Fodor's New England: with the Best Fall Foliage Drives, Scenic Road Trips, and Acadia National Park
Whether you want to visit Cape Cod's beaches, eat lobster in Maine, or ski in Vermont, the...
Massachusetts is far more than just Boston, but the capital city is a great place to start. Sports, culture, and tourism come together here, where you can eat a Fenway Frank while watching the Boston Red Sox, or follow the red line of the Freedom Trail to Paul Revere’s House. In the Back Bay, do some retail therapy on the city's most famous shopping boulevard, Newbury Street. Continue into the impeccable Boston Public Garden, where you can catch a ride on the Swan Boats, or take your photo at the beloved Make Way for Ducklings statue. Visit Faneuil Hall, where crowds of tourists venture for shopping, street performers, and history in the hallowed halls of Quincy Market. Follow it up with a visit to the Museum of Science or the New England Aquarium.
Step outside the city limits to...
Read MoreMassachusetts is far more than just Boston, but the capital city is a great place to start. Sports, culture, and tourism come together here, where you can eat a Fenway Frank while watching the Boston Red Sox, or follow the red line of the Freedom Trail to Paul Revere’s House. In the Back Bay, do some retail therapy on the city's most famous shopping boulevard, Newbury Street. Continue into the impeccable Boston Public Garden, where you can catch a ride on the Swan Boats, or take your photo at the beloved Make Way for Ducklings statue. Visit Faneuil Hall, where crowds of tourists venture for shopping, street performers, and history in the hallowed halls of Quincy Market. Follow it up with a visit to the Museum of Science or the New England Aquarium.
Step outside the city limits to see how the American Revolution began in nearby Lexington and Concord. See how the war's opening battle was fought at Minute Man National Historic Park. Live like a literary luminary and visit Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House, or take a dip at Walden Pond, famously depicted in Henry David Thoreau's Walden. Head north to the spooky city of Salem, where Halloween lives on 365 days a year. Learn about the Salem witch trials at the Salem Witch Museum, or step inside the House of Seven Gables made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel. Also in Salem is the Peabody Essex Museum, home of one of the major collections of Asian art in the US. Don't miss the peaceful sea breezes on Cape Ann, where towns like Rockport and Essex are the epitome of peaceful, oceanfront New England. South of the city you'll find historic Plymouth, where you can step back in time at Plimouth Plantation, home to costumed staff who seem to have come straight out of the 17th century. Climb aboard the Mayflower II, a reproduction of the original ship. Historic New Bedford, once the center of the Massachusetts whaling industry, is not only a tourist destination but a great spot to hop the ferry to Woods Hole on Cape Cod. Catch some rays on the Cape, where New England summers of ice cream and clam shacks reign supreme. Travel to Nantucket, or head to Martha's Vineyard, where you can grab a ride on the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs, one of the oldest carousels in the country.
If you're looking to head farther out from Boston, central Massachusetts is filled with natural wonder that will delight any outdoorsman. Ski the slopes at Wachusett Mountain, or stroll through Tower Hill Botanic Garden, which is open year-round. Explore the 200-acre Old Sturbridge Village, where time has stopped in the 1800s. Continue into Springfield to relive your childhood at the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and Sculpture Garden, or shoot some hoops at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Don't forget to make a stop at the brand new MGM Springfield, New England’s first integrated luxury resort. Try your luck in the 125,000-square-foot casino, or catch a concert at the 8,000-seat MassMutual Center.
The rolling mountains of the Berkshires draw tourists from far and wide, thanks to the exquisite natural beauty and rich cultural offerings. Catch a performance of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at their summer home, Tanglewood, or visit the iconic Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Quote the Bard with the best of them at the Shakespeare Theatre Festival, or head north for the annual Williamstown Theatre Festival. Stretch it out at Kripalu, or get pampered at Canyon Ranch or Cranwell Spa & Golf Resort. Step back in time at Hancock Shaker Village, or check out the art scene at the Mass MoCa and Norman Rockwell Museum.
In every corner of the Bay State, you'll find exciting opportunities. But take a word of advice from us: If you're coming in the winter, be sure to dress warm. New England winters do not mess around.
Find a Hotel
Top Destinations
Top Destinations
Boston
Cape Cod
The Berkshires
Side Trips from Boston
Sturbridge and The Pioneer Valley
Boston Outskirts
Martha's Vineyard
Nantucket
Provincetown
Nantucket Town
Lenox
Great Barrington
Northampton
Hyannis
Wellfleet and South Wellfleet
Falmouth
Pittsfield
Edgartown
Oak Bluffs
Chatham
Williamstown
Orleans
Springfield
Dennis
North Adams
Brewster
Stockbridge
Yarmouth
Vineyard Haven
Plymouth
Sandwich
Concord
Gloucester
Salem
Amherst
Eastham
Newburyport
New Bedford
Harwich
South Hadley
Shelburne Falls
Deerfield
Siasconset
Lexington
Barnstable
Rockport
Marblehead
Ipswich
Essex
West Tisbury
Menemsha
Truro
Aquinnah
Hancock
Greenfield
Chilmark
Northfield
Lowell
Otis
Boston
Provincetown
Nantucket Town
Lenox
Great Barrington
Hyannis
Northampton
Wellfleet and South Wellfleet
Falmouth
Edgartown
Pittsfield
Oak Bluffs
Chatham
Williamstown
Springfield
Dennis
North Adams
Orleans
Brewster
Stockbridge
Vineyard Haven
Plymouth
Yarmouth
Sandwich
Concord
Amherst
Eastham
Salem
Gloucester
Newburyport
New Bedford
Harwich
Lexington
Siasconset
Shelburne Falls
South Hadley
Deerfield
Sturbridge
Barnstable
Rockport
Ipswich
Essex
Marblehead
West Tisbury
Menemsha
Truro
Greenfield
Hancock
Aquinnah
Chilmark
Lowell
Northfield
Otis
Top Experiences
Top Experiences
Recent Forum Posts
Recent Forum Posts
-
Yk’s family trip to Cape Ann, Massachusetts, August 2020
Yk started Sep 8, 2020 |Last reply Sep 14, 2020 13 replies 3046 views -
R
Day trip ideas and routes from South Lee Massachusetts
Robincal started May 5, 2018 |Last reply May 6, 2018 6 replies 9398 views -
Crazy to travel to Salem Massachusetts by myself?
Vacmom started Jul 2, 2017 |Last reply Jul 24, 2017 16 replies 8714 views -
K
Trip to Maine Vermont Newhampshire Massachusetts
Kallursh started Jul 1, 2017 |Last reply Jul 10, 2017 16 replies 16690 views
Guidebooks
Guidebooks
Our worldwide travel correspondents bring you the best and most up-to-date coverage of over 7,500 global destinations.
Shop NowFodor's New England: with the Best Fall Foliage Drives, Scenic Road Trips, and Acadia National Park
Whether you want to visit Cape Cod's beaches, eat lobster in Maine, or ski in Vermont, the...
Fodor's Boston
Whether you want to explore Boston Common, follow the Freedom Trail, or grab a cannoli in...
Fodor's Best Weekend Road Trips
Whether you want to explore a national park, visit major tourist sights, or escape to a...