Massachusetts – All the information for traveling in the Bay State
Massachusetts, nicknamed the Bay State, is the most urban and populated of the six New England states. The state's capital, Boston, is the largest and most important city in the entire northeastern United States. In the southeastern corner along the ocean's coast, the popular and upscale vacation area of Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket can be found. To the west lies charming countryside.
- Boston is the northern part of the megalopolis, the gigantic urban stretch surrounding New York City, from Boston in the north to Washington D.C. in the south
- The entire eastern part of the state is essentially urban, part of the larger Boston metropolitan area
- West of the metropolis, large American small-town cities are nestled among noteworthy and interesting college towns, and impressive natural spaces that also enjoy New England's stunning fall foliage every autumn
How many days do you need for a trip to Massachusetts?
You should dedicate between a week to two weeks for a full trip around Massachusetts, including Boston, the Atlantic coast, and the central and western rural parts of the state.
10 Must-See and Do Things in Massachusetts?
- A city tour of Boston's major sites
- A visit to the important campuses in Cambridge – MIT and Harvard University
- A cruise to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
- Explore Cape Cod
- Follow the witches in Salem
- The Plymouth Settlement Core
- The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield
- A transcendental experience at the Portland Museum
- A magical road trip along the Mohawk Trail
- Top-tier art in Williamstown
- Brimfield flea markets
- The history of the Industrial Revolution in Lowell
Click here to check availability and prices for hotels in Cape Cod…
Click here to check availability and prices for hotels in Boston…
Click here for a list of 8 great hotels in the heart of Boston…
What is Massachusetts?
The state of Massachusetts is the most urban and populated among the New England states, by a significant margin. A large portion of the state's population resides in the metropolis of Boston, the capital, which is the only major city in the vast expanse of northeastern USA, north of New York. Nearly seven million residents live in Massachusetts, with around four and a half million of them in Greater Boston. The state's area is 27,000 square kilometers (a bit more than the size of the island of Sicily in Italy).
- Massachusetts is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, by New York State to the west, and by Vermont and New Hampshire to the north
- At the southeastern edge of the state lies the long and unique peninsula of Cape Cod, with the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard nearby. This area, not far from the city of Plymouth, is one of the most popular summer vacation destinations in the U.S.
- The Boston metropolitan area dominates a large part of the Atlantic coastline, and to the west are large agricultural towns and attractive natural sites
For an organized day tour from Boston to Plymouth and Cape Cod, click here…
Cradle of Patriotism and the Birthplace of America
The cities along the Atlantic coast are the cradle of European settlement in America. They played a huge role in the rebellion against British rule in the 1770s, leading to the independence of the USA. Boston is the city of patriots, where the Boston Tea Party took place and many of the independence battles of the 13 founding states occurred.
Plymouth, a bit south of Boston, is the docking city of the Mayflower ship that brought the first Puritan settlers from Britain. English settlement expanded over the years to all the cities of the state, and many of them are named after English cities.
For a guided tour of the Boston Freedom Trail, click here…
Map of Massachusetts
How to get to Massachusetts?
How to get to Massachusetts by plane?
Logan Airport in Boston Logan International Airport – BOS
The main gateway to New England is Boston's large international airport. There are quite a few direct flights from Ben Gurion Airport to Boston, both by El Al and Delta. The airport has about four terminals, with Terminal E serving international flights. A Silver Line bus route stops at all four terminals and continues to downtown Boston. There are also free shuttles to the Blue Line subway station. The station is located half a kilometer west of the terminals at the junction of Highway 90 with Highway A1 that branches towards downtown.
Click here to buy the Boston CityPASS online, all attractions on one ticket…
- Logan Airport in Boston is easily accessible via transfer flights in Europe, which can significantly reduce the flight cost from Israel
- The airport is adjacent to Boston to the east, in the East Boston neighborhood, just a five-minute drive from downtown
- Another option is a transfer within the USA, usually in New York
- The flight time to Boston from the airports of New York – Kennedy and Newark is less than an hour, with plenty of daily flights between the two cities
Click here for a fast ferry from Boston to Plymouth and Cape Cod…
How to get to Massachusetts by car?
