Massachusetts attractions cover a huge range of activities

Massachusetts > State > Things to Do and See > Attractions

From the Berkshire Hills to Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts’ attractions are second to none. Cities, towns, and villages have historic pedigrees. America started here with the landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, and burst forward with the “shot heard ‘round the world” in Concord, MA. Championship sports teams, outdoor recreation, fairs and festivals, zoos, and parks abound. Lodgings cover every preference, from the causal to the luxurious. Some of the world’s finest art, music, and theater are here, along with ships and ship museums and the homes of three American presidents. There are islands and great marketplaces to explore and the Basketball Hall of Fame to dribble by.

Follow these links for : Sightseeing - Amusement Parks - Great Things To Do

Attractions 500x250 - Crab Apple Whitewater - Charlemont, MA

Crab Apple Whitewater (MA)

Route 2 Charlemont, MA, 01339 Phone: 800-553-7238

Let this family take your family on a rafting adventure

This family owned business knows families and has been providing outstanding whitewater fun and adventure to kids and families since 1983. You’ll find a wide range of trips from full day rafting trips for kids 8 and up on Class 1-3 rapids, for teens on more aggressive Class 3-4 rapids, and half-day trips on mild whitewater in guided rafts or inflatable kayaks for kids ages 5 and up. The dam controlled Deerfield River has spectacular scenery, rich history, and frequent sightings of bald eagles, beavers and other critters are common. All trips are led by family members with a personal touch and feature great food and service plus excellent equipment and knowledgeable guides. You’ll find the riverside base camp to be comfortable and convenient.

Pilgrim Hall Museum

75 Court Street Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-746-1620

Museum’s goal: to tell the story of the Pilgrims and indigenous people through artifacts, exhibits

The nation’s oldest continuously operating public museum, the Pilgrim Hall Museum uses artifacts, film and historical information to tell the 17th century story of the Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony as well as that of the Wampanoag, the indigenous people who lived in the area for over 13,000 years before the arrival of the Mayflower. Among its extraordinary collection of 17th century artifacts visitors will discover Myles Standish’s rapier as well as his razor, and William Bradford’s silver wine cup. The Bradford and Alden Bibles, the cradle brought on the Mayflower by Susanna White, who gave birth to Peregrine on board the ship, and a sampler embroidered by Myles Standish’s daughter, Loara, are also on display as well as many works of art and furniture.

Old Sturbridge Village

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

Experience a true New England getaway at historic village that takes you back to the 1830s

Nothing gives you that true sense of New England quite like Old Sturbridge Village, where stories of the past come to life in 40 historic buildings; in exhibitions of the history of parades to early lighting to sewing, weaving, and textiles; and in demonstrations including cooking over an open hearth, making cloth on a loom and cutting the lumber used in the re-created 1830s village. Walk over the Vermont Covered Bridge or into the many buildings such as the school, cider mill, printing office, law office, pottery shop, and blacksmith shop. Outdoors there are gorgeous gardens with hundreds of heirloom plants, heritage-breed animals at the Freeman Farm and three nature trails. Come to Old Sturbridge Village and experience more than a just a museum.

Battleship Cove

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

America’s naval history comes alive and inspires

Battleship Cove is now open from 9am-5pm daily! Please remember to follow our safety & social distancing guidelines!
This living history museum is a must-see for every child and family to understand the magnitude of America’s wartime naval history. The world's largest collection of US naval ships is here including the USS Massachusetts, the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., and PT Boats used in the South Pacific theater. A comprehensive women’s exhibit illustrates the contributions made by women during World War II and the role they have played in America’s wars, beginning with the Revolutionary War. The state-of-the-art special effects Pearl Harbor Experience is the only outdoor multimedia reenactment anywhere. Scouts and youth groups can participate in a year round maritime camping program, girl scout overnights, and the whole family will enjoy family nautical nights with affordable camping on site.

Old Sturbridge Village - More than a Museum!

Worcester Art Museum

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

Get whisked away to other times, places, cultures at this engaging art museum

Prepare to be swept away when you enter the Worcester Art Museum, where selections from the museum’s 38,000 objects will take you away to other times and other cultures. See how the natural world inspired the work of Susan Swinand, marvel at exquisite 18th century Japanese folding screens – or go back to medieval times in the expanded collection of chivalric arms and armor. The museum’s stunning paintings from the 16th through 18th centuries have been reinstalled, with interactive elements. Families will feel at home here, with opportunities for play, drawing and relaxation. Ask about public tours, including 20-minute “zip tours” of one artist or work of art. Check the website for current and future exhibits, timed-admission information and safety protocols.

