Plimoth Plantation

You’ll be diving into early American history at Plimoth Plantation , located in Plymouth, MA . Yes, this is THAT Plymouth, where the pilgrims landed in the Mayflower .

This living history museum doesn’t just cover the Colonial history, however, but also focuses on the Wampanoag Tribe, the people native to the region. You will learn a lot during your visit here and will likely feel you’ve stepped back in time.

Don’t miss touring the Mayflower II , a full-scale reproduction of the original 1600s ship that sits in the harbor. Honestly, the whole town is one of the best tourist attractions in Massachusetts!

Daffodil festival in Nantucket

Every April in Nantucket, you can find the Nantucket Daffodil Festival, a joyful celebration of this bright yellow beacon of springtime.

Tour Harvard’s hallowed halls

This iconic Ivy League campus deserves a visit when you’re traveling in Boston.

Take a hike

It might sound like a basic item to cross off your MA bucket list, but it’s an essential one because Massachusetts is home to some great hikes ! Though you won’t find the high peaks of New Hampshire here, there is plenty of diverse terrain and altitude variation to keep things interesting.

And of course, there is gorgeous scenery all around as you get to play in some of the most beautiful places in Massachusetts !

Visit some haunted spots

Being as old as it is, the region of New England has grown up with some tall tales, legends, and mysteries surrounding it. Massachusetts is one of the most mythical of the states, boasting lots of potentially haunted spots. Places like the Danvers State Hospital and the Lizzie Borden House are among MA’s most infamous, so if you’re looking for entertainment in Massachusetts that’s on the spooky side, this might be it!

Whether it’s abandoned spots or ghost towns you’re interested in, there are some pretty spooky things to do in Massachusetts!

Eat clam chowder

New England clam chowder is one of the most traditional foods of Massachusetts, and it was created here. Enjoy a hot, steaming bowl of the creamy good stuff while you’re here.

Peer at The Bulb River

Do you enjoy flowers? What about flowers that look like a cascading river or waterfall? The Bulb River, a carefully cultivated flow of rich purple hyacinths, can be found each year at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

You’ll have to time your visit well to catch the Bulb River; it generally blooms in early May and lasts for approximately one week, so if you’re planning a trip to Massachusetts in May, you might just catch it, but the gardens offer other beautiful displays throughout the year.

Pay a visit to Boston’s many museums

Boston has dozens of awesome museums. Personally, my favorite is the Boston Science Museum , a thrilling place that kids and adults alike can enjoy for hours on end. Other worthwhile choices include Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Boston Children’s Museum, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. This is definitely one of the top things to do in Massachusetts with kids!

If you’re planning to visit a few of Boston’s best museums, you will want to consider getting a Boston attractions pass. Read this to help you choose the best one to get: Go Boston Card vs Boston CityPASS: Which is Better?

Wander through old cemeteries

Morbid? Maybe. But cemeteries are a fascinating link between the present day and the past. I think New England’s historic graveyards are beautiful and interesting, and I’ve rarely seen older gravestones anywhere in the US; this is a beautiful way to explore Massachusetts’ history!

Marvel at Bash Bish Falls

Looking for things to do in Western MA ? This waterfall, the highest single-drop waterfall in the whole state, is very close to the border with New York. You can hike to the base of the falls in around 2/3 of a mile. More info here.

Read Next:  12 Must-See Waterfalls in Massachusetts 

Book a fall foliage getaway in a cozy cabin

Check into an idyllic cabin for the perfect weekend getaway from Boston, NYC, or wherever you’re coming from. Consider booking a stay in a cozy cabin during fall foliage season or as the snow starts to fall; when it comes to fun things to do in Massachusetts in winter, how fantastic does getting snowed in with your favorite people sound?

Learn about maritime history at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

One of the must do things in Massachusetts for the history fan or lover of the sea is the  New Bedford Whaling Museum . Here you can further appreciate New England’s rich maritime past and learn all about the art of whaling, which played a massive role in New England’s economic history.

Walk along the Bridge of Flowers

What could be more charming than this 400-foot long bridge that is covered in flowers? You can walk this beautiful garden space found in Shelburne Falls, MA, definitely one of the best things to do in Massachusetts in the summer!

Visit Patriot Place

Massachusetts loves its sports. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough is home to the New England Patriots football team. It’s also home to Patriot Place , an attraction in its own right. There is so much to do here! Entertainment, food, shopping, a nature trail/cranberry bog, and more.

Take a walk through the House of the Seven Gables

Visiting Salem is already on this list, but I wanted to point you to this literary attraction in the town: the House of the Seven Gables. This is not only an incredible, historic old home, it’s also famous for its role in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s work of the same name, and certainly one of the must visit cool things to see in Massachusetts!

Tour historic homes

Speaking of historic mansions and houses, New England has them in spades. A few nice places to visit in Massachusetts that we haven’t mentioned yet include Naumkeag in Stockbridge , The Mount (Edith Wharton’s home) in Lenox, and Gore Place in Waltham.

Seek out magical small towns

Massachusetts may be known for the big city of Boston, but its essential charm is found in its rural, small towns . Most of these are found in the western and central portions of the state, but really, you can’t take many trips to Massachusetts without stumbling across some of these charming spots.

Sip the delights of the Nashoba Winery

There are an abundance of wineries producing exceptional wines in Massachusetts and in New England as a whole. One standout is Nashoba Valley Winery in Massachusetts, where you can enjoy a strawberry rhubarb wine.

Go kayaking at Plum Island

In addition to its coastal position, Massachusetts is home to myriad of lakes and rivers. That makes kayaking an excellent outdoor activity, wherever you’re visiting in the state. For some fun coastal kayaking, consider Plum Island , a barrier island just off of Newburyport . Plum Island Kayak offers tours and rentals so you can see some of the most beautiful spots in the area.

The Paul Revere House

Remember that guy who cried out “the British are coming”? That was Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride. In Boston, you can see his house and other historic buildings. (This is a stop along the Freedom Trail, if you are following that through the city). You should definitely make it a point to see this historic landmark, one of the best things to do when visiting MA!

Take the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket

Don’t just stay on the mainland when traveling to Massachusetts; make some time for the MA islands as well. Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard have so much to offer and they are both laid back and charming, with their own distinctive vibes; check out these gorgeous places to stay on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard !

There are multiple ferry options for both: Nantucket Ferry  | Martha’s Vineyard Ferry

Meet the animals at a working farm

This is an especially nice activity if you’re traveling to Massachusetts with kids. A working farm, such as Dalby Farm in Scituate, MA, gives visitors an opportunity to have close encounters with the farm animals.

Stay at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast

Have a burning desire to stay in a haunted hotel or inn? Well, you’ve come to the right region. New England is bursting with possibly haunted hotels . One of these rumored to be haunted is a spot with a particularly grisly past: the Lizzie Borden House. Now it’s a Massachusetts B&B where you can stay in the infamous rooms where horrible things happened. You in? Go for it.

Help out at a cranberry bog

Did you know you can help out with the cranberry harvest at a local bog? Definitely one of the more unique experiences Massachusetts has to offer! Cranberries are grown in a very interesting way, and when the time comes to harvest them, the bogs are flooded to raise up the ripe berries. Check out the bogs you can visit here .

Go Cross Country Skiing

Looking for Massachusetts things to do in winter? Cross country skiing is a great choice if you’re looking to get out in the snow for a bit of a workout in some seriously scenic XC spots in MA.

Walk through Arnold Arboretum

Beautiful Arnold Arboretum in Boston is home to so many spectacular blooms like cherry trees, rhododendrons, and so much more, but if you visit on Lilac Sunday, you’ll get to experience a beloved spring event that is one of the coolest experiences in MA for nature lovers!

Spend a day at the beach

Massachusetts has many miles of coastline, so don’t neglect enjoying it! There are rocky parts of the coast as well as flat sandy beaches. While the water is a bit chillier than you might find at other beaches farther south, the coast here is so lovely, you will undoubtedly be drawn to it. Many of MA’s best beaches are found on Cape Cod.

Read This : 15 Best Beaches in Massachusetts

Luxuriate at Blantyre

You deserve to be pampered! Consider Blantyre , located in the Berkshires. This place is the epitome of luxury. Book a stay that will make you feel like royalty. Especially check out the Manor House, which has total Gilded Age vibes and is one of those magical places in Massachusetts that will have you wondering when you died and went to heaven!

See also: 10 Romantic Getaways in Massachusetts for the Perfect Couples Escape

Get cultured at Mass MoCA in North Adams

Contemporary art aficionados will enjoy Mass MoCA , the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. With exhibitions, educational programs, and a full calendar of events (including concerts), there’s a lot going on in this little northwest corner of the state.

Stay at a charming Cape Cod Inn

When it comes to charm, Cape Cod has plenty of it, and Captain’s House Inn is no exception! If you’re looking for romantic things to do in Massachusetts, consider whisking your favorite person off to Cape Cod’s Captain’s House Inn! You can read about our experience here: Staying at the Captains House Inn, Cape Cod: A Review

Click Here to Check Prices & Book!

Witness the running of the lambs at Old Sturbridge Village

Old Sturbridge Village is a worthwhile Massachusetts attraction in Sturbridge . This living history museum recreates daily life in the late 1700s and early 1800s. In spring, the newborn lambs make the village extra special, and at the end of the day you can watch “the running of the lambs” as both lambs and sheep run across the common to be fed at the barn. This is definitely one of those unique places to visit in Massachusetts!

Massachusetts Central Rail Trail

If you love biking, you should grab your wheels and take a ride on the longest rail trail in the Northeast. That is the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail , and it will eventually stretch 104 miles from Boston to Northampton . Additional miles are opening up all the time, although currently there are only 51 miles open.  Pass through 25 communities on this bike path that is an important part of MA transportation of the past, present, and future.

For details on currently open sections of the trail, check out this guide .

Yankee Candle Village

If you’re like me, you likely have dozens of candles burning around your home at any given time. Many of those incredible scented candles are Yankee Candles, which smell AMAZING. Why not see where they’re made? You can even make some candles yourself at the Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield.

It’s not just candles either; the village has an abundance of family-friendly activities and events throughout the year. There’s lots to see, sample, smell, taste, make, and buy here; it’s one of those very wholesome Massachusetts things to do!

Get lost in a corn maze

One of the quintessential MA fall activities is the corn maze. In Massachusetts, you can find some terrific options, including the enormous and complex Mike’s Maze . A new, themed maze with activities is created each and every year. Go get lost!

See also:  15 Best Pumpkin Patches in Massachusetts

Need more help planning your Massachusetts trip? Check out these guides:

• 11 Can’t-Miss Things to do in Brewster MA
• 11 Fun Things to Do in Great Barrington Massachusetts
• 11 Amazing Things to do in Hadley MA
• 13 Great Things to Do in Marblehead MA
• 8 Mouth-Watering Restaurants in Springfield MA
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The state of MASSACHUSETTS was established with a lofty aim: to become, in the words of seventeenth-century governor John Winthrop, a utopian “City upon a hill”. This Puritan clarity of thought and forcefulness of purpose can be traced from the foundation of Harvard College in 1636, through the intellectual impetus behind the Revolutionary War and the crusade against slavery, to the nineteenth-century achievements of writers such as Melville, Emerson, Hawthorne and Thoreau.

