Massachusetts: Things to Do and See

Things to See in Boston

1. Hood Milk Bottle: This 40-foot tall structure is located right beside the Boston Children's Museum. Here you can enjoy a scoop of creamy ice cream and some snacks to nourish your hungry stomachs. Also make sure to have a group photo in front of the gigantic milk bottle. website 
2. The Freedom Trail: Red colored brick path, Freedom Trail is considered among the famous attractions of United States. This path consists of 2.5 miles and it highlights 16 most important sites which are highly significant with reference to American Revolution. Another interesting thing about this path and these sites is that, they all are totally free and there is no ticket at all. People can enjoy a long walk here and can feel the historical importance of this place very closely. website
3. Faneuil Hall & Quincy Marketplace: The ultimate in tourist destinations in Boston, Faneuil Hall Marketplace hosts more visitors annually than the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It’s the bustling city epicenter, one that hosts a wide range of culinary scents, and the ultimate in people-watching. Plus, what’s wrong with a scorpion bowl and $1 chicken on a sticks at Hong Kong?  website
4. Union Oyster House: The Union Oyster House has a long and storied history. The Oyster House, open since 1826, is the oldest restaurant with continuous service in the country. While Bostonians may avoid going there, the establishment shucks some of the best oysters in the city without the pretention of feeling the need to sell its history.  website
5. Boston Common, Public Garden & Swan Boats: The Boston Common is America's first public park. the Public Garden is the first Botanical Garden and Boston's Swan Boats have been gliding through the Public Garden since the 19th century. They are all part of the Emerald Necklace that consists of 1,100-acre chain of 9 parks linked by parkways and waterways. They were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. website
6. New England Aquarium: Another attraction that locals know when to visit (early, early, early) before the crowds is the New England Aquarium. The has been completely restored in the wake of a $17.3 million redesign of the original, central tank, which has helped define the experience for generations of visitors. Just make sure you visit before the number of tourists outnumber the fish.  website
7. USS Constitution Museum & Charlestown Navy Yard: Established in 1800 as one of the country's original naval maintenance centers, the Navy Yard is now the home of the USS Constitution. At the USS Constitution Museum you don't just learn about history, you experience it! Furl a a sail, fire a cannon, and scrub the decks to learn what life was like at sea over 200 years ago. Stop in the "Old Ironsides Discovery Center" to learn the causes and consequences of the War of 1812 and how the ship earned her famous nickname "Old Ironsides." website
8. United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum: Home to the USS Salem, the world's only preserved Heavy Cruiser. Come see this and other incredible vessels. website
9. Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum: C’mon, people! It’s part of our history. Relive the Boston Tea Party experience from December 16, 1773 on this floating museum with interactive exhibits and authentically restored tea ships. And then finish with a spot of tea at Abigail’s Tea Room. website
10. Old North Church: The signal from the steeple of Boston's oldest church triggered the War for Independence that led to the birth of America. On that fateful night in 1775, the two lanterns in the steeple told Paul Revere that the British were approaching by boat, not on foot. website
11. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum or Fenway Court, as the museum was
    
    known during Isabella Stewart Gardner's lifetime, is a museum in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The museum houses an art collection of world importance, including significant examples of European, Asian, and American art, from paintings and sculpture to tapestries and decorative arts. website
12. Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (Spectacle Island & Castle Island): This National Park consists of 34 small islands just off shore in Boston Harbor. The most popular, George's Island, is home to Fort Warren, a Civil War Landmark that housed Confederate prisoners. Visitors to the 12 islands open for exploration can camp, kayak, tour lighthouses, ride harbor ferries, hike and swim. website
13. Institute of Contemporary Art in South Boston is arguably more interesting for its architecture than its art. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the museum is all glass and sharp angles, a stark departure from the city's presiding aesthetic. One of the most arresting features is the rear of the museum, a cantilevered glass expanse that hovers vertiginously over Boston Harbor. website
14. Museum of Science: Spend a couple of hours or the whole day at this hands-on museum that has something exciting for everyone. Touch a lizard, watch chickens hatching, see lightning being created and enjoy hundreds of other exhibits, where you can't help but learn something new about science and technology. Hold onto the edge of your seat at the IMAX movie theater, which costs extra. website
15. John F Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library: Relive the Kennedy era in this dynamic combination museum and library, where your visit starts with a short film and then leaves you on your own to explore a series of fascinating exhibits, including the Kennedy-Nixon debate, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the space program, 1960s campaign paraphernalia and displays about Jacqueline and other Kennedy family members. The striking, I.M. Pei-designed building overlooks the water and the Boston skyline. website
16. Harvard Museum of Natural History & Peabody Museum: The Museum’s permanent galleries include dinosaurs and fossil invertebrates and reptiles, to large mammals, birds and fish, and the only mounted Kronosaurus. The mineralogical galleries present a systematic display of meteorites, minerals and gemstones. The historic Blaschka glass models of plants, popularly known as the Glass Flowers and Sea Creatures in Glass of Blaschka models of marine invertebrates. website
17. Coit Observatory: Coit Observatory Located at Boston University, this observatory offers free stargazing each Wednesday after 8:30 pm throughout the spring and summer. website
18. Fenway Park Tour: is a baseball park located at 4 Yawkey Way near Kenmore Square. It has been the home of the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball team since it opened in 1912 and it is the oldest ballpark in MLB. It is call the Cathedral of Boston and is America's Most Beloved Ballpark. website
19. Boston Red Sox Game: Enjoy a professional baseball game at Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in America, watching a team that has 7 World Championships, 11 Pennants, and 20 Play off Appearances. For an extra special game get seats on the fabled Green Monster.
