90 Great Things to Do in Massachusetts

Battleship Cove

5 Water Street Fall River, MA 02721 Phone: 508-678-1100 Toll-Free: 800-533-3194 Fax: 508-674-5597

Visiting Battleship Cove is like walking onto a huge soundstage, where the stories of real people play out against the backdrop of historic naval vessels.

This living history museum shows seasonally The Pearl Harbor Experience, the only outdoor multimedia reenactment anywhere, and honors civilian and military women who helped defend our country’s freedom in the Women Protecting US exhibit.

National treasures are the WWII battleship, the USS Massachusetts and the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., named for the oldest son of the fabled Kennedy family. Two PT Boats similar to the one commanded by the future President Kennedy, the submarine Lionfish, and the Russian-built missile corvette Hiddensee all make their home here. Memorials pay tribute to veterans from WWII through the Persian Gulf Wars.

Discover Quincy

Quincy Chamber of Commerce
1400 Hancock Street, Suite 1A Quincy, MA 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700 Fax: 617-471-3087

Birthplace of the American Dream

A visit to Quincy takes you on a voyage through time to the era of the Adams, Quincy, and Hancock families. Board a trolley and walk in the footsteps of John Adams at the Adams National Historical Park, where you’ll visit the birthplaces and family estate of two U.S. Presidents.

Quincy offers 27 miles of coastline that offer swimming, lifeguards, free parking, a bathhouse and more. Enjoy dining at one of Quincy's delectable restaurants. Or go on an outdoor adventure, be it by land or sea. The City of Presidents has three golf courses, including a 27-hole championship golf course that was voted a top ten in its class. Come be our guest for the day, a night or a week!

Old Sturbridge Village

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Off Rte 20 Sturbridge, MA 01566 Phone: 508-347-3362 Toll-Free: 800-SEE-1830

Put the past in your future!

Old Sturbridge Village is a “must-see” destination to experience early New England life from the early 1800s and is one of the country’s largest living history museums. Come ride our stagecoach, meet our farm animals, talk with costumed historians, and watch the blacksmith, cooper, potter, and farmers at work. Experience life in the 19th century -- visit our 40 antique homes, buildings and water-powered mills. With over 30 special weekend events each year and hands-on crafts offered daily, there is always something new explore. Daytime admission includes free parking and a free second-day visit within 10 days. Open year-round, but hours vary seasonally. Make a weekend out of it – the Lodges at Old Sturbridge Village open in June 2013.

Zoar Outdoor

Route 2 (Mohawk Trail) Charlemont, MA 01339 Toll-Free: 800-532-7483

11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels

Try Zoar Outdoor’s newest adventure on a Deerfield Valley Canopy Tour in Charlemont Massachusetts. Our 3-hour-long zip line canopy tour leads adventurers on an aerial trek through the woods by means of 11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels suspended in the trees in the northern Berkshires and connected through platforms that sit high above the forest floor. Our double-cable construction provides an extra margin of safety and hand braking (with backup brakes on each zip) allows you to control your zip speed with a gloved hand and keep from "spinning out". Our guides are trained in both safe zipping practices and in interpreting the environment around you so you can fully appreciate this unique journey through the forest canopy.

100 Years Since the Loss of the Titanic

The 100th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 12, 1912 is approaching, and people who are fascinated with this epic story should plan a visit to the museum of the Titanic Historical Society at 208 Main Street in Indian Orchard. It is hard to imagine any Titanic fact or memento that is not represented here, including many Titanic survivor artifacts donated by the survivors. A good starting point for the visit is the nine-foot Titanic model that dominates the entrance showing in minute detail what the largest ship in the world looked like in 1912. The rest of the White Star family can be seen in an impressive miniature model collection featuring a panorama of the White Star Line, highlighting famous vessels. The museum sells more gifts and books than you can even imagine. Open year-round, daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone: 413-543-4770.

Awesomely Original Shops Brighten Northampton

Northampton is a comfortable Berkshires town flanked by a bevy of colleges: Umass Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Hampshire. Not surprisingly, then, the town has some great dining and shopping (or even window shopping) at really interesting stores with one-of-a-kind offerings. Some of the hottest are Faces, with a fun cards and T-shirts; A Child's Garden, with out-of-the-ordinary children's toys; Pinch Gallery, for handcrafted items and the perfect wedding gift; and The Artisan Gallery, for eccentric, memorable home goods and gifts. All are on Main Street.

Books, Soft Chairs, and a River View

Housed in an Industrial Revolution-era gristmill aside the Sawmill River at 440 Greenfield Road in Montague, The Montague Bookmill is a cozy melding of old-fashioned bookstore and the most comfortable living room you've ever known. The collection includes thousands of used books on every imaginable subject, many showling deeply slashed prices. This bookstore also housed the Sawmill River Arts organization and Turn It Up!, which delivers music and movie to the public. In the cold seasons, a movie night every week adds an opportunity for an outing, as does the book store's Lady Killigrew Cafe. Open daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Phone: 413-367-9206

Dancin' at the Mansion

Ventfort Hall at 104 Walker Street in Lenox is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion founded during the grandeur and opulence of the Gilded Age. (It was built by J.P. Morgan for his sister.) Dancin' at the Mansion happens the second Saturday of every month from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The Greg Caputo Quartet with singer Vivian Caputo perform well-loved standards. Light snacks and canapés are complimentary and there is a cash bar. Guests can indulge in one of the pleasures of the past, couples dancing to great music. Phone: 413-637-3206.

DIY Beer Tasting Tour

Tourism experts in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts are pleased to recommend great local places to enjoy tasting unique beers during group tours through the region. Excellent beer is served at Opa Opa Steakhouse & Brewery in Southampton, offering more than 25 varieties of its own brew in a rustic setting. Kaptain Jimmy’s Restaurant & Distillery in Agawam combines a pirate motif with a cozy setting for patrons to enjoy 25 microbrews, draft beers, guest beers, and a vodka made on the premises. The Student Prince Café in Springfield has earned its status as the premier “go-to” spot for authentic German cuisine and imported beers. Phone: 413-755-1346.

Experts at Play

Hasbro GameLand, featuring one of the classic good guys of childhood – Mr. Potato Head – is a dynamic new hands-on exhibit for children at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum at 21 Edwards Street in Springfield. The exhibit pays tribute to Springfield entrepreneur Milton Bradley and explores games of memory, chance, speed, imagination, strategy and word play. Brightly colored and decorated with images of familiar board games, the bilingual Hasbro GameLand incorporates interactive elements of some of the iconic games produced by the company, such as an oversized, operable spinner from The Game of Life. In the Word Play section kids can play word search games on a large touch screen. The Coordination Station invites kids to test their balance standing on raised wobbly disks. At the Racing Station children compete as they pedal to raise balls to the top of a large contraption inspired by the game Mouse Trap. Fun, fanciful, and sure to be a hit with children. Milton Bradley knows best! Phone: 800-625-7738.

