Find family, history, & cultural activities from Boston to Berkshires, indoors and out

Massachusetts > State > Things to Do and See > 90 Great Things to Do in Massachusetts

Find great, fun things to do and fresh places to explore in the Bay State for every age and taste, from antique shopping to rock climbing to slithering through a water park. Check attractions' websites for updates to scheduling and other details, especially for activities affected by weather.

Every region, from the historic homes and gardens of the Berkshires to the beaches of Cape Cod offers memorable adventures for the whole family. Plan a getaway to the cultural and historic sites of Boston and spring for a luxury hotel or waterfront lodging in this “Athens of America.”

Island Queen

75 Falmouth Heights Road Falmouth, MA, 02540 Phone: 508-548-4800

Ferry ride lets you enjoy all Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard have to offer

Your 35 minutes sailing aboard the Island Queen, the comfortable passenger ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, features plenty of scenic views from the picture-window lounge and decks, but that’s only the beginning of the great things to do. On the Vineyard, explore the gingerbread houses of Oak Bluffs or the amazing red cliffs at Aquinnah or head to bustling Edgartown for shopping and dining. Back in Falmouth, there are fabulous beaches and bike paths as well as all the Cape has to offer, from its 14 lighthouses to Cape Cod Baseball League, arts venues, antiquing, nature preserves and historical sites. The ferry has a full-service snack bar, and parking is just 200 yards from the docks. Bring your bike or paddle board!

Porches Inn at MASS MoCA

231 River Street North Adams, MA, 01247 Phone: 413-664-0400

Use this welcoming boutique inn as your base to explore arts venues, parks, museums

With the charming Porches Inn as your base, prepare to explore Western Massachusetts and its many cultural venues and natural wonders. Start with the eclectic Mass MoCA, right across the street: a vibrant center for some of today’s most evocative art. Head into North Adams, a former mill town with a vibrant arts-and-crafts scene, restaurants and shopping. Go hiking in one of the nearby state parks or hit the Appalachian Trail, play golf at one of a dozen courses, catch a play or visit a history museum, botanical garden or nature center. Whether you want to go antiquing, go fishing, go swimming or go back to the inn to relax in your spacious room with a whirlpool tub and private porch, you have lots of options.

Visit our sister properties - Red Lion Inn - Briarcliff

Worcester Art Museum

55 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA, 01609 Phone: 508-799-4406

Eclectic, engaging offerings and interactive opportunities await visitors to this museum

There are lots of lovely things to see at the Worcester Art Museum, with its collection of 38,000 objects. There’s the 12th century Romanesque chapter house, paintings by Monet and Gauguin, cups made by ancient Americans, delicate Japanese screens and full suits of armor. But there are also many things to do in this museum that realizes the value of interactivity. Scavenger hunts mane discovering art fun, and art carts allow hands-on exploration. Greek coins, Roman floor mosaics, Chinese art, jousting helmets and special exhibits featuring everything from baseball jerseys to reclaimed art stolen by Nazis (and a family’s 75-year effort to get it back) are all part of this museum’s eclectic, engaging offerings.

Ponds at Foxhollow

Route 7 Lenox, MA, 01240 Phone: 413-637-1469

Great things to do inside and outside this convenient, elegant resort

A list of great things to do at Ponds at Foxhollow, a secluded resort in the heart of the Berkshires, begins with the resort itself: There are indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, shuffleboard, bocce, plenty of room on the 223-acre estate to hike, bike and cross-country ski, an exercise room, putting green, basketball courts and canoes to take out on the resort’s very pretty pond. After you have relaxed in your spacious one- or two-bedroom condo overlooking that pond, you might head out to the Normal Rockwell Museum, Tanglewood, a botanical garden, a beach, an historic home. Or just head into Lenox, Lee or Stockbridge to stroll the quintessentially New England streets and sample the excellent restaurants.

Red Lion Inn

30 Main Street Stockbridge, MA, 01262 Phone: 413-298-5545

Historic inn a welcoming headquarters to explore the Berkshires’ menu of activities, attractions

The Berkshires area, home to the timeless, welcoming Red Lion Inn, has a reputation for being a veritable playground of things to do and places to explore. Famous venues for art, music, dance and theater are within a few minutes drive, and the historic inn is surrounded by picturesque forests, parks and natural habitats. There are jaw-dropping views midway through mountain hikes as well as pleasant strolls through botanical gardens. You can bike, kayak, canoe, swim, fish and, in the winter, ski and snowshoe. There’s whitewater rafting, ziplining and paddle boarding as well as places to play golf, tennis and mini golf. Boutique shops and restaurants serving every cuisine imaginable dot the main streets of the charming New England villages.

Visit our sister properties - Briarcliff - Porches Inn

Southwick’s Zoo

2 Southwick Street Mendon, MA, 01756 Phone: 800-258-9182

This zoo is full of animals, adventures, activities – and so much more!

Southwick’s Zoo is really more than a zoo: It’s a zoo-plus. The plus includes a carousel, a rainforest maze, a Skyari sky ride to give you a bird’s eye view of the African Plains, a Woodland Express train ride, pony and camel rides, a place where you can mine for gems and fossils – even a two-seater zipline! And have they got animals, from lemurs and lions to snakes and sloths. Feed a parakeet in the aviary or a deer in the 35-acre deer forest, interact with pygmy goats in the petting zoo, feed a giraffe or enjoy one of several live-animal presentations and educational exhibits. Lots of dining options, from burgers and wraps to New England tavern meals.