20. Harvard Yard: The streets of Harvard Square are overrun with Au Bon Pains and Gaps, and nary an independent bookstore remains, but once you walk inside the gates of the country's most storied university, it's easy to tune out all the noise and forget everything but your own bitterness at not getting accepted. website
21. New England Holocaust Museum: The six glass towers of this striking memorial serve to represent the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, six main Nazi death camps and the candles on a menorah. website
22. The Black History Trail: which traces the events central to the substantial African American population that lived here in the 19th century. A good starting point is the Museum of African American History on Joy Street; the museum's website offers an interactive map of the trail. Among the 14 sites is the African Meeting House, the oldest black church edifice still standing in the United States and the place where in 1860 Frederick Douglass delivered a seminal anti-slavery speech. website
23. MFA - Museum of Fine Arts: Boston's oldest, largest and best-known art institution, the MFA houses one of the world's most comprehensive art collections and is renowned for its Impressionist paintings, Asian and Egyptian collections and early American art. website
24. Boston Athenæum: The Boston Athenæum is one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States. It is also one of only sixteen extant membership libraries, meaning that patrons pay a yearly subscription fee to use the Athenæum's services. website
25. Paul Revere House: The Paul Revere House was the colonial home of American patriot Paul Revere during the time of the American Revolution. website
26. Harpoon Brewery: The Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall, located in Boston's Seaport District, offers a full selection of Harpoon beers straight from the source along with delicious pretzels to pair with your pint. The Brewery Store offers a wide range of Harpoon apparel and merchandise (including growler fills). And cap off your trip by taking a guided tour of the brewery! website
27. Samuel Adams Brewery: It’s the ride, not the destination. Unless of course you are visiting us at our brewery. You’ll be able to check in using our interactive beer wall, see our brewers in action, and sample some of our world class craft beers. website
28. Franklin Park Zoo: The Franklin Park Zoo is a 72-acre zoo located in Boston, Massachusetts operated by Zoo New England. The zoo is located in the northeast portion of Franklin Park, Boston's largest park and the last component of the city's famed Emerald Necklace website
29. Boston Fire Museum:  The museum preserves and displays fire fighting memorabilia from the Greater Boston area. Located in the old firehouse on Congress Street since 1983. Dedicated to informing vistors about the history of fire fighting. website
30. Boston Duck Tours: The fun begins when you board your "DUCK", a W.W.II style amphibious landing vehicle. Your journey takes you by all the places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts, from the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill and the TD Banknorth Garden, Boston Common and Copley Square to the Big Dig, Government Center to fashionable Newbury Street, Quincy Market to the Prudential Tower, and just when you think you've seen it all it's time for "Splashdown" into the Charles River for a view of the Boston and Cambridge skylines, the kind of view you just won't get anywhere else. website
31. Larz Anderson Auto Museum: Home to "Americas oldest car collection". For over 75 years, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum has been supporting the collector car community through a variety of educational programs, exhibits, and lectures. website
32. Frost Ice Bar: The walls and furniture and even the glasses are made from hand carved ice. The inside temperature is maintained at a refreshing 21˚F, is New England’s only and the world's largest permanent indoor ice bar. It features breathtaking ice sculptures and handcrafted cocktails. website
33. Blue Man Group at The Charles Playhouse: Experimental musical theatre troupe the Blue Man Group was founded in 1987 by longtime friends Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, and Chris Wink; identical in their blue-painted skin, skullcaps and black clothing, the trio soon became a fixture of the New York underground performance art scene thanks to their regular appearances in Central Park. Today they perform at the Charles Playhouse and many other locations around the globe.  website
34. The Plumbing Museum: Since 1979, The Plumbing Museum has attracted plumbers, tradesmen and curious visitors from all walks of life. The museum offers a unique, trade-specific take on American history. Moreover the museum stands as a tribute to the plumbers, engineers and inventors whose hard work and creative spirit have contributed so much to the betterment of our society. website
35. Bully Boy Distillery: Bully Boy Distillers is owned and operated by brothers Will and Dave Willis, who were inspired by their childhood home and fourth-generation working family farm. Bully Boy Distillers is proud to carry on Boston’s tradition of small-batch distilling. website
36. Fogg Museum: The Fogg Museum, opened to the public in 1896, is the oldest of Harvard University's art museums. The Fogg joins the Busch-Reisinger Museum and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum as part of the Harvard Art Museums. website