The Berkshires

Martha’s vineyard.

Spending a few days in Boston is strongly recommended. Perhaps America’s most historic city, and certainly one of its most elegant, it offers a great deal of modern life as well, thanks in part to the presence of Cambridge, the home of Harvard University and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), just across the river. Several historic towns are within easy reach – Salem to the north, known for its “witch” sights, Concord and Lexington, just inland, richly imbued with Revolutionary War history, and Plymouth, to the south, the site of the Pilgrims’ first settlement (1620).

One of the most celebrated slices of real estate in America, Cape Cod boasts a dazzling, three-hundred-mile coastline with some of the best beaches in New England. A slender, crooked peninsula, it’s easily accessed from the region’s snug villages, many of which have been preserved as they were a hundred or more years ago. Today, much of the land on the Cape, from its salt marshes to its ever-eroding dunes, is considered a fragile and endangered ecosystem, and once you head north to the Outer Cape, past the spectacular dunes of Cape Cod National Seashore, you get a feeling for why this narrow spit of land still has a reputation as a seaside wilderness. Provincetown, at the very tip of Cape Cod, is a popular gay resort and summer destination for bohemians, artists and fun-seekers lured by the excellent beaches, art galleries and welcoming atmosphere.

Just off the south coast of Cape Cod, the relatively unspoiled islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket have long been some of the most popular and prestigious vacation destinations in the USA. Both mingle an easy-going cosmopolitan atmosphere and some of the best restaurants and B&Bs on the East Coast. Nantucket is usually considered the more highfalutin’ of the pair, teased for its preppy fashions; Martha is more expansive and laidback, known for its elaborate gingerbread-style houses, wild moorlands and perfect beaches.

Western Massachusetts is best known for the beautiful Berkshires, which host the celebrated Tanglewood summer music festival and boast museum-filled towns such as North Adams and Williamstown – both in the far northwest corner of the state, at the end of the incredibly scenic Mohawk Trail. Amherst and Northampton are stimulating college towns in the verdant Pioneer Valley, with all the cafés, restaurants and bookstores you could want.

A rich cultural history, world-class summer arts festivals and a bucolic landscape of forests and verdant hills make the Berkshires, at the extreme western edge of Massachusetts, an especially enticing region.

Just south of I-90 and fifty miles west of Springfield, the spotless main street of STOCKBRIDGE is classic Berkshires, captured by the work of artist Norman Rockwell, who lived here for 25 years until his death in 1978. The most comprehensive of several tributes to the artist in New England, the Norman Rockwell Museum displays some 574 of his original paintings and drawings, most of which were Saturday Evening Post covers.

Roughly five miles north of Stockbridge on US-7, tourists flock to LENOX each year for its summer performing arts festivals, but there are also a couple of literary attractions hereabouts worth checking out.

From 1790 until 1960, the Hancock Shaker Village, eleven miles northwest of Lenox, was an active Shaker community, and today offers an illuminating insight into this remarkable Christian sect. A branch of the Quakers that had fled England to America in 1774, the Shakers were named for the convulsive fits of glee they experienced when worshipping. Hancock retains one of the biggest collections of Shaker furniture in the country and is home to eighteen preserved clapboard buildings.

In the northwest corner of the Berkshires, sleepy NORTH ADAMS and bucolic WILLIAMSTOWN are the unlikely locations of the region’s premier art showcases. The former is home to the glorious Mass MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art), a sprawling collection of modern installations (including Sol LeWitt’s mind-bending work), videos and upside-down trees in a captivating old textile mill. In Williamstown, the highlight of The Clark is its 32-strong collection of Renoirs, while the ravishing Williams College Museum of Art specializes in American art from the late eighteenth century onwards, including the world’s largest repository of work by brothers Maurice and Charles Prendergast.

The largest offshore island in New England, twenty-mile-long MARTHA’S VINEYARD encompasses more physical variety than Nantucket, with hills and pastures providing scenic counterpoints to the beaches and wild, windswept moors on the separate island of Chappaquiddick.

Martha’s Vineyard’s most genteel town is Edgartown, all prim and proper with its freshly painted, white clapboard colonial homes, museums and manicured gardens. The other main settlement, Vineyard Haven, is more commercial and one of the island’s ferry ports. Oak Bluffs, in between the two (and the other docking point for ferries), has an array of fanciful wooden gingerbread cottages and inviting restaurants. Be aware of island terminology: heading “Up-Island” takes you southwest to the cliffs at Aquinnah (formerly known as Gay Head); conversely, “Down-Island” refers to the triumvirate of easterly towns mentioned here.

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20+ Best Places To Visit in Massachusetts

Planning a vacation or road trip in Massachusetts and need some destination inspiration? Here’s my guide to the best places to visit in the historic state of Massachusetts. It takes you to all the best towns to visit in Massachusetts.

With this guide, you can create your own Massachusetts bucket list or road trip itinerary.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the most populous state New England. It welcomes nearly 31 million visitors each year. Massachusetts is so much more than just Boston, however much I love that city.

There are so many amazing things to do and see in Massachusetts. You can travel back in history in the tranquility of the state’s quaint Berkshire towns.

There, you’ll find remnants of early America, turn-of-the-century castle homes, and enjoy an artsy county escape.

You can also visit charming towns that played a critical role in America’s Revolution War history. Or indulge in a beach vacation and eat delicious seafood in world famous destinations like Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard.

Come to Massachusetts in the summer to visit the coastal regions and islands. Come in the shoulder season to leaf peep or step back in time at Massachusetts’ historic towns.

READ : Best Fall Foliage Road Trip in New England

Best Places To Visit In Massachusetts

Honestly, you’re spoiled for choice in Massachusetts. Massachusetts is amazing, and it’s not just the lobster.

I know, I’ve lived there and visited many times, taking day trips on each occasion. To my mind, these are the towns and places in Massachusetts that you shouldn’t miss.

Boston is the best city to visit in Massachusetts. The country’s oldest city, Boston is steeped in American history and beautifully situated on the Charles River and Boston Harbor. Boston played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War.

It’s sometimes called the “Athens of America” or the “cradle of liberty” because it was the source of key ideas that shaped America.

Boston is really a dream destination, especially for history buffs and culture vultures. It has a great foodie scene, wide open green spaces, quaint brick-clad neighborhoods, and first rate museums. Visiting Boston offers all the benefits of a big metropolis without the intensity and frenetic pace of New York City.

One of the best things to do in Boston is to walk the Freedom Trail , a 2.5 mile red brick path taking you to Boston’s historic landmarks. Along the way, you’ll see 16 sites and monuments relating to Boston’s founding and the Revolutionary War.

Before you start, stroll through the verdant Boston Public Garden and Boston Commons, the oldest park in the U.S.

Sports lovers can take in a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Culture vultures can hit up Boston’s amazing museums. My two favorites are the Museum of Fine Art and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum .

Architecture enthusiasts should visit the breathtaking Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library at Copley Square. Or head to the stunning Boston Athenaeum .

Nothing beats a stroll in Boston’s beautiful neighborhoods — historic Beacon Hill , the stunning Back Bay, hipster South End, the Italian vibe in the North End, and the Back Bay Fens (where you can admire the Keller Rose Garden).

In Beacon Hill, you can walk down Acorn Street, one of the most Instagrammed streets in the United States.

READ : Guide To the Best Landmarks and Attractions in Boston

• Where to eat : SRV, Beehive, Barcelona Wine Bar, Toro, Mistral, Sonsie, Sweet Cheeks
• Where to stay : Kimpton Nine Zero ,  R itz Carlton , Four Seasons , Inn at St. Botolph , the  Lenox Hotel .
• Experiences : 2.5 hour walking tour  of the Freedom Trail, 2 hour guided walking tour  of the Back Bay, 3 hour tour by Secret Food in the North End

2. Cambridge

Historic Cambridge is a lively university enclave near Boston, with the Charles River as its playground and backyard. But the town has its own unique identity.

Cambridge is home to the renowned Harvard University (where you’ll be wrapped in red brick) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (where you can admire eclectic modern architecture by some of the US’ best architects).

Both campuses are full of significant architecture, landmarks, and outdoor art.

And it’s not just the universities that dazzle. In Cambridge, visitors can enjoy outstanding museums, a vibrant performing arts scene, and delicious haute cuisine restaurants.

The Harvard Art Museums are the best art spot, with a range of works from antiquity to the present, including a prized van Gogh.

Be sure to hang out in Harvard Square, the iconic center of Cambridge.

It’s a triangular plaza located at the intersection of Battle Street, John F. Kennedy Street, and Massachusetts Avenue. You’ll find all manner of humanity — students, tourists, political activists, buskers, chess players, and other street creatures.

You can also visit Longfellow House . It’s located on Brattle Street, the historic road connecting old Cambridge and Watertown.

It’s famous as the one time home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who wrote stirring tales that thrilled 19th century America, including the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere .

READ : 1 Day Itinerary for Cambridge

• Where to eat : Area Four, Giulia, Harvest, Oleana
• Where to stay : Charles Hotel , Kendall Hotel , Kimpton Marlow Hotel
• Experiences : Harvard University walking tour , MIT walking tour

Salem is definitely one of the best places to visit in Massachusetts. It’s a beautiful seaside town and an easy day trip from Boston at only 30 minutes away.

If you want to bask in the festive fall spirit in New England, there’s no better place than witchy Salem. You can learn about Salem’s creepy past as the “witch capital” of the United States.

Salem embraces rather than shies away from its notorious past, when the infamous 17th century Witch Trials defined the town. Salem is replete with whimsical magic shops, all things haunted horror, and ghostly tour options. Many of Salem’s must see destinations are devoted to its witchy history.

But Salem also boasts beautiful 17th century Colonial and Georgian architecture and delicious seafood. Salem is an eminently walkable town. You’ll be plunged back in time and history to bewitching effect.

Charming Essex Street is a historic cobblestoned district, with the original brick Old Town Hall . Old Town Hall dates from 1816.

The second floor still stands as a public hall and the first floor is used as a public art space. The exterior of the building was featured in the popular Disney Halloween cult film, Hocus Pocus .

Are you a literary fan? If so, you should pay a visit to the House of the Seven Gables . Built in 1668, it’s one of the oldest mansions still standing in the United States.

Nathaniel Hawthorne immortalized the house in his 1851 novel of the same name. Inside, you’ll find a recreation of the secret staircase from the novel.

The mansion is the perfect destination for fans of early Colonial architecture and Georgian interiors.

It’s a prime example of the prosperity of early Salem, with enviable waterfront views. The house where Nathaniel Hawthorne was born is also on the property.

READ : Top Attractions in Sale m

• Where to eat : The Lobster Shanty, Turner’s Seafood, Opus, Firenze Trattoria, Bella Verona
• Where to stay : Hawthorne Hotel , The Merchant , Daniels House Bed and Breakfast
• Experiences : History and hauntings 2+ hour walking tour , Witchcraft trials walk , Ghosts of Salem walking tour

4. Stockbridge

Settled in 1734 by British missionaries, Stockbridge may be my favorite adorable small town in the Berkshires. It’s blessed with simple charm and a fabulous line up of cultural attractions.

