Massachusetts is a relatively small state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Massachusetts is historically significant as the site of Plymouth Rock, the second English Settlement in America, and for its role in the American and Industrial Revolutions. Today Massachusetts is known as one of the intellectual centers of the country with excellent universities, and is prominent in the technology, financial, and health care sectors of the American economy. Massachusetts draws many tourists to visit the Berkshire Mountains in the west, big-city attractions of Boston, and resorts along Cape Cod and the islands in the south.
The Massachusetts Turnpike, also known as Interstate 90, runs west to east through the center of the state and is a nice route with access to the many cities of Massachusetts. There are also four long-distance hiking trails throughout the state that make an interesting way to see Massachusetts on foot; these include the Midstate Trail, Appalachian Trail, Metacomet Trail, and Bay Circuit Trail.
Western Massachusetts is a rural region of breathtaking natural beauty. This area is made up of many smaller towns and also includes the metropolitan city of Springfield. The Berkshire Mountains run along the coast of Western Massachusetts.
Williamstown is located in the upper northwestern corner of Massachusetts, at the border with Vermont and New York. Williamstown is a small college town with the Williams College and Clark Art Institute.
Lenox is a town along the western border of Massachusetts that includes the smaller villages of New Lenox and Lexondale. Lenox is surrounded by Berkshire Mountains to the east and west, and is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the area.
Stockbridge is a resort community in Berkshire County. The Housatonic River runs through the center of the town and it is surrounded by forests and mountains. Some things to see in Stockbridge are the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Naumkeag Museum and Gardens, and the Berkshire Botanical Garden.
Hadley is a town of five thousand near the college town of Amherst. Hadley is a well-preserved early agricultural town, with places like the Plainville Farm and Hadley Farm Museum. Also visit the Skinner State Park and Historic Summit House.
Greenfield is a city in Franklin County that is part of the Springfield metropolitan area. An interesting site is the Main Street Historic District, which features architecture of the Victorian and Greek Revival styles. Also visit the Rocky Mountain Park.
The town of Richmond has less than two thousand residents and is located on the Massachusetts-New York border.
Central Massachusetts is an exciting area with plenty of historical and cultural attractions, in addition to abundant outdoor recreation.
Milford is located along interstate 495 in central Massachusetts. Milford is a leading area healthcare center.
Sterling is a town of eight thousand at the foothills of Mount Wachusett. Sterling is located in upper-central Massachusetts between the cities of Worcester and Fitchburg. Sterling is an excellent residential and agricultural community.
Westborough is located between Boston and Worcester on Route 9. Worcester has six Nationally Registered Historic Places, and also features the picturesque Lake Chauncey.
Auburn is a residential town of fifteen thousand. Local attractions include the AMF Bowling Alley, Rocketland Park, and Pakachoag Golf Course.
West Springfield is located across the Connecticut River from the city of Springfield. West Springfield is bordered in the east by the Metacomet Mountain Ridge. West Springfield is found directly along the Massachusetts Turnpike and Interstate 91.
Springfield is the third largest city in Massachusetts, and the largest city on the Connecticut River. Springfield is the birthplace of the sport of basketball and contains the Basketball Hall of Fame; sports are very prominent in the Springfield area. Springfield is also the birthplace of famous author Dr. Seuss. Other points of interest include the Worthington Street Entertainment District and the Quadrangle, a museum district.
The Greater Merrimack Valley and North Shore Region refers to the area north of Boston, in northeastern Massachusetts. This region contains harbor towns along miles of scenic Atlantic coastline and cities on the Merrimack River, all with a rich historical value.
Salisbury is a summer resort town along the North Shore beaches of Massachusetts. Salisbury is a community that is renowned for its scenic beaches, boating, and fishing, like much of coastal Massachusetts. This town on the Atlantic Ocean also includes the Rings Island.
Rockport is located at the tip of the Cape Ann Peninsula which extends into the Atlantic Ocean. It has a long Native American history, like much of the area, and was formerly known as a fishing village, rock quarry, and artist community. A local attraction is the Halibut Point State Park.
The town of Danvers is located on the Danvers River in northeastern Massachusetts. Danvers is over 250 years old, and contains historic places such as the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, the Putnam House, and the famous Endicott Pear Tree.
Tewksbury is a town of thirty thousand that takes its name from the town of Tewksbury, England. Tewksbury contains a unique attraction: the Public Health Museum, dedicated to the past and present state of American health. The museum is located in the Tewksbury Hospital.