37. Arnold Arboretum: The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is an arboretum located in the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale sections of Boston, Massachusetts. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and is the second largest "link" in the Emerald Necklace. website
38. Massachusetts State House Tours: Explore the oldest building on Beacon Hill. Free tours are offered Monday through Friday by reservation. website
39. Old State House Museum: Within these walls, Samuel Adams, James Otis, John Hancock, and John Adams debated the future of the British colonies. The Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the balcony. website
40. F1 Boston: F1 Boston offers the ultimate indoor kart racing experience, from Arrive & Drive open racing sessions and private events to competitive leagues and endurance races that push you to perform your best. Our two European-style tracks, the City Course and Country Course, offer plenty of racing thrills – sharp turns, a corkscrew and tunnel, rolling hills and off-camber corners. website
41. Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library: The Mapparium—the world's largest walk-in globe—is among the city's quirkiest landmarks. Located at the Mary Baker Eddy Library in the Christian Science Plaza, it is, essentially, a three-story model of the globe built to scale. The perfect sphere runs 30 feet in diameter, traversed by way of the glass bridge that bisects its interior. website
42. Minuteman Bikeway: Stretching from Cambridge to Bedford, the 11-mile Minuteman Bikeway is a great way to check out Greater Boston’s outer boroughs. Built on a former railway, it’s open to biking, rollerblading, jogging, walking and more. website
43. Ice Skating on Frog Pond: Bundle up, grab your skates (or rent them for $8) and take a spin in the middle of America's oldest public park—preferably on a clear, starlit night. Rink snobs need not worry: the Frog Pond is Zamboni-slick and has its own ice-making system. website
44. Bunker Hill Monument: This monument stands 221 feet tall on Breed's Hill, the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution on June 17, 1775. website
45. Boston Garden:  Technically the “TD Garden” these days, but it will always be “the Garden” in the hearts of locals (let’s all just forget about those dark ages when it was the “Fleet Center”). And sure, it’s not the same place where the Beatles played in 1964 or where the Jackson 5 performed in 1970 or where James Brown’s words helped keep the peace in Boston the night after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Still, as the home of the Celtics and the Bruins, the spirit of Boston sports runs deep here. website
46. Prudential Tower's Skywalk Observatory: This glassed-in walkway high atop the Pru offers a 360-degree perspective from a height of 750 feet; on a clear day, you can see as far as 100 miles in any direction. website

Things to See in the North Shore

1. House of Seven Gables: The House of the Seven Gables is a 1668 colonial mansion in Salem, Massachusetts, USA. The house is now a non-profit museum, with an admission fee charged for tours, as well as an active settlement house with programs for children website
2. The Witch House: The Witch House, was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin and is the only structure still standing in Salem, Massachusetts with direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692. website
3. Peabody Essex Museum: The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, may be considered one of the oldest continuously operating museums in the United States. It combines the collections of the former Peabody Museum of Salem and the Essex Institute. Collections exceed 2.4 million works of art and culture in twenty-four buildings, including the Yin Yu Tang, the only complete Qing Dynasty house located outside China. website
4. Misery Islands: Located between the harbors of Marblehead and Manchester-by-the-sea. Daily shuttle service by Sea Shuttle began in 2011 to the Misery Islands from the Marblehead public dock or take your own boat. There are more than 2 miles of trails on Great Misery that lead you to beautiful overlooks, rocky beaches and grassy fields. You can reach Little Misery, a 4 acre island, by wading across a narrow, shallow channel at low tide. You can see the remains of the steamship, The City of Rockland, that wrecked off the coast of Maine and ended up on the beach of Little Misery. You can see the remains of an early 20th century resort on Great Misery. Open year-round from sunrise to sunset. website
5. The Butterfly Place: The Butterfly Place is an indoor living environment which has been carefully designed for the propagation and development of butterflies.  This wonderful man-made habitat is contained within a 3,100 sq. ft. glass atrium building towering to a height of over 27 ft. at its peak. Within this atrium’s living butterfly environment can be found a variety of colorful plants and shrubs, each of which has been selected as a source of nectar for the butterflies. website
6. Salem Witch Museum:The Salem Witch Museum presents the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, one of the most important and tragic events in American history. website
7. New England Pirates Museum: The most fun-filled place in Salem. The unique and little-known history of New England sea-robbers comes alive at the Pirate Museum. Relive the adventures of Captains Kidd and Blackbeard, who roamed freely offshore plundering merchant ships. website