Three of the greatest American artists and authors called Stockbridge their home — Edna St. Vincent Millay, Herman Melville, and Norman Rockwell. James Taylor sang about the town in Sweet Baby James .

One of America’s greatest treasures is the Norman Rockwell Museum . Rockwell was one of the greatest artists and illustrators in American history. Stockbridge was Rockwell’s long time residence and what he called his “best studio yet.”

His titular museum is home to a year round series of rotating exhibitions of Rockwell’s art and Saturday Evening Post magazine covers. There are 570 Rockwell illustrations, including the famous Triple Self Portrait and Going and Coming .

You can also visit Chesterwood , the home of Daniel Chester. It’s a 1920s Colonial Revival house, complete with the soaring studio of the legendary sculptor and landscape architect.

Chester created the statue of President Lincoln seated in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C . , and you’ll see plaster models in the museum.

Apart from visual arts and historic, the Berkshire Theater Group provides performing arts entertainment. The IS 183 Gallery has a stash of regional and national art works.

Every summer, Stockbridge (along with the town of Lenox) hosts the Tanglewood Music Festival, a series of concerts across all musical disciplines.

Stockbridge is also home to one of the Berkshires Gilded Age “cottages,” Naumkeag .

You can tour this quirky 44 room mansion designed by Stanford White, famed starchitect of the time. It boasts original furnishings, rooms full of angles and curves, and captivating gardens.

• Where to eat : Once Upon a Table, Truc Orient Express
• Where to stay : Red Lion Inn , The Inn at Stockbridge

Lenox is a pretty town of art galleries and upscale boutiques housed in historic buildings. You’ll find the classic Berkshires experience and some of the region’s most iconic properties — Blantyre, Wheatleigh, Canyon Ranch, and The Mount.

At one point, there were so many lavish summer homes that Lenox was known as “the inland Newport.”

In 1902, Edith Wharton, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Literature, built The Mount in Lenox. It’s an incredible throwback. It was a stately country retreat for the literary lioness and her then-husband, modeled after European manses but lacking their excesses.

No gaudy entries or vulgar grand staircases for the “Lady of Lenox,” who happily lived a corset free life and wrote Ethan Frome and The House of Mirth there. She did most of her writing in her third floor bedroom — in bed!

The Mount has been beautifully restored to its appearance during Wharton’s tenure. The exterior is a striking white stucco, with clusters of gables and white chimneys and a roof capped with a balustrade and cupola.

The Mount is home to a summer lecture series, weekly bird walks, concerts, theater performances, and outdoor sculpture exhibits. Edith Wharton’s library has been returned to the house, with 22 first editions of her work.

Lenox is also home to Tanglewood , the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Tanglewood is a must visit destination for music lovers, especially in the summer months.

Tanglewood’s venues attract a wide variety of musicians in the summer months. You can hear symphony orchestras, solo performances, and world class musicians.

All this makes Lenox one of the best places to visit in Massachusetts.

• Where to eat : Nudel, Wheatleigh, Bistro Zinc, Alpamayo, Cafe Lucia
• Where to stay : Wheatleigh , Hampton Terrace Inn

6. Williamstown

Williamstown is a cool college town, home to Williams College. Williams College is one of the “Little Ivies,” known for its ivy covered buildings, Gothic chapel, and beautiful architecture.

Williamstown is also home to the vaunted Clark Art Institute . It’s one of the United State’s best museums, focusing on historic European and American art.

The museum has been fully renovated and expanded in a mix of architectural styles. The museum is home to some beautiful works by John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer and a world class collection of French Impressionist paintings (30 Renoir paintings!).

The Clark Institute is located on a 140 acre compound. It has well marked (and free) hiking trails for year round exploration.

The well manicured paths wind through woods, cresting at the top of Stone Hill. From there, you’ll have a beautiful panoramic views of Williamstown and Vermont’s Green Mountains.

At the Williams College Museum of Art you’ll find modern and contemporary art to admire. If you’re visiting in the summer months, you can attend the Williamstown Theatre Festival, a 2002 Tony award winner for outstanding regional theater. Williams College offers concerts, recitals, and theatrical productions.

If you didn’t hike at the Clark Institute, try Pine Cobble Trail. The 3.2 mile trail is a steadily ascending climb to the 1,894 foot summit. From the top, you’ll have beautiful views of Williamstown and North Adams.

• Where to stay : Williams Inn , Fairfield Inn
• Where to eat : A Frame Bakery, Coyote Flaco, Mezze Bistro & Bar, ‘6 House Pub

7. Chatham Massachusetts

The Cape is a no-brainer. But where to stake your claim? Try the inimitable charms of Chatham, a tony New England town where the homes induce jaw drops, the historic center is walkable, and the seafood is hauled in just offshore.

Chatham’s curving Main Street conjures up low key elegance and old world charm. Chatham is the only Cape Code town bounded on three sides by water. It’s consistently ranked as one of the US’ best beach towns.

Chatham Lighthouse Beach is considered the most scenic public beach. It’s set beneath Chatham’s iconic lighthouse. This wild stretch of the Atlantic is the place for long walks and sunbathing (the surf is rough).

If you need a dose of culture with your beach retreat, head to the Orpheum. It’s a restored vintage theater showing first run movies and classics.

Or take in a play or musical at the Monomoy Theater, after browsing the casual to high end shops.

• Where to eat: Impudent Oyster, Del Mar Bar and Bistro, Twenty Eight Atlantic
• Where to stay: Chatham Bars Inn , Queen Anne Inn , The Hawthorne

8. Nantucket Town

Just 30 miles off the New England coast lies the idyllic small town of Nantucket. Nantucket is a place where you can simultaneously hit the beach and be visually stimulated.

In summer months, Nantucket can be a pricey paradise. Of course, the beaches (Jetties, Surfside) are stunning. But the historic center is also adorable with cobbled streets, historic residences, quaint shops, and innovative eateries.

More than a dozen art galleries are sprinkled around the downtown. On Union Street, an international roster of artists have contemporary works on display at the Art Cabinet.

Perhaps the top notch gallery is the Artists’ Association of Nantucket. It features rotating art exhibitions by local, regional, and national artists.

If you’d like to attend a poetry reading or lecture, hit up the Nantucket Atheneum. You can listen to authors, historians, and university professors.

In June, there’s the Nantucket Film Festival, where 30 independent films are screened at different venues.

• Where to stay : White Elephant , Nantucket Hotel & Resort , Greyson House
• Where to eat : The Proprietors Bar & Table, Oran Mor, Greyson House, Dun, Brotherhood of Thieves, Straight Wharf

9. Siasconset

This tiny Nantucket town delivers classic New England style looks — sweeping panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean, rose-covered saltbox houses, and the Sankaty Head Light. The town is nicknamed ‘Sconset. Nowadays, the former fishing houses give way to swanky mansions.

Sconset Beach is the best sandy beach on the north side of Nantucket. It’s an easy walk from town.

Made of white seashells, the Sconset Bluff Walk is the most scenic walk in Nantucket. The public cliff walk leads from Siasconset to the cute Sankaty Head Lighthouse. It takes you by the most beautiful properties on the island.

• Where to stay in Siasconset : Hotel Pippa, The Nantucket Hotel & Resort,
• Where to eat in Siasconset : Sconset Cafe, The Chanticleer, Claudette’s Sandwich Shop, Keeper’s Restaurant

10. Aquinnah, Martha’s Vineyard

Just across the waters from Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard is one of the best places in Massachusetts to visit that’s known the world over.

Martha’s Vineyard fills up with vacationers in the summer from Boston and New York. They come for the island’s breathtaking natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and savvy foodie venues.

But the crowds are centered in the northern edge of the island. Take some time to stroll the streets of Oak Bluffs, Edgartown and Tisbury before heading down southwest, or “up island” as the locals call it, locals and island veterans head to the small town of Aquinnah.

Located below the clay colored Aquinnah Cliffs (a national landmark), the white sand Moshup Beach is a sanctuary from the horde. There’s a cleared path that takes you downhill to the beach, which is strewn with enormous boulders. It’s one of the best beaches in the US.

• Where to eat : Larsen’s Fish Market, Menemsha Gallery
• Where to stay : Outermost Inn

11. Newburyport

First settled in 1635, Newburyport is an immaculate seaside town. It has a classic New England feel, with red brick streets, lobster shacks, and cobbled lanes. Plus “the Port” is only 35 miles from Boston, making it the perfect weekend getaway.

State Street is the heart of Newburyport. You’ll find an eclectic treasure trove of shops — clothing boutiques, bookstores, cafes, and vintage shops.

The Firehouse Center for the Arts is Newburyport’s cultural hotspot, offering concerts, musicals, and plays.

When you tire of shopping, surf and sand lovers can hit the beach. Plum Island is only a 20 minute drive from Newburyport.

Plum Island has beautiful and beloved sandy beaches and dunes. And it’s home to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, a hidden gem sanctuary with prime bird watching opportunities.

• Where to stay : Compass Rose Inn , Blue Inn on the Beach , Clark Currier Inn , GarrisonInn Boutique Hotel
• Where to eat : Agave, Black Cow, Brine Oyster Bar, Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant, Revitalive Cafe & Juice Bar, Brown Sugar Cafe, Ceia Kitchen and Bar

12. Northampton Massachusetts

Just 2 hours from Boston, the rural town of Northampton is a cultural nerve center in New England.

It’s a pretty town, ringed by 5 colleges and college museums. Grand mansions line tree-shaded streets. The beautiful Main Street is filled with with shops, art galleries, bookshops, etc.

In downtown Northampton, there are more than a dozen visual arts venues. The Northampton Center for the Arts offers poetry readings, film screenings, and concerts. The Calvin Theater is the premiere concert venue, hosing major touring music and comedy acts.

Four of the five colleges near Northampton offer theater and visual arts. Smack in the middle of Northampton is Smith College.

Its beautiful Smith College Museum of Art just received a $35 million makeover. The museum offers a year round series of art lectures, contemporary art exhibitions, and films.

Just down the road is Mount Holyoke College Art Museum . It offers contemporary and traditional exhibitions year round. You can also admire contemporary work at Amherst’s Mead Art Museum or check out national and international exhibits at Amherst’s University Gallery.

Northampton has a good foodie scene too, with both great pizzerias and haute cuisine. There are two dairies nearby, so the town’s cheese and ice cream options are among the best in New England.

Hikers can head to the popular Norwottuck Rail Trail Line or Look Park.

• Where to stay : Hotel Northampton , The Ellery , Fairfield Inn
• Where to eat : Bela, Mulino’s Trattoria, Paul and Elizabeth’s, Spoleto, Green Bean

13. Worcester

Right in the heart of the state, Worcester is one of the best places in Massachusetts to explore. It’s the second largest city in Massachusetts after Boston and just an hour away from Beantown.

Once in Worcester, take a gander through the huge exhibitions at the Worcester Art Museum . You can easily spend a good few hours inside.

The museum has works of Impressionism, Roman mosaics on the Renaissance Court floor, medieval armor, and Paul Revere’s silver collection.

Be sure to visit the Bancroft Tower . On the National Register of Historical Places, it’s been around in Worcester since 1900. This fantasy medieval castle was built on a whim to honor a US Navy pioneer. It’s a miniaturized castle in the middle of a park.