Coming to Southwick's Zoo this September thru January 3, 2022 - The Festival of Illumination "World of Lights" 2021! Take a trip across continents and explore hundreds of hand-crafted Chinese paper lanterns!

American Heritage Museum

568 Main Street Hudson, MA, 01749 Phone: 978-562-9182

World War II re-enactments, tank demos just part of what’s on tap at this museum

The museum is now open! Wednesdays-Sundays from 10am-5pm. Advance ticketing is preferred - Please call or visit our website.

In addition to the extraordinary collection of military vehicles, tanks, aircraft, vintage race cars and automobiles, the American Heritage Museum hosts an exciting array of living history events, from tank demonstration days to World War II re-enactments. New to the museum is a video exhibit on 9/11, featuring the recollections of two F-16 pilots who tried to intercept hijacked Flight 93. The museum’s chronological exhibits on America’s fight to preserve freedom go from the Revolution to the current War on Terror, with detailed dioramas on the campaigns of World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. Interspersed throughout are the vehicles so crucial to those campaigns. The museum also runs tank-driving programs at a separate training ground.

Old Sturbridge Village

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, off Route 20 Sturbridge, MA, 01566 Phone: 508-347-3362 Toll-Free: 800-733-1830

See history’s crafts, daily life come alive at this interactive outdoor museum

The Great Scout Camp Out returns to Old Sturbridge Village on June 5, 2021! Advanced ticketing is required. Please visit our updated policies & procedures before reserving your visit.

Step back in time – but step lively – at Old Sturbridge Village, where the 1830s come to life in 40 original buildings that form a rural New England town. But the early 19th century was a busy time, as you’ll see when you visit the blacksmith shop, or watch an oxen-driven plow in the field, or watch one of the village’s authentically costumed staff hand-dip candles or make dinner on a hearth. Activities include everything from learning a historical craft like textile-making to taking a trip in a stagecoach or, in the winter, in a horse-drawn sleigh. Holidays are magical from fireworks on the Fourth to Christmas by Candlelight in December, with a roaring bonfire and strolls around the decorated village.

Old Sturbridge Village - More than a Museum!

Island Queen Ferry - Getting to Martha's Vineyard is half the fun! Advance Reservations required - Click here to book your trip!

Franklin Park Zoo

One Franklin Park Road Boston, MA, 02121 Phone: 617-541-5466

Learning, having fun co-equal partners at this engaging park zoo

There is nothing passive about a day spent at the Franklin Park Zoo! Fun and engaging experiences include feeding budgies from seed sticks in the Aussie Aviary to making butterfly masks at Butterfly Hollow to looking at African lions up close through the glass at a ranger station. Play next to red pandas at the Children’s Zoo, feed the goats at the Franklin Farm petting zoo or slip down the giraffe-like tube slide at the 10,000-square-foot playground. Go on a behind-the-scenes tour, or stroll through the organic garden and hear about the role bees play in the ecosystem. Adults can chat with a zookeeper, kids can stretch their legs and imaginations at nature play stations with discovery tables.

Panoramic View 500x250 - Cantor Art Gallery - Worcester, MA

Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery

College of the Holy Cross - 1 College Street Worcester, MA, 01610 Phone: 508-793-3356

A gallery with a mission

As a college art gallery, the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery’s mission is to promote the intellectual and cultural life of the College of the Holy Cross and greater community by exploring the fundamental intellectual, cultural, spiritual and aesthetic issues encountered through the visual arts. Through a series of exhibitions throughout the academic year, enhanced by receptions, guest lectures, readings, and students’ presentations, you’ll always find something of interest. Current exhibition information and hours of operation can be found on the gallery’s website.

Battleship Cove

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

A day out you won’t forget

Battleship Cove is now open from 9am-5pm daily! Please remember to follow our safety & social distancing guidelines!
In 1964, the citizens of Massachusetts, including over 6000 school children, banded together to save the battleship USS Massachusetts from being scrapped, and bring her to the waterfront of historic Fall River on June 12, 1965. During her dedication, the battleship’s historic significance was further recognized as she was made the official World War II Memorial for the Commonwealth and opened as a public museum. Over the years, she has been joined by the destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., the submarine Lionfish, PT 617 and PT 796, and the Soviet built missile corvette Hiddensee to form the largest collection of historic naval ships in the world, America’s Fleet Museum at Battleship Cove. Today, Battleship Cove stands as one of the region’s most popular attractions.

Stone Zoo

149 Pond Street Stoneham, MA, 02180 Phone: 617-541-5466

This zoo specializes in exhibits where visitors can touch, be active and learn

The very cool things to do at the Stone Zoo start, of course, with the animal exhibits, from flamingos and alligators in the Caribbean Coast to spider monkeys and sloths in the Windows to the Wild. (And don’t forget snow leopards, otters, monkeys, yaks, gila monsters ...) At the Animal Discovery Center, kids can marvel at a honeybee hive or feel a lizard’s skin; in the Yukon Creek, they can follow animal tracks (including those of black bear brothers Smoky and Bubba) to an abandoned logger’s cabin. There’s a great playground, a children’s train, Jungle Fun Ride, Turbo Tubs and, in a nature play area, young visitors can climb into an oversized bird’s nest. Group behind-the-scenes tours and rental strollers are available.