8. Salem Tunnel Tour: is the only tour in Salem that goes into the underbelly of this ancient city and the politicians and privateers that once made this the richest port in the nation by creating an elaborate set of smuggling tunnels to avoid paying duties on their imports. The Tours detail the rich history of the tunnels once used during the Underground Railroad period and Prohibition. Started in the 17th century and expanded in the 19th these tunnels are truly mysterious and stretch over 3 miles. website
9. Salem Wax Museum: This compelling museum is composed of eerily life-like London made wax figures that depict Salem's vivid history from its founding in 1626 through the terrifying Hysteria of 1692. website         
10. DeCordova Sculpture Park & Museum: is a sculpture park and art museum focused on modern and contemporary art, and holds a collection focused on work in all media, especially works by artists with connections to New England. The photography collection is particularly strong and the exhibitions program emphasizes sculpture. website
11. Pioneer Village: Salem in 1630: Step back in time to 17th century New England at Salem's oldest living history museum. Discover Salem 1630: Pioneer Village. It is a recreation of the English colony established by Roger Conant and his intrepid band of settlers. From these humbling beginnings the seeds of Revolution were planted. website
12. Bearskin Neck: Bearskin Neck is a small neck of land that juts out of the town center into Rockport Harbor. Legend has it that the small peninsula is so-named for menacing bears that early settlers routed onto the neck and hunted.  What really makes Bearskin Neck one of the principal attractions in Rockport however is the quaint little studios, shops, and restaurants that line its narrow roads. For Bearskin Neck is a bustling artist colony where one is just as likely to see an artist at his easel as a lobsterman hauling his traps. website
13. Crane Beach & Crane Estate: The spectacular Crane Estate encompasses more than 2,100 acres. The Estate is made up of three properties:  Castle Hill, a National Historic Landmark that is the home of The Great House, Crane Beach, a popular public beach and summer destination; and the Crane Wildlife Refuge, a natural treasure boasting many rare plant and animal species. website
14. Captain Bill & Sons Whale Watch: Capt. Bill and Sons Whale Watch started more than 50 years ago, but the late Captain Bill Cunningham can't take full credit for his business' creation the whales themselves founded the company, though they still made Bill do all of the paperwork. website
15. Skydive Pepperell: Are you looking for the thrill of a lifetime? Skydive Pepperell is the closest dropzone to Boston and is located on the border of Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire. They are located on a private 60+ acre skydiving-only airport. website
16. Winter Island  & the Fort Pickering Lighthouse: Winter Island Lighthouse or Fort Pickering Lighthouse as it was named was built in 1871 as part of a three lighthouse system, with Derby Wharf light also in Salem and Hospital Point Light in nearby Beverly to accomidate the shipping traffic around Salem Harbor. website
17. Schooner Thomas E. Lannon: This 65-foot schooner's public sailing schedule includes two-hour sails, sunset music cruises, lobster-bake sails, and fireworks sails website
18. Salem Willows: Salem Willows is an oceanfront neighborhood and amusement park in Salem, Massachusetts. It is named for the European white willow trees planted there in 1801 to form a shaded walk for patients convalescing at a nearby smallpox hospital. The area became a public park in 1858. website

Things to See in South Eastern, MA & Cape Cod

1. Plimouth Plantation: Plimoth Plantation is a living museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA, that shows the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established in the 17th century by English colonists, some of whom later became known as Pilgrims.  website
2. Plymouth Rock: Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It is an important symbol in American history. website
3. Coast Guard Beach: Coast Guard Beach, accessible by bicycle or via shuttle bus from the Salt Pond Visitor’s Center, was formed where a sand spit attached to the glacial cliffs. The sand is fairly coarse, so the beach slopes steeply into the water. The picturesque old Coast Guard station still sits atop the glacial bluffs, allowing for a spectacular view down upon the Nauset Spit barrier system and bay. During the summer, beach-goers take quick, refreshing dips in the ocean as water temperatures only reach 60-70 degrees. website
4. Battleship Cove: The world's largest collection of historic naval ships. Explore the  USS Massachusetts, the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., submarine USS Lionfish, and PT Boats from the South Pacific, as well as the thrilling interactive Pearl Harbor Experience. website
5. Race Point Beach & Old Harbor Lifesaving Station: Named for the fierce rip tides that come around the point of the Cape, this beach is the wilder ocean sister of Herring Cove. This portion of the Cape is building as a result of "long shore" transport of sand from the south, and Race Point has a vast sand beach. Provincetown has some of the most spectacular sand dunes on Cape Cod. Old Harbor Life-Saving Station was built in Chatham in 1897. The station was operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, and its precurser the U.S. Life-Saving Service, until it was decommissioned in July 1944. The building was later obtained by the National Park Service, and in November 1977, it was moved by barge to Provincetown. In summer, breeches buoy rescue re-enactments are conducted on the grounds on Thursday evenings. website