Massachusetts is lined with interstate highways that connect the state with other New England states and New York. There are two main highways with additional roads branching off in the Greater Boston area:
- The important east-west route is I-90, which connects Boston with Chicago and Seattle on the Pacific Coast. This highway runs through the center of the state from Boston to Springfield, passing close to all the attractions of central and western Massachusetts
- Highway 95 connects Boston with New York to the south and continues north towards the New Hampshire and Maine coast
- These two major roads have numerous branches of highways (adding another digit), which surround the Boston metropolitan area and run along the Atlantic coastline.
Click here for all the information on car rental in the USA + useful tips and significant discounts…
Click here to purchase the Go City Boston: Explorer Pass online…
When to Visit Massachusetts?
- The best time to visit Massachusetts is late spring and summer. During this period, the weather is pleasantly warm and all the state's attractions are bustling with tourists.
- The summer season is especially busy. Iconic tourist sites in the state, like Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, are filled with visitors and travelers, and there are also significant traffic jams.
- In this season, it's necessary to find accommodation in advance and carefully plan your route in the tourist-heavy eastern part of the state.
- Spring is also a fantastic season for a trip; as the snow melts, sites begin to awaken, and there's typically no issue with space or crowds.
- Autumn in Massachusetts, like all of New England, is very appealing. Crowds of tourists pass through the state to watch the fall foliage and continue north to New Hampshire and Vermont.
- The most important factor in a trip to Massachusetts is the weather.
- The winter in the area is cold, and sometimes freezing, but a large part of the state continues with its daily life and is open for visits.
- In winter and fall, it's not very worthwhile to visit the tourist areas of Massachusetts like Cape Cod or the North Shore, as many tourism-related businesses are closed, and it's also very cold.
- Boston can be visited all year round; the city is always open, but it's clear that in winter it can also be freezing.
For a special seafood lovers tour at Boston's best seafood restaurants, click here…
For a guided tour along the lighthouses on Cape Cod's beaches, click here…
How to Plan a Trip Itinerary in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is the most important state in New England, including the transport and aviation hub of the six northeasternmost states in the USA. The city of Boston is the only major metropolis in the area and serves as the gateway for traveling in all the neighboring states and Massachusetts itself.
For a day trip from Boston to Salem + entrance to the Witch Museum, click here…
For a guided tour on the development of Halloween in Salem, click here…
Whether you're starting your trip in Boston or coming from New York, the interstate route is pretty set:
- The main tourist areas in the state are along the Atlantic coast, about an hour's drive plus from Boston
- North of Boston – the city of Salem as a base for touring the beautiful towns of the North Shore
- South of Boston – the city of Plymouth as a base for touring Cape Cod and the nearby islands Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
- The Atlantic coast trip is easy and convenient by car (also possible by train) and includes driving on roads along the coast
- The roads provide easy access to Salem, Boston, and Plymouth, the three main cities on the state's Atlantic coast, rich with historical sites and attractions
Click here for a day trip from Boston to Martha's Vineyard…
The trip in the western part of Massachusetts has a more rural character. The city of Worcester is the largest and central city in the central part of the state, and Springfield is the important urban center in the west. In between, there are routes throughout the state leading to the major cities and towns in the west such as the Mohawk Trail, Old Sturbridge Village, Northampton, and Williamstown.
When planning a route in the western part of the state, it's worthwhile to include trails in neighboring states like Connecticut, New Hampshire, or Vermont.
For trip route planning in Massachusetts and professional advice, click here…
Accommodation and Lodging in Massachusetts
A large part of those arriving in Massachusetts find accommodation in Boston. Those only exploring downtown find lodging centrally located, while anyone planning to explore the whole of Massachusetts may want to find a place on the outskirts, at motels near the main highways. Both Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket offer a lot of excellent private accommodations, which are part of the summer vacation for many residents of New England and New York.