Flynt Displays Colonial Life in Vivid Detail

At the Flynt Center of Early New England Life at Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, visitors can peer into the daily lives of Colonial Americans through a range of exhibits and a visible storage area known as the Museum’s Attic. Subjects of recent exhibits include the crafting of Early American furniture; early American textiles, costumes, and fiber arts; and engraved powder horns from the French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War. The Museum’s Attic contains fine decorative arts, including important collections of English and Chinese export ceramics. Hours: April 16-November 27, daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Winter hours are weekends only. Phone: 413-775-7132.

Fossils Fuel Curiosity at Dino Museums

Dinosaur history and folklore are alive and roaring in the Pioneer Valley region. A day or more of exploration awaits dino fans of all persuasions. The Nash Dinosaur Track Site and Rock Shop in South Hadley displays the largest number of dinosaur tracks in the region. Nearby, the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College in Amherst has impressive exhibits that include vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, minerals, and other geologic specimens. Visitors to Dinosaur Hall in the Springfield Science Museum in Springfield are riveted by the life-size replica of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Interactive exhibits at Dinosaur Hall include actual fossils of dinosaur tracks which can be touched and a cast of a huge sauropod footprint for children to climb into. Information: 413-755-1346.

Kids Gotta Play

Children's Museum at 444 Dwight Street in Holyoke is a wonderful and fanciful place where children and adults learn together about art, science, and the world around them. Through hands-on exhibits, children discover how the world works, explore new roles for themselves, and learn by doing. Exhibits are designed by education professionals and are hands-on, participatory, exciting, and fun thinking-doing-discovery activities. When you visit, look for the hospital area, including an ambulance; the papermaking factory; the TV Studio and FETCH!Lab; the forklift truck, the cityscape, the theater, and the creation art studio. Open year-round, Wednesdays to Sundays. Phone: 413-536-KIDS.

Kids Love to Explore ‘the Olden Days’

Tucked away in a shaded area of Eastern States Exposition, Storrowtown Village Museum, at 1305 Memorial Avenue in West Springfield is a permanent reminder of New England life in bygone days. The Village is an authentic, recreated village of nine 18th- and 19th-century buildings from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, assembled around a traditional town green. A tour of Storrowton offers an intimate look at Early American living with all the ingredients for a meaningful historic experience. Storytelling and activity programs run throughout the year and include topics like Life at the Lowell Mills, Early American Crafts, Maple Harvest Day, Aunt Helen's Herb Garden Tour, Tales of Haunted New England. A great place for children. Phone: 413-737-2443

Mecca of Antiquing Awaits in the Berkshires

The Berkshire region is home to some of the finest dealers of antiques, art, and collectibles in the United States, and this is nothing new. In 1923, an issue of “Antiques” magazine described dealers in Pittsfield, Williamstown, and Great Barrington, and the number continued to grow. A day of antique hunting could begin at Cupboards & Roses in Sheffield for Swedish painted furniture; Elise Abrams in Great Barrington, overflowing with fine antiques for dining; Charles Flint Antiques in Lenox, with fine art and American and European antiques and Robert W. Wise offering estate and fine jewelry. In Williamstown, Library Art & Antiques sells furniture and accessories from all over the world. See more at the website for Berkshire County Antiques & Art Dealer Association.

Morgan’s Mansion Hosts Lots of Fun Seasonal Events

Call him a robber baron, but at least J. P. Morgan took care of his kid sister; the mansion built for her in 1893 is a testament to that. Ventfort Hall in Lenox is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion with a history dating back to the grandeur and opulence of the Gilded Age. Despite its brush with demolition in the 1980s, today the mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and declared an official project of “Save America’s Treasures.” Visitors can tour the grand estate, peruse the art gallery, or simply enjoy the architecture. Open daily year round. Phone: 413-637-3206.

Wisteriahurst House Displays 19th-Century Elegance

Wistariahurst Museum at 238 Cabot Street in Holyoke was the home of silk manufacturer William Skinner and his family. The house has stood as an example of elegance and fine architecture since 1874. The museum features original leather wall coverings, columns, elaborate woodwork and an interesting tale of how two generations perceived and used the house very differently. The museum's permanent collection includes decorative arts; paintings and prints, textiles and a rich manuscript collection of family and local papers. Whether it’s a look back in time at the lives of early 1900’s servants, the impact of the Latino community, or a celebration of the work of local painters and photographers, there is always an array of exhibits that will engage visitors. House tours Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, noon to 4 p.m. Phone: 413-322-5660.

Zoar Outdoor

Route 2 (Mohawk Trail) Charlemont, MA 01339 Toll-Free: 800-532-7483

11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels

Try Zoar Outdoor’s newest adventure on a Deerfield Valley Canopy Tour in Charlemont Massachusetts. Our 3-hour-long zip line canopy tour leads adventurers on an aerial trek through the woods by means of 11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels suspended in the trees in the northern Berkshires and connected through platforms that sit high above the forest floor. Our double-cable construction provides an extra margin of safety and hand braking (with backup brakes on each zip) allows you to control your zip speed with a gloved hand and keep from "spinning out". Our guides are trained in both safe zipping practices and in interpreting the environment around you so you can fully appreciate this unique journey through the forest canopy.

Brewery Hums With Hospitality Year-Round

The ancient art of beer making is on display for the curious during brewery tours every Tuesday and Friday at Cape Cod Beer, 1336 Phinney’s Lane in Hyannis. The tour is free, and children are welcome if they are supervised (must be 21 or older to sample). The business opened a new, 15 barrel brewhouse this year, and the staff is going to be proud to show it off. While you are there, taste the company’s signature Beach Blonde ale. For fans of the suds, it’s a great overture to a visit to Cape Cod. Tours are 11 a.m. Tuesdays and 1 p.m. on Saturdays, throughout the entire year. Phone: 508-790-4200.

Brewster Serves Up Unique Shopping

The cheery Lemon Tree Village Shops at 1069 Route 6A in Brewster is a cheery, year-round shopping venue filled with many unusual stores. You can find garden statuary, top-of-the-line cooking implements, locally made arts and crafts, pottery, birding supplies, clothing, gifts, jewelry, and toys. The Village has 13 shops and a café, flower garden, flowing water fountains, and a relaxing atmosphere. The shopping experience here has been described as a "unique representation of artists from all over the United States, Europe, the Far East" and, of course, Cape Cod.