At night, you can take in a theater or music performance at the elegant Hanover Inn, Mechanics Hall, or Tuckerman Hall.

• Where to eat : Mezcal Tequila Cantina, Suzette Creoperie & Cafe, Birch Tree Bread Company, Bocado Tapas Bar
• Where to stay : Beechwood Hotel , Courtyard Worcester

14. Plymouth

Situated at the mouth of Cape Cod Bay, Plymouth is a historical haven. The town was the very first permanent settlement by Europeans north of Virginia. Today, it’s a thriving small town with a lovely historic district, perfect for history buffs.

After parking up, head to the Mayflower II , which is a full scale replica of the original 17th century Mayflower. The Mayflower is famous as the ship that brought pilgrims to the US in 1620. You can even take a tour of the ship itself, which is docked in Plymouth Harbor

Also, to learn the pilgrims’ tale, stop in the state’s oldest museum, Pilgrim Hall . There, you’ll find an unmatched collection of ancient artifacts and possessions of the pilgrims.

Afterwards, you’ll get to wander around historic Howland House and visit the 18th century Court House.

If you want to really step back in time, head to Plimoth Plantation . It’s a living museum that aims to explore the daily lives of the Colonial Americans.

The village has been carefully recreated, with thatched roofs and giant open fireplaces. Click here to pre-book a ticket.

The actors in the museum are in period costume and never step out of character. You can watch them performing 17th century tasks including building, gardening, and military exercises.

• Where to eat : KKatie’s Burger Bar, Blue Eyed Crab Grille & Raw Bar, Mamma Mia’s
• Where to stay : Mirbeau Inn & Spa , Hilton Garden Inn

15. Bash Bish Falls, Great Barrington

Near Great Barrington you’ll find the beautiful Bash Bish Falls. Bash Bish is the largest single drop waterfall in Massachusetts. Water is sliced in two by a massive boulder creating a picture perfect double waterfall.

At 80 foot high, it’s not Niagara size. But it’s still pretty. A steep 20 minute trail leads from the parking lot. Bish Bash is on the Massachusetts-New York border. If you want a less challenging hike, drive 1 mile west to the New York side parking lot.

Picturesque Bash Bish Falls has been a popular Berkshires tourist stop since the mid 19th century. When you come upon the falls, you’ll feel as though you’ve discovered a secret, woodland spot. But, be forewarned, there will be many other waterfall pilgrims at this uber popular hiking spot.

• Where to stay in Great Barrington : Fairfield Inn , Thornewood Inn , Granville House
• Where to eat in Great Barrington : Prairie Whale, Rubi’s Cafe, Cheesemongers & Grocers, Meat Market, Bizen, John Andrews

16. Pontoosuc Lake & Berkshires Museum

Around 10 miles from the New York state border is pristine Pontoosuc Lake. It’s is a gem to visit for a stroll or boat ride. Not only that, with nearby Lake Onata, you have two pretty lakes to choose from.

After enjoying the lakes, pop over to the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield. It’s just undergone a major renovation. The museum showcases everything from a stegosaurus to Alexander Calder mobiles.

If you’re a Henry Melville fan, stop visit his small yellow house, Arrowhead . The author lived in this converted warehouse during his most productive writing years. He wrote Moby Dick in the second floor study. Melville built his porch on the “wrong” side of the house for the best view of Mt. Greylock.

Be sure to indulge in some delicious ice cream at Krispy Cones.

• Where to stay near Pittsfield : Overnight at the excellent choices in Lenox instead.
• Where to eat in Pittsfield : Elizabeth’s, Enso Asian Bistro, Mission Bar and Tapas

17. Stellwagen Bank National Marine Park

Want to view some of the most massive animals on the planet? The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Park is one of the best whale watching spots in the entire world. It’s a wild ocean destination not far from Boston, just 37 miles away.

The sancturay has an extremely productive and diverse environment, which encourages a wide mix of marine wildlife.

Each summer, around 50 recognized humpbacks return. You can also spot dolphins and seals. There are plenty of whale spotting tours available in the area departing from Gloucester or Provincetown. Click here for a list of boat tour operators.

Address : 175 Edward Foster Road, Scituate MA

18. Mt. Greylock Park, Adams

Located near the town of Adams in the Berkshires, and inspiring Herman Melville and Henry David Thoreau, lies Mount Greylock . It’s the highest point in the state at 3,491 feet above sea level. You can drive up to the summit for Massachusetts’ highest viewing point, which features views of five states if visibility is good.

There are plenty of marked hiking trails at Mt. Greylock as well, many starting from the parking lot at the mountain’s base. Click here for the online trail map.

At the top, there’s a War Tower Memorial for WWII veterans, a panoramic view, and Bascom Lodge where you can eat lunch.

According to J.K. Rowling, Mt. Greylock is the location of the North American wizarding school, Ilvermorny. In 2016, J.K. Rowling revealed the name of the school to fans on her Pottermore site.

In Adams, you can also visit the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum .

This museum is dedicated to a woman who played a pivotal role in the suffragette movement. There’s a beautiful collection of postcards commemorating the suffrage, abolition, and temperance movements.

• Where to eat : Bascom Lodge, Coyote Flaco, Mezze Bistro Bar, Grazie, Poweder Hounds Restaurant
• Where to stay : Bascom Lodge, The Williams Inn, The Porches Inn

19. Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield

Located near the town of Pittsfield is Hancock Shaker Village . It’s a living slice of American history. The village is a restoration of a small religious community that flourished in the 19th century.

The Shakers migrated from Manchester England. They were an extremely religious sect that believed in the second coming of Christ.

The sect was dubbed the Shakers because the adherents exhibited shaking motions while listening to sermons. The Shakers were also noted pacifists. The group didn’t last forever because they eschewed sex and marriage, resulting in no heirs.

You can tour the Shaker buildings, including a group dwelling house and stone barn, and watch craftsman at work. There are thousands of Shaker artifacts on display.

• Address : 18432 West Housatonic St. Pittsfield
• Where to stay in Pittsfield : Overnight in nearly Lenox instead

20. North Adams

North Adams is a former manufacturing hub reinvented as a cutting edge art town. North Adams is known as “The Town of Steeples and Peaks,” for the spires of its many churches. Come for the art, and stay for the scenery.

North Adams’ downtown is filled with art galleries, artists studios, and cute shops. Its pride and joy is Porches Inn, an eye catching row of distinctive multi-colored Victorians.

What makes North Adams one of the best places to visit in Massachusetts is that’s it’s home to the utterly fabulous Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (“MASS MoCA”). Opened in 1999, MoCA is one of the region’s foremost cultural institutions, with an emphasis on international contemporary art.

MoCA is home to exciting works by Louise Bourgeois and Robert Rauschenberg. Entire walls are decorated by Sol LeWitt. The museum also has a permanent collection with works by the likes of Manet, Constable, Bonnard, Delacroix, Ingres, and Sargent.

In nearby Natural Bridge State Park, you can view the only natural white marble arch in North America. It was carved as a result of glacial melt over 13,000 years ago. A bridge spans Hudson Brook and twists through a 60 foot gorge.

You can also hike the Cascade Trail . The 1.2 mile trail follows Notch Brook up to a cascading waterfall (photo above). It’s an easy one hour or so trail, with one riverbank crossing.

• Where to stay in North Adams : Porches Inn , Tourists
• Where to eat in North Adams : Gramercy Bistro, Grazie, Public Eat and Drink

21. Concord: Literary Legends

Just 15 miles north of Boston is the town of Concord, a steeple-studded town home to pretty Walden Pond . Walden Pond is a nature preserve home to countless local flora and fauna. Walden Pond is both beautiful and has a unique history.

Walden Pond is forever linked to novelist Henry David Thoreau. From 1845 to 1847, he while lived in a one room cabin, the property of his friend and mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson. (A replica of the original cabin is about half a mile away.)

There, he wrote one of America’s most famous novels, Walden or Life in the Woods. Walden explored simplistic living, solitude, and harmony with nature.

In Concord, you can also visit Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. The novelist based Little Women on her experiences growing up in this house with her sisters.

Today, the historic home is a museum. It has 80% of its original period furniture.

You can tour the kitchen, dining room, parlor, art studio, and the bedrooms. Louisa’s bedroom has the small white desk where she penned Little Women and other books.

For an overview of Concord’s Revolutionary history and literary legacy visit the excellent Concord Museum . On display, you’ll find Native American artifacts, Thoreau’s snowshoes and furniture, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s study, Paul Revere’s original signaling lantern, and period collections of decorative arts and furniture.

Concord’s Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is filled with graves of famous authors, if you want to pay them homage. You’ll find the final resting places of Thoreau, Emerson, Alcott, and William Ellery Channing.

• Where to eat : Main Streets Market & Cafe, 80 Thoreau, Woods Hill Table, Bondir
• Where to stay : Colonial Inn , Residence Inn Marriott

22. Lexington

If your’e a history buff, just northwest of Boston is historic Lexington. On April 18, 1775, patriot leader Paul Revere alerted the town that the British were coming. The next day, the first shots in the War of Independence were fired.

A renowned statue by sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson marks Battle Green , where colonial Minutemen clashed with British troops. In Minuteman National Historical Park, you can see a multimedia exhibit on the Road to Revolution.

While waiting for the British, the Minutemen and their commander, Captain Parker, gathered in the Buckman Tavern .

The interior is preserved exactly as it appeared in the 18th century, complete with the original seven foot wide open fireplace. The old front door still contains British musket-ball holes.

Built in the early 1690s, Munroe Tavern became a field hospital for the wounded. You can take a 30 mixture tour and examine period artifacts and furniture.

The Hancock-Clarke House contains period furniture of the Clarke family and Reverend John Hancock, grandfather of the signer of the Declaration of Independence.

• Where to eat : La Dolda, Il Casale, Town Meeting Bistro
• Where to stay : Inn at Hastings Park , Element Lexington

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the best and most beautiful places to visit in Massachusetts. You may enjoy these other United States travel guides and resources:

• 45 amazing destinations in the United States
• Fall foliage around Washington D.C.
• 10 day itinerary for New Hampshire
• 10 day itinerary for coastal Maine
• 7-10 day itinerary for Vermont
• Hidden Gems on the East Coast
• 2 week itinerary for the American Southwest
• 10 day itinerary for southern California

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Last Updated on March 11, 2023 by Leslie Livingston

Massachusetts Travel Guide

Of the six New England states, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (" Mass " to locals) is the largest New England state by population (6.75 million), half of whom live in the Boston area ( map ). The state also boasts the most top tourist attractions in the region.

Getting to Massachusetts

Here's how to get to Massachusetts, and how to get around .

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If you fly to New England you'll probably land at Boston 's Logan International Airport (BOS). Here's more on Boston transportation .

As for Massachusetts's size and distances , it's 270 miles (435 km, 4.5 hours) by road from Provincetown , on the tip of Cape Cod in the east of Massachusetts, to Williamstown , at the northern end of the Berkshire Hills on Massachusetts's western border with the states of New York and Vermont .