The Berkshires of Western MA

The Berkshires bring fall fantasies to life

In the Berkshires, fall is a spectacle of vibrant foliage, crisp apples, warm cider, and brisk hikes with panoramic views. Pick juicy heirloom apples and bright orange pumpkins for snacking and baking, then visit the highest point in Massachusetts, the awe-inspiring summit of Mount Greylock—accessible by scenic drive or vigorous hike. Wander through seasonal attractions like harvest fairs, pumpkin shows, and craft bazaars where you can find local handmade goods to treat yourself and others during the upcoming holiday season. If you love the arts, be sure to stop by any of our topnotch museums and performing arts venues for world class entertainment. An autumn getaway in the Berkshires is not to be missed! Book today.

Milky Way Galaxy - Blake Planetarium - Plymouth, MA

W. Russell Blake Planetarium

117 Long Pond Road Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-830-4470

Plymouth planetarium provides perfect evening for star-gazers

Look up! It’s the night sky in all its glory, but can you identify the constellations? Head to the W. Russell Blake Planetarium, where you can sit back and let the experts show you how to identify planets, bright stars and constellations. In this full-dome planetarium, a DigitalSky projection system provides a full-screen image that covers the room’s entire ceiling in the mysteries of the universe. While enjoying breathtaking views and spectacular surround sound, you’ll learn about astronomy and perhaps how to use a star map (you can take it home). The planetarium also has regular features for kids and explorations of the natural world below the skies.

Spirit of Boston

200 Seaport Boulevard - Commonwealth Pier Boston, MA, 02210 Phone: 617-748-1450 Toll-Free: 866-310-2469

Harbor cruise lets you see Boston from a unique – and fun – vantage point

Why not see scenic Boston from the sea? Take a Spirit of Boston cruise and check out all the sights, from the Boston Tea Party site to the Old North Church, the Bunker Hill Monument and Old Ironsides. Two-hour lunch and three-hour dinner cruises feature fresh, buffet-style offerings served in a comfortable, climate-controlled inner deck. You can even reserve a window table to savor the city – and a cocktail. The view from the huge observation deck is breathtaking, whether it’s a mid-day look at the spectacular Zakim Memorial Bridge or a sunset panorama of a sparkling cityscape. Onboard activities include games like tabletop shuffleboard and giant Jenga. There’s also a dance floor and DJ-provided music. Look for special holiday cruises and deals.

Festival of Illumination - World of Lights 2021

Southwick's Zoo - 2 Southwick Street Mendon, MA, 01756 Phone: Toll-Free: 800-258-9182

Illumination festival will enchant with hundreds of handcrafted lanterns, exhibits

Southwick’s Zoo comes aglow September through Jan. 3 with the enchanting “World of Lights: Our Continents and Their Cultures,” a festival of illumination that will enthrall visitors of all ages. Surrounded by hundreds of handcrafted lanterns and custom-built exhibits made from silk, steel and LED lights, visitors will travel the globe, from the African Savannahs and Amazon rainforest to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and many beautiful regions in between. The evening festival will include live entertainment, an Asian night marketplace and specialty foods. Starting Nov. 26, the zoo’s traditional Winter Wonderland’s holiday lights and additional holiday-themed Chinese lanterns will be added, and Santa will be visiting with children at his Enchanted Village. The festival runs 5:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Summer Shopping 500x250 - Destination Plymouth - Plymouth, MA

See Plymouth

4 North Street Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-747-0100 Toll-Free: 800-872-1620

Where will your visit begin?

We have a variety of activities on land or on the water. The Atlantic Ocean itself is our playground! Trips such as whale watches, lobster excursions and pirate adventures are popular with visitors both young and not quite as young. Our beaches and parks offer families a place to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. Enjoy great seafood, fairs, festivals, the arts, a distillery, a winery or a brewery. Ride a narrow gauge train ride through acres of cranberry bogs at Edaville USA. Experience living history at Plimoth Plantation, depicting life in Plymouth in 1627. Please call 1.800.USA.1620, or visit our website to learn more about these activities and others to prepare for your trip to Plymouth.

Discover Quincy

Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center - 1250 Hancock Street Quincy, MA, 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700

Variety is the spice of everyday life in this welcoming coastal city

From history to hiking, there’s tons to do in Quincy. Visit the birthplaces of two presidents at Adams National Historical Park, take in a symphony performance, learn about granite quarries or shipbuilding at user-friendly museums, dine at a clam shack or an upscale waterfront restaurant. If you want to enjoy the great outdoors, the Blue Hills Reservations boasts 7,000 acres featuring paved and unpaved hiking and biking trails as well as spectacular panoramic views. Throughout the city there are places where you can go golfing, play tennis, charter a fishing boat or just cast your line off a pier. Fancy a beach? There are several to choose from, on the ocean, ponds and river, many with playgrounds.

Photo for Great Things 500x250 - Beanstalk Adventures - Reading, MA

Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course

50 Walkers Brook Drive Reading, MA, 01867 Phone: 781-942-9816

Fun for all ages at this exciting multi-obstacle ropes course

Everybody gets into the fun and makes memories at Jordan’s Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course, where 30 exciting challenges include zig-zag beams, crisscross walks, angled rope ladders, spaghetti hand lines and a Sky Rail zip line. A full-body harness and sling line will keep you safely connected while you soar and climb your way through two levels (12 and 24 feet) of intriguing obstacles. And kids under 48 inches tall don’t have to miss out on the fun! In the smaller but just as special BeanSprout course, the platforms are under three feet from the ground so kids can explore, building their confidence and coordination, while adult chaperones are nearby to offer a helping hand when needed.

Fife & Drum Parade - Plymouth 400 - Plymouth, MA

Plymouth 400 Inc.

