Flavors of the sea fill the air here, from bustling, historic Boston to the beaches and towns of the North Shore and Cape Cod.
Visit Eastern Massachusetts to find some of the United States’ oldest towns. In this historic region suffused with a seafaring past, the ocean is everywhere, from food to vacation destinations. Spend a week traveling between heritage sites and beaches or get immersed in the bustling metropolis of Boston, the state capital.
Boston’s 400-year history provides a great introduction to the whole region. Follow the history of the American Revolution along the Freedom Trail to Faneuil Hall and the Paul Revere House. Cross the Charles River to admire the historic buildings of Harvard University. See the fruits of Boston’s cultural might at the Museum of Fine Arts and the unique, beautiful Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
Head to the sea, to the working ports and sandy beaches of the North Shore, where Salem evokes the witch trials and literary heritage of Nathaniel Hawthorne. See the birth of America in Plymouth, where the Pilgrims first landed.
In the summer, hop on a ferry or drive to Cape Cod and the sun-soaked delights of Provincetown, right on its tip. Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island, where Boston’s elite have been summering for centuries, to enjoy long walks along the windy coast.
Eastern Massachusetts is the most urbanized part of the state, fairly easy to travel around by both auto and public transportation. Boston’s Logan International Airport is one of the largest in the United States. Boston is easily navigable by subway and bus. Commuter rail and ferry connections offer many connections to the North Shore and Cape Cod. Rent a car for exploring smaller towns. Martha’s Vineyard and other islands are accessible by ferry or plane.
End a trip to the Bay State with an authentic Eastern Massachusetts experience, eating lobster, clam chowder and fried clams along Boston Harbor, watching boats operating as they have been doing for centuries.