Salem is a city of forty thousand in Essex County. Salem is well known for being the location of the Salem Witch Trials, which occurred in 1692. Tourism is fairly popular in this historic city, with locations such as historic homes from the 1960s, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the Salem Willows Park.
Woburn is located at the intersection of Interstate 93 and Interstate 95 ten miles north of Boston. Located at the head of the scenic Mystic River Valley, Woburn features conservation areas such as Forest Park, Shaker Glen, and the Horn Pond Reservation.
Lawrence is a city of seventy thousand on the Merrimack River. Lawrence is a prominent industrial and manufacturing city with a continuing history of international immigration. Visit the Lawrence Heritage State Park to learn more.
The town of Andover was first incorporated in 1646, and played an important role in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Andover is centrally located in the Merrimack River Valley along the Shawsheen River. It contains the Harold Parker State Forest, and popular site for camping, fishing, and horseback riding. Andover is located near Interstates 93 and 495.
The Greater Boston Area is a booming region with all the best things Massachusetts has to offer. This region is home to over five million of the 6.5 million people living in the state. Centered around the state capital of Boston, this area also includes famous cities like Cambridge, home of Harvard University, and Watertown, one of the first settlements on the Massachusetts Bay. An extensive subway system maintained by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority as well as pedestrian-friendly streets make the Greater Boston Area a cinch to visit. The Logan International Airport serves the area.
Bedford is centrally located in the Greater Boston region. Bedford contains many historic sites from the 1600s and 1700s, like the Fitch Tavern and Job Lane House, as well as the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
Arlington is located less than ten minutes north of Boston. The Arlington area features the Mystic Lakes, Spy Pond, Arlington Reservoir, and Mystic River, giving it beautiful scenery and plenty of parks like Menotomy Rocks Park and the Great Meadow.
Concord is a small town in Middlesex County. At one time, famous poets and philosophers Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau resided in Concord. Concord is also the home of the ubiquitous Concord grape.
Burlington is a residential and industrial town found along Route 128. Burlington contains the shopping areas of Wayside Commons and the Burlington Mall. A nice area to visit is the Burlington Landlocked Forest, on 270 acres with hiking and biking trails, wildlife areas, and more.
Reading is located ten miles north of Boston. Reading is a residential community with elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the area.
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County with sixty thousand residents. Although Waltham is less than ten minutes from Boston, it is distinctly different in culture and ambience. Waltham was an important city during the Industrial Revolution with many factories, and is known as Watch City because it formerly contained the Waltham Watch Company. Visit the Charles River Museum of Industry to learn more about the history of the area. Downtown Waltham features a thriving nightlife scene along with shopping and dining.
The city of Revere is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the east. Revere is named after the patriot of the American Revolution, Paul Revere. Revere Beach is a popular area attraction; it is the oldest public beach in the country.
Medford is just north of Boston on the Mystic River. Medford is just north of Boston on the Mystic River.
Watertown was one of the earliest Massachusetts Bay settlements, founded in 1630. Visit the original landing spot, Elbridge Gerry Landing, and the many historic homes throughout Watertown. Nowadays, the Watertown Arsenal is a popular spot with shops, restaurants, and an arts center.
The city of Cambridge is well known as the home of two excellent institutions: Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge is located across the Charles River from Boston. Stroll through the historic streets and town squares to see attractions such as Cambridge Public Library and the Longfellow National Historic Site.
Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and its largest city, with over four million people in its metropolitan area. Boston was the site of many important historic events, such as the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party of the American Revolution. Boston is an important New England center for business, higher education, and tourism, attracting more than fifteen million visitors each year. Boston is also known for its ethnically diverse population, with strong multicultural influences of the Irish and Italian, among other groups. Boston has three famous major sports teams: the Boston Celtics basketball team, Boston Red Sox baseball team, and New England Patriots football team; sports culture is a major part of Boston. The Charles River separates Boston from the city of Cambridge.
Newton is a residential suburb of Boston consisting of thirteen small villages. Newton is popular for its golf courses and beautiful parks such as Crystal Lake and Norumbega Park.
Dedham is a town of twenty-five thousand in the southwestern corner of Boston. Dedham contains the Mother Brook, the first man-made canal in America. Several notable attractions include the Museum of Bad Art, Endicott House, and Dedham Historical Society.
Quincy is a large city of nearly ninety thousand that is a part of the Boston metropolitan area. Quincy is known as the "City of Presidents" because it is the birthplace of former US Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, as well as signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock. The city features several beaches along the Quincy Bay, including Wollaston Beach.