In the charming area of southeastern Massachusetts, it's advisable to secure accommodation in advance, especially if visiting in the summer. In the rest of the state, particularly in its western parts, there's a large selection of motels along the highways and small private hotels in the town and city centers that attract tourists.
Click here to search for accommodation in Boston…
How to Find Accommodation in Boston?
- Boston is a city with a relatively friendly center, which is quite a rare commodity among the major cities of the USA. This fact, along with the city's important history, makes downtown Boston a very attractive place for tourists to visit and roam.
- The city's hotels are not as constrained by real estate as Manhattan's hotels, and many of them provide rooms spacious enough to accommodate the whole family.
- In downtown Boston, there are numerous four-star and above hotels, ideal for the whole family to stay together in one room.
- Of course, one can also find lodging in motels on the outskirts of the city along the highways. Motels usually have two queen beds in a room and you can even add rollaway beds or unfold sofas.
Click here for a list of 8 great hotels in the heart of Boston…
Motels on the outskirts of Boston Metropolis
The American lodging system is fundamentally different from what we know in Europe, South America, or East Asia. While it's definitely worth staying in central Boston, you can also stay as one does throughout America (except Manhattan), in motels on the city's outskirts.
- For those arriving in Boston with a car, motels are a great solution primarily because of the convenient parking
- In the Boston metropolitan area, near the highways, you'll find all the big and good motel chains. Chains and brands such as Comfort Inn, Super 8, Motel 6, and many other chains
- There are also private motels and plenty of brand motels from the major international chains such as IHG (Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express), Marriott, Hilton, and more
- The motels offer an almost uniform standard of large and comfortable rooms, two big beds, and a basic yet sufficient breakfast even for kids
Click here for everything you need to know about hotels and lodging in Boston…
Boston
The city of Boston, the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England, is also the city with the most significant history among American cities. Boston is where the demand for independence from the British formed at the end of the 18th century. Boston is the city of the Patriots and is where the battles for freeing the colonies from British rule began. Upon liberation in 1776, what we know today as the United States of America was born.
Click here for a free guided tour of the main sites in downtown Boston!!
Boston's history is evident from every corner in the city's center. In downtown Boston, there's a stunning blend of modern skyscrapers towering over old houses brimming with history. In neighborhoods surrounding downtown, like Beacon Hill, North End, and the West End, there are magnificent mansions and cozy streets perfect for strolling and enjoying. East of Boston Common, the city's large park, lies the prestigious Back Bay district by the lake formed by damming the Charles River.
The Northeastern Corner of Massachusetts – Salem and the North Shore
Salem and the North Shore of Massachusetts are some of the most beautiful spots for a day (or two) road trip from Boston. Historic Salem is known as one of the most important ports of young America and a central Puritan settlement during the colonial period. The city retains many old buildings, and its center is full of charming old gems (by American standards). Despite its historical significance, the city is much more famous in popular culture, primarily due to the witch trials held there in the late 17th century. Today's city breathes niche tourism for witchcraft enthusiasts and is closely associated with Halloween celebrations.
The North Shore of Massachusetts stretches north from Salem along the charming coasts of Cape Ann peninsula to the border with New Hampshire. In Cape Ann, you will find delightful fishing towns like Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, and Rockport. These towns specialize in seafood restaurants serving some of the finest lobsters, fish, and clams on the East Coast, and they are also the starting point for whale-watching boats in Massachusetts Bay. The town of Essex is renowned for its excellent antique shops and is a popular tourist destination. Cape Ann’s countryside is filled with breathtakingly beautiful natural sandy beaches, charming lighthouses, and unique houses.
The Southeastern Corner of Massachusetts – Plymouth and Cape Cod
The southern coastline of the state of Massachusetts is full of unique natural sites, massive bays, charming towns that have become important summer tourist destinations, and lots of fishing and whale-watching boats. The city of Plymouth is the largest in the area, located just a short drive south of Boston.