Camelot on Cape Cod

Perhaps nowhere in the world is the presence of the Kennedy mystique felt more palpably than in Hyannis, summer White House during the JFK era. Places to recall the Kennedy period include the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum at 397 Main Street in Hyannis, the inspiring Kennedy Memorial on Ocean Street, and St. Francis Xavier Church on South Street, often known as the Kennedy church. Open year-round except the month of January; check for seasonal hours. Phone: 508-790-3077

Driving Our Dreams at Heritage

The 2013 season special exhibit at the wonderful Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich is " Driving Our Dreams: Imagination in Motion ." The exhibit celebrates the car concepts and designers who push the boundaries of automobile design and technology. The exhibit will show 15 of the most legendary concept cars of the past 60 years, including the Firebird II and the Terrafugia flying car. A special Family Discovery Room has a place for you and your family to design your own concept cars using an assortment of wooden parts, and then test them on a giant ramp. Exhibit open April 13-October 27, 2013. Phone: 508-888-3300.

Dune and Beach Walks Near Provincetown

Never dismiss the Outer Cape as a romantic winter destination. Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet all have a core group of restaurants and bars dishing up warmth and sustenance. You will be looking for both after a vigorous walk onto the Province Lands, north of Provincetown. On a bright winter day, the views are glorious. Start at the Province Lands Visitor Center on Race Point Road, off Route 6. Walking routes can be adjusted for shorter and longer distances, with wonderful views of the Province Lands, Race Point Lighthouse, the Coast Guard Station, and more.

Incomparable Mosaic Art

Church of the Transfiguration at 5 Bay View Drive in Orleans is home to the Community of Jesus, a monastic Order that follows the Rule of St. Benedict. The Community welcomes all people to visit every day except Wednesdays. The church, built in 2000, is a modern structure whose centerpiece is a floor and apse lined with magnificent mosaics crafted in Italy. Frescos, stone carvings, glass art, and statuary throughout the church represent biblical images and the story of Christ. Liturgy of the Hours, including Vespers at 5:30 p.m. daily, is sung in Gregorian chant. In the tower are 10 bells rung after Vespers and Sunday services by bell ringers pulling ropes in sequence. The church has a gift shop with books, music, food, and handmade crafts. Guided tours of the church are offered daily except Wednesday at 3 p.m. Phone: 508-255-1094.

It’s a Zoo; It’s an Aquarium = Zooquarium

Since 1969, Zooquarium, at 674 Route 28 in West Yarmouth, has provided a fun-filled family adventure to explore and discover the marvelous creatures that live on Cape Cod, with special programs featuring sea birds of Cape Cod. Exhibits include a petting zoo with farm animals, llamas, goats, and deer; an aquarium where visitors can learn about the environment that surrounds Cape Cod; a tide touch pool with crabs, mussels, sea stars, urchins, clams, and more; an outdoor theater and a Children’s Discovery Center. Hours are seasonal: weekends in winter; daily in summer; daily except Tuesdays in spring and fall. Call for scheduling details. Phone: 508-775-8883.

No Telling What Nautical Oddities You May Find

One of the town’s oldest shops, Marine Specialties at 235 Commercial Street in Provincetown occupies a 1940s trap-fishing shed on the harbor. This nontraditional shop sells army-navy surplus, ship’s salvage, nautical décor, wooden buoys, lobster pots, fishnet, glass bottles, reproduction toys, vintage license plates, sea sponges, and seashells, bulk items for artists’ collages, and 600 different knives. And shoppers can outfit themselves in leather jackets and pants, outrageous hats, vintage prom dresses, feather boas, and other oddities beneath a ceiling hung with old lanterns and a deep sea diving suit. Open year-round but times vary by season. Phone: 508-487-1730.

Old-Time General Store is a Cape Cod Favorite

The Brewster Store on Route 6A in Brewster was built as a church in 1852 and converted to a general store in 1866. It has served residents and visitors to Cape Cod for more than 140 years. The Brewster Store features a broad assortment of merchandise: coffee, pastries and morning newspapers, penny candy, t-shirts and sweatshirts, toys, lamp parts, kitchen gadgets, original Coke in glass bottles, books, greeting cards and many unusual gifts. Put a quarter in the old nickelodeon to hear an old time tune, enjoy the roasted peanuts, or just sit on the benches and watch the world go by. Phone: 508-896-3744.

Relax By Rail to Cape Cod

After a break of several years, travelers can now get to Cape Cod by rail during the summer with the launch at Memorial Day 2013 of the Cape Flyer, the Boston-to-Cape Cod passenger train. The Cape Flyer will offer passengers an easy, comfortable, no-traffic-delay ride between Boston and Hyannis for about $30 round trip. For its inaugural year, CapeFlyer will operate on a limited schedule, weekends only, through Labor Day. The tentative schedule is to have five trips each weekend. Gosh, even if you could drive to the Cape, jump on the train instead. What a restful way to start and end a beautiful weekend.

Sea Gifts, From Scrimshaw to Decoys, and More

Collector’s World at 4100 Route 6 in Eastham is just the place to find semi-silly vacation memorabilia and gifts to take home from a trip to Cape Cod. Among the wonderful stuff at this vast shop of goodies are marine items, lighthouse and ship models, decoys, pewter and brass gifts, steins, toys, scrimshaw, weathervanes, thimbles, animal statuary, Christmas decorations, and much more. Fun, fun, fun for browsing, and gift shopping here won’t break the bank. Open: Summer, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; off-season, call ahead for hours. Phone: 508-255-3616.

Sea Life in the Mudflats Offers a Close-Up Adventure

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History at 869 Main Street in Brewster is a delightful museum for adults and children, but not overwhelming in size. Many exhibits explain the fascinating geology, flora, and animal life of the Cape, and the Salt Marsh Room offers a wonderful vista of the adjoining salt marsh. Downstairs is a small but satisfying aquarium. Just outside the back door is a self-guided walking trail of the marsh. Also, in the summer, naturalists offer guided treks of the marsh known a Mudflat Mania. A great way to see the fecund life of the salt marsh up close. Open year-round; seasonal hours. Phone: 508-896-3867

Try Truro -- the Vineyard, That Is

Truro Vineyard at 11 Shore Road in North Truro is a lovely, relaxing place where tours and tastings are held daily from May through Thanksgiving. The main house is located behind a wide expanse of law dotted with shade trees and picnic tables. Behind the house, tastings are conducted on a flower-decked patio. Inside, a gift shop offers all manner of fun gifts and books related to Cape Cod wines and the drinking and collecting of wine. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Phone: 508-487-6200

Art Expedition for Adults and Kids

The Smith Art Museum, one of a group of four museums on the Springfield Quadrangle, makes a fun day trip for adults and kids. It permanent collection includes a large collection Chinese cloisonné artwork; the Sculpture Hall has casts of masterpieces by Michelangelo, Verrocchio and more. Special fun for children is at the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center (open Tuesday through Sunday afternoons and during Weekend Family Fun Programs). Kid visitors may trace their Chinese horoscope, try on costumes and armor, play gallery games, and search the Wall of Symbols. Great cold-weather excursion for the whole family. Phone: 800-625-7738.