Boston & Cambridge

Capital of Massachusetts and unofficial "capital" of New England, Boston is the region's largest city and the hub of transportation , commerce and society. Follow Boston's famous Freedom Trail to trace the founding of the American republic. Its fine art museums are among the world's best, its public parks ( Boston Common , Public Garden and Emerald Necklace ) and harbor islands beautiful, its Duck Tours a quirky favorite. The New England Aquarium , Boston Children's Museum and Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum are favorites with kids in Boston .

The neighboring city of Cambridge is America's most distinguished university town , boasting Harvard , M.I.T. and several other universities and colleges. More...

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These two pretty, historic towns were where the American Revolutionary War began. Today they're favorite get-out-of-the-city destinations for walkers, bikers , history buffs and shoppers .

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The myth is that New England —and indeed America—began when the Pilgrims sailed through Massachusetts Bay to its South Shore and stepped on Plymouth Rock in 1620. Relive that founding experience at Plimoth Patuxet Museums , on the Mayflower II , and in the museums of Plymouth . In Quincy , visit the church and homes of early presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams . More...

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New Bedford & Fall River

Southeastern Massachusetts offers lots of maritime history : New Bedford is all about whaling , and Fall River has the world's largest naval ship exhibit, including the World War II-era battleship USS Massachusetts . More...

Massachusetts's second-largest city has lots of colleges, an industrial base, and fine museums .

Old Sturbridge Village takes you back to the New England of the early 1840s, and there are antique fairs and Russian icons nearby. More...

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The Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts is home to five famous colleges , Massachusetts' third-largest city ( Springfield ), scenic beauty, and lots of history. More...

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Hiking and walking trails, camping and cycling are all enjoyed in the forests and parks of Massachusetts. Boston is the beginning of the Freedom Trail, the home of numerous cultural institutions and events as well as the birthplace of a number of notable Americans, including Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Morse, and John F. Kennedy.

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Ultimate Guide to Western Massachusetts

Megan Johnson

Megan is a Senior Editor, SEO for SmarterTravel Media.

Megan started with SmarterTravel Media’s Airfarewatchdog way back in 2008, moved over to FamilyVacationCritic, and finally SmarterTravel in 2021. Originally from Massachusetts, she has lived in Nova Scotia, London, and New York City. She has spent nearly every summer (or at least part of it) on Prince Edward Island. She has started to go out of her comfort zone while traveling- most recently exploring caves and boogie boarding on a FlowRider.

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Since the Gilded Age, the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts (Western Mass) have provided a city escape for New Yorkers- wealthy Gilded Age tycoons built summer mansions there, and the Berkshires were inundated with wealthy socialites. There is good reason for it, too. Western MA is filled with gorgeous scenery loads of outdoor activities, and, through the years, has brought several attractions that make the allure even more powerful.

I spent the summer in the Berkshires years ago, doing an apprenticeship at the Berkshire Theatre Festival (now the Berkshire Theatre Group). I got to experience the Berkshires at their finest. I also lived in Western Mass for several years, in Hampden County, east of the Berkshires. Most recently, I visited the Berkshires and Western Mass for the first time as a tourist and was excited to see all it has to offer through the eyes of a tourist. 

What Is Considered Western Mass? 

Before I delve into all of the wonderful things that Western MA offers, let’s go through what (or where) Western MA actually is. Western Mass is anything west of and including the city of Springfield. This is a giant chunk of the state, and to say there is much to see and do would be an understatement. The counties included are: 

• Berkshire County Renowned for its stunning scenery, the Berkshires are home to charming towns, world-class art at the Clark Art Institute, and cultural landmarks like Tanglewood and the Norman Rockwell Museum.
• Franklin County Featuring the Deerfield River Valley and the Mohawk Trail, this county offers outdoor enthusiasts a range of activities, from hiking and biking to kayaking and fishing.
• Hampshire County Home to college towns like Amherst and Northampton, Hampshire County boasts a vibrant arts scene, historic sites, and a thriving culinary scene.
• Hampden County As the largest county in Western Massachusetts, Hampden County offers a mix of urban amenities in Springfield and rural charm in its surrounding towns.

How to Get to Western Mass

Western Massachusetts is easily accessible by train, plane, bus, and car. 

Flying to Western Mass

Bradley International Airport in Connecticut is about twenty minutes from Springfield and an hour to the Berkshires. The Albany, NY, airport is an hour from several Berkshire hotspots. Public transportation is available from the airport to the bus and train stations, where you can book a bus or train to your Western Mass destination. 

Springfield has an Amtrak station, which offers direct rides to several Northeast cities and connects train rides all over the US. Pittsfield, Holyoke, and Greenfield also have Amtrak stations. 

Driving to Western Mass

Major highways, such as Interstate 91 and Interstate 90, connect the region to other parts of the state and beyond.

Things to Do in Western Mass

Outdoor activities.

There are several opportunities for hiking, including Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts. Mount Tom, located in Holyoke, offers stunning views of the Connecticut River Valley. Northfield Mountain offers 26 miles of trails for biking and hiking and special events like Hiking and Yoga, which involve hiking with breaks for yoga poses. 

Other popular hiking spots include: 

• The Berkshires  Beyond Mount Greylock, explore the diverse terrain of the Berkshires. The Appalachian Trail offers challenging hikes with stunning vistas. Consider day hikes or multi-day backpacking adventures.
• Taconic Mountains Venture into the Taconic Mountains for a less crowded experience. Discover hidden waterfalls, rocky peaks, and peaceful trails.

Skiing and Snowboarding 

Western MA has its share of skiing and snowboarding spots during the winter months. You can hit the slopes at Berkshire East , Jiminy Peak , Butternut Ski , and more for some winter fun.

Kayaking, Canoeing and Paddleboarding

Loads of smaller lakes and rivers are perfect for kayaking and canoeing; of course, the Connecticut River offers plenty of opportunities for water sports. Companies like Paddle N’ Party in South Hadley have single-person and tandem kayaks, paddleboards, and Hydro-Bikes available for rental. Spots perfect for paddling include Lake Wyola in Shutesbury and Aldrich Lake in Granby, which prohibits motorboats, so you’ll have a genuinely peaceful adventure. Further west, you’ll find Stockbridge Bowl, Lake Mansfield, Pontoosuc Lake, and more. 

Cultural and Historical Attractions

Western MA is chock-full of cultural and historical attractions to check out during your stay.  

You can see world-class art in a stunning setting at The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. Get a glimpse into Americana and explore the life and work of Norman Rockwell at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. You can explore Historic Deerfield , comprised of twelve preserved houses dating from 1730 to 1850, to get a real glimpse into New England life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Wistariahurst , in Holyoke, is a Victorian mansion with public gardens, house tours, an art gallery, and special events throughout the year. You don’t have to head to a big city to check out some of the best up and coming art- just head to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) , in North Adams. 

How to Do a Day Trip to Provincetown, Massachusetts From Boston

Western MA is not without its choices for music and theatre either, especially during the summer months. World-renowned Tanglewood brings top performers to the Berkshires every summer and is the summer home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra . Summer theatre includes the Berkshire Theatre Group,   Williamstown Theatre Festival , and Shakespeare and Company – all in the Berkshires. Check out a play or musical at The Majestic Theatre in West Springfield; Happier Valley Comedy provides gut-busting performances in Hadley if you’re looking for laughs.  

Dance lovers will be enthralled by performances at Jacob’s Pillow , a National Historic Landmark that delivers award-winning dance performances. 

Wellness in Western Massachusetts

The Berkshires is home to two of the most well-known wellness resorts, Canyon Ranch and Mirival, both providing guests with all-inclusive wellness by means of healthy eating, mindfulness, spa treatments, and fitness. Western MA visitors can take a yoga class at Kripalu , relax in a hot tub at Elements Hot Tub Spa in Amherst, or enjoy salt therapy at 

Things to Do in Western Mass With Kids

There is plenty to do in the area for kids, including two museums dedicated to beloved children’s authors; the Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield, and the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst. Thrill seakers will love Six Flags New England, young and old will love visiting Yankee Candle, and everyone will love the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield. 

Dining in Western Massachusetts

Western Massachusetts offers a diverse culinary scene, from farm-to-table restaurants to historic inns. Here are some of the many options you’ll find: 

The Red Lion Inn – Stockbridge A historic landmark, the Red Lion Inn features multiple dining options, including the formal Daniel Webster Restaurant and the more casual Shire Tavern.

Mezze Bistro + Bar –  Williamstown Enjoy a Mediterranean-inspired menu featuring small plates perfect for sharing.

PUBLIC eat+drink – North Adams This industrial-chic spot offers a modern take on American comfort food with a focus on local ingredients. The atmosphere is lively, and the cocktail program is impressive.

The Book Mill – Montague  Lady Killgrew Cafe, the restaurant inside of the Book Mill, offers a unique dining experience with its cozy atmosphere and delicious menu of coffee, sandwiches, and more.

Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern – Historic Deerfield Located in the historic Deerfield Inn, Champney’s offers a charming blend of classic New England cuisine and modern flair in a cozy, historic setting.

Breweries and Wineries 

Western Massachusetts boasts a thriving craft beer scene with a diverse range of breweries offering everything from classic styles to experimental brews. The region’s rolling hills and fertile land have produced a growing number of wineries, offering a variety of locally produced wines. And, of course, in true New England fashion, the area is brimming with orchards, so the area is littered with cideries as well. Here are some breweries, wineries and cideries you’ll find in the area: 

Berkshire Brewing Company – South Deerfield   Offers a wide range of beers, including their popular Purple Haze IPA.

Northampton Brewery – Northampton   A pioneer in the Massachusetts craft beer scene, known for its consistent quality.

Abandoned Building Brewery – Easthampton   Focuses on experimental and barrel-aged beers in a unique industrial setting.

Bright Ideas Brewing – North Adams   Known for its innovative brews and vibrant taproom scene.

Barrington Brewery – Great Barrington   Offers a family-friendly atmosphere and a wide selection of beers.

SmarterTravel Spotlight: Ocean Edge Resort, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Black Birch Vineyard – Hatfield  Offers a variety of wines made with grapes grown in the Connecticut River Valley.

Mineral Hills Winery – Florence   Produces award-winning wines with a focus on sustainability.

WineHaus – Granby   Offers a diverse selection of reds, whites and roses. 

Balderdash Cellars – Richmond   Known for its boutique wines made from grapes grown in the Berkshires.

Hilltop Orchards & Furnace Brook Winery – Richmond   Offers a wide variety of wines and ciders made from apples grown on the orchard.

Les Trois Emme Vineyard & Winery – New Marlborough   Produces handcrafted wines with a focus on French varietals.

Carr’s Ciderhouse – Hadley   A classic cider house offering traditional and modern ciders.

Headwater Cider – Hawley Produces handcrafted ciders using locally grown apples.

Outlook Farm – Westhampton Their cider, slow-fermented with a touch of honey, spice, or hops, offers a unique and refreshing taste experience. While primarily focused on cider, Outlook Farm also produces a small selection of wines, showcasing the versatility of their orchard’s bounty.

Where to Stay in Western Massachusetts

Blantyre – lenox.

Indulge in luxury at Blantyre, a historic estate offering world-class accommodations, including elegant suites and spacious cottages. Experience impeccable service and enjoy the estate’s extensive amenities.