Mansfield is a southern suburb of Boston located at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Interstate 495. This town is not far from Cape Cod, Plymouth, and Providence, Rhode Island.
Lexington is famous for its history as the place where the American Revolution began. Lexington is full of historical monuments, buildings, and museums, such as the Minute Man National Historic Park. Downtown is a thriving area with shopping and dining, a movie theatre, art galleries and more.
Framingham is a town of seventy thousand located twenty miles west of Boston. Framingham lies along the Old Connecticut Path and the town played an important role in the slavery abolitionist movement. Today the Golden Triangle is an excellent shopping destination; South Framingham is a rich multicultural community; and West Framingham contains many hotels, restaurants, and bars. Framingham contains several lakes with public beaches, as well as parks such as Garden in the Woods and Callahan State Park. Framingham is located along Interstate 90 and State Route 9.
Franklin is a city in Norfolk County that was an important manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution. The Franklin Town Common Historic District features over seventy buildings and homes. Downtown is a hip area of restaurants and bars in this otherwise residential community.
Canton is located fifteen minutes south of Boston along Route 93. An interesting local attraction is the Mildred Morse Allen Wildlife Sanctuary.
The South of Boston Region features many similar features of the Greater Boston Area, but with slightly smaller historical cities. South of Boston contains many fishing and whaling villages along the beaches of the Massachusetts Bay.
Plymouth is famous for being the landing site of the Pilgrims on their first trip to America, sailing on the ship the Mayflower. Plymouth was founded in 1620 and maintains a strong sense of history to this day. Recently, Plymouth has experienced rapid population growth and is now an important visitor destination along the South Shore, with beaches all along the Cape Cod Bay.
Rockland , in Plymouth County, is so named because its "rocky land" is unsuitable for farming, and thus was founded as an industrial and manufacturing community. Rockland contains several parks and ponds and a town forest.
Avon is a little town of five thousand located along Route 24, twenty miles south of Boston. The town was named after the River Avon in England.
Brockton is a city of approximately one hundred thousand in Plymouth County. Brockton is located along the Salisbury River just south of the Ames Nowell State Park. Brockton is the birthplace of famed boxer Rocky Marciano. The city can be found along State Route 24.
Somerset is located along the Taunton River in Bristol County. The town was named after the county of Somerset, England. The Brighton Street Bridge connects Somerset with the town of Fall River. Somerset is located on Interstate 195.
Braintree is part of the South Shore region. One of its main attractions is the South Shore Plaza, which is among the largest shopping malls in all of New England. Braintree is easily located along Route 3 and Interstate 93.
Holbrook is a town of ten thousand that was originally a southern part of Braintree. State Routes 37 and 139 intersect in Holbrook.
The southernmost region of Massachusetts consists of the Cape Cod peninsula and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island. This is an extremely popular vacation region with many resort towns along its scenic beaches.
Edgartown is a popular summer resort destination on the island of Martha's Vineyard. It is a seaport and whaling village that has been historically preserved since the early 19th Century. Edgartown is separated from its small island of Chappaquiddick by the Katama Bay. Edgartown and Chappaquiddick feature spectacular ocean beauty along South Beach, Cape Poge, and Lighthouse Beach. In addition to beaches, Edgartown has an art gallery, yacht club, and Felix Neck Park.
Provincetown is a town at the northernmost point of Cape Cod. Provincetown is known for its resident community of writers and artists and its lovely beaches.
Eastham is a coastal resort town of five thousand. An early farming and fishing town, Eastham today is known as the gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Hyannis is a large village in the town of Barnstable in the Cape Cod area. Hyannis is a major tourist destination and also provides ferryboat access to Nantucket Island and Martha's Vineyard. Boating and fishing are popular pastimes in Hyannis. Hyannis contains the famous Kennedy Compound residence and the Cape Cod Mall.
The island of Nantucke lies off the coast of Massachusetts, thirty miles south of Cape Cod. The town also includes the two smaller islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, and is a popular summer tourist destination. The island can be reached by ferryboat from the mainland or by plane at the Nantucket Memorial Airport.
Massachusetts, although small, is never short on opportunity for the perfect vacation. Its compact size makes it all the easier to visit many places in just one trip. With beautiful mountain and beach areas, flourishing culture, and some of the most historic places in America, Massachusetts offers everything you could ask for in one vacation.
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