General Golf Shopping MBTA Daytrip Boston There is a lot to see in Boston, but in planning a visit to the area, one may want to take time to explore the many famous attractions that surround the greater Boston area. Some of these attractions are just minutes outside the main travel corridors, others may take some time in getting there, but all are well worth a visit.      -On-line Printable Map- 10 Cape Cod, Massachusetts - Brewster - Located on the north side of the cape just before the elbow. Cape Cod Museum of Natural History - Route 6 A / Brewster / 508-896-3867 Cape Cod National Seashore - Located from the elbow north along the eastern side of the cape to the northern tip, the National Seashore has 27,000 acres of protected forest and pristine beaches with hiking trails. Chatham - Situated at the elbow, the town is the site of the Chatham Light. Hyannis - Located on the south side of the cape about mid way to the elbow. Cape Cod Melody Tent - 21 West Main Street / Hyannis / 508-775-9100 / $ John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum - 397 Main Street / Hyannis / 508-790-3077 John F. Kennedy Memorial - Ocean Street / Hyannis Harbor Provincetown - Situated on the northern tip of Cape Cod, the town is accessible by ferry from the Boston waterfront and Plymouth. Adventuresome drivers may want to explore the whole Cape by driving to Provincetown down Route 6. Site of the Pilgrims first landing, the town also has a thriving art colony. Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum - High Pole Hill / 508-487-1310 Site of the first landing, a granite tower lets viewers see the surrounding area, artifacts of the towns history are on display. Provincetown Art Association and Museum of Art - 460 Commercial Street / 508-487-1750 Exhibitions of art, classes and lectures are offered. Sandwich, Massachusetts - 40 miles southeast of Boston off Route 3 One of the earliest settlements in the region dating back to 1630, the town of Sandwich was later known for its superb glassworks and now hosts a museum on Americana. Heritage Plantation of Sandwich - 67 Grove Street / 508-888-3300 / $ The Museum is composed of a diverse collection of Americana including antique cars, a 1912 carousel, an art and military collection. Open daily at 10 am to 5 pm from mid-May to late October. In July the annual Vintage & Classic Car Show is held. Sandwich Glass Museum - 129 Main Street / 508-888-0251 / $ Exhibits of Sandwich glass made locally from 1825 to 1888. Thornton W. Burgess Museum & Green Briar Patch Nature Center - 4 Water Street / 508-888-6870 / $ Home of children’s author and wildlife conservationist, Thornton Burgess who wrote America’s own Peter Rabbit and the Briar Patch and the Mother West Wind stories. Woods Hole -Located directly south of Bourne and Plymouth, Woods Hole is on a peninsula situated between Buzzard’s Bay and Nantucket Sound and is a convenient location to catch the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. NOAA Fisheries Science Aquarium - Albatross & Water Streets / Woods Hole / 508-495-2000 Harborside aquarium, touch tanks and outdoor seals are some of the attractions at this aquarium. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Woods Hole / 508-289-2252 The world’s largest private oceanographic institution is located here on the south west tip of the Cape. 8 Edaville USA - 7 Eda Avenue / South Carver / Massachusetts / 508-866-8190 / $ An old-fashioned-style amusement park with a turn of the century flare, Edaville offers great family entertainment at a bit slower pace than most of today’s theme parks. A carousel, children’s rides, paddleboats and a museum are part of the highlights, however it’s the train rides that bring visitors back again and again. An hour south of Boston, 8 miles west of Plymouth, Edaville is open from spring through the Christmas holidays weather permitting. 