Plymouth is the first British settlement point in New England. The city is an essential part of American patriotism mythology, where the legendary pilgrim/settler ship – the Mayflower – landed. Today's Plymouth is closely connected with the ship and the settlement of British Puritans in New England. Its center is entirely dedicated to commemorating the settlement in the early 17th century and is filled with tourists and visitors seeking to see the beginnings of the American ethos.
Click here for ferry tickets from Boston to Provincetown…
South of Plymouth begins the long stretch of Cape Cod. This unique peninsula, shaped like an arm flexing, is one of the most popular and prestigious vacation spots for New England residents and the entire northeastern United States. The Cape and the islands south of it – Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, are filled with private estates of wealthy New Englanders, and the area is a popular holiday space full of tourists and visitors.
Cape Cod is home to many original fishing villages, which are now tourist and entertainment sites filled with travelers. Provincetown, at the northern tip of the Cape, has become a popular artists' colony over the years, enjoying the most beautiful views of the bay.
Click here for all the information on traveling to Plymouth and Cape Cod…
The islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
The two beautiful islands south of Cape Cod – Martha's Vineyard and the smaller Nantucket to its east, in the southeastern corner of Massachusetts, were once maritime empires closely tied to whaling. The islands were the home ports of the whaling ships in the 18th and 19th centuries, which led to their prosperity and wealth during that time. Important processing factories and exports of marine mammal products were established on the islands.
As the whaling industry declined in importance, the islands changed their character and turned into important recreational and tourist destinations. The wealthy of New England and New York placed their estates on the islands, mainly following the fashionable residences of the Kennedy family. Today, the islands are a great destination for tourism (also for those who aren't wealthy), and they boast numerous hotels for vacation and exploration. The islands are a stunning example of New England's unique character and style, featuring charming fishing towns, plenty of sailboats, and a wide array of quality seafood restaurants.
Eastern Massachusetts
Lowell
The city of Lowell is situated on the outer edge of the Boston metropolitan area, not far from the New Hampshire border. The city is considered one of the most important in the development of American industry, as the place where the American industrial revolution took place during the 19th century. In its past, it was an important center for textile production in factories established by Francis Lowell on the Merrimack River. The factories operated on the hydraulic power of the river and attracted many immigrants to the city.
A Tour in Downtown Lowell
In the center of the city, in what is known as downtown Lowell, lies the Lowell National Historical Park, which features a series of museums related to the textile industry.
- The New England Quilt Museum showcases a display of quilt patterns and rare fabrics made on site
- Nearby, the National Streetcar Museum presents a series of original streetcars from the city during the 19th century
- The Boott Cotton Mills Museum features a model of a textile factory with 90 original looms from the 19th century
- One block past the canal of the national park lies another point of interest: the birthplace of painter James McNeill Whistler, the Whistler House Museum of Art, one of the most important American painters and a founding figure of French Impressionism (a prominent exhibitor at the Salon des Refusés in Paris in 1863, and his portrait of his mother starred in the Mr. Bean movie with Rowan Atkinson).
Fruitlands Museum
In the heart of the countryside west of the Boston metropolitan edge, you'll find beautiful museums linked to American New Age culture. The museum is nestled in the picturesque Nashua River Valley, a popular rural area known for its apple orchards. The museum was established at a Shaker farm by the wealthy author Clara Endicott Sears in 1910.
The museum was created and designed under the influence of Transcendentalism, the movement developed in New England in the early 19th century that advocated for naturalism. The museum has sections dedicated to figures from the movement, displays of the Shaker lifestyle, and more. It also includes open spaces and is considered a popular visiting spot in the river valley.
Worcester
Worcester is the second-largest city in Massachusetts (and all of New England) after Boston, with a population of about two hundred thousand people. The city is located a fifty-minute drive west on the 90 from Boston. Worcester is a large and somewhat grey city, hosting numerous colleges and academic institutions, the most notable being the prestigious University of Massachusetts.
