Things to Do in Massachusetts
Ten stops running from a witch trial museum that treats a properly dark chapter of history with real care to a basketball hall of fame where kids can shoot hoops on a court open to the public.
Massachusetts packs a proper amount of history into a small state, and this list heads beyond Lexington and Concord specifically, since those already sit in the quiz questions, toward Salem's difficult history, Cape Cod's coastline, and a baseball park that's been running games since 1912. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
The Freedom Trail, Boston
A 2.5-mile walking route through downtown Boston, marked by a red line running along the pavement, connecting sixteen sites significant to the American Revolution, including the Old North Church, Paul Revere's House, and the site of the Boston Massacre. The full trail takes a proper few hours on foot, allow a full morning or afternoon rather than rushing through.
Guided tours run regularly for anyone who'd rather have context along the way, though the trail is well enough marked and documented to walk independently if you'd prefer to set your own pace.
Address Boston Common to Bunker Hill Monument, Boston, MA
Salem's Witch Trials History
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 resulted in the execution of twenty people, mostly women, following accusations of witchcraft now widely understood as a product of religious extremism, land disputes, and real mass hysteria within the community. The Salem Witch Museum covers the trials with real seriousness, prioritise it over some of the more novelty-driven attractions the town has since built up around this history.
This deserves proper weight and context, approach Salem's history with that in mind rather than treating the whole town purely as a Halloween-adjacent novelty stop.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am-5pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 19 1/2 Washington Square N, Salem, MA
Cape Cod National Seashore
A protected stretch of Cape Cod's outer coastline, roughly 40 miles of beach, dunes, and marshland running largely undeveloped despite sitting within one of the more popular summer destinations in New England. The Cape Cod Lighthouse, one of several along this stretch, remains open for climbing during the main season, sweeping views over both the ocean and the surrounding dune landscape.
Seal watching runs well from several of the beaches here, particularly Chatham, where a properly large seal population has grown considerably over recent decades, occasionally drawing great white sharks that follow them close to shore.
Best time June-August for swimming; September for quieter beaches
Address Cape Cod National Seashore, MA
Plimoth Patuxet Museums
A living history museum recreating both a 1627 English colonial village and a Wampanoag homesite, the English side staffed by interpreters who remain fully in character and period dialect throughout, while the Wampanoag side is staffed by Native people speaking from their own perspective rather than performing a character. This dual approach gives a considerably more balanced picture of early colonial contact than a single-sided historical recreation would.
This runs well for kids specifically, hands-on demonstrations throughout each section keep younger visitors engaged well beyond a standard museum walk-through.
Hours Seasonal, roughly April-November, check current schedule
Address 137 Warren Ave, Plymouth, MA
Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket
Two islands off Cape Cod's southern coast, both reachable by ferry, each holding a distinct character, Martha's Vineyard runs colourful gingerbread cottages and a livelier summer scene, while Nantucket keeps a more preserved, properly quieter historic whaling-town atmosphere throughout its cobblestone streets. Both islands run well as either a day trip or a longer stay depending on your pace.
Ferry reservations, particularly for vehicles, book out well in advance during peak summer season, arrange transport ahead if you're planning to bring a car across.
Best time June-September for the fullest ferry schedule
Address Ferries depart from Hyannis and Woods Hole, MA
The Berkshires & Tanglewood
Western Massachusetts's mountain region, rolling hills and small art towns that run considerably slower and greener than the busier coastal side of the state. Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's outdoor summer venue, hosts a full season of concerts on its lawn, bring a picnic and simply lie back for an evening performance under the open sky.
Autumn brings some of the best foliage in the state to the surrounding hills, time a visit for early-to-mid October if the colours matter to you specifically.
Best time Summer for Tanglewood's season; October for foliage
Address 297 West St, Lenox, MA
New England Aquarium, Boston
A well-regarded aquarium built around a four-story central ocean tank, visitors walk a spiralling ramp past it, viewing sea turtles, sharks, and rays from progressively different depths and angles along the way. Whale watching tours depart directly from the aquarium's own dock during the main season, a good add-on if the tanks alone don't cover the whole visit.
This runs well for a full morning or afternoon, a good combination with a wider Boston harbour walk given how central the aquarium sits to the rest of the waterfront.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-5pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA
Fenway Park
Home to the Boston Red Sox since 1912, the oldest ballpark still in active use anywhere in Major League Baseball, the Green Monster, a 37-foot left field wall, remains one of the most recognisable features in the sport. Tours run outside game days, covering the park's full history and giving access to areas not normally open during an actual game, including a walk along the Green Monster itself.
Game day tickets sell out well in advance for popular matchups, book a stadium tour instead if attending a live game doesn't work with your schedule.
Address 4 Jersey St, Boston, MA
Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield
Built in the city where basketball was invented in 1891, the Hall of Fame covers the sport's full history alongside interactive shooting challenges and a real, playable court where visitors can shoot hoops themselves. This runs particularly well for kids who play or follow the sport, considerably more hands-on than a typical sports museum's static memorabilia displays.
The spring exhibit, a large basketball-shaped section of the building itself, houses several floors of exhibits, allow a proper two to three hours to cover the whole collection.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am-5pm
Address 1000 Hall of Fame Ave, Springfield, MA
Massachusetts Clam Chowder & Seafood
New England clam chowder, the thick, cream-based version most people picture, traces its roots directly to Massachusetts's coastal fishing communities, considerably different from the tomato-based Manhattan version found further south. Union Oyster House in Boston, operating continuously since 1826, claims to be the oldest restaurant in the country and remains a solid, historic spot for a proper bowl.
Fresh lobster rolls run throughout the coastal towns too, try both the cold, mayonnaise-dressed version and the warm, butter-based one to see which you prefer, opinions run properly strong on either side.
Address Union Oyster House, 41 Union St, Boston, MA
Best time to visit Massachusetts
May through October covers the most comfortable window for the majority of this list, mild enough for the coastal and outdoor stops without winter's real cold.
Early-to-mid October specifically suits the Berkshires' foliage, plan a trip around then if autumn colour is a priority alongside the wider itinerary.
Getting around Massachusetts
Boston itself runs a solid public transit system, the T, if you'd rather skip driving within the city. A car becomes essential for Cape Cod, the islands, and the Berkshires though, the distances between them run into a few hours each.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Massachusetts worth visiting beyond Boston?
- Yes, easily, Cape Cod, the Berkshires, and the islands all offer a completely different picture of the state than the city's Freedom Trail history alone.
- How many days do you need in Massachusetts?
- Six days gives a comfortable pace to cover Boston, Salem, and either Cape Cod or the Berkshires.
- Is Massachusetts expensive to visit?
- Yes, one of the pricier states in New England, particularly Boston and the islands during peak summer season.
- What's the best Massachusetts trip for kids?
- The New England Aquarium and Basketball Hall of Fame both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a state with considerably more range than the Freedom Trail alone suggests.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