14 Gloucester, Massachusetts Located 40 miles northeast of Boston, Gloucester today may be best known as the poignant backdrop for the true-to-life drama of “The Perfect Storm”, a noted book and motion picture of the last decade. The oldest seaport in the nation, Gloucester is still a major fishing center, whose trade has remained an area livelihood for over 350 years. On the waterfront promenade, one can glimpse the statue of a mariner honoring those “who go down to the sea in ships”. The town has several museums and a vibrant art colony which has been a haven for artists for well over a century. For outdoor activity, several great beaches are situated in the area, boat rentals, fishing charters and whale watching excursions are available. Cape Ann Historical Museum - 27 Pleasant Street / 978-283-0455 / $ Housing the largest collection of paintings of 19th artist Fitz Hugh Lane, the museum is in a Federal period home and also contains works of Winslow Homer and Maurice Prendergrast. Maritime and Fisheries galleries contain boats, ship models and artifacts of the fishing trade. / Open March through January Hammond Castle Museum - 80 Hesperus Avenue / 978-283-2080 / $ John Hays Hammond, Jr. built his dream castle in 1926. A medieval design, the stone structure is furnished in proper “castle attire”, houses works of art. In the collection is “Norman’s Woe Rock” that inspired Longfellow’s poem “The Wreck of the Hesperus”. / Open year round, closed two weeks in October Rocky Neck - East Main Street / An artist colony that inspired such painters as Cecilia Beaux, Winslow Homer, Jane Peter and Maurice Prendergrast still flourishes today in Gloucester. Galleries line the street and are open most days during the summer months. Sargent House Museum - 49 Middle Street / 978-281-2432 / $ Built in 1782, this Georgian House furnished in period pieces, was the home to Judith Sargent Murray and her husband John. John Murray founded Universalism in America, Judith was a writer and activist and the great, great aunt of John Singer Sargent whose works hang in the home. 4 Lowell, Massachusetts - Located 45 minutes north of Boston’s city center, the city has a national park devoted to the rich history of Lowell’s 19th century industrial complex. Other points of interest include the Whistler House Museum of Art, the Brush Art Gallery, New England Quilt Museum and the Brott Cotton Mills Museum. Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center - 246 Market Street / Lowell / Massachusetts / 978-970-5000 / Free Begin at the visitor center and then go onto the American Textile History Museum to learn the history of Lowell. 11 Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts - East Chop to West Chop and from Gay Head to Edgartown, this tourist destination is most often visited by ferry out of Woods Hole or Falmouth. Discovered in 1602, the island was the site of a Methodist campground in the mid 1800s and since then has become an upscale summer destination. Points of interest include the Flying Horse Carousel, Vineyard Haven, Edgartown, the Old Whaling Church and West Tisbury. For attraction specifics contact the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce / 508-693-0085 3 Merrimack, New Hampshire Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour & Gift Shop - 221 Daniel Webster Highway / Merrimack / 603-595-1202 / Free New England and the world’s largest brewery, Anheuser-Busch offers free tours of the brewing process as well as visits to Clydesdale Hamlet where visitors of all ages can get their picture taken with a Clydesdale. A Gift Shop and Hospitality Room are also on premises. 12 Nantucket Island, Massachusetts - The best bet is to leave your car behind when ferrying over to Nantucket, foot traffic and bikes are the main transport around the island. Points of interest include the Nantucket Town, the Whaling Museum and the spring and Christmas festivals. For attraction specifics contact the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce / 508-228-3643 5 Newport, Rhode Island Located 75 miles directly south of Boston, Newport was the playground of the rich and famous during America’s Gilded Age. Today the playground is still decidedly up-scale, but many of the Gilded Age mansions are open for viewing. Newport Mansions of The Preservation Society - 424 Bellevue Avenue / 401-847-1000 / $ The Preservation Society preserves and protects many of the great Gilded Age mansions Newport is so famous for, they also shelter homes from the colonial period such as the Hunter House. Three centuries of architectural landmarks are open for tours, separate tickets or multiple house tickets are available. Homes, gardens and mansions included under the auspices of the society are • The Breakers • The Breakers Carriage House • Chateau-sur-Mer • Chepstow • The Elms • Green Animals Topiary Garden • Hunter House • Isaac Bell House • Kingscote • Marble House • Rosecliff. Astors' Beechwood Mansion - 580 Bellevue Avenue / 401-846-3772 / $ An oceanfront mansion in Newport is the former home of Caroline Astor who was