The interesting site in the city is the Worcester Art Museum, which features an impressive art collection including paintings by Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and more. The museum's flagship piece is the painting “The Miracle of Saint Donato of Arezzo” attributed to Lorenzo di Credi, with some parts painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
Old Sturbridge Village and Brimfield Flea Market
A 25-minute drive southwest of Worcester lies the small town of Sturbridge. In the northwest part of the town is Old Sturbridge Village, a wonderful open-air museum featuring over 40 historic buildings that were specially brought there for preservation. Aside from the old houses collected from all over New England, the museum operates a troupe of actors dressed as 19th-century Massachusetts residents, reenacting the rural lifestyle of New England.
A ten-minute drive west from the restored village, nestled in the charming countryside, is the town of Brimfield. This rural town is famous for its massive flea market fairs held three times a year – the Brimfield Antique Show.
The markets are held in May, August, and September, each time lasting for six days, and attract a huge number of visitors and vendors to the rural area. During the markets, all the fields in the western part of the small town turn into stalls filled with genuine treasures. The markets are a must for flea market enthusiasts (Click here for all the information on the Brimfield flea market events…).
Western Massachusetts
Springfield
The city of Springfield is the third largest in Massachusetts and the fourth largest in all of New England (Providence in Rhode Island is slightly bigger). It is the most important urban center in the entire western (and less visited) part of Massachusetts. Springfield is located near the border with Connecticut, on the bank of the wide Connecticut River, a half-hour drive from Hartford, the capital of the neighboring state to the south. Along the river runs the I-91 highway and just one block to the east, the main street of Springfield’s downtown, known as Main Street.
Touring Springfield
The Springfield Armory National Historic Site is the place to learn about ancient weapons. Established by George Washington during the Revolutionary War, the armory was the main source of arms for the rebelling forces of the 13 colonies.
On the banks of the river in downtown Springfield sits one of America's most important basketball halls. The game was invented and developed in the city by James Naismith in 1891 and has since become a significant part of American sports culture. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is the place to learn about the game and the history of the greatest players.
Springfield is also the birthplace of the famous author Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known by his literary name Dr. Seuss. The city's cultural center revolves around the memorial of the popular children's author, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. Located in the Dr. Seuss cultural center is the Springfield Museums complex, which includes a natural history museum, a Far East art museum, and the city's historical museum.
Just a bit south of downtown Springfield, bordering Connecticut, lies the gigantic Six Flags New England amusement park. This amusement park is one of the largest in the northeastern part of the USA and is considered one of the most popular in the entire country.
Northampton and Amherst
A 25-minute drive north from Springfield, up the Connecticut River, you'll find the city of Northampton. The city has become a popular tourist destination, known mostly for its Main Street. Along this street, you can find trendy restaurants, galleries, and shops. The street is lined with beautiful houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Just south of downtown, you'll find the charming college town of South Hadley, home to Mount Holyoke College, the first women's college to open in the USA. The college campus is delightful for a stroll, featuring green pathways, small ponds, and even a little art museum. Just north of the college is Skinner State Park. This wooded park surrounds Mount Holyoke, offering a stunning view from its summit of the Connecticut River and nearby towns.
Just across the Connecticut River, a fifteen-minute drive east of Northampton, lies the small town of Amherst. The town is built around Amherst College. The college itself is a lovely place to wander, with green paths and gardens. Within the college are two good museums – the Beneski Museum of Natural History and the Mead Art Museum. Just a bit north of the college is the Emily Dickinson Museum, the home of the poet where she lived in solitude from the time she finished her studies at Mount Holyoke College until her death. Her home is now an open museum dedicated to her memory and work.
Deerfield
A 20-minute drive north of Northampton is what is now the village of Deerfield. Once a pioneer town, it was raided and destroyed by a Native American tribe in the late 17th century. On the main street of the village, in the Historic Deerfield district, are gathered many wooden houses that were built after the town was destroyed.