Art Packs a Punch at WAM

The Worcester Art Museum at 55 Salisbury Street in Worcester, is acclaimed for the quality of its collections. European and North American painting, prints, photographs and drawings; Asian art, Greek and Roman sculpture and mosaics and Contemporary art. The collection is organized geographically except for Western prints, drawings and all photographs which are organized by medium and Contemporary Art which is defined as the international art of the past ten years in all media. A café and museum shop provide a place to rest and refresh and a place to find mementos of your visit. Open Wednesdays through Sundays, but hours vary. Phone: 508-799-4406.

Candles, and Yet More Candles

Move over, Yankee Candle. A new candle emporium has entered the neighborhood. Kringle Candle, at 220 South Street (Route 5) Bernardston founded by the son of one of the founders of Yankee Candle, is offering a new player in the destination candle shopping experience. Kringle produces all-white candles – intended to blend with any décor – in a range of fragrances. Many candles are offered in reusable bowls or jars that can serve later duty. Related products include air fresheners, apothecary jars, floating candles, crystal pillars, kitchen canisters and spice jars, tea lights, votives, and potpourri. The property has a Farm Table Restaurant and a Christmas Barn, ensuring a full day of shopping fun for candle fiends. For more adventure, spend a day trolling between Kringle Candle and Yankee Candle, just a few miles down Route 5. Open daily, with extended hours for the holidays. Phone: 413-648-3077

Chalk Transformed by Artists

Whether you are looking for chalkware rabbits, Santas or other holiday collections, Vaillancourt Folk Art has been recognized around the nation for its detailed, hand-painted figurines, ornaments, and other collectibles. Vaillancourt Folk Art, at 9 Main Street in Sutton, is the original company to produce Chalkware figurines using antique chocolate molds. Available around the country in department stores, museum stores, catalogs and small mom-and-pop shops, Vaillancourt Folk Art creates that special gift that will be handed down for generations. Phone: 508-476-3601.

Follow That Dinosaur!

Where is the best place in the world to find dinosaur tracks? In the Connecticut River Valley, according to the owners and operators of Nash Dinosaur Track Site and Rock Shop at 594 Amherst Road in South Hadley. The tracks in this quarry were discovered in 1933 and the land was bought in 1939 by Carlton S. Nash. Since that time the land has produced thousands of dinosaur tracks that have been sold to museums and private individuals all over the world. The site is one mile from where the first dinosaur tracks in the Connecticut River Valley were found in 1802 by a farmer named Pliny Moody. Visitors can enjoy a walk in the quarry to see where the dinosaur tracks are excavated, then tour the rock shop. The quarry is open from April 1 until the first snow fall of the season. Phone: 413-467-9566.

Handcrafted Beer, Bottled in the Bay State

The founders of Wachusett Brewery, at 175 State Road East in Westminster, ditched careers in engineering and biology to found the Wachusett Brewing Co. in 1993. Wachusett Country Ale was introduced the following year. Tours of the brewery are offered Wednesday to Saturday starting at noon. Your tour guide will give you a brief history of the brewery and walk you through the operation. Children are welcome, but may not taste beer. The tour and the tasting last for about 1 hour, and tastings are limited to two 2-ounce samples. Phone: 978-874-9965.

Icons, the Old, Russian Way

Enjoy beautiful artwork and learn about the religious traditions of old Russia at the Museum of Russian Icons at 203 Union Street in Clinton. The collection includes more than 400 Russian icons and is one of the largest private collections outside Russia. The collection spans six centuries, and includes important historical paintings dating from the earliest periods of icon writing to the present. Collections include images of St. George and the Dragon, St. Paraskeva, Christ the Pantocrator, Elijah, St. Nicholas, and John the Baptist. Open daily except Mondays. The museum fills a 150-year-old former mill building. Phone: 978-598-5000.

Appetites Aweigh: Food Tours of Boston

Boston Food Tours offer expert guidance to walk you (literally) though the restaurants and food shops of Boston's North End (its Little Italy) and Chinatown. The North End tour unveils the cuisine of America’s oldest Italian community, colorful sights, tantalizing aromas, and authentic tastes. On the Chinatown tour, a guide leads you through this vibrant village and teaches the differences between regional Chinese cuisines. Tours offered regularly; book through the company website. Phone: 800-979-3370

Armada of American Ships Was Born at Quincy

Quincy has a proud shipbuilding tradition that includes producing many of the U.S. Navy ships that fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Today, visitors can tour the Quincy-built USS Salem, world's only preserved Heavy Cruiser. Berthed at the U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Museum, the Salem offers visitors the chance to experience life on the former flag ship of the Sixth Fleet. Open June through September. Note: Quincy is also the birthplace of the popular catch phrase "Kilroy Was Here.” Phone: 617-479-7900.

Art, Comma, Contemporary

Visitors to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston are just as likely to be awestruck with the building as they are with what’s inside. The oddly shaped structure sits directly on the waterfront and, from a certain vantage point, looks like it might topple into the bay. With a little luck, guests will stay dry long enough to enjoy the gallery’s permanent collection of paintings, sculpture, and photography by artists from all over the world. Phone: 617-478-3103.

Artful Cinema at the Coolidge

People who love movies: New England has a healthy scattering of small, independent movie theaters that show new releases along with independent films without the exploding helicopters. The Coolidge Corner Theatre at 290 Harvard Street in Brookline was redesigned as an Art Deco movie palace in 1933 and has never closed its doors since. It presents the finest international, documentary, animated, and independent film selections and series. Phone: 617-734-2500.

Astonishing Nature Lessons

There is always something interesting to see and learn at the Harvard Museum of Natural History on Oxford Street in Cambridge. Classes and lectures for kids and adults on many fascinating subjects – from the source for our food to nature drawing -- are ongoing. Permanent exhibits include the Great Mammal Hall, Evolution, Arthropods: Creatures that Rule, The Glass Flowers, The Zoological Galleries, the Mineralogical and Geological Gallery. Phone: 617-495-3045

Bicycle Built for 3… or More

You've seen them in the movies (probably a romantic comedy) -- city pedicabs. On vacation, why not try out a pedicab ride in Boston or Cambridge, two of the globe's most picturesque cities. Charles River Pedicab company brags: "…our cabs are faster than walking, can maneuver through heavy traffic and are environmentally friendly …" Moreover, our drivers can share their personal and historic knowledge" of the city. Fun, restful, unusual -- almost like starring in a movie. Phone: 617-266 2005.

Blaschka Glass Flowers Delight for Over 100 Years

One of the treasures of the Harvard Museum of Natural History on Oxford Street in Cambridge is the Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants, called the “glass flowers." This collection of over 4,000 models was created by the glass artist Leopold Blaschka and his son. The commission began in 1886 because the founder of the Botanical Museum wanted life-like representatives of the plant kingdom for teaching botany. They have been delighting people for more than a century. Phone: 617-495-3045.

