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.”

Follow these links for : Sightseeing - Walking & Hiking - Family Activities

Island Queen

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

Plenty to do on either end of this 35-minute passenger ferry ride to the Vineyard

There’s so much to do at either end of the ferry trip from Falmouth to Martha’s Vineyard. Why not explore the Falmouth area’s beautiful beaches, interesting boutiques and bike trails before you board the Island Queen, the comfortable ferry to Oak Bluffs. Or spend a few days exploring the rest of Cape Cod, from the National Seashore to the Kennedy Museum in Hyannis to the antiques shops along the Old King’s Highway. It’s only a 35-minute ferry trip to Oak Bluffs aboard the comfortable Island Queen. And, once there, you’ll marvel at its gingerbread cottages and the country’s oldest carousel. Visit Edgartown with its majestic whaling captain’s homes and great shopping and dining and Aquinnah with its brilliantly colored clay cliffs.

Worcester Art Museum

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

In this museum, there’s more to do than admire paintings (tho the paintings are amazing)

There is far more to do at the Worcester Art Museum than walk through the galleries, although considering the museum’s varied and extensive collections, from ancient to contemporary art, that may be your top priority. Interactive elements in the reimagined medieval galleries means you can explore the world through tales of castles, monasteries and trade routes, or contribute “alternate labels” via iPads to Old Masters. Check out a rare suit of jousting armor in the chivalric arms and armor collection or listen to a presentation on what Roman soldiers wore into battle. For children, art carts and touch carts allow them to draw and, yes, touch things. There are also tours and scavenger hunts. Check the website for updates, timed-admission information and safety protocols.

Festival of Illumination 2022 - Once Upon a Time

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

Myths, fairytales and other stories light up the night sky during zoo’s lantern festival

You’ve never seen stories told like this! The Southwick’s Zoo’s Festival of Illumination, Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, takes visitors on a cultural and artistic journey into the heart of fairytales, legends and myths. “Once Upon a Time,” this year’s theme for New England’s largest lantern showcase, presents spectacular illuminated displays from history and mythology. The breathtaking night-time display of lanterns produced with the Zigong Lantern Group combines intricate details, LED lighting and superb craftsmanship to make for a magical setting. On Nov. 25, the festival includes the addition of Winter Wonderland lights and holiday-themed festival lanterns. Guests can enjoy live shows, a market place and more. Dine at Galliford’s Restaurant & Tavern, a full-service, year-round restaurant located a Southwick’s Zoo.

Beginning November 12, 2022, two amazing events come together at Southwick's Zoo, Winter Wonderland with the Festival of Illumination, creating an extraordinary and memorable holiday experience for guests of all ages.

Old Sturbridge Village

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

Come for a day, stay for the ¬¬weekend: There are so many things to see and do in this historic village

Visit Old Sturbridge Village and you’ll soon discover why people who come for a day end up spending a weekend in the re-created 1830s rural New England town. Watch blacksmiths, potters and cabinetmakers at work in some of the 40 historical buildings on the 200-acre property. Listen to period music, interact with costumed historians, visit with sheep and pigs at the Freeman Farm, take a horse-drawn wagon ride or relax by the mill pond. Stroll through the gorgeous gardens or hike the nature trail through the woods and into the countryside pasture. Dine in the Bullard Tavern. Find gifts, Village-made crafts and famous cookies at the Miner Grant Store or shop for traditional New England treasures at the Ox and Yoke Mercantile. One visit and you’ll see that Old Sturbridge Village is more than a museum!

Explore New England TV - New Episodes Coming in 2022 on NESN! See our YouTube Channel for On-Demand Content!

Festival of Illumination 2022: Once Upon at Time - September 1 to December 31 at Southwick's Zoo in Mendon, MA

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.