6 Main Street Ext. - Post Office Square Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-812-2020

Plan now to participate in activities celebrating Plymouth’s 400th anniversary

Make plans now to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage and the founding of Plymouth Colony. Plymouth events will include placing items in a time capsule, a regatta of wooden ships and pleasure craft to celebrate the Mayflower’s journey, a lobster dinner on the waterfront and cultural and arts festivals. The official anniversary tour includes visits to Plimoth Plantation and Wampanoag Homesite with live demonstrations; touring the Mayflower II and Plymouth Harbor; and visiting sites from King’s Chapel Burying Ground in Boston and the Myles Standish Monument in Duxbury to Provincetown’s Pilgrim Monument and Museum and the Clay Cliffs and cultural center at Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard. An interactive exhibit on Wampanoag history is currently traveling across the state.

Freedom Trail Celebrates 70 Years -- Come Explore It

The Freedom Trail in Boston celebrates 70 years of operation on June 11. The 2.5-mile Freedom Trail is a red-bricked path on Boston sidewalks that leads to the trail’s 16 official historic sites, including the Museum of African American History. The Freedom Trail online brochure will help guide visitors along the trail. Visitors typically begin their exploration at the start of the trail, at the Boston Common. Below is a list of open historic sites.
Boston Common and Visitor Information Center, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel Burying Ground, Boston Latin School Site/Benjamin Franklin Statue, Boston Massacre Site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, USS Constitution, USS Constitution Museum , Bunker Hill Monument Museum, Museum of African American History, Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center, Charlestown Navy Yard, Dorchester Heights.

Art’s Dune Tours Are Unbeatable Adventure

For three generations, the family-run Art’s Dune Tours, located at 4 Standish Street in Provincetown, has been taking spellbound visitors on tours of the dunes of the Provincelands, a marvelous, otherworldly place of sky, sea, bending dune grass, and wind-sculpted dunes. On the tours, you will travel through the majestic dunes where your guide points out the dune shacks where famous artists and writers like Eugene O'Neill and Harry Kemp became inspired to create their art. You will also pass the remains of the Peaked Hill Life Saving Station and learn how the brave "life savers" enacted their heroic efforts to save the lives of thousands from the doomed shipwrecks. Access by the public to the dunes is limited, so this is the to see them. 800-894-1951

Art Shanties and Music Sparkle on Hyannis Harborfront

A gaggle of artists’ shanties lines Ocean Street along inner Hyannis Harbor in Hyannis, beckoning to visitors to enjoy manmade art on one side and the beauty of the harbor on the other. Eight-five artists will rotate in and out of the shanties during the season; many work there and enjoy talking with visitors. Stroll the boardwalk and visit artists and plan to eat a picnic in the park. Live music nearby. The shanties are operated by the Arts Barnstable. 508-862-4767

Old Italy Flavors at Caffe Vittoria

You would expect a certain old-world ambiance in any of the Little Italy neighborhoods that bright American cities, and Caffe Vittoria, at 296 Hanover Street in Boston does not disappoint. Established in 1929, Caffe Vittoria declares it was the first Italian caffe in Boston’s North End district. Coffee, Italian pastries and fine beverages are the specialties here. With four levels of seating and three full liquor bars, there is something for everyone. Taste the caffe’s grappa from its extensive collection. This is a sweet stop at any time of the year, with marvelous people-watching just outdoors in one of the liveliest ethnic enclaves in New England. Phone: 617-227-7606.

Come to the Kayaks, or the Kayaks Will Come to You

Where do you want a kayak rental service to be located? Within walking distance from the shore, of course. Island Spirit Kayak in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard rents out kayak and stand up paddle boards from a location right on Edgartown Oak Bluffs Road, on Joseph Silvia State Beach. In addition, the business, which is open daily in the warm-weather seasons, will deliver kayaks and paddle boards throughout the island. Finally: tours! Sign up for a paddling tour with a local expert. There is no more beautiful place to do it.

the West Tisbury Farmers Market, on Martha's Vineyard

Going to Market on the Island

A lazy day or weekend on Martha’s Vineyard is a perfect time to wander to the West Tisbury Farmers Market, which is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays at the 35 Panhandle Road in West Tisbury. The combination of the brightly colored floral bouquets, the scent of freshly harvested produce, the savory edibles offered and the music on Saturdays all combine to truly create a feast for the senses. Bring your children to visit the alpacas and enjoy the live fiddle music. And watch for the chance to try some more exotic treats, like wheatgrass juice and Vietnamese spring rolls. Market run mid-June to October 30. 508-693-9561.

Johnny Appleseed Trail Through Picturesque Towns

Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman in 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts, was a pioneer nurseryman who introduced apples to large parts of the Midwest. Today’s Johnny Appleseed Trail in north-central Massachusetts runs along Route 2 between the Freedom Trail and the Mohawk Trail, or from about Turner’s Falls at the western end to Lancaster at the eastern end. Spring, summer, and fall are perfect for exploring this region of farms, orchards, and beautiful small towns. Start at the Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center on Route 2 West in Lancaster. It’s full of helpful brochures and locally made crafts, books, jams and jellies, gifts and souvenirs.

Prowl for Fashionable Objects of the Past

Prowling shops that showcase cool old stuff of bygone times (some of it cycling into fashion again) is a fun indoor winter sport. The towns of central Massachusetts have plenty to offer style archaeologists. Sadie Green’s in Sturbridge creates and sell vintage reproduction jewelry. Metal is embossed with original dies from the 1920s and jewelry is hand assembled. Find beautiful and unusual jewelry of sea glass, hand-wrapped glass, florals and shells. Perfectly unique! In Worcester, Sweet Jane’s Designer Consignment fills your sense with just the clothing treasures that the shop name promises. The shop promises to deliver “curated designer resale [goods] for the huntress, fashionista, and style queen in all of us.” Off the Common Antiques in Grafton has many vendors selling antiques, furniture and home décor. Welcoming to dogs and strollers, too.