Blue Discoveries Family Days

The New England Aquarium, at 1 Central Wharf, in Boston offers a low-cost and really fun activity for parents and kids on selected Saturdays or Sundays. Blue Discoveries Family Day are a chance to learn more about Earth through art, science, and storytelling. Family Days with an asterisk are free admission!
Family Days in 2013 are March 10 (Octopus); April 21* (Earth Day Celebration); May18* (Whales); June 2* (World Oceans Day Celebration); July 13* (Harbor Exploration); August 11* (Sensational and Sustainable Seafood); September 21* (Sharks); October 12 (Seals); November 17 (Sea Turtles); and December 14 (Aqua Vets). Phone: 617-973-5200.

Blue, and Way Cool

The international sensation Blue Man Group is home-based in Boston, yes siree. That means you gotta see it here. Good luck describing it to the uninitiated. It is whacky performance art by three men encased in blue paint and costume. Lots of mime but no speech, and lots of drumming, acrobatics, throwing of paint, and inspired stage lunacy. Some social commentary above technology, belonging (or not) and other topics are wedged into the fun, they say. Puts a smile on the man of every adult and child. Appears at the Charles Playhouse, 74 Warrenton Street.

Boston’s Lighthouses Seen from the Sea

The three-hour Boston Light Tour begins with a narrated boat tour among the Boston Harbor Islands, where you will learn the rich maritime history from a park ranger. You will see the Long Island Light and The Graves Light; disembark at Little Brewster Island to visit the first lighthouse station in the U.S.; climb Boston Light's tower and see the historic Fresnel lens. Tours depart at various times from the Moakley Courthouse Dock. A memorable Boston outing. Phone: 617-223-8666.

Call It “Mem Drive”

Every Sunday from late April to mid-November, Memorial Drive in Cambridge (known as “Mem Drive” to local people), is closed to motor traffic between Western Avenue and Mount Auburn Street. People turn out on bikes, inline skates, and running shoes, pushing strollers and walking dogs. This normally busy road has spectacular views of the Charles River, and strolling down the middle of it on a sunny Sunday is like having the world by the tail. When you are done, go grab lunch in Harvard Square.

Carousel by Nantasket Beach

The Paragon Carousel at 205 Nantasket Avenue in Hull has been operating along the shores of Nantasket Beach for more than 80 years. Built in 1928 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, it boasts four rows of 66 intricately carved horses and two rare Roman chariots. Wurlitzer Band Organ fills the air with music. Once you’ve had your fill of magical horses browse the gift shop or get some ice cream. Open daily, June-September. Phone: 781-925-0472

Charles River Is a Natural Host
for Your Visit to Cambridge

Here’s a twist on one way to tour the beautiful and historic city of Cambridge: on a riverboat trolling the Charles River, the physical center and soul of the city itself. The Charles Riverboat Company offers a variety of sightseeing tours and sunset cruises on the Charles River and Boston Harbor. Take a thrilling tour of Boston and Cambridge by way of the Charles River, or kick back on a relaxing sunset cruise. Cruises depart daily from the CambridgeSide Galleria, 100 Cambridgeside Place, conveniently accessible to public transportation out of Lechmere and Kendall stations. Phone: 617-621-3001.

Chuckle, Chuckle, Guffaw

If you are looking for entertainment in the form of joke-telling, find Dick's Beantown Comedy Vault (even the name sounds ridiculous) at 124 Boylston Street in Boston The club is in an old bank and it uses the 12-foot-tall vault as a backdrop for comedians of all stripes to throw down at the audience. Boston humor is world-famous ("You like apples?") and this is the very heart of the beast. Dick's has been called the city's Most Fun Comedy Club for nearly 25 years. Open nightly. Usual curtain times are 8 p.m. week nights and later on weekends, with two shows on Saturday nights. Phone: 800-401-2221

Come Aboard Old Ironside

Visit Old Ironside for a free guided tour by active Navy sailors. This 30 minute tour of the USS Constitution includes a detailed history, stories of the original crew and other tales of this national icon in Charlestown . Tours of the “Ship of the State” include the spar deck, gun deck and berth deck. Want to learn more about the Old Ironside visit the separately owned museum only a few yards away from the ship at Building 5, Navy Yard. USS Constitution gives tours Tuesday through Sunday. Phone: 617-242-2543. USS Constitution Museum is open year round. Phone: 617-426-1812

Discover Quincy

Quincy Chamber of Commerce
1400 Hancock Street, Suite 1A Quincy, MA 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700 Fax: 617-471-3087

Birthplace of the American Dream

A visit to Quincy takes you on a voyage through time to the era of the Adams, Quincy, and Hancock families. Board a trolley and walk in the footsteps of John Adams at the Adams National Historical Park, where you’ll visit the birthplaces and family estate of two U.S. Presidents.

Quincy offers 27 miles of coastline that offer swimming, lifeguards, free parking, a bathhouse and more. Enjoy dining at one of Quincy's delectable restaurants. Or go on an outdoor adventure, be it by land or sea. The City of Presidents has three golf courses, including a 27-hole championship golf course that was voted a top ten in its class. Come be our guest for the day, a night or a week!

Down Under Is Even Fun...der

Summer 2013 brings the Aussie Adventure exhibit to Stone Zoo on Franklin Park Road in Boston on Franklin Park Road in Boston. Visit Boston's little piece of Down Under to greet the koalas, kookaburra, and more. The aviary is filled with brightly-colored budgies; buy a seed stick and you may be lucky enough to have the birds land right on it. This seasonal exhibit is open in 2013 form Memorial Day to Labor Day. Don't forget to enjoy all the Stone Zoos other, year-round inhabitants, too. Phone: 617-541-LION.

Giant Ocean Tank Opens in 2013

Big news from the New England Aquarium on Central Wharf in Boston: After years of a top-to-bottom, 21st-century renovation, the Giant Ocean Tank is going to reopen the summer of 2013 with nearly 2,000 animals of all shapes and sizes. Over the past several months, animal caregivers have been busy caring for many of these new arrivals. All the new and old fish will debut in the Giant Ocean Tank home this summer! Even if you have visited the aquarium in the past, plan to come back. This development is a big one. Phone: 617-973-5200.

Handmade Arts Market in Somerville

Grand Union Boulevard along the Mystic River in Somerville will be the site of a weekly Handmade Arts Market on Saturdays, mid-May through September 21, in 2013 (excluding July 4th weekend). This market will showcase handmade arts and crafts on display and for sale. Dozens of local artists will be selling jewelry, clothing and accessories, paintings and photography, pottery, home décor, soaps, and much more. Many markets will also feature demos and workshops. Great gift-buying for yourself or friends.

History of Innovation

Located on the banks of the Charles River in the historic 1814 Boston Manufacturing Company textile mill, Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation at 154 Moody Street in Waltham is America’s first factory. Hands-on exhibits feature American innovation and invention from 1812 to modern day. Exhibits feature the Boston Manufacturing Company, The Orient Bicycle and Metz Automobile, the Waltham Watch Factory and more. Museum topics include textile history, watches and clocks, steam power, and marvelous machines. A favorite exhibit is Steampunk Form & Function, showing works of artists spanning all areas of the retro-futuristic movement. Open year-round, Thursdays through Sundays. Phone: 781-893-5410.