Plymouth G Pub

101A Carver Road Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-591-0964

Grab a bite to eat, a glass of cider and stay to watch – or play – the game at this lively gastro pub

If you think all there is to do at the Plymouth G Pub is enjoy great food, you’re in for a very pleasant surprise. The pub, in West Plymouth Square (where there’s plenty of free parking), also has a huge game room, with foosball, air hockey and pool tables and a variety of old-school arcade games. There’s live entertainment on Friday nights, and enough wide-screen TVs to satisfy the most avid can’t-miss-the-game-tonight fan. And, yes, there’s also that great menu: spicy wings, smoky burgers and charcuterie so good you might not want to share. The cider is smooth and crisp at the on-site High Limb Cider Taproom, and there are more than 20 craft beers on tap at the cozy speakeasy bar.

Sam Adams Squared - Greater Boston CVB - Boston, MA

Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau

With so much history, and so many activities, vibrant Boston has something for every visitor

You cannot be bored in Boston. See a show, catch a game at Fenway Park, take a film or foodie tour of the town, ride on a duck boat or Swan Boat, eat in a four-star restaurant with a harbor view or by a food truck in the gorgeous Greenway. Kids will love the Tea Party Ship & Museum and nearby Children’s Museum. Art-lovers will feast on the Monets at the Museum of Fine Arts or the Venetian courtyard in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Shoppers will enjoy perusing pop-up markets, the fashions and galleries along Newbury Street and the kiosks of Quincy Market. And history buffs will happily stroll the Freedom Trail from the Common out to the USS Constitution or the Black Heritage Trail.

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.

Old Sturbridge Village - More than a Museum!

Plymouth G Pub at Plymouth Square Plaza - Dine. Hang. Party.

Plimoth Patuxet

137 Warren Avenue Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-746-1622

Museum featuring a variety of hands-on experiences to acquaint visitors with 17th Century life

You need to set aside at least a day to explore the interactive Plimoth Patuxet Museums. See the 17th century come to light in Historic Patuxet, and the 17th Century English Village, where interpreters may ask you to help scrape out the inside of a mishoon, or dugout canoe, or participate in a muster drill led by Capt. Miles Standish. There’s quick-service dining in the Plentiful Cafe, and you can see reproductions of early crafts being made in the Craft Center. In Plymouth Harbor, you can go aboard the Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction of the original ship that brought colonists to Plymouth in 1620. Then walk along the path beside Town Brook to the Plimoth Grist Mill to watch cornmeal being ground.

Salem Witch Museum

19 1/2 Washington Square North Salem, MA, 01970 Phone: 978-744-1692

Dramatic presentations at witch museum tell the story of the infamous 1692 trials

In the historic city of Salem, it’s perhaps no surprise that a museum is dedicated to understanding the events that led to the infamous witch trials of 1692. But visitors will find plenty of surprises in the dramatic presentation at the Salem Witch Museum, where 13 life-size stage sets, figures, lighting and narration tell the story of the trials, which led to the execution of 14 women and six men. A second presentation examines the meaning of the word “witch,” and how witch hunts are still a phenomenon in modern times. The museum experience takes about an hour, and tickets must be purchased online. The museum has an interesting gift shop, with everything from apparel to tarot cards. Parking is available in nearby garages.

Southwick’s Zoo

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

Amazing animals and lots of exciting adventures abound in this popular zoo

At Southwick’s Zoo, they have more than animals (although the animals are amazing): They have adventures! So in addition to checking out a Bengal tiger, lemurs, lions, kookaburras and giraffes, among the 850 animals in naturalistic habitats, you can also find your way through the Rainforest Adventure Maze, take a pony or camel ride, feed pygmy goats in a petting zoo, or soar above the zoo in a zip line or the Skyfari Sky Ride. Feed fallow deer in the 35-acre Deer Forest, walk through the Parakeet Landing aviary, or take a relaxing ride on the Woodland Express Train. And don’t forget lunch or dinner at Galliford’s Restaurant & Tavern, a full-service, year-round restaurant with a menu sure to please every taste.

Beginning November 12, 2022, two amazing events come together at Southwick's Zoo - Winter Wonderland with the Festival of Illumination - creating an extraordinary and memorable holiday experience for guests of all ages.