Some of these houses serve as period museums where you can see the agricultural lifestyle of the area in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the southern part of the street is the Flynt Center of Early New England Life, a museum with displays of objects and tools from the settlement periods and the town's restoration after the raid.
Mohawk Trail Path
Interstate Road No. 2 between the towns of Orange and North Adams is called the Mohawk Trail. The name of this scenic road comes from the fact that this route was the ancient trade path of the Mohawk tribe that inhabited the area. The trail follows the mountainous path of the rushing Deerfield River. The road passes through Greenfield, the town adjacent north of Deerfield. The mountainous road is considered a popular travel site for tourists, mainly due to its lush mountain scenery and river views. From September, the road becomes one of the most popular spots in all of New England for viewing the fall foliage.
Along the road, you'll find several charming towns such as Shelburne Falls, the ski town of Charlemont, and North Adams itself. South of North Adams is the Mount Greylock State Reservation. The reservation is part of the Appalachian Trail. At the mountain's peak stands the massive Veterans War Memorial Tower. From the summit and the tower, you have breathtaking views where you can see nearly all the New England states and, of course, the upper part of New York State.
Williamstown
The beautiful town of Williamstown lies along the Mohawk Trail, just a 10-minute drive west from North Adams, near the tri-state border of Massachusetts with New York and Vermont. The entire town is the campus of Williams College, which houses two of the most magnificent university art museums in all of New England. The Williams College Museum of Art boasts an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures by renowned American artists.
Just a bit west of the college museum, at the Clark Art Institute, you'll find an entirely different artistic experience with several very famous European paintings. The museum's collection includes masterpieces like Pierre-Auguste Renoir's renowned paintings “The Theater Box” and “The Blonde Bather,” the rare English painter John Constable's piece, “The Wheat Field,” the famous sculpture “The Dancer” by Edgar Degas, and stunning works by Claude Monet, Turner, and other masters. The museum also displays the famous engraving of the German Renaissance giant Albrecht Dürer, “Adam and Eve.”
Hancock Shaker Village Museum
Hancock Shaker Village is a 40-minute drive south of Williamstown and a quarter-hour west of downtown Pittsfield. The village was founded in the late 18th century as part of a series of settlements belonging to a sect throughout upstate New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. The British sect lived a celibate lifestyle, and their settlements are quite reminiscent of kibbutzim in terms of rural agricultural community with central public buildings. At its peak, Hancock Village was home to several hundred Shakers; today, about twenty preserved buildings remain. Among these are a large grain barn and the community's communal dining room (kibbutz or not?).
Just south of Hancock are the beautiful towns of the southwest corner of Massachusetts – Lenox, Lee, and Stockbridge. These rural towns feature old houses from the end of the 18th century, estates that were once popular among New York aristocratic families or wealthy Bostonians, and have a particularly charming rural atmosphere.
Sports Events in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, the state where basketball was born, there's a very rich tradition of professional sports culture. Most of the sports culture in Massachusetts is naturally centered in the capital city, Boston. Boston boasts some legendary sports clubs and the sports experience in the city is especially vibrant.
The three leading clubs in the city are the New England Patriots in football, the Boston Celtics in basketball, and the Boston Red Sox in baseball. The city also has a successful hockey team that plays, like the Celtics, in the indoor stadium close to downtown. Sporting events in American cities are one of the most quintessential American experiences imaginable and offer particularly popular and impressive entertainment.
Click here for a guided tour of Fenway Park baseball stadium…
The games of the Celtics and the Bruins, the city's hockey team, are held right in the center at TD Garden in the West End, above the North Station of downtown. Similar to Madison Square Garden in New York, the stadium's location makes it really part of the city tour, just a fifteen-minute walk from Quincy Market.
Red Sox games are also an experience and easily accessible from downtown (and relatively not hard to get tickets). The New England Patriots games, the city's glamorous team, are held south of the city at a driving distance and it's hard to get tickets for them.