Boston from the Sidewalk

Boston calls itself the birthplace of the American Revolution, and you are likely to agree after taking an information-packed stroll with Boston CityWalks, which offers several walking tours that show off the old and contemporary beauties of this world-class city. The various walks may touch on the Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill, the Public Garden, Back Bay, and Copley Square. Walkers may choose to have lunch at an outdoor café on Newbury Street, shop in Copley Place and Prudential center, or visit one of Boston’s fine museums. Walks are held daily, year-round. See website for schedule and tickets. Call to confirm. Phone: 866-939-2557.

Farm Fun for Kids at Uncle Don’s Barnyard

Ioka Valley Farm at 3475 Route 43 in Hancock offers fun and educational farming activities year-round. Spring brings the sugaring season and pancake breakfasts, followed through the rest of the year by berry picking, picnicking, pumpkin carving, wagon rides, a haystack maze, and Christmas trees. Kid fun includes a baby animal petting area, hay tunnel and hay piles, giant sandboxes, a mechanical cow, peddle tractors, a library of farm books, a farm-themed playground and a picnic area. (go to the farm’s website and look under “Activities,” – organized by season.)

Antiques Are Plentiful at This Cambridge Market

For general browsing and entertainment, or for a hard-target search for a special antique-purchasing need, Cambridge Antique Market at 201 Msgr. O’Brien Hwy. in Cambridge is a gold mine. More than 150 dealers on five floors are selling furniture, lamps, art, paper goods, sports memorabilia, glass, ceramics, photos, books, silver, textiles, tools, kitchenware, toys, dolls, advertisements, religious items, and costume jewelry, hats, gloves, and accessories. The market is across the road from the MBTA Lechmere Green Line Station. It also has a sister business in Provincetown. Phone: 617-868-9655

Corn Into Flour: See How It Was Done

Located on Town Brook, not far from the Plymouth waterfront is the Plymouth Grist Mill, a reproduction of the water-powered mill built on the brook in 1636 and used by the Pilgrims for grinding corn. This reproduction of the ancient mill, completed in 1970, has many parts from the early 1800s. The staff shows visitors exactly how the process was done by early settlers. The mill is open to visitors on weekend and holidays. To check if the mill will be milling corn on the day of your visit, please call 508-746-1622 ext. 8242. This is a fun learning experienced for adults and kids.

History of Boston on Display Along This Walk to the Sea

Boston is now home to a great, free activity that is ideal for families and people who love history, urban architecture, and the outdoors. The new Walk to the Sea is a self-guided trail that encompasses four centuries of Boston history. Beginning at the State House on Beacon Hill, overlooking Boston's ancient Common, the Walk passes among historic landmarks and skyscrapers. The walk from summit to sea, spanning one mile and descending a hundred feet, brings Boston history to life. Large panels are situated along the walking trail to guide and educate walkers.

Fruitlands Is Home to four Fascinating Museums

In 1843, Bronson Alcott, father of the writer Louisa May Alcott and himself a writer, founded a utopian community called Fruitlands, near the town of Harvard. Later, from 1914 to 1945, the four Fruitlands Museums opened on the site of Alcott’s village, at 102 Prospect Hill Road in Harvard. The 210-acre landscape now includes a Shaker Museum, a Native American museum, a fine art gallery of Hudson River landscapes, changing exhibits, and trails through woodlands and meadows. A visit is inspiring, educational, and beautiful, with plenty of potential for outdoor walks on the trails. Lots of special events for adults and kids. Open daily, May through October.

Hello, Horse!

What’s better than getting close to a horse? Berkshire HorseWorks at 101 Patton Road in Richmond specializes in therapeutic relationships between people and horses, but it has expanded its offerings to include trail rides and less-structured fun. Horse riding or all-feet-on-the–ground adventures with horses includes Hiking and Meditation with Horses, Couple’s Trail Ride, and even Free Range Donkey Play for kids. Experience a deeper dive into farm life with Ranch Life 101, or spend an while brushing the ranch’s miniature Sicilian donkeys. Email: Hayley@BerkshireHorseWorks.com

Books, Soft Chairs, and a River View

We love the cheeky slogan of Montague Bookmill: “Books you don’t need in a place you can’t find.” 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 books on every imaginable subject, many with deeply slashed prices. Open daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Number of visitors at one time and duration of visits is limited during the pandemic. 413-367-9206

Classic Structures and Natural Beauty at Ashintully Gardens

Ashintully Gardens on Sodem Road in Tyringhamare a retreat in the Berkshires surrounded by forested hills and traversed by a rushing stream. The gardens blend natural features – a stream, deciduous trees, and rising meadows – into an ordered arrangement with formal and informal beauty. Formal elements include Fountain Pond, Pine Park, Rams Head Terrace, Bowling Green, Regency Bridge, and Trellis Triptych. Urns, columns, and statuary ornament the garden, while foot bridges, stone stairs, and grassy terraces connect parts of the garden. A trail leads to the ruins of a Georgian-style mansion. Open April to November, daily

Outlet Shopping & Easy Dining

Lee Premium Outlets on Water Street in Lee, in the heart of the Berkshires, is a shopping mecca. If you can name a national brand, you can probably find it here. Lots of seasonal specials; outdoor dining, pre-ordering with curbsite pickup. Directory of stores and restaurants.

