Destination Feature - Massachusetts
   
 
Destination Overview
 
In the heart of New England, the Bay State stretches from Cape Cod’s Atlantic beaches to the wooded Berkshire Hills. In between are neat Colonial villages, towns with lots of history and Boston, one of the world’s greatest cities.

In this cradle of American History, the Pilgrim Fathers celebrated the first Thanksgiving holiday, and Lexington and Concord heard the first shots of the American Revolution.

Massachusetts is also the most Irish of American States, with Irish historical links going all the way back to colonial times. Today one of every four residents boasts some Irish ancestry, and that is borne out by the cultural vibrancy of the Irish community there.

Above all, Massachusetts is a fun, four season destination! Go hiking, biking or whale watching. Listen to live music and visit world-class museums. As for the shopping – it just does not get any better!
www.massvacation.com
Boston
 
Boston, the most European of American cities, is a big city, but you can cover the center on foot in just a couple of hours. And with the history of the Freedom Trail, the modern attractions of the Institute of Contemporary Art and everything in between, Greater Boston is worth exploring for a weekend, and for years to come.

Boston’s historic heart has been spruced up, thanks to the new Rose Kennedy Greenway. This mile of glorious urban park has replaced a major motorway that once ran through the city's center. Also new is the Boston Harborwalk, a waterside trail opening up new views of the shoreline and city. Together they affirm Boston as America’s Walking City.

Hop on the T for a quick ride to the Kennedy Library and Museum, or stay close to the water for a visit to the New England Aquarium. When you're ready for a coffee or ice cream break, a short walk to the North End will put you in the midst of world-class dolci on Hanover Street. Take the kids to the Children's Museum, where they'll have so much fun they won't even realize how much they're learning.

Just across the Charles River in Cambridge, enjoy the ethnic cuisine and plentiful bookstores of Harvard Square. If you're scientifically minded, the MIT Museum will give you a lot to think about. Also in Cambridge is the Museum of Science, where you'll catch fascinating exhibits — and a Duck Tour amphibious vehicle.
www.bostonusa.com
Boston City Break from €399 pps including flights, 2 nights 4* hotel and all taxes and charges. Departing April 2009 (REF 317550)
South of Boston
 
Visit a living-history museum that recreates life in 1627, go on a whale-watching cruise and take tea in an authentic Japanese garden - South of Boston is a region where Massachusetts is alive with history, beaches and quirky little surprises.

In Plymouth, you'll get a glimpse of Plymouth Rock — and of the Pilgrim way of life at Plimoth Plantation or go on a whale-watching expedition from Plymouth Harbor.

Duxbury is home to fabulous beaches, and to the Art Complex Museum, where you'll find an eclectic mix of Asian and American art, Shaker furniture and a Japanese tea garden.

Venture further to Southeastern Massachusetts, to New Bedford, and experience coastal life via the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Not far away is Seaman's Bethel, a chapel for seafaring families and one of the features that inspired Herman Melville's Moby Dick.
www.SeePlymouth.com
www.bristol-county.org

Boston and Cape Cod Twin Centre from €589 pps including flights, 5 nights hotel, all taxes and charges. Departing May 2009 (REF 317557)
North of Boston
 
With beautiful harbors nestled throughout 30 miles of rocky coastline, North of Boston is a haven for beach lovers and seafaring types alike. But, with a rich history, it's also the perfect destination for those interested in cultural activities — from Salem Witch Trial attractions to art museums to the many sites dedicated to the area's seafaring heritage.

Then there's Greater Merrimack Valley, where not one, but two revolutions took place. Lexington and Concord offer a vivid view into many of the most critical American Revolution events. While Lowell, with its 19th century mill buildings, is a testament to the Bay State's large role in the Industrial Revolution and the textile industry.
www.northofboston.org
www.merrimackvalley.org

Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket
 
Cape Cod, is a 70 mile long peninsula with charming historic towns and small villages, miles of sandy beaches and wind-sculptured sand dunes. Cape Cod comprises 15 towns, each with its own unique style and appeal, early American History, Arts and Culture.

Famous for its rolling dunes and gable-roofed, gray-shingled houses, Cape Cod is where you'll find outdoor activities and loads of fun family attractions. On Martha's Vineyard, a 45-minute ferry ride from the mainland, you'll stumble upon quaint shops, natural sites, fine dining and lively nightlife throughout six picturesque towns. Then, of course, you have Nantucket. Located 30 miles off the Massachusetts coast, this island is characterized by cobblestone streets, antique stores, lighthouses and acres of conservation land.

Take the time to find yourself on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, where all that matters is what matters to you.
www.capecodchamber.org
www.mvy.com
www.nantucketchamber.org

Boston and Cape Cod Twin Centre from €589 pps including flights, 5 nights hotel, all taxes and charges. Departing May 2009 (REF 317557)
Western Massachusetts
 
There's no mistaking Western Massachusetts. There are the eclectic communities. There's the natural beauty. There's the seemingly endless array of fun activities. It's practically a world unto itself, yet it's still distinctively Massachusetts.

Remarkably, it's also a part of the state with something wonderful to offer in every one of its regions. Find family attractions in Greater Springfield. Enjoy the rural charm of Franklin County. Let the wonder of the Berkshires be your backdrop as you revel in diverse culture and sophisticated entertainment, such as Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer home. Or take in the famous fall foliage along the Mohawk Trail.

The Basketball Hall of Fame is the major family attraction in Springfield and traces the history of basketball from its 1891 beginning in Springfield. The NEW Basketball Hall of Fame explores the game through dozens of exciting hands-on exhibits and more than 900 artifacts.
www.berkshires.org
www.valleyvisitor.com
www.co.franklin.ma.us
www.mohawktrail.com