The Williams Inn – North Adams/Williamstown

The Williams Inn provides a stylish and comfortable stay near MASS MoCA and Williams College. Choose from a selection of standard rooms and suites, designed with modern travelers in mind.

The Inn at Crumpin-Fox – Bernardston

Nestled in the heart of the Massachusetts countryside, The Inn at Crumpin-Fox offers a serene escape. With comfortable rooms featuring modern amenities like refrigerators and televisions, guests can unwind after a day on the golf course or exploring the surrounding area.

Hotel Northampton – Northampton

Experience the heart of downtown Northampton at Hotel Northampton. This historic landmark offers a range of accommodations, from standard rooms to potentially business-oriented options, ensuring a comfortable stay.

MGM Springfield – Springfield

Immerse yourself in the excitement of a casino resort at MGM Springfield. Choose from a variety of guest rooms and suites, featuring modern amenities and stunning city views.

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9 Beautiful Road Trips for Exploring New England

Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, there’s a road trip (or two) for each season..

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View of Horsehead-Marbella, a historic house near Beavertail State Park.

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New England may be known for its autumn reds and yellows, but to us, there’s no bad time to cross the region by car. Officially consisting of the six states of Maine , Vermont , New Hampshire, Massachusetts , Connecticut , and Rhode Island , New England is filled with picturesque seaside towns, mountains, clear lakes, and yep, some of the best fall foliage around. To see the region’s most beautiful sites, head out on one of these great New England road trip itineraries.

1. Vermont Route 100

• Start: Heartwellville, Vermont
• End: Troy, Vermont
• Distance: 217 miles
• Recommended season: summer

At 217 miles long, the Scenic Route 100 Byway hugs the eastern edge of the Green Mountains and travels nearly the entire length of Vermont. (Most of Vermont’s ski resorts are located along the highway, so it can actually have fewer cars in the summer than in winter.) If cute old-school stores are your thing, be sure to stop at the Vermont Country Store in Weston—it’s been open since 1946 and offers free cheese and maple syrup samples.

Dramatic scenes like these are delightfully par for the course along Maine’s coast.

Courtesy of Stephen Crane/Unsplash

2. Maine State Route 9 East

• Start: Ogunquit, Maine
• End: Calais, Maine
• Distance: 263 miles

Much like California , Maine is also known for its stretch of Route 1, aka “the lobster trail.” This trip crawls along the coastline and passes through Ogunquit, Kennebunk, Portland, Rockport, and more until it hits Canada. Must-dos along the way: Eat at the Clam Shack , on the bridge between Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, snap a photo at Portland Head Light, and stop by Project Puffin Visitor Center in Rockland—especially fun with kids in tow.

Cape Cod is known for its appealing beaches and coastline.

Courtesy of Christopher Ryan/Unsplash

3. Old King’s Highway in Cape Cod

• Start: Sandwich, Massachusetts
• End: Provincetown, Massachusetts
• Distance: 60 miles

Route 6A is popular in summer, when visitors to the Massachusetts Cape begin their trip in Sandwich and follow the road east to Provincetown, passing cranberry bogs, salt marshes, historic homes, and some of the oldest villages in the United States. Get your lobster roll fix at places like Kate’s Seafood (Brewster) and Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar (Eastham). For overnights, head over to South Dennis and stay at the Sesuit Harbor House , originally built in 1735.

The Kancamagus Highway is known for being one of the top spots to see fall foliage.

Courtesy of Jonathan Ng/Unsplash

4. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

• Start: Conway, New Hampshire
• End: Lincoln, New Hampshire
• Distance: 35 miles
• Recommended season: fall

Curving for 35 miles on country roads through New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, the Kancamagus Highway has earned its place on several “best of” road trip lists, thanks to its picturesque ponds, hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and hairpin turns. Colloquially known as the “Kanc,” the byway draws millions of visitors every year. With the highway’s plentiful hiking trails taking up daylight, spend the night in one of the six White Mountain National Forest campgrounds located on the byway.

This road trip passes through quaint towns like St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Photo by Snehit Photo/Shutterstock

5. Connecticut River Byway

• Start: South Hadley, Massachusetts
• End: Pittsburg, New Hampshire
• Distance: 242 miles

Another way to reach New Hampshire’s White Mountains is to take the Connecticut River Byway , which is Vermont’s only designated National Byway. The route cuts from South Hadley, a little college town home to Seven Sisters school Mount Holyoke, straight up through Vermont to the top of Vermont and then just east to New Hampshire. Along the way, stop by some of Massachusetts’s historic district villages like Northfield and Montague Center, or take a few nature-led detours to Molly State Park near Brattleboro, Vermont. (The food co-op here is a good place for picnic fare.)

If you’re unable to do the whole route, no worries. In the words of Afar deputy editor Tim Chester : “Pick a stretch and you can’t go wrong—particularly in fall when the leafy backdrop is painted shades of red, orange, and yellow.”

End your road trip in Burlington, Vermont’s most populated (and delightfully walkable) city.

Photo by Julie Deshaies/Shutterstock

6. Burlington to Woodstock, Vermont via I-89 S

• Start: Burlington, Vermont
• End: Woodstock, Vermont
• Distance: 90 miles

While several road trips on this list go through Vermont, this road trip itinerary specifically focuses on the state’s delicious dishes . Starting in Burlington, road-trippers can visit the local farmers’ market for breakfast before continuing south on Route 89 to Stowe. Around here, try places like Long Trail Brewing Company and Hen of the Wood (dinner only). The drive concludes in Woodstock, where you can find salted goat’s milk caramels at Fat Toad Farm.

7. Mohawk Trail (Route 7), Massachusetts

• Start: Pittsfield, Massachusetts
• End: Greenfield, Massachusetts
• Distance: 63 miles

Massachusetts’s Berkshire Mountains and its famed 63-mile Mohawk Trail are the stuff of leaf-peeping legends . Starting in Pittsfield, take Route 7 north until hitting Williamstown, home to Williams College and art museum the Clark , and continue on Route 2 to Western Gateway Heritage State Park, Natural Bridge State Park, and MASS MoCA , among other attractions. Eventually, you’ll hit the Hoosac Range—where the views only keep getting better. For a stay along the way, consider Miraval Berkshires in Lenox .

Stowe is one of the East Coast’s top ski destinations.

Photo by FashionStock.com/Shutterstock

8. Skiers’ Paradise via Route 100, Vermont

• Start: Stowe, Vermont
• Distance: 80 miles
• Recommended season: winter

Come winter, heavy snow drifts mean good things for skiers in New England. Visit several ski resorts on this road trip—including Stowe Mountain Resort and Saskadena Six Ski Area —which starts in Stowe and finishes in Woodstock, Vermont. It’s 80 miles between the two towns on Vermont Route 100 (allow two hours) or 73 miles on the highway (allow an hour and 20 minutes); the slopes—and attractions—in each mean you’ll want to spread the trip out over a long weekend. Things not to miss in Stowe: the family-run Alchemist brewery, Stowe Maple Products sugarhouse, and the thin-crust pies at the aptly named Piecasso .

In Woodstock, be sure to carve out time for Richardson’s Tavern , Billings Farm & Museum , and F.H. Gillingham & Sons , a store that has been open for nearly 140 years.

The manicured gardens at Roseland Cottage are prettiest in spring.

Photo by Lee Snider Photo Images/Shutterstock

9. Quiet Connecticut via I-395 N

• Start: Norwich, Connecticut
• End: Woodstock, Connecticut
• Distance: 39 miles
• Recommended season: spring

If you’re a fan of quaint towns and farmsteads, this road trip from Norwich to Woodstock might be for you. (Fun fact: Woodstock has more dairy farms than anywhere else in the state.) The route, on I-395 N, clocks in at 39 miles, but you’ll want to slow down and take your time—yep, it’s that scenic. Do some bird-watching at Aicher Preserve or Border Woods Preserve , both of which come alive with greenery and flowers in spring. The manicured gardens will be in full bloom at Roseland Cottage in Woodstock, a pretty 1846 Gothic revival–style former summer home that’s a history museum. Bed down for the night at the Inn at Woodstock Hill , where you can enjoy Connecticut’s serenity near the small town of Putnam.

This article originally appeared online in 2020; it was most recently updated on August 14, 2024, to include current information.

7 Cities In Massachusetts With Nantucket Vibes, But Better

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• Experience affordable Cape Cod vibes in Manchester By The Sea, a sophisticated beach town with stunning views and seafood delights.
• Chatham offers a preppy coastal charm similar to Nantucket, with lighthouses, oyster bars, and quaint mom-and-pop stores.
• Gloucester boasts nautical charm, medieval beauty, and delicious culinary options that will make you want to stay forever.

Nantucket is a picturesque coastal dream town, filled with views so affluent and picturesque you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right inside a New England postcard. Sure, it's a magical island getaway in the U.S. , with its incredible white beaches and some of the most charming villages you'll find on the East Coast. But as great as Nantucket is, there are countless other beach towns and coastal cities in Massachusetts that can be often overlooked.

So, without further ado, let’s take a peek at some of the most lovely Nantucket-style spots in Massachusetts, but even better.

This Rhode Island Town Is An Underrated Alternative To The Hamptons

A Gilded Age town with a history as rich as its historic residents, Newport, Rhode Island gives the Hamptons a run for its money, literally.

7 Manchester By The Sea

Quaint east coast community with gorgeous seaside views.

This adorable beach town in New England is brimming with sophistication, poise, and coastal charm. Manchester By The Sea is an utterly picturesque community, idyllic for seaside dreamers who want to get lost on the sandy, sun-dappled shores of Singing Beach.

Once you walk along the sandy shore of Singing Beach, you can collect seashells, enjoy a homemade ice cream cone from Captain Dusty’s, take a swim in the deepest blue waters, or play a game of volleyball with the locals. Be sure to save your appetite for a night on the waterfront at The Mooring seafood restaurant. There, you can enjoy the starlit ocean views while slurping delicious oysters with cocktail sauce, seared scallops, or seafood pasta.

Beautiful beachy town filled with delicious dining and cozy shops

Chatham is a preppy coastal dream town that manages to give Nantucket a run for its money. With its roots as a fishing village, this salt-air maritime getaway is dotted with lighthouses, charming mom-and-pop stores, and mouth-watering oyster bars.

This quiet, friendly village is so picturesque that it's often labeled a favorite destination spot for those who have traveled all around the East Coast. With that in mind, it's a bit more costly in Chatham compared to other small beach towns in the area, so make sure to budget ahead of time before your trip.

Be sure to check out local shops such as Fisherman’s Daughter and Mayflower Shop. If you’re hungry, be sure to grab a bite at Del Mar (try the white clam pizza) or Wood Roasted Codfish.

5 Gloucester

Warm community with nautical charm and beautiful architecture.

Gloucester is the definition of a “cozy coastal beach town,” with its cobblestone streets, dreamy harbors, and proud-standing lighthouses. Listen to the soothing maritime sounds of seagulls crying in the distance, while the cobalt ocean waves fizzle out in front of you. Smell the sophisticated scents of clams, ocean salt, and seaweed. Set sail on a boat ride and go whale watching with your loved ones. Get lost in the old-world beauty of the medieval rooms in the Hammond Castle , overlooking the crystal clear ocean.