Plimoth Patuxet

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

Discover history in a new light at educational, interactive Plimoth Patuxet Museums

You’ll see history in a new light at Plimoth Patuxet Museums. In Historic Patuxet, you’ll learn about the Wampanoag people who have lived in the area for over 12,000 years, as contemporary interpreters discuss home and family life, demonstrate farming and cooking and perhaps ask you to scrape out the insides of a mishoon, or dugout canoe. In the 17th Century English Village, Pilgrim women might ask you to help pound corn or make sage and salt toothpaste. At the Craft Center, see how crafts and herbal remedies were made, and step aboard the Mayflower II in Plymouth Harbor. Walk along the path beside Town Brook to the Plimoth Grist Mill to see how cornmeal is ground. The museums have quick-service dining, shops and a cinema.

See Plymouth

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

History is just the beginning!

In Plymouth, we’re well known for our role in American history, but history is just the beginning of what you’ll find when you visit! Plymouth is the perfect blend of fun family attractions and educational historic sites. In fair weather you’ll find whale watching, harbor cruises, lobster excursions and pirate adventures. The Waterfront is also home to Jet Ski and kayak rentals as well as the full-scale reproduction of the Mayflower II. In fall and winter enjoy the foliage or stay warm with a visit to an historic home or museum, ride the train through miles of cranberry bogs at Edaville USA, or cozy up to the fireside at Plimoth Patuxet, a living history museum depicting life in Plymouth in 1627. Remember to take advantage of all the fabulous dining available in Plymouth too!

Island Queen

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

The ferry voyage over is part of the many attractions of marvelous Martha’s Vineyard

Onboard the Island Queen passenger ferry, you’ll discover that the voyage to the Vineyard is half the fun! On the smooth, 35-minute sail from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs, you can sit back in the lounge or open deck areas to marvel at the views of Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. There’s a full-service snack bar serving beer, wine, mixed and non-alcoholic drinks. You can bring your bike, kayak, paddle board or surf board, then disembark to explore delightful Oak Bluffs with its gingerbread cottages. Rent a car or bike or hop on the bus to explore the rest of the island, from the colorful Gay Head cliffs at Aquinnah to the shops and restaurants of charming Edgartown.

Kingston Collection

101 Kingston Collection Way Kingston, MA, 02364 Phone: 781-582-2445

Your premier destination for entertainment, shopping and dining

Kingston Collection is home to an impressive selection of traditional retail, entertainment experiences and dining, which include Bar Rustic, Macy’s, Target, PiNZ and Regal Cinemas. National brands include Victoria’s Secret, Hollister, American Eagle, Yankee Candle Company, Billy Beez and Sky Zone. Kingston Collection is strategically located just off Route 3, on Exit 8 in Kingston MA. Visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a complete directory of stores, ongoing specials, promotions and a calendar of events.

Southwick’s Zoo

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

Adventures at this popular zoo start with the animals but include zip lines, mazes, trains

There are so many adventures waiting for you at Southwick’s Zoo, you’ll have some trouble deciding which to do first! You can visit lions, tigers, leopards, sloths, white rhinos, tapirs, alligators, prairie dogs and yaks in their naturalistic environments. You can feed pygmy goats at the petting zoo or fallow deer in the 35-acre Walk-thru Deer Forest. You can offer seed sticks to parakeets and cockatiels in the walk-through aviary or go on a camel or pony ride. And then there are the rides! Soar above the zoo in the seated, two-person zip line or on the Skyfari Sky Ride, walk through a maze or ride aboard the Woodland Express Train through the 50 acres North American Habitat. Dine at Galliford’s Restaurant & Tavern located at Southwick’s Zoo, offering an extensive menu year-round.

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.

Colony Place

174 Colony Place Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-746-7663

The largest outdoor shopping and entertainment center in the region

An exceptionally designed lifestyle destination for the entire family, Colony Place has more of what you want. And all in one place. With special events, specialty retail, restaurants, home furnishings, services, electronics and even groceries. Colony Place is located ½ way between Boston and Cape Cod just off Route 3.