6. Cape Cod National Seashore: The great Outer Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s is protected within the national seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses, cultural landscapes, and wild cranberry bogs offer a glimpse of Cape Cod's past and continuing ways of life. Swimming beaches and walking and biking trails beckon today's visitors. website
7. Barnstable County Jail: built in 1690 it is the oldest wooden jail in the USA. It was built for the Plymouth & Massachusetts Bay Colony Courts and served as a jail until 1820 when it was replaced by a stone jail. website
8. Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum: Whether you arrive by land, sea or sky, the Pilgrim Monument is the first thing you see when you approach Provincetown. Standing at 252 feet, the Monument commemorates the history of the Mayflower Pilgrims. It’s the tallest all-granite structure in the United States. The Provincetown Museum, at the base of the Pilgrim Monument, features a unique collection of exhibits that depict important events and people in Provincetown history and our nation’s history. Exhibits also include the arts, the fishing community, and Provincetown’s rich tourist culture. website
9. Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA: a one way street in the middle of the very touristy town of Provincetown. Its known for its large crowds and many shops. Its also home to many small theatres and is the epicenter of the town.
10. Provincetown Causeway: Built in 1911 to protect the town's harbor today it links the town to the tip of cape cod. Visitors and residents can follow its solid path across the harbor, passing easily to the outermost finger of the jutting Cape and the sentry of Wood End lighthouse.
11. Pilgrim Hall Museum: The oldest continuously operating public museum in the nation, a gallery museum that uses the actual 17th century Pilgrim possessions - the cradle of Peregrine White, the bible of William Bradford, the sword of Myles Standish - as well as Native American artifacts to tell the story of the Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony. website
12. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute: The worlds largest, private, non-profit oceanographic research facility studying all aspects of the ocean. During the summer months, volunteers guide visitors on tours through the WHOI dock area and other restricted village facilities. Learn about the Institution's ocean science research and the vessels and tools developed by WHOI engineers and scientists for use in that research. website
13. Paragon Carousel: The antique Paragon Carousel is the last vestige of Paragon Park and is a lasting reminder of the "Golden Age" of Hull, when the town was teeming with thousands of visitors each day in the summer for decades. website
14. King Richard's Faire: is an annual family fun event, live entertainment & food on weekends September & October. Entertainment, exciting rides and skilled games abound on the enchanting 80-acre site. Hundreds of entertainers perform non-stop throughout the day. on the eight stages. There are acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, minstrels, dancers, fire eaters, puppeteers and exotic tigers. Enjoy our beautiful white lion and cute tiger cubs. website
15. Buttonwood Park Zoo: The Buttonwood Park Zoo, located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, is a ten-acre zoo located in the center of Buttonwood Park. It is owned and operated by the City of New Bedford, with the support of the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society. website
16. New Bedford Whaling Museum: located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA. The museum, through its collections and exhibitions, tells the story of the international whaling industry and the history more generally of the "Old Dartmouth" region situated along the south coast of Massachusetts. website
17. Edaville USA/Railroad: Recreates the era when traveling was slower and the little things enjoyed a lot more. You'll enjoy a 30 minute ride on America's oldest authentic 2 foot, narrow gauge railway. Steam engines and diesel locomotives will pull passenger cars through 5 1/2 miles of beautiful Massachusetts landscape. website
18. Cape Cod Maritime Museum: Dedicated to celebrating, preserving and interpreting Cape Cod's maritime past, present and future, and inspiring passion and respect for the sea and how it continues to shape Cape Cod. website
19. Maria Mitchell Aquarium: Where but Nantucket could you find a real marine aquarium in a quaint waterfront shack? The marine organisms of Nantucket's salt marshes, harbors, and nearshore waters await your acquaintance on Washington Street. There are friendly science interns to answer all your questions about the mollusks, crustaceans, and finfish, and hands-on exhibits for children. website
20. Sandwich Glass Museum: Promotes a broad understanding and appreciation of Sandwich town history, with particular emphasis on the unique contribution of the glass industry to the local community, the region, the nation, and the world. website