known for creating the first American social register. Preserved in it’s Victorian Era ambience, the home hosts special events throughout the year. 2 Old Sturbridge Village - 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road / Sturbridge / Massachusetts / 508-347-3362 / $ / Open Year-round A re-created village from the 1830s, Old Sturbridge Village encompasses 200 acres with over 40 buildings open for exhibit. As one of Americas well-known living history museums, visitors are immersed into the early 19th century rural life of New England where artisans, craftsmen and re-enactors demonstrate the skills needed to survive in an agrarian society. Seasonal and special events are highlighted, celebrated as they would have been during the era. (Slightly over an hour west of Boston, south of the conjunction of I-90 and I-84) 9 Plymouth, Massachusetts Plimoth Plantation - Route 3 / Exit 5 / Plymouth / Massachusetts / 508-746-1622 / $ Founded in 1947 with one house from the historic village, the “Plantation” is now a recreation of the whole village as it was in 1627. A living museum the Plimoth Plantation, Inc. also encompasses a recreated Hobbamock Wampanoag Indian Homesite and a rebuilt Mayflower II. Visitors will meet up with costumed actors in period clothing recreating personae of the first settlers down to the accents and chores. Special events take place throughout the season which lasts from spring to late November. Some shops and exhibits are open through December. 6 Sakonnet Vineyards - 162 West Main Road / Little Compton / Rhode Island / 401-635-8486 / Less than an hour and half south of Boston, Sakonnet is open year-round and offers tours and tastings. 13 Salem, Massachusetts - Located 15 miles north of Boston, Salem has a bit of a wicked history. However the city makes the best of all of its history with walking tours, festivals and museums. For specific information contact Destination Salem - 63 Wharf Street / Salem / Massachusetts / 978-741-3252 / House of the Seven Gables - 54 Turner Street / 978-744-0991 / $ / open July - October Locally known as the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, the harbor-front house dates back to 1668 and is considered one of the country’s best examples of 17th century architecture. The unique structure of the house inspired Hawthorne to write his novel which gave the home its most well-known moniker - The House of Seven Gables. A dramatic evening program based on the book and called the “Spirits of The Gables” is presented in the house during certain times of year. Peabody Essex Museum - East India Square / 800-745-4054 / $ More than two dozen galleries house some of New England’s extraordinary cultural treasures gathered from around the world. Art and architecture are two of the main themes of the Peabody Essex, where historic homes and gardens are part of the offering. A major expansion is under way which will add 6 new galleries and an 18th-century Chinese house. Salem Wax Museum & Witch Village - 288 Derby Street / Wax Museum / 978-740-2929 / Witch Village / 978-740-9229 / $ The museum covers the history of the witch trials with waxed figures recreating pivotal scenes, also the maritime history of the area is told through exhibits. The Witch Village is operated by practicing witches who demonstrate their craft. Salem Witch Museum - Washington Square / 978-744-1692 / $ The whole story is told in this museum about the witch trials, accusations and executions. Life-sized figures and venues puts the visitor into the scenes as they happened. Open daily in July and August. 1 Springfield, Massachusetts - An hour and a half west of Boston, south of I-90 via I-291 to I-91 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - 1150 West Columbus Avenue / Springfield /1-877-4-HOOPLA / $ An all new $100 million-plus facility honors the game and its native son and creator Dr. James Naismith. The exhibits include interactive activities, artifacts and of course the scoop on all of the great players and coaches in the world’s favorite team sport. 7 Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery - 417 Hixbridge Road / Westport / Massachusetts / 508-636-3423 / Located on a 110 acre farm, the Westport vineyard and winery produces several varieties including chardonnay, riesling and champagne. The winery offers tours and tastings and also encompasses a gift shop and art gallery. Open daily. Reserve Early ...while your preferred accommodations are still available.