Download the free app to enjoy great savings at over 25 stores and restaurants every time you shop or dine.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield MA-credit-Explore Western Mass and Greater Springfield CVB

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

1000 Hall of Fame Avenue Springfield, MA Phone: 877-446-6752

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is home to more than 300 inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Hundreds of interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, and shooting contests. Basketball fans will find exhibits, interactive kiosks, memorabilia, and hands-on activities. Children and adults can spend the day in the 80,000-square-foot facility shooting baskets on a regulation court, measuring their skills against sports legends in an interactive game. Kids are invited to coaches’ clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours vary by season

Springfield Museums & Dr Seuss Nat’l Memorial Sculpture Garden

21 Edwards Street Springfield, MA, 01103 Phone: 413-263-6800

The Springfield Museums consists of five institutions at one location: the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the Smith Art Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum and the Museum of Springfield History. In addition, the property includes the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, with life-size statues of Springfield native Dr. Seuss and his favorite characters including Horton, the Grinch and the Lorax.
IN the five art, science and historical museums, guests can find Samurai armor and weaponry; an internationally-acclaimed collection of Oriental bronze, jade and porcelain; intricate Middle Eastern rugs; fine American and European paintings and sculpture; a savannah of animals in the R.E. Phelon African Hall; Dinosaur Hall with its towering Tyrannosaurus Rex; Astronomy Hall complete with a planetarium; and exhibits about Connecticut River Valley history. Curriculum-based tours and programs are available.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

At Harvard University - 11 Divinity Avenue Cambridge, MA, 02138 Phone: 617-496-1027

A journey into New England & America's legacy

Explore the enduring importance of rivers and canoes in Penobscot tribal life. See the archaeology of Harvard Yard, how students lived at colonial Harvard, and the role of the 17th-century Indian College in Harvard’s early years. Trace the birth of American anthropology through the China trade, the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, the Javanese Village at the Fair, expeditions to the Arctic and the American Southwest, and more in the museum’s 150th anniversary exhibition. Visit the website for special exhibitions. Admission to the connected Harvard Museum of Natural History and its famed Glass Flowers is included. Open daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area

191w Atlantic Avenue Boston, MA, 02109 Phone: 617-223-8666

Islands in Boston Harbor, and easy ferry ride from downtown. Swimming, hiking, picnicking. A fun day trip

Let yourself slip back in time with guided lighthouse tours (June-October) and ranger-narrated Discovery and Sunset Cruises (summer). There are also frequent special events and activities held on some islands for people of all ages. Sail the waters that conceal old shipwrecks and histories of war, pirates, and spooks! Click the ticket link below this listing for ferry tickets & schedule information.

Science & Culture Museum - Harvard Museums - Cambridge, MA

Harvard Museum of Natural History

26 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA, 02138 Phone: 617-495-3045

Just an eight-minute walk from the Harvard Square T Station through Harvard Yard, the Harvard Museum of Natural History is the university’s most-visited museum and a popular destination for travelers from around the world. Visit the Harvard’s Glass Flowers, find your birthstone gem in our expansive mineral gallery, see large Tigers, and view dinosaurs in the paleontology gallery, including the first Triceratops skull ever discovered. The Great Mammal Hall features a giraffe, zebra, sloths, lemurs, and six whales hanging from the ceiling. Recently added permanent exhibits include The Rockefeller Beetles, Sea Creatures in Glass Evolution, Climate Change, and Marine Life. All exhibits draw from Harvard University collections and reflect the most current scientific research.

Rockport Chamber of Commerce

22 Broadway Rockport, MA, 01966 Phone: 978-546-6575 Toll-Free: 888-726-3922

Fall in love with Rockport

Rockport, Massachusetts is a charming seaside village on Cape Ann; an hour North of Boston by car or train. This historic Art Colony is home to a number of internationally acclaimed artists and photographers along with their galleries. Rockport also offers numerous unique shops, restaurants, and accommodations, and boasts a magnificent rocky coastline. It is known for fresh seafood and world-renowned "Motif #1". Rockport further delights with its seven beaches, a state park, coastal walks, bird and whale watching, kayaking, scenic day and evening sailing tours, golf, diving and a number of historical attractions. Rockport harbor is listed as one of the top 10 most scenic places in the country by Walt Disney Productions. Come visit scenic Rockport, you'll be glad you did!

Cape Cod National Seashore

Various Locations Chatham to Provincetown, MA Phone: 508-255-3421

This national park offers a full summer’s worth of fun for people of all ages. Six ocean beaches (lifeguarded) offer play in the surf; there are many walking and biking paths through inlands dunes, woodlands, and around cranberry bogs and small freshwater “kettle” ponds. Explore the first lighthouses in the country (commissioned by President George Washington). Historic sites, like the place where the first trans-Atlantic telegraph was sent.

Western Mass.

Cape Cod & The Islands

Central Mass.

Boston

North of Boston

South of Boston