21. John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum: A multimedia exhibit designed to open a window on the days JFK spent on Cape Cod; days relaxing with family, days playing football with PT109 buddies, days spent sailing on the ocean to which he was so constantly drawn.website
22. Cape Cod Duckmobiles: Ride Cape Cod Duckmobiles' authentic military amphibious vehicles. Come ride the streets of downtown Hyannis, see a Cape Cod light house, some of Cape Cod's best beaches, and waterfront properties. website
23. Zoo Quarium: Since 1969 ZooQuarium has provided a fun-filled family adventure to explore and discover the marvelous creatures that live just steps away from the busy roadways of Cape Cod. website
24. Cape Cod Central Railroad: With a variety of train excursions to choose from, there is sure to be one that will please everyone for any occasion. Dinner Trains, Scenic Train, and more. website

Things to See in Central MA

1. Russian Icon Museum: One of the largest collections of Russian Icon's outside of Russia and the largest in North America. The personal collection of industrialist Gordon B Lankton will give you a glimpse inside Russia and its faith. website
2. Old Sturbridge Village: Old Sturbridge Village is a "must-see" destination to experience early New England life from the early 1800s and is one of the country’s largest living history museums. Come ride our stagecoach, meet our farm animals, talk with costumed historians, and watch the blacksmith, cooper, potter, and farmers at work. Experience life in the 19th century -- visit our 40 antique homes, buildings and water-powered mills. With over 30 special weekend events each year and hands-on crafts offered daily, there is always something new explore. Daytime admission includes free parking and a free second-day visit within 10 days. Open year-round, but hours vary seasonally. Make a weekend out of it – stay at the newly opened Old Sturbridge Inn & Reeder Lodges.  website
3. Purgatory Chasm: is a state park in the town of Sutton, Massachusetts and is notable for its .25-mile-long, 70-foot-deep chasm of granite bedrock featuring abrupt precipices and boulder caves in which ice lingers into the early summer. Its a great place to hike on a summer day. Use caution when visiting. website
4. Southwick's Zoo: The Brewer family and its staff are dedicated to the preservation and conservation of all animals. The Southwick team's mission: to provide an extensive zoological collection and educational facility for our visitors. We strive to promote an exciting environment for a positive family experience. website
5. Willard House & Clock Museum: Benjamin Willard began making clocks in his small Grafton workshop in 1766. Within a few short years is was a family affair and brothers Simon, Ephraim and Aaron followed in his footsteps. Today the museum founded in 1971 features all things Willard especially the clocks. website
6. Davis Farmland and MegaMaze: The concept for Davis’ Mega Maze began across the street at Davis’ Farmland in 1995. The idea at the time was novel, providing an exhibit for children in a small plot of corn. The area designated for this children’s maze was only 40 by 60 feet in size and it was more of an experience than a challenging puzzle.  website
7. Animal Adventures: Ed and Brenda Laquidara have spent their entire lives working with animals, from farm animals to exotics. In 1997, Ed and Brenda turned their hobby of caring for animals into a full-time professional animal education facility. website
8. Bolton Fair: Bolton celebrates annually their heritage, culture and community through wholesome family fun, great entertainment, friendly competition and educational experiences for the whole family. The Fair is where friends, agriculture, education and creativity unite website
9. Nashoba Valley Winery: Located in the heart of Massachusetts, Nashoba Valley is a stunning hilltop orchard/vineyard, winery, restaurant, brewery and DSP in the town of Bolton, MA website
10. Wachusett Brewing Company: founders Ned, Kevin and Peter developed a significant appreciation for beer while attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Adventures in biking, canoeing and hiking that led the trio to the Northern New England states allowed them to visit some of the first operating craft breweries. Armed with a “we can do this” attitude the three cast off from their careers in engineering and biology to found the Wachusett Brewing Co. in 199. website
11. Wachusett Mountain: With 22 trails, 8 lifts, and a 2,006 foot summit, Wachusett is New England's most accessible ski resort. website
12. Wachusett Mountain Skyride: Wachusett Mountain Ski Area Scenic trip through mountains with breathtaking view. There are also festivals and hiking trails. Fun for whole family. website
13. Tower Hill Botanical Garden: is a 132 acre botanical garden with spectacular views of Mount Wachusett and the Wachusett Reservoir. It is located approximately 8 miles north of central Worcester. It was founded in 1986 by the Worcester County Horticultural Society and is scheduled to be fully complete in 2040. website
14. Breezy Picnic Grounds & Waterslides: A family-owned recreational facility nestled in the heart of the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor in south central Massachusetts. The facility features two 300' Alpine waterslides, picnic areas, lake swimming with 500 ft. beach & sandy areas for kids, game rooms, snack bar and more. website

Things to See in Worcester

1. Worcester Art Museum: also known by its acronym WAM, houses over 35,000 works of art dating from antiquity to the present day, representing cultures from all over the world. It also includes the collection from Higgins Armory. website
