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Plan your vacation with our Massachusetts highlights and local information

Massachusetts Vacation Rentals – Massachusetts Travel

For a vacation that combines history and simple living with a busy nightlife, consider visiting Massachusetts. In this one small state you can head for the Black Heritage Trail in Boston to Ralph Waldo Emerson's home in Concord. You might wonder at the Flying Horses Carousel in Martha's Vineyard or head for the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden in greater Springfield.

Central Massachusetts

For a fun mix of shopping, history and natural beauty, head for the center of the state. Here you will find the second largest city in Massachusetts -- Worcester. For a living history demonstration that captures life in New England in the 1830s, head for historic Old Sturbridge Village. Worcester Common Outlets are a great, modern, way to keep in style, while the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor maintains the industrial heritage of 20 different communities.

Western Massachusetts

In the western part of the state, you'll find the Berkshires, which combine mountain scenery with modern art at the MASS MoCa in North Adams. In Great Springfield, visit the Basketball Hall of Fame or history and science museums. In Franklin County, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery or take in that scenery via whitewater rafting and kayaking. More outdoor fun is available on the Mowawk Trail, where you can climb to the top of Mt. Greylock. For those interested in historic housing, visit Deerfield, where you can enjoy a look at 18th and 19th Century housing.

Bristol/Plymouth Counties

In Plymouth County, you can visit the historic Plymouth Rock, or Plimoth Plantation, which revives the 1627 community with living history activities. Here you can also find a Mayflower II reproduction. In Bristol County, the peak of the whaling industry is remembered in New Bedford, where there is a whaling museum. Fall River was important in the textile manufacturing industry and that history is celebrated with a discount outlet center located in the historic buildings.

Beaches

Those interested in resort-style vacationing head for Cape Cod, Nantucket Island and Martha's Vineyard. Here you can enjoy world-class beaches, and a getaway feel. Nantucket Island is known for its peaceful quiet, historic mansions and captain's homes and lighthouses. Martha's Vineyard is full of pine forests and cottages, while Cape Cod is a year-round vacation location, offering many outdoor or quiet activities.

Boston/Cambridge

The historic city of Boston is very active with a variety of history to explore. You can educate yourself about the American Revolution and visit Paul Revere's House or immerse yourself in the Boston Tea Party history by heading for the Old South Meeting House Museum. Take the Freedom Trail to see and understand so much more. A harbor cruise might be your next step after enjoying the New England Aquarium. Take the "T" across the Charles River and head into Cambridge, where you can stroll into Harvard Square and enjoy the lively atmosphere which includes shops, cafes and nightlife. There are more than 30 bookstores and the Longfellow Historic Site, which celebrates both George Washington and Henry Longfellow.

North of Boston

A variety of interesting sites are found in the area north of Boston. The Greater Merrimack Valley found its fame in Walden Pond, while Concord is the site of Louisa May Alcott's home. In the historic town of Essex, you can shop for antiques or enjoy fried clam which was invented there. This area is also home to Salem, famous for the 17th Century witch trials. Marblehead is known as a premier sailing center, while in that city's Old Town you can see the worker's homes of the 18th and 19th centuries. For fishing, visit Gloucester, home to a fishing port and an abundance of seafood restaurants.

The History of Massachusetts

History abounds in this state, from the Pilgrims to the American Revolution to the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere. Just look around for education -- world-renowned literary greats made their start here and Harvard University is located here.

Other sites to see and things to do in Massachusetts include: Ernestina schooner ship in New Bedford; Whaling Museum on Nantucket Island; Chatham Light in Cape Cod; Tanglewood Estate in Lenox; Fruitlands Museum in Harvard; Poets Seat Tower in Greenfield; and Cheers Beacon Hill in Boston.