Inside-Out Atlas

The Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library at 200 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston is a stunning achievement in art and architecture. Walk through this 3-story stained-glass globe, for a unique look at the globe. Since 1935, more than 10 million people have traversed the thirty-foot glass bridge that spans the Mapparium, taking visitors to a unique spot: the middle of the world. Open daily except Monday. Mapparium is accessible only by guided tour. Phone: 617-450-7000.

Invite Yourself to the Original Tea Party

We’ve all been hearing a lot about tea parties recently. Now, you can get close to the original at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, at Congress Street Bridge in Boston. The museum features interactive exhibits, reenactment with actors in period clothing, a Tea Party Ship shop, and a Tea & Tavern Room. There are two ship replicas, the Eleanor & the Beaver, with the Dartmouth. A new Visitor Information Center is a few feet away on the Boston HarborWalk. Phone: 617-592-0422.

Irish Tracks Through Boston

Boston, MA

The Irish Heritage Trail is a series of Boston landmarks of Irish-American artists and heroes from the 1700s to the present in Massachusetts. It is a great walking lesson in history, for descendants of the Emerald Isle and anyone else interested in the formation of our country. Sites on the trail include the Rose Kennedy Garden, Boston City Hall, Boston Irish Famine Memorial, Old Granary Burying Grounds, Massachusetts State House, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial, and much more. Phone: 617-696-9880

More Light for Art Lovers

The wonderful and already-revered Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum at 280 The Fenway in Boston has a dramatic, new light-filled wing! The addition, by architect Renzo Piano, includes a three-story gallery for contemporary art exhibitions, an intimate performance hall, and a visitor orientation area. For the first time, visitors can walk through the museum's greenhouses to see plants that are being prepared for the famous courtyard displays in the original 1902 building. The museum's collections reflect Isabella Stewart Gardner's extensive European travels: paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, and decorative arts, including works by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Degas, and Manet. Phone: 617-566-1401 or 617-278-5156.

Accessories for the Home

Quaint pillows, breath taking photographs and many other home décor items fill this warm and welcoming Nantucket shop. Leslie Linsley and her husband specialize in beautifully decorated decoupage plates. At Leslie Linsley Nantucket located at the corner of Zero India Street and North Union Street, the plates are hand crafted featuring original cut outs of vegetables, flowers, and other one of a kind designs. Every year this Nantucket couple releases a limited edition Christmas plate. Each item is signed and dated. If you are looking for more than decoupage plates, the store features unique home decorating books authored by Linsley and artwork from other local Nantucket artists and artisans. Open year round. Phone: 508-325-4900

Enjoy Polly's Gardens

Polly Hill Arboretum at 809 State Road in West Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard is a dreamy, tranquil place to enjoy cultivated gardens and native woodlands. Trees and shrubs are set among stone walls, meadows, and fields. Visitor favorites are the dogwood alley, perennial border, monkey puzzle tree, and the Julian Hill magnolia. Families love the Family Explorer Backpacks. Open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. The Visitor Center is open daily and self-guided tours are available at the parking lot kiosk. Phone: 508-693-9426.

From Beer to Wine to Spirits
Cisco Brewers Covers the Map

A day trip through the lovely country side of Nantucket can get a spirited boost with a stop at the family -operated Cisco Brewers, Nantucket Vineyard, and Triple Eight Distillery . In addition to its flagship product, Triple Eight Vodka, the distillery produces Triple Eight Orange Vodka, Hurricane Rum, Gale Force Gin and Notch (“not scotch”) single malt whiskey. Combining old world techniques with state of the art technology, the vineyard’s wine selections include delicious vintages that you won't find anywhere else. The owners encourage visitors to their operation, at 5 and 7 Bartlett Farm Road. Open daily, with tours by appointment. Phone: 508-325-5929.

Glass as Art

Martha’s Vineyard Glassworks at 683 State Road in West Tisbury was founded in 1992 as a studio where glassblowers could develop their skills, create glasswork, and build a life around glassblowing. Now, it is also a retail store and gallery, where visitors can watch the process of glass blowing and purchase unique glass artwork to keep. Open daily April to December and weekends January to April. If you want to watch glass blowing be sure to call ahead before visiting. Glass blowing is inactive at least one day a week during a routine glass cooking day. Phone: 508-693-6026.

Island Tours to Suit Your Tastes

Get to know Nantucket on a guided tour just right for your style: by bicycle, a van, or on foot. Cyclists can follow experienced guides on Nantucket by Bike, visiting remote island spots. Do you like the comfort of a van? On Gail's Tour you'll enjoy the insider's view from a sixth-generation Nantucket native. Shearwater Excursions will take you offshore to explore the lovely shoreline. For the earthbound explorer, Raven's Walk will guide you on a choice of spooky nighttime walks.

Let Us Go on a Quest

The Trustees of the Reservations, which maintains and operates many wonderful historic properties in Massachusetts, is helping parents to get the kids outdoors on cool explorations through its new Quest Detective game. Start by finding the Quest maps at each of the properties or download and print them yourself. At the end of each Quest, you’ll find a hidden box with a stamp for your Quest Detective booklet. Quest Detective booklets are available at the 12 sites. Check out these awesome quests around Massachusetts:
Griffin's Perch Quest on the Crane Estate in Ipswich; Pinnacle Quest at Appleton Farms in Hamilton; Hermit's Haven Quest and Sweetbay Swamp Quest at Ravenswood Park in Gloucester; Over the Bridge & Through the Years at Bird Park in Walpole; Eleanor's Quest at the Bradley Estate in Canton; East Over Quest at the East Over Reservation in Rochester; Menemsha Hills Quest on Martha's Vineyard; Downtown Holyoke Quest at Holyoke; Bart's Cobble Quest in Sheffield; and Mission House Mohican Quest in Stockbridge.

Mission: To Surprise and Delight

Nantucket Bookworks at 25 Broad Street in Nantucket, declares that its mission is “surprise and delight visitors.” This is a full-service, general interest bookstore selling new books, with a small selection of out-of-print Nantucket titles. There is an extensive children's room, card room, young adult section, and Nantucket Book section. Also, you never know what kind of eclectic sidelines might wind up in the store. The store sells and accepts ABA gift cards, good for use at more than 200 participating independent bookstores across the country. Open daily, year-round. Hours vary seasonally. Phone: 508-228-4000

Shipwreck!!!