2. Ecotarium: is a science and nature museum. Previously known as the New England Science Center, the museum features several permanent and traveling exhibits, the Alden Planetarium, a narrow-gauge train pulled by a scale model of an 1860s steam engine, a tree canopy walkway, and a variety of wildlife. website
3. Hanover Theatre: originally built in 1904 as the Franklin Square Theatre regularly scheduling burlesque shows, Broadway touring shows and headline acts transitioning to showing silent films by 1912 when vaudeville magnate Sylvester Poli purchased the theatre from the estate of Pauline L. Taylor. website
4. Worcester Historical Museum: Founded in 1875 as the Worcester Society of Antiquity. This museum is the only institution devoted entirely to local history and artifacts. website
5. Mechanics Hall: is stunningly elegant, flawless acoustics and grand architectural design. Its walls speak of great artists and memorable events of international renown. It is internationally regarded as one of the world's great concert halls for its superb acoustics and inspirational beauty. It is regarded regionally as Worcester's finest meeting place. website
6. Salisbury Mansion: Salisbury Mansion, located at 40 Highland Street, is Worcester’s only historic house museum.  Built in 1772 as a combination house and store, it served as the home of “gentleman-merchant” Stephen Salisbury.  The store closed after the Embargo of 1812, and by 1820 all of the space once used for the store had become living quarters.  Salisbury Mansion has gone through many changes over the years, from a rooming-house to a gentleman’s club. Salisbury Mansion was originally located at Lincoln Square.  Through tireless research and documentation,  Salisbury Mansion has been restored to the 1830s to reflect the time when it was home to the widow Elizabeth Tuckerman Salisbury. It is considered one of the best documented historic house museums in New England. website
7. Bancroft Tower: Bancroft Tower is a 56-foot-high natural stone and granite tower, which looks like a miniature feudal castle. It is located in Salisbury Park, in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. It was erected in 1900, in memory of George Bancroft. website
8. New England Summer Nationals: is a popular, annual, four-day-long automotive festival in Worcester, Massachusetts. It usually occurs on the July 4th holiday weekend. The Summer Nationals has many events including drag racing, controlled burnouts, and stunt motorcycle riding. website
9. Higgin's Armory: Located in Worcester, MA, Higgin’s Armory was the only Museum in the Western Hemisphere solely dedicated to the collection of arms and armor until 2004. It operated as a non-profit museum and was founded in 1931 by John Woodman Higgins a prominent industrialist who owned Worcester Pressed Steel Company. It closed at the end of 2013 and large portions of its collection were transferred to the Worcester Art Museum. website
10. Elm Park: The land the park resides on was purchased in 1854, making it one of the first purchases of land to be set aside for use as a public park in the United States. It was redesigned and landscaped by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted and contains meandering walking paths through the landscaping, a pond crossed by two iconic footbridges and a playground. website
11. Fitton Field: Home stadium for the Holy Cross Crusaders. It was made famous in a 1939 exhibition game between Holy Cross and the Boston Red Sox when Ted Williams hit his first home run in a Red Sox uniform. Previous home to the Worcester Tornadoes and current home of the Worcester Bravehearts. website
12. Barnyard Zoo in Greenhill Park:
13. American Antiquarian Society:
14. Coney Island Hot Dogs:

Things to See in Western MA

1. Zoar Outdoor: Try Zoar Outdoor’s newest adventure on a Deerfield Valley Canopy Tour in Charlemont Massachusetts. Our 3-hour-long zip line canopy tour leads adventurers on an aerial trek through the woods by means of 11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels suspended in the trees in the northern Berkshires and connected through platforms that sit high above the forest floor. Our double-cable construction provides an extra margin of safety and hand braking (with backup brakes on each zip) allows you to control your zip speed with a gloved hand and keep from "spinning out". Our guides are trained in both safe zipping practices and in interpreting the environment around you so you can fully appreciate this unique journey through the forest canopy. website
2. Six Flags New England: formerly Riverside Amusement Park is home to world-class coasters, thrilling family rides, three areas dedicated to children and a water park. website
3. Tanglewood: Tanglewood-the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and widely known as one of the world's most beloved music festivals. website
4. Storrowtown Village & The Big E: Storrowton Village Museum is an authentic, recreated village of nine 18th and 19th century buildings from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, assembled around a traditional town green. We offer living history programs and events to acquaint audiences of all ages to New England life in bygone days. It is located in the fair grounds of the Big E. The Big E is the largest fair in the Northeast and is the largest agricultural even on the eastern seaboard and the sixth largest fair in the nation. website