With its sandy beaches, warm small-town charm, and delicious culinary options, Gloucester will make you want to pack up all your stuff and become a full-time resident.

7 Underrated U.S. Beach Destinations With Cape Cod Vibes, But Better

Cape Cod is famous for its beautiful beaches, and these lesser-known beach destinations are similar in some ways and even better for a getaway.

Festive town with exciting thrills and deep history

For all you thrill seekers out there, make sure you check out the historic, witchy town of Salem, Massachusetts (if you dare.) Salem has all the sophistication of Nantucket but with a dark and festive twist.

Because of its rich history involving the Salem Witch Trials, this town is brimming with attractions and museums that shed light on this haunting period of time, dating back to the 1600s. These include the Salem Witch Trial Memorials, Gallows Hill Museum, the House of the Seven Gables, and the Peabody Essex Museum, just to name a few. (Don't worry, you'll never run out of witchy things to do in Salem .)

When you want a break from all the spooky sightings, be sure to grab a bite at favorite local spots like Ray Adea’s. In Salem, you can never run out of be witch ing activities to explore.

10 Of The Best Ghost Tours In Salem That Combine History With Horror

Interested in some of the most haunted happenings in Salem? Book one of these top Salem ghost tours for the ultimate spooks!

Peaceful town with meditative nature spots and gorgeous skies

Ah, Sandwich—a coastal town as unique and charming as its name. If you’re in the mood for something cozy, scenic, and historic, look no further than the underrated Cape Cod town of Sandwich, Massachusetts.

Founded in the 1600s, Sandwich is filled with rich historic sightings, colonial cottages, and old-world charm. Explore its sunny beaches, stunning gardens, or simply tour the colonial homes, which will make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a different century.

Because of its coastal charm and gorgeous sites, Sandwich can get rather busy during tourist months, so it’s best to go during June or September for a quieter experience. Care to grab a bite of mouthwatering seafood while looking out at the gorgeous ocean as the boats pass by? Look no further than Fishermen’s View Seafood Market and Restaurant.

7 Quiet Beach Towns In Massachusetts This Summer

While Massachusetts boasts many beautiful popular coastal spots, we think that the quieter beach towns are more idyllic and relaxing.

2 Hyannis Port

Classy kennedy-esque town filled with historical roots and lovely nature.

Want to feel just like a Kennedy (without all the additional tragedy and pressure that comes from being a Kennedy?) Check out the presidential family’s favorite summer getaway, Hyannis Port.

In Hyannis, you can enjoy one of the most affluent locations in the continental U.S. With its clean white beach cottages, setting sailboats, and gorgeous ocean views, you’ll never want to leave this elegant coastal escape. Be sure to check out the John F. Kennedy Museum as well as the Whydah Pirate Museum, filled with real treasure.

1 Provincetown

Brimming with culture, art, and beachy sophistication.

After the Cape Cod School of Art opened in 1899, writers, painters, and musicians alike have been calling Provincetown their home in exchange for the more bustling cities of New York and LA. It's also home to a thriving LGBTQ+ scene and hosts many cultural festivals and events throughout the year, but especially in summer. Like Nantucket, its population grows exponentially in the summer.

Here, you can slurp up the mouth-watering lemon-butter seafood at the famous Lobster Pot on Commercial Street. Dig into their delicious lobster rolls and clam chowder, after a long day of exploring the beaches and art museums dotted throughout Provincetown.

Watch CBS News

The best state to live in is Massachusetts, new ranking says

By Neal Riley

Updated on: August 14, 2024 / 9:06 AM EDT / CBS Boston

BOSTON - Massachusetts just keeps coming out on top. 

In recent weeks, WalletHub has said the state has the best school systems in the country, and is the No. 1 state in which to have a baby . Now the personal finance website declares that Massachusetts is the best place to live in all of America.

"Massachusetts is the best state to live in, due in large part to its strong health care system and high-quality education," WalletHub says.

How Massachusetts ranked

Massachusetts ranked first in the education and health categories. 

On the health side, the state has the highest percentage of insured residents at 97.3%. The premature death rate in Massachusetts is the lowest in the country and there are also fewer adults in fair or poor health compared to other states.

In addition to having the best schools, WalletHub says Massachusetts has one of the best high school graduation rates in the country at more than 90%, and the third-highest median household income at over $94,000. 

Massachusetts also has the fifth-lowest crime rate in the country, according to WalletHub.

Affordability crisis in Massachusetts

The biggest challenge to living the good life in Massachusetts is finances, the study says. WalletHub put Massachusetts 44th out of 50 states in its affordability ranking. 

A report from Bankrate earlier this year said prospective Massachusetts homebuyers need to make over $162,000 a year in order to afford a home in the state.

And in a recent poll, one in five residents said they see themselves leaving Massachusetts in the next five years. Those who were struggling to afford housing and transportation were even more likely to say they are considering moving out of state soon.

Healey "proud" of Massachusetts' ranking

Gov. Maura Healey is celebrating that the ranking shows Massachusetts "beating out larger states like Florida and California and neighboring states like New Hampshire."

"We are proud to see Massachusetts recognized as the best state to live in the country," Healey said in a statement. "Massachusetts' greatest strength is our people. We are home to the best schools, the best healthcare, and the most innovative businesses - but this isn't the time to rest on our laurels. Our administration is dedicated to building on this momentum by continuing to invest in our communities, make Massachusetts more affordable, and ensure that we remain the best place to live for future generations." 

How other New England states ranked

Rounding out the Top 5 in the "Best States To Live In" ranking for 2024 are Florida, New Jersey, Utah and New Hampshire.

Maine was 14th, Vermont was 19th and Connecticut finished 22nd. Rhode Island actually ended up in the bottom of the list at No. 28. 

Click here for the full ranking.

Neal J. Riley is a digital producer for CBS Boston. He has been with WBZ-TV since 2014. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. Neal is a graduate of Boston University.

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Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday Frequently Asked Questions

Updated: August 13, 2024

Table of Contents

Sales tax holiday dates.

For 2024, the sales tax holiday was on:

• Saturday, August 10  and
• Sunday, August 11 .

Do You Qualify?

The sales tax holiday applies only to eligible retail items bought for personal use by individuals.

What remains taxable?

• Purchases by corporations or other businesses
• Purchases by individuals for business use.

What retail items do not qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption?

The following items are still taxable and do  not  qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption:

• Motor vehicles
• Telecommunications services
• Electricity
• Tobacco products
• Marijuana or marijuana products
• Alcoholic beverages, and
• Any single item whose price is more than $2,500.

What about internet sales?  Do those sales qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption?

Yes. An item will qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption if you order and pay for an eligible item over the internet:

• On the sales tax holiday and
• During Eastern Daylight Time.

No sales tax is due on that purchase, even if delivery of the item occurs after the sales tax holiday weekend.

What about layaway sales?

Layaway sales do not qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption.

Do rentals qualify for the sales tax holiday?

If you rent an item that qualifies for the sales tax holiday exemption, you can use the sales tax holiday for rentals of up to 30 days .

However, the rental must be paid for in full on the holiday weekend. 

Exempt rentals do not include:

• motor vehicles or
• motorboats.

Do all retailers have to participate in the sales tax holiday?

Yes. All businesses must take part in the sales tax holiday if the business:

• Normally makes taxable sales of tangible property in Massachusetts or to purchasers in Massachusetts and
• Is open for business on August 10 and 11.

Limitations

Is there a limit to the retail value to which the sales tax holiday exemption applies.

Yes. The sales tax holiday exemption is limited to eligible sales of items costing $2,500 or less.

What if I spend more than $2,500 on an item?

If you spend more than $2,500 on an item, the entire amount paid for the item is subject to sales tax, not just the amount that exceeds that threshold.

What if I purchase multiple items that each cost $2,500 or less, but the total price is more than $2,500?  Are all items eligible for the sales tax holiday exemption?

If the price of each individual item is $2,500 or less, you can combine as many items as you want, tax-free, even if the combined items cost more than $2,500.

Is there an exemption on clothing?

Yes. An item of clothing is generally exempt from the sales tax unless the item costs more than $175. 

For items that cost more than $175, only the amount over $175 is subject to tax.

On the sales tax holiday, if the price of an item of clothing is less than or equal to  $2,500, the entire amount is not subject to tax. 

On the sales tax holiday, if the price of an item of clothing  is more than  $2,500, the first $175 is not subject to tax but the rest would be. 

A business has advertised that a purchase I made prior to the sales tax holiday weekend can be canceled and re-booked on the holiday.  Can I do that and avoid paying sales tax?

No. You can’t cancel your prior purchase and re-book the purchase on the sales tax holiday weekend to avoid the sales tax if you:

• Put down a deposit on,
• Prepaid for or
• Otherwise promised to pay for an eligible item prior to the sales tax holiday weekend. 

Do I have to take home an item I purchase on the sales tax holiday weekend for that purchase to qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption?

No. If you pay for the item in full on the sales tax holiday weekend, you can arrange for delivery of the item after the sales tax holiday weekend.   

After the Sales Tax Holiday

What happens if i exchange or return an item once the sales tax holiday has ended.

No tax is due even if the exchange is made after the holiday. You will not be subject to the tax retroactively.

What do I do if I find that I was charged sales tax on an eligible item purchased during the sales tax holiday?

If you were charged tax in error, the business that you bought your item from is responsible for giving you a refund of the tax you paid. 

To determine the amount of your refund, you should provide the business with your:

• Other proof of purchase.

What happens if I am a retailer that accidentally collects sales tax this weekend?

Any sales or use tax erroneously collected on the sales tax holiday weekend must be remitted to DOR. 

If a customer seeks a refund of tax collected in error from you, you must refund the tax to the customer. If you have already remitted the tax to DOR, you may file an amended return to recover amounts refunded to customers.

How do I report exempt sales on my August return?

On Line 2 “Exempt Sales” of the August Sales and Use Tax Return, you will report the sales amount of the items not charged tax during the two days designated for the Sales Tax Holiday.

Contact   for Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday Frequently Asked Questions

Dor contact.

9 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday through Friday

• 830 CMR 64H.1.8: Sales Tax Holiday 
• Business Taxes 
• Sales and Use Tax for Businesses 
• Sales and Use Tax for Individuals 

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When are the best times to drive over the Washington Bridge? Here's your guide.

A few side streets in east providence have been restricted to local access only to manage traffic.

EAST PROVIDENCE − When the westbound portion of the Washington Bridge closed, the snarled traffic and disruption to business was so bad that the federal government called it a disaster.

How long the bridge will be closed is still unknown as the federal government opens an investigation .

So, when is the best time to travel over the Washington Bridge into Providence?

The state has an online dashboard dedicated to tracking current and historic travel times on 12 routes in both directions over the bridge. Here's what traffic looks like over the last two weeks, from Jan. 14-20 and Jan. 21-27.

Traffic dashboard: Check the state's traffic dashboard for yourself

The weekday rush hour starts at 6 a.m., peaks at 8 a.m. and ends at 10 a.m. Traffic volume during the middle of the day is higher than at night, ramping back up at 2 p.m. and hitting a peak at 5 p.m., with the rush largely over by 7 p.m.