Canyon Ranch at Night - The Berkshires of Western Massachusetts

Visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts

Recharge in the Berkshires This Winter

Take the time to pamper yourself and come recharge in the blissful Berkshires. Book a weekend retreat on your own, with a friend, or a romantic plus one. During your stay, you’ll enjoy our dynamic culture and arts scene, mouthwatering meals, and heart-stopping views from snowy peaks - it’s the ideal winter escape. Tackle a steep trail on skis or trek the frosty wilderness on snowshoes. Dine at a delicious restaurant, then see a live show over locally-crafted spirits. Looking to unwind? Cozy up by the fire in one of our many charming inns or hip hotels. Whether you choose to spend your time indoors or out, the Berkshires is a welcome respite in the winter, located less than three hours from New York City and Boston. To learn more click our listing link or search “Visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts” on Facebook.

Greater Merrimack Valley

61 Market Street, Unit 1C Lowell, MA, 01852 Phone: 978-459-6150

Wide variety of activities, from concerts and theater to unique shopping and dining, in this vibrant area

Whether your idea of fun is Brahms or a local brew, you will find much to enjoy in the activities of the Greater Merrimack Valley. The Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lexington Symphony and the Groton Hill Music Center offer an array of classical, pops, jazz and chamber music concerts. Catch a vibrant, contemporary play at the Merrimack Repertory Theater, go on a snowshoe tour at the deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum or visit the masterworks at the Whistler House Museum of Art. Dine, shop, see a film or listen to a concert at lively Mill No. 5 in Lowell. Take a trip through the history of the graphic arts at the Museum of Printing (check out their typewriter collection), or grab a brew at Lord Hobo Brewing Company’s Woburn taproom.

Ponds at Foxhollow

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

On-site and off, lots to see and do when you stay at this resort in the Berkshires

On and off the sprawling 223-acre estate, there are plenty of fun activities when you stay at The Ponds at Foxhollow. In addition to indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub and sauna, the resort with one- and two-bedrooms condos also features a fitness center, library, tennis and basketball courts, a putting green, shuffleboard and bocce courts and a playground. Take advantage of the resort’s rowboats, canoes and bicycles. There’s lots of room for walking, hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. Explore the Berkshire region’s beautiful parks, waterfalls, lakes and ponds as well as world-class theater, art museums and, at Tanglewood, exceptional concerts. Visit the Norman Rockwell Museum, Edith Wharton’s magnificent mansion, The Mount – and the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, all just a short drive away.

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.

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 Patuxet, 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Spring Apple Tree at Arnold Arboretum - Boston, MA

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.

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.

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, on 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.

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.

Storrowton Village Museum - West Springfield, MA

Kids Love to Explore ‘the Olden Days’

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

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary - Natick, MA

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.

Harvard Square Chocolate Tour - Boston, MA

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.

Housatonic Riverwalk - Great Barrington, MA

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.

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 terracotta 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.

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.

Johnny Appleseed Trail - North Central Massachusetts

Johnny Appleseed Trail Through Picturesque Towns

Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman in 1774 in Leominster, 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.

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens - North Andover, MA

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

The Stevens Coolidge House & Gardens at 153 Chickering 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.

Tuck in to Truro for Wine and Spirits Tastings

Truro 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 offered on the hour and half-hour, and free tours are conducted of the winery and distillery.

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.

Downtown Gloucester & City Hall Aerial View - Great Things To Do

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)

Cambridge Antiques Market - Cambridge, MA

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.

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.

World’s End in Hingham - Photo Credit 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.

Antiques Shopping in Central Massachusetts

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.

Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester MA - Great Things To Do

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.

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. Open daily, year-round.

Montague Book Mill - Great Things To Do in Massachusetts

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.

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.

USS Constitution Museum - Old Oronsides - Charlestown, MA

Come Aboard Old Ironsides

Visit Old Ironsides, AKA the USS Constitution, at Building 22 in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Charlestown for a deep dive into the fascinating history of the celebrated colonial vessel. 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. 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.

Western Mass.

Cape Cod & The Islands

Central Mass.

Boston

North of Boston

South of Boston