Home of “King” and “Caesar”? Got to be Worth a Visit

People who love examining authentic historic architecture will relish a visit (offered on Fridays, late June through December) of the King Caesar House at 120 King Caesar Road in Duxbury, built in 1809 for Ezra Weston II, known as “King Caesar” for his worldwide preeminence as a shipbuilder, merchant, and the largest ship owner in America in his time. The house’s front rooms remain nearly unchanged from their original construction. Cognoscenti will appreciate the superb French wallpapers, attributed to Dufour. The museum currently displays a variety of Federal artifacts relating to Duxbury’s shipbuilding era.

Enjoy a 20th-Century Diplomat’s House & Gardens

The Stevens Coolidge House & Gardens at 153 Chickeering Road in North Andover was an early-20th-century estate with expansive and beautiful gardens. (Originally, the estate was the summer home of Helen and John Gardner Coolidge—a diplomat and a nephew to Isabella Stewart Gardner—from 1914 to 1962.) The Trustees of Reservations, which preserves and manages the property, did an improvement project in 2020-2021 that included new and improved gardens, indoor classrooms, retail space, an event lawn, and revised interior spaces. This is a fine year to visit. Admission tickets must be bought online in advance, for a specific time slot. 978-689-9105

Walking Trails Criss-Cross This Beautiful Island

Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation is the local land trust for the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Among other tasks, the foundation maintains public trails for hiking, bicycling, bird-watching, and cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. At the foundation’s website, under “Lands & Trails,” you can find detailed descriptions, maps, and driving directions for dozens of public walking trails on Martha’s Vineyard. The foundation offers a free app called TrailsMV that provides up-to-date accurate maps of all public trails, detailed property information and photographs, and more.

Kilroy Was Here

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, the world's only preserved heavy cruiser. Berthed at the U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Museum in Qunicy, the Salem offers visitors the chance to experience life on the former flag ship of the Sixth Fleet. Open mid-April through later November. Note: Quincy is also the birthplace of the popular catch phrase "Kilroy Was Here.” 617-479-7900. [photo: Caitlin Condon]

Cruise in This Idyllic Saltwater Marsh

Essex River Cruises and Charters at 35 Dodge Street in Essex take you on a beautiful and interesting exploration of the tidal marshes of the Essex River. Formed by glaciers, these enchanting wetlands are rich with sea birds and other wildlife. The marsh has sustained the lives of fishing families, boat builders, and Agawam natives for generations. These 90-minute narrated cruises are a memorable exploration into a specialized world of nature, animals, and man. Cruises are offered May to October. Sunset cruises may be arranged. 978-768-6981.

Beautiful Marsh Welcomes Walkers

Cutler Park on Kendrick Street in Needham, at the Newton border, is the largest fresh water marsh on the Charles River. The marshland and small lake attract more than 100 species of birds. A trail goes around Kendrick Pond (also called Cutler Pond). A new trail extends from the pond trail and goes to Powell's Island canoe landing, doubles back and goes under the MBTA commuter rail and out to the Great Plain. A right turn leads to a boardwalk through a cattail marsh and ends up on Needham Street in Dedham. A left turn leads down the wide path alongside the elevated railroad line all the way to the Charles River. In summer, hiking, canoeing, and fishing are welcome. Phone: 617-698-1802

A Garden Shop Like a Roman Piazza

Campo De Fiori, meaning “field of flowers,” is a perfectly delightful garden shop at 1815 North Main Street in Sheffield. The phrase garden shop only begins to touch on the charms of this space, filled (but not crammed) with plants, succulents, and garden-related pots and accents like terra cotta planters, carved stone, forged iron, cast bronze, distinctive lighting and zinc. Campo de’ Fiori designs and manufactures all of the items, made by the hands of skilled artisans. The shop’s name comes from a piazza in Rome where the owner’s mother used to buy fresh flowers and vegetables, and the atmosphere is distinctly Mediterranean. Perfect place to shop for gifts for any garden-loving person. Open daily. 413-528-1857

70-Mile Vista

Vigorous hikers and mountain bikers who tackle the 3,491-foot summit of Mount Greylock State Rerservation near the town of Adams, the highest point in Massachusetts, will be rewarded with an incredible 70-mile view from the summit of five states. Of course, you may drive to the top, along a gorgeous winding road. At the summit, enjoy the dignified Veterans War Memorial Tower and take some rest and refreshments at Bascom Lodge. Gardening enthusiasts may notice that the grounds are thickly planted with local flora.

Biking Through the Center of the State

Massachusetts Central Rail Trail for bicycles and walkers that, when finished, will include 104 miles connecting 24 communities Boston to Northampton. Various groups are refurbishing the trail in pieces. Volunteers with Wachusetts Greenways have opened 11 miles of the rail trail, as follows Sterling from Cider Mill to Gates Road; West Boylston/Holden from Oakdale to River Street along the Quinapoxet River; Holden Connector from River Street to Manning Street to Mill Street; Rutland from Wachusett Street south to the Holden line; Rutland from Glenwood Road to Route 56; Rutland from the Charnock Hill Road to Barrack Hill Road to Rutland State Park entrance road to Route 122 and the Midstate Trail. Get out on two wheels to two feet and join the adventure. Rail Trail map.

Hug a Tree

In the Jamaica Plain section of Boston lies an oasis of meadows, forest, ponds, and wildlife. No, it’s not an urban mirage, it’s the Arnold Arboretum, where you can find thousands of different varieties of plants, hiking and biking trails, and world-renowned horticultural collections surrounded by 15,000 gorgeous trees. Arnold is the oldest public arboretum in North America. The extensive Bonsai collection, a cultivated Herbarium, majestic snow-covered cedars and pines in the winter, and nearly 200 different varieties of blooming lilacs in May are just a few of the reasons to spend a day here every day of the year. The arboretum hosts free walks guided by expert docents on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Phone: 617-524-1718‎.