In the 19th century, hundreds of ships passed by Nantucket Island each day. Unpredictable storms, dense fog, and strong currents could catch the most experienced sailors off guard. Treacherous shoals and inclement weather led to over 700 shipwrecks near Nantucket, causing the area to be dubbed “a graveyard of the Atlantic.” The Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum at 158 Polpis Road, Nantucket, preserves the memory of Islanders who risked their lives to save shipwrecked mariners. The museum takes visitors inside maritime history, featuring over 5,000 objects from famous shipwrecks and lifesaving equipment used to save seafarers in trouble. Open daily, late May 24 through Columbus Day.

Ahoy, Whales

Experts at the Whale Center of New England on Harbor Loop in Gloucester study whales who live in the waters off the Massachusetts coast, especially Stellwagen Bank and Jeffreys Ledge, and conduct field research their vessel Mysticete. The center also has a Visitors Center where whale lovers can learn about these marine mammals through extensive exhibits. Visitors will come away with a new appreciation for marine mammals and the threats that they face in the world today. The Visitors Center is open year-round, but days and hours vary through the seasons. Phone: 978-281-6351.

Ancient Inn Still Welcomes Guests

Longfellow's Wayside Inn, a historic landmark and still a functioning inn and restaurant, has been serving travelers along the old Boston Post Road for almost 300 years, starting in 1707 as a stagecoach stop and inn. Today's visitors to the Inn, at 72 Swayside Inn Road in Sudbury, can explore the inn's period-style museum rooms with artifacts of Colonial times and also stop at the Grist Mill and the old Redstone School, a classic one-room school dating from 1798. Nearby is the 45-acre Garden in the Woods run by the New England Wild Flower Society. Various parts of the inn property and its buildings are open year-round or seasonally; call ahead for hours of operation or tours. A visit here is like stepping into Colonial times. Phone: 978-443-1776.

Biking the Beautiful North Shore

Great Freedom Adventures and its experienced guides offer narrated biking trips -- usually involving overnight stays -- in places of great natural beauty and history, including the North Shore of Boston, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, and central Vermont. These three-to-six-day tours are carefully planned and supported, with sightseeing, meals, and lodging. The company's "Boston North Shore Bike, Hike, and Kayak Adventure Trip" starts in Ispwich and covers territory that includes Plum Island and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Crane Estate, Salem, Rockport and a bit of kayaking in the Essex River basin. Wonderful workouts and heavenly scenery are built in to this great escape. Phone: 508-545-1864.

Crane Property Is Luxurious, Indoors and Out

The Crane Estate , at 290 Argilla Road in Ipswich, offers fun for both indoor and outdoor people in your travel group. The Great House at Castle Hill is a Stuart style mansion built in 1927 by Chicago industrialist Richard Crane. Stroll through the Italian gardens, capture views of Crane Beach. Summer events include outdoor concerts, an Independence Day celebration, and monthly activities. You can picnic on the Grand Allee overlooking the ocean. Nearby Crane Beach is one of the most scenic beaches in all of New England, with four miles of white sand beach. Lifeguards, refreshments, restrooms, changing facility and ample parking. Phone: 978-356-4351

Daily Objects Reveal Their Secrets
at Textile History Museum

From spinning wheels to airplanes and power looms to baseballs, history really comes alive at the American Textile History Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, at 491 Dutton Street in Lowell. In the main exhibition, Textile Revolution: An Exploration through Space and Time, visitors can spin, weave, design, and recycle through an interactive experience that explores how textiles affect our lives. Watch how baseballs are made from wool, weave on a hand loom, and try on a glove designed for the NASA space program. Rotating special exhibitions exploring fascinating topics through textiles, from the glamour and grace of 1930s fashion to the stories of Vietnam vets. Open year-round, Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed on holidays. Phone: 978-441-0400.

Get Ghostly in Salem

Salem Historical Tours, based at 191 Essex Street in Salem, is host of the nightly Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour and other tours that entertain and inform visitors to this historic town. A variety of tours appeal to interests of all kinds of visitors. They include the new Spirits of Salem Pub Crawl, which visits several of Salem’s most spirited taverns; Cemetery 101, which explores an early burying ground; Salem Witchcraft Walk, describing the infamous Salem Witch Trials; Supernatural Salem, a new ghost tour; and Secrets of Salem, which explores the macabre history of the Witch City. Great storytellers, historical integrity, and an unrivaled reputation make the Salem Historic Tours a great companion to explore Salem. Phone: 978-745-0666.

Kids' Treasure Hunt at the Castle Hill

The Great House at Castle Hill, at 290 Argilla Road, in Ipswich is a wonderful mansion on a storied estate and a great place to explore -- especially for kids! It was once the home and playground of the Crane children, Florence and Cornelius. Every Friday from June 7 to August 30, 2013, a 45-minute guided treasure hunt lets kids search for treasures throughout the mansion. Included in the program are experiences about life in the 1920s. For children age 4 to 8. Please pre-register. Phone: 978-356-4351

Lyman Brings the Outdoors Indoors

Lyman Estate Greenhouses on Lyman Street in Waltham provide a flowery paradise year-round. The Lyman Estate Greenhouses are among the oldest surviving greenhouses in the United States. The complex consists of an 1804 grape house, 1820 camellia house, 1840 orchid house, and a 1930 sales greenhouse. At any time of year a visit to these picturesque greenhouses is a treat. Rare orchids covered with exotic flowers bloom throughout the year. The horticultural staff offers advice and assistance. The greenhouse specializes in orchids, exotic house plants, citrus fruits, camellias, and herbs. The gift shop sells historical gardening books, brass sundials, sachets, orchid accessories, pottery, rustic twig furniture, and more. Open year-round, but days vary by season. Guided tours on first Wednesdays. Consult greenhouses’s website. Phone: 781-891-1985.

Battleship Cove

5 Water Street Fall River, MA 02721 Phone: 508-678-1100 Toll-Free: 800-533-3194 Fax: 508-674-5597

Visiting Battleship Cove is like walking onto a huge soundstage, where the stories of real people play out against the backdrop of historic naval vessels.

This living history museum shows seasonally The Pearl Harbor Experience, the only outdoor multimedia reenactment anywhere, and honors civilian and military women who helped defend our country’s freedom in the Women Protecting US exhibit.

National treasures are the WWII battleship, the USS Massachusetts and the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., named for the oldest son of the fabled Kennedy family. Two PT Boats similar to the one commanded by the future President Kennedy, the submarine Lionfish, and the Russian-built missile corvette Hiddensee all make their home here. Memorials pay tribute to veterans from WWII through the Persian Gulf Wars.

Book Browsing With No End in Sight

The clamor of daily life in this former turn-of-the-century mill is replaced by shuffling feet and sibilant page-turning at the Shire Book Shop at 305 Union Street in Franklin. An inventory of more than one hundred thousand used books includes collectibles, first editions, and just about anything else you can name. Enjoy quiet browsing and reading in comfortable seating in a setting that inspires dreams of grand topics, with a complimentary cup of tea on the side. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Phone: 508-528-5665.