5. Berkshire East Canopy Tours: Berkshire East Canopy Tours are Western Massachusetts best new summer activity. Race your friends down the mountain top of Berkshire East Ski Area and prepare yourself to fly down 850 feet of 1/2" cable, 150 feet in the air at speeds up to thirty miles an hour. website
6. Crabapple Whitewater Rafting: Crab Apple Whitewater brings you five different white water rafting adventures. River rafting trips range from mild to WILD, full or half-day. From beginners to more experienced rafters. website
7. Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours:  3-hour-long zip line canopy tour leads adventurers on an aerial trek through the woods by means of zip lines and sky bridges suspended in the trees in the northern Berkshires and connected through platforms that sit high above the forest floor. website
8. Dinosaur Footprints: Dinosaur footprints, fossilized plants, and delicate ripple marks of a prehistoric pool are preserved in stone at this reservation near the west bank of the Connecticut River. website
9. Bridge of Flowers: Every year visitors from around the world stroll across the Bridge of Flowers and enjoy the beauty of this unusual garden - the only one of its kind in the world. It is a 1908 trolley bridge converted into a 400-foot flowered pathway. website
10. Natural Bridge State Park: The park's chief feature, for which it is named, is the only natural white marble arch/bridge in North America. Visitors can also view the remains of an abandoned marble quarry. website
11. Brimfield Antique & Flea Market: A solid mile along Route 20 of hundred of antiques and collectibles dealers from all over the Northeast and farther. Lots of food and places to rest. Dealing starts early every morning. website
12. Bash Bish Falls: the most-photographed waterfall in Massachusetts at Bash Bish Falls. Located next to the Mount Washington State Forest, Bash Bish Falls tumbles through gorges and a hemlock ravine forest, and then drops about 60 feet into a sparkling pool. The park is open from sunrise to one-half hour after sunset and access is free. The falls is located next to the 4,169-acre Mount Washington State Forest, adjoining New York's 5,000 acre Taconic State Park. website
13. Norman Rockwell Museum: presents the world’s largest collection of original Norman Rockwell art, including beloved paintings from The Saturday Evening Post and the Four Freedoms, and the best in the field of American illustration. Experience Rockwell’s art, life and legacy in the artist’s picturesque New England hometown of Stockbridge, Massachusetts nestled in the culturally rich Berkshires. website
14. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: honors extraordinary basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide. First incorporated at Springfield College the Springfield-based university where James Naismith invented the sport in 1891, the Basketball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1959. Today, the Basketball Hall of Fame serves as the sport's most complete library, in addition to promoting and preserving the history of basketball. website
15. Monument Mountain:  Ascend this popular peak, which once drew 19th-century literary giants, and from its summit gaze across the spectacular landscapes of the Housatonic River Valley website
16. Berkshire Museum: Recognized as one of the finest small museums in the nation, and is one of the few museums where art, history and the natural world are displayed in one place.  website
17. Emily Dickinson Museum: The Homestead, where poet Emily Dickinson was born and lived most of her life, and The Evergreens, home of the poet's brother and his family, share three beautiful acres of the original Dickinson property in the center of Amherst. website
18. Historic Deerfield: A museum of New England history and art within the carefully preserved 330 year old western Massachusetts village of Deerfield. See a collection of 18th and 19th century houses and the Flynt Center of Early New England Life filled with some of the great decorative arts treasures of early America. website
19. Magic Wings: Consists of a 14,400 square foot facility that includes a 4,000 sq. ft. glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation. website
20. Wistariahurst Museum: Originally the home of prominent silk manufacturer, William Skinner and his family, has stood as an example of elegance and fine architecture since 1874. website
21. Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum: Excursion train rides between Lenox and Stockbridge two times per operation day. 20 mile, 2 1/2 hour round trip plus new permanent Gilded Age exhibit. Open Saturdays, Sundays and summer holidays from June through October. website -
22. The Zoo in Forest Park: Visitors can see over 200 domestic and exotic animals. The zoo also features a Discovery Room, train rides, gardens, duck ponds, paddle boats, and picnicking. website
23. Lupa Zoo: Come and see all the wild things going on at the Lupa Zoo.Kids will love to see the monkeys and bears. There is also a Family Farm which gives kids the chance to see domestic animals up close and touch goats, sheep and other animals. website         
24. Hancock Shaker Village: An outdoor history museum of Shaker life on 1,200 acres in the scenic Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. Its twenty original buildings and historic working farm and gardens preserve and interpret the life of America’s most successful communitarian society. website