Cape Cod Lavender Farm: Even the Scenery Smells Good

Cape Cod Lavender Farm on Weston Woods Road in Harwich is exactly as the name states. Visitors may explore the ground in the company of a couple of friendly farm dogs, take pictures, and buy lavender-infused products like candles and skin care lotions, lavender lemonade, and even a lavender teddy bear. New in 2018 is the Enchanted Garden, with a shade garden, plantings embracing a stone replica of a medieval castle, fairy houses and delicious paths to wander. During harvest time in June and July, the beauty of the fields in bloom at the Cape Cod Lavender Farm is stunning. Open daily, April 1 through Columbus Day. 508-432-8397.

Riverwalk Is an Urban Treat

Downtown Great Barrington is known for its many boutiques, art galleries, coffee shops, and gourmet restaurants. A shopping or dining stroll in the downtown should include a visit to the adjacent Housatonic Riverwalk. The paved path that ambles alongside this busy Berkshires waterway is an all-volunteer restoration project of the Great Barrington Land Conservancy. After your riverside stroll, take in some evening entertainment in Great Barrington at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, the Triplex movie theater, or the town bandstand, site of free concerts. 413-528-3391.

Tuck in to Truro for Wine and Spirits Tastings

Truto Vineyards and South Hollow Spirits at 11 Shore Road in North Truro is a lovely, relaxing place where tours and tastings of wine and spirits 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. Tastings are offeredon the hour and half-hour, and free tours are conducted of the wintery and distillery. 508-487-6200

Nosh and Learn

The KITCHEN at The Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover Street in Boston is a community gathering place that promotes seasonal cooking to anyone who is interested, be they expert cooks or curious beginners. The KITCHEN hosts events, hands-on classes, workshops, demos and tastings. The emphasis is on local, seasonal ingredients combined with health and wellness programs to help guests become informed cooks and consumers. A small sampling of classes in 2020, for instance, includes Caribbean flavors, French crepes, savory pastries, gnocchi, spirits-infused truffles, and handmade pasta. Private classes, too, can be arranged. Email: kitcheninfo@thetrustees.org

Broadmoor Offers Broad Variety

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary on Eliot Street in Natick offers nine miles of walking trails through a variety of field, woodland, and wetland habitats. A quarter-mile, accessible trail and boardwalk along the bank of Indian Brook and over the marsh offers great opportunities for birdwatching, photography, and sketching. To enjoy this site in the winter, bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis. Stroll along the edge of Indian Brook, which flows into the Charles River at the sanctuary, and look for wood ducks and signs of beavers and otters from the 110-foot-long bridge. Phone: 508-655-2296.

Find Contemporary Art and Advice from an Expert

A wide variety of interesting contemporary artwork is open for your browsing pleasure at The Gallery at Four India Street, a popular stop in Nantucket since it opened in 1989. The gallery’s focus of interest is American fine art paintings, sculpture, art glass and photography. Visit to enjoy, purchase, or even to get expert direction on creating a personal collection from the gallery’s owner, Kathleen Knight. 508-228-8509. Open daily, year-round.

Pittsfield Hops with Shopping and Browsing Fun

Pittsfield is a lively town centrally located between other stars of the Berkshires, like Stockbridge, Lenox, Williamstown and North Adams. The downtown is a fun place for dining, browsing and shopping. If you need a gift, the options here are delightful: Circa, is a place to fine mid-century antiques, and a selection of vintage clothing and jewelry. Paul Rich and Sons Home Furnishings has made a name for itself selling high-quality furniture. Museum Facsimiles Outlet Store is a fun and unique place to find fine picture frames, framed mirrors, hand printed letterpress and silkscreen greeting cards, all at wholesale pricing.Everything is made here, not imported! Custom framing.

Kids Love to Explore ‘the Olden Days’

Tucked away in a shaded area of Eastern States Exposition, 0Storrowtown 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.

animagic museum of special effects lee ma

Dive Into the Complex World of Animation

Animagic – the Museum of Special Effects in the Berkshires at 135 Main Street in Lee showcases the work of animators who played a large role in major movie animation of the last 30 years. Even better, the museum welcomes people of all ages to take a guided tour; see original models used in famous movies and a genuine Academy Award won by Eugene Mamut, a co-owner of Animagic. After the tour, visitors may take a two-hour workshop in which you create a model; make an animated movie; add sound, music, and title; and see your movie uploaded to YouTube. Tours are free; workshop is $20 per person. The museum is open daily, year-round, but only by appointment. 413-841-6679.