City That Lit the World

New Bedford was the mid-19th century’s preeminent whaling port and for a time the richest city in the world. At the New Bedford Whaling Park and Museum on 33 William Street – which part of the U.S. Park Service – visitors can explore that fascinating era by strolling cobblestone streets and by touring the world’s largest whaling museum, a merchant’s home, a whalemen's chapel, and a 19th-century schooner. The park is actually a neighborhood consisting of several buildings: visitor centers for the park and the waterfront, a whaling museum, a church, and a historic house with gardens. Most facilities open year-round, with some seasonal variations in hours. Phone: 508-996-4095

Hall of Fame at Patriot Place

The Hall at Patriot Place in Foxboro is open to all football fans. Try your skill at kicking or converting a field goal. See how high can you jump compared to Devin McCourty. Is your reaction time as quick as that of NFL players? How hard is it to make an official’s call on the field? Listen to Coach Belichick explain the strategies behind each play. Learn if you have what it takes to score a touchdown. Finish with a special visit to see the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophies and World Championship rings from 2001, 2003 and 2004. The Hall is open daily, but it closes occasionally for private functions. It is typically closed before and during a Patriots home game, but it re-opens after 1 p.m. home games. Hours vary seasonally. Phone: 508-6989-4800.

Old Country Store Brings Back
Era of the Nickelodeon

Step back in time with a visit to the Old Country Store & Emporium on Otis Street in Mansfield. Many of the household goods that our grandparents knew are here in the rambling wooden buildings. The West Mansfield Fire Barn next door now houses the Firehouse Candle Shop. The Emporium houses a restored soda fountain and apothecary shop. The sound of the three restored nickelodeons brings back memories of an earlier time. The Barn contains stuffed bears, pictures, linens, braided rugs, jelly cupboards and occasional furniture, hutches and lighting fixtures and gifts galore. Open daily. Phone: 508-339-8128.

Out in the Woods, in Sight of Boston

For a romantic walk in a leafy woods, visit World’s End in Hingham, a nature preserve tucked into the end of a curve of shoreline that sweeps southeast from Boston. Rolling hills and rocky shorelines offer views of the Boston skyline, while tree-lined carriage paths make delightful walking trails. The 251-acre landscape includes rocky shores, broad hillsides, and open fields bracketed by woodlands. The property is ideal for walking, picnicking, jogging, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, or simply enjoying the outdoors. It is managed by the admirable Trustees of the Reservations, and open to the public for walking year-round.

Peaceful Refuge for a Variety of Critters

Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary at 37 Eddy Street in Norton is a nonprofit stay-for-life animal reserve established to care for abused and abandoned farm and exotic animals. Visitors can take a tour the farm, meet the animals who live there, and enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of the season. Winslow Farm also offers a nature trail, full playground, birthday parties, perennial garden, and many activities throughout the year, like the October Festival, Sheep Shearing, Easter Egg Hunt, Green Sprouts, Renaissance Faire, Yuletide Festival, and Arts and Craft Faire. Open daily except Tuesdays, year-round. Phone: 508-285-6451.

Zeiterion Brings Great Theater
to Southern Massachusetts

For lively, dynamic, creative entertainment of all stripes, stay tuned to the Zeiterion Theatre on Purchase Street in New Bedford. This historic performing arts center is located in a restored 1923 vaudeville house, and its programs include summer musicals, comedy, great American music, dance, special events, and family fun. The 2013 season includes David Sedaris, "Rockapella," Mavis Staples, and much more. Check the theater’s website for schedules. Phone: 508-997-5664.

Berkshires/Pioneer Valley/Mohawk Trail	Cape Cod	Central Massachusetts/Sturbridge
Greater Boston and Cambridge	Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket	North of Boston/Merrimack Valley
South of Boston/Plymouth

MASSACHUSETTS

Fun and unusual things to do in every corner of Massachusetts

Battleship Cove

Discover Quincy

Birthplace of the American Dream

Old Sturbridge Village

Put the past in your future!

Zoar Outdoor

11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels

100 Years Since the Loss of the Titanic

Awesomely Original Shops Brighten Northampton

Books, Soft Chairs, and a River View

Dancin' at the Mansion

DIY Beer Tasting Tour

Experts at Play

Flynt Displays Colonial Life in Vivid Detail

Fossils Fuel Curiosity at Dino Museums

Kids Gotta Play

Kids Love to Explore ‘the Olden Days’

Mecca of Antiquing Awaits in the Berkshires

Morgan’s Mansion Hosts Lots of Fun Seasonal Events

Wisteriahurst House Displays 19th-Century Elegance

Zoar Outdoor

11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels

Brewery Hums With Hospitality Year-Round

Brewster Serves Up Unique Shopping

Camelot on Cape Cod

Driving Our Dreams at Heritage

Dune and Beach Walks Near Provincetown

Incomparable Mosaic Art

It’s a Zoo; It’s an Aquarium = Zooquarium

No Telling What Nautical Oddities You May Find

Old-Time General Store is a Cape Cod Favorite

Relax By Rail to Cape Cod

Sea Gifts, From Scrimshaw to Decoys, and More

Sea Life in the Mudflats Offers a Close-Up Adventure

Try Truro -- the Vineyard, That Is

Art Expedition for Adults and Kids

Art Packs a Punch at WAM

Candles, and Yet More Candles

Chalk Transformed by Artists

Follow That Dinosaur!

Handcrafted Beer, Bottled in the Bay State

Icons, the Old, Russian Way

Appetites Aweigh: Food Tours of Boston

Armada of American Ships Was Born at Quincy

Art, Comma, Contemporary

Artful Cinema at the Coolidge

Astonishing Nature Lessons

Bicycle Built for 3… or More

Blaschka Glass Flowers Delight for Over 100 Years

Blue Discoveries Family Days

Blue, and Way Cool

Boston’s Lighthouses Seen from the Sea

Call It “Mem Drive”

Carousel by Nantasket Beach

Charles River Is a Natural Host for Your Visit to Cambridge

Chuckle, Chuckle, Guffaw

Come Aboard Old Ironside

Discover Quincy

Birthplace of the American Dream

Down Under Is Even Fun...der

Giant Ocean Tank Opens in 2013

Handmade Arts Market in Somerville

History of Innovation

Inside-Out Atlas

Invite Yourself to the Original Tea Party

Irish Tracks Through Boston

More Light for Art Lovers

Accessories for the Home

Enjoy Polly's Gardens

From Beer to Wine to Spirits Cisco Brewers Covers the Map

Glass as Art

Island Tours to Suit Your Tastes

Let Us Go on a Quest

Mission: To Surprise and Delight

Shipwreck!!!

Ahoy, Whales

Ancient Inn Still Welcomes Guests

Biking the Beautiful North Shore

Charles River Is a Natural Host
for Your Visit to Cambridge

From Beer to Wine to Spirits
Cisco Brewers Covers the Map