From 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. each day, the roads are relatively clear.

On the weekends, traffic gets heavy around 11 a.m., peaks around 2 p.m. and clears by 6 p.m.

The data used in this reporting was provided by the state Department of Transportation.

Some East Providence streets are open to local traffic only

In East Providence, state Department of Transportation workers have put up "local access only" signs on Orchard Street , Freeborn Avenue and North Hull Street to prevent drivers from using them to get to Broadway, city Communications Director Patricia Resende wrote in an email.

"Motorists were using these roads to avoid using Grosvenor Avenue, which is controlled by a traffic signal at Grosvenor and Broadway," she wrote. "This was causing severe congestion on those side streets and impeding the traffic flow on Broadway."

Officials are still monitoring the situation and the traffic patterns as they emerge and planning to adjust closures as needed, she wrote.

The routes examined

Click on the links below to jump to the analysis for each route.

Massachusetts state line to I-95 interchange (westbound)

Route 6/10 at I-95 to Massachusetts state line (eastbound)

Airport connector to Massachusetts state line (eastbound)

Riverside to I-95 via Washington Bridge (westbound)

Riverside to I-95 via Henderson Bridge (westbound)

I-95 to Riverside via Washington Bridge (eastbound)

Barrington to I-95 via Washington Bridge (westbound)

I-95 to barrington via washington bridge (eastbound), i-95 to massachusetts state line on route 44 via washington bridge (eastbound).

Route 44 at the Massachusetts state line to I-95 interchange on Washington Bridge (westbound)

Route 44 at the Massachusetts state line to I-95 interchange via Henderson Bridge (westbound)

Rumford to I-95 interchange via Henderson Bridge (westbound)

Two routes that use the Henderson Bridge, Riverside to the I-95 interchange and State Route 44 to the I-95 interchange , had data from the past two weeks that was too discordant to make accurate estimates of travel time. Estimates went from more than 30 minutes consistently one week to 12-minute estimates the next, with rush hour peaks.

Massachusetts state line to the I-95 interchange via Washington Bridge (westbound)

The most basic measure of time on the most basic route is westbound on I-195 from the state line to the merge with I-95, a 3.8-mile drive that takes four minutes from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., every day of the week.

• The weekday morning rush starts at 6 a.m., with 13-14 minute travel time. At 7 a.m., it's 20 minutes. By 8 a.m., it's 27-30 minutes, by 9 a.m. it's 20-30 minutes. From 10 a.m. it's 10-20 minutes.
• By 11 a.m., traffic has calmed down , at 8-10 minutes, a trend that lasts until 2 p.m.
• The afternoon rush starts at 2 p.m., with time ranging from 10-17 minutes. It picks up slowly, peaking at 5 p.m. at 25 minutes, staying in the 15-20 minute range through 6 p.m.
• By 7 p.m., traffic is at 5-10 minutes and by 8 p.m., it's down to four minutes.
• On weekends, traffic gets heavy at 11 a.m., at 8 to 11 minutes. It then peaks at 2 p.m. at up to 16 minutes, then is back to normal by 7 p.m.

Traveling from the 6/10 merge on I-95 to the Massachusetts state line is roughly the eastbound counterpart to the the drive from the state line to the I-95 interchange . A 3.7-mile drive should take four minutes. The morning rush for this route is not nearly as bad as its afternoon counterpart.

• The weekday rush hour starts at 7 a.m. with a 10-minute drive that slips down to seven minutes by 9 a.m.
• By 10 a.m., it's down to five minutes , which lasts through 1 p.m.
• The afternoon rush hour starts at 2 p.m. at 10 minutes, peaks at 5 p.m. at 16 minutes and is over by 7 p.m.
• On the weekends, traffic starts to increase at noon, up to six minutes, peaking at 3 p.m. at eight minutes and clears by 5 p.m.

Airport connector to state line via I-95 over Washington Bridge (eastbound)

Getting from the airport to the East Bay, or Massachusetts, is an 8.6-mile ride and about a nine-minute drive without traffic. The morning rush hour is not as bad as it is in the afternoon

• The morning rush hour starts at 7 a.m. , with travel times from 18-20 minutes, and peaks at 8 a.m. at 25-30 minutes. By 9 a.m., traffic is still a little heavy, with a travel time of 12-15 minutes.
• By 10 a.m., it's down to 10 minutes , lasting until 1 p.m.
• The afternoon rush hour starts at 2 p.m. with traffic at 15-20 minutes. It peaks between 4 and 5 p.m. at 30 minutes and by 6 p.m. is down to 20 minutes.
• By 7 p.m., traffic is back to normal , eight to 10 minutes.
• On the weekends, traffic starts to increase by noon, at 10-11 minutes, and ease back to base levels by 7 p.m.

Riverside to I-95 interchange via Washington Bridge (westbound)

Going from Riverside (near Squantum Woods Park) in East Providence to the I-95 interchange is a more muted rush hour than other commutes. In times of no traffic, the 3.7-mile drive takes six minutes .

• The weekday rush hour starts at 6 a.m. , at about eight minutes, and peaks at 10 minutes by 8 a.m.
• By 10 a.m., traffic normalizes at eight to nine minutes.
• By 3 p.m., traffic times increase to 10 minutes, peaking at 11 minutes by 5 p.m.
• At 7 p.m., traffic starts clearing with seven minutes, and by 8 p.m. it's back to the no-traffic drive of six minutes.
• On weekends, traffic begins to rise at 11 a.m., with seven to eight minutes, and is back to normal by 8 p.m.

Riverside to I-95 interchange via Henderson Bridge (westbound)

Traffic data for the Riverside to I-95 interchange via the Henderson Bridge appears to vary widely, from consistently 30 minutes starting during the week of Jan. 14, down to 12 minutes without traffic during the week starting Jan. 21, with rush hour peaks at 8 a.m., at 20 minutes of travel time, and 5 p.m., at 17 minutes.

I-95 interchange to Riverside via Washington Bridge (eastbound)

Going from the I-95 interchange to Riverside (near Squantum Woods Park) in East Providence via the Washington Bridge is a mellower experience than its westbound counterpart . The 3.7-mile route takes five to six minutes with no traffic.

• Rush hour starts at 7 a.m. with traffic at seven to eight minutes, and remains steady through 9 a.m., an increase of two minutes over the no-traffic drive time.
• By 10 a.m., traffic takes six minutes, which lasts until 1 p.m.
• By 2 p.m., the afternoon rush hour starts , with traffic of eight to nine minutes, peaking at 5 p.m. at 10 minutes, lasting through 6 p.m.
• By 7 p.m., traffic is back to normal .
• On weekends , traffic starts to increase by noon, at seven minutes, peaks between 3 and 4 p.m. at eight minutes, and is back to normal by 7 p.m.

The drive from the interchange on I-95 to the state line in Seekonk on Route 44 is 3.5 miles and takes six minutes with no traffic.

• Rush hour starts at 7 a.m. with traffic at nine to 10 minutes, which lasts until 9 a.m.
• By 10 a.m., traffic is down to seven to eight minutes , until 2 p.m.
• The afternoon rush hour starts at 2 p.m., at about 10 minutes of traffic, peaking at 4 p.m. at 11 minutes and staying that way until 7 p.m.
• By 8 p.m., traffic is back to normal.
• On weekends, traffic begins increasing at 10 a.m., at seven minutes, peaks from noon to 4 p.m. at nine minutes and is back to normal by 8 p.m.

Route 44 from Massachusetts line to I-95 interchange via Washington Bridge (westbound)

The drive from the Massachusetts line on Route 44 is four miles and takes six minutes without traffic.

• Rush hour starts at 6 a.m. , with drive time increasing to 10-12 minutes, peaking an hour later at 15 minutes.
• By 9 a.m., traffic settles into a 10- to 12-minute drive until 2 p.m.
• By 2 p.m., the afternoon rush hour begins , with drive time increasing to 12 minutes, peaking at 4 p.m. at up to 15 minutes and slacking off at 7 p.m.
• By 8 p.m. , traffic is back to normal.
• On weekends, traffic gets heavy around 10 a.m. at nine minutes, peaks between noon and 4 p.m. at 10-12 minutes and clears around 7 p.m.

Route 44 from Massachusetts line to I-95 interchange via Henderson Bridge (westbound)

The five-mile drive using the Henderson Bridge showed widely varying traffic times, with the week of Jan. 14 to 20 seeing consistent drive times of 30 minutes, but the following week showing a base drive of 10 minutes, with a rush hour starting at 7 a.m., hitting 15 minutes by 8 a.m. and again by 5 p.m.

Going from Barrington (Route 114 at Mink Street) to the I-95 interchange is 5.2 miles and takes six minutes with no traffic.

• The weekday morning rush hour starts at 6 a.m. , at 13 minutes, peaks at 8 a.m. at 15-18 minutes and slows down by 10 a.m. at 12 to 15 minutes
• By 11 a.m., it takes 10-12 minutes , which lasts until 2 p.m.
• By 2 p.m., traffic ramps up to 13 minutes, peaking at 15 minutes by 5 p.m.
• By 7 p.m., travel time is down to eight minutes and by 8 p.m. is back to no-traffic levels of six minutes.
• On weekends, traffic starts to increase at 10 a.m. at nine minutes, peaks at 12-15 minutes from noon to 6 p.m. and is cleared by 8 p.m. on Saturdays and by 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Going from the I-95 interchange to Barrington is 5 miles and takes five minutes with no traffic.

• The weekday morning rush starts at 6 a.m. at seven minutes, peaks at 8 a.m. at eight to 10 minutes and ends by 9 a.m.
• At 10 a.m., traffic stays at about six minutes until the afternoon rush starts at 2 p.m.
• At 2 p.m., traffic ramps up to eight minutes, peaks at 10 minutes at 5 p.m., and goes down to nine minutes at 6 p.m.
• At 7 p.m., traffic is nearly normal at five to six minutes.
• On the weekend, traffic begins increasing at 11 a.m. at six to seven minutes before getting back to normal around 7 p.m.

The drive from Pleasant Street at Route 1 in East Providence to the I-95 interchange is 4.7 miles and without traffic takes about 11 minutes . The route goes down North Broadway to Massasoit Avenue before crossing the Henderson Bridge. Once in Providence, it goes from Angell Street to Gano Street, where it joins the highway.

• Rush hour starts at 7 a.m. at 14 minutes, peaks an hour later at 15-20 minutes and then goes back down to 14 minutes by 9 a.m.
• By 10 a.m., traffic hits its daytime norm, about 12 minutes.
• At 3 p.m. the afternoon rush hour starts , about 14 minutes, peaking at 15 minutes between 4 and 5 p.m.
• By 7 p.m., traffic is back to 11 minutes.
• On weekends, the drive is consistently 11 minutes.

When is the best time to drive over the Washington Bridge?

The absolute best times to drive are between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., when traffic is at its lowest point, although rush hour starts at 6 a.m. on many routes.

Traffic is less during the middle of the day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On the weekends, traffic gets heavy around 11 a.m., peaks in mid-afternoon around 2 p.m. and clears by 6 p.m.

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Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at  [email protected]  or follow him on Twitter  @WheelerReporter .