Stroll Charming Downtown Gloucester

The town of Gloucester, on the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay, is historically a rugged fishing town known for its iconic statue of Man at the Wheel (and for its role as the base of fearless fishermen in the movie “Perfect Storm”). It is also a great place to visit if you love sweet New England downtowns. Gloucester’s HarborWalk is a one-mile walking path through town from Gloucester House to Stage Fort Park. From St. Peter’s Square on Rogers Street, the HarborWalk passes the working waterfront to Harbor Loop. The Walk then turns up to City Hall, then turns back down through the historic district to St. Peter’s Square. (photo by David Gleeson)

Here Lies Hawthorne

Pay your respects to celebrated authors and thinkers at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, the sylvan resting place of some 10,000 souls. Stroll the garden-like grounds on a self-guided walking tour. Literary buffs may flock to "Author's Ridge" atop the highest hill, which marks the modest family plots of Henry Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott. "The Knoll" houses specially consecrated Jewish burial grounds. "Mourning Victory", or the Melvin Memorial, honors three brothers killed in the Civil War. While here, explore nearby Walden Pond or the Wayside, home to both Hawthorne and Alcott. Self-guided tour books available. 978-318-3233

An Evening at the Drive-In

Remember when times were good, gas was cheap, and summertime meant hanging out with your friends at the drive-in? At the Wellfleet Drive-In at 51 State Hwy. (Route 6) in Wellfleete it’s not hard to imagine the innocence of that bygone era. From the film projectors to the snack bar and even the sign on Route 6, not much has changed here since 1957. Tickets are cheaper than today’s multiplex rates, admission always includes a double feature and the outdoor theater has a playground that opens up before the show and during intermission in case the kids are having trouble sitting still. Open from May through early October. 508-349-7176.

Not Your Average Community Center

Wellfleet Preservation Hall at 335 Main Street in Wellfleet is a wonderful resource driven by heartfelt people promoting arts, entertainment, and classes for the body and mind. It is very much a locally run operation, and equally welcoming to seasonal visitors. The Hall is a creative re-use of a former church. Special events that happen every year include the Garden Party & Birdhouse Auction, the Oysterfete, and Taste of the Town smorgasbord. Throughout the year, live music and dance parties bring every style of music. In summer, you are invited to many fitness programs. 508-349-1800

A Little Walk; a Little Chocolate; and Repeat

Off The Beaten Path Food Tours are a fun outing where you and friends can poke along at a walking pace through a historical neighborhood and taste local culinary treats, all under the care of a knowledgeable guides. One favorite, the Harvard Square Chocolate Tour, with stops at a variety of local eateries for chocolate tastings along the way. It’s about a mile of urban walking with five to six stops in about 90 minutes. A fee of $35 includes all the food and sights. Fine of all ages. Meet at Harvard Square.

In the Footsteps of Pilgrims

Pilgrim Spring Trail and Small's Swamp Trail , part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, are easy loop trails about one mile long, accessible off Route 6 at the Pilgrim Heights area sign in North Truro. The trails wind around a kettle swamp and marsh and offer wonderful views of Pilgrim Lake, sand dunes, the salt meadow, and the Atlantic Ocean. A stone marker identifies the site of the first fresh water the Pilgrims found. Trails are marked with information about local history and nature. This is a fine, easy walk for people of all ages, with views of typical Cape Cod landforms and living creatures.

Come Aboard Old Ironsides

Visit Old Ironsides and the USS Constitution Museum at Building 22 in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Charlestown for for a deep dive into the fascinating history of the USS Constitution. Exhibits at the museum include "Old Ironsides in War and Peace," "All Hands on Deck: A Sailor’s Life in 1812," and "Today's Crew." The museum is open year-round. Phone: 617-426-1812. The ship itself is owned by the U.S. Navy, which hosts tours Wednesdays through Sundays. Tours include the spar deck, gun deck and berth deck.

plum island near newburyport massachusetts

Plum Island Is a Peach

Plum Island is an 11-mile long barrier Island off the shore ofNewburyport, with miles of public beaches and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, home to over 800 species of birds, plants and animals. Sandy Point State Reservation on the southern tip of Plum Island is a wonderful place to swim or explore the life of the tide pools (kids love this!). the Audubon Society's Joppa Flats Education Center is located on Plum Island Turnpike on your way to the island. Find chances to join bird watching tours and other educational programs for adults or the whole family. Join a kayaking excursion with Plum Island Kayak – entrancing!

Artist Colony Is Vibrant in Gloucester

Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester is the oldest working art colony in the country, and has been luring artists to its picturesque shores for more than 150 years. Today the area is still home to many working artists and to galleries showing paintings in all media, as well as batik, photography, jewelry, prints, sculpture, ceramics, and fine gifts. A convenient walking tour of Rocky Neck, along East Main Street, includes information about three dozen galleries and studios on the Neck. A new book about the artists and history of the region, titled Rocky Neck Art Colony 1850-1950, by Judith Curtis, is available. 978-515-7004.

World’s End in Hingham-photo by Trustees of Reservations

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.

The Minuteman Bikeway in Bedford, Lexington, Arlington, and Cambridge. MA

Burn Some Energy Along This Historic Trail

The Minuteman Bikeway, also called America's Revolutionary Rail-Trail, passes through the historic area where the American Revolution began in April 1775. Built on an inactive railroad, the Bikeway has become a treasured resource, used by residents and visitors from near and far. Connecting to the Alewife “T” Station in Cambridge, the bikeway provides an easy way for bicyclists and pedestrians -- and, in the winter, skiiers -- to travel. The bikeway passes through Bedford, Lexington, Arlington, and Cambridge. Bikeway map.

We Give Up: What Is Disc Golf?

Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc or Frisbee. The disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, usually an elevated metal basket. As with regular golf, the players’ objective is to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws. It is fun for all ages, and the folks at Pyramids Disc Golf Course at 103 Marshall Street in Leicester are ready to get you playing. Course is open daily.

Historic Trades in Action in Deerfield

Crafts people will demonstrate dressmaking, shoemaking, medical care, basketmaking, gun smithing, cabinet making, coopering pottery making and even gravestone carving as these essential skills were done in places like Deerfield. See schedule for specific demos, offered on weekends. Fun for the kids, too. 413-774-5581.

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