Massachusetts

Massachusetts

Massachusetts is an Indian term that roughly translates as ‘at or about the Great Hill’; however, it will be forever known for its role as the ‘Birthplace of the American Revolution’. It’s where Paul Revere made his midnight ride, Ben Franklin penned Poor Richard’s Almanack, and enough tea to fill 18.5 million teabags was dumped in Boston Harbor as a tax protest. From the moments the first shots rang out at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, or at least Boston, became The Cradle of Liberty, unless, of course, you were accused of witchcraft.

Today, Massachusetts has the highest family income of any state and more history than you can shake a decapitated pumpkin at. There’s also plenty of outdoor recreation, including a fine collection of state parks where you’ll find hiking, camping, canoeing, mountain biking, and of course, the Cape Cod National Seashore.

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Language(s)

English

Currency

US Dollar

Exercise Increased Caution
Summer Winter
Springfield 84 18
Boston 82 23
Nantucket 75 26
Outlets
Type-A
Type-B

Best Time to Visit

From a purely weather standpoint the best time of the year to visit Massachusetts is Spring – April, May, June – or late-summer and early-fall – September, October. Leaf peeping peaks in October but can extend into September or November depending on the year.

Fun Facts

  • The first subway system in North America was built in Boston, Massachusetts
  • It’s technically illegal to use tomatoes in clam chowder in Massachusetts
  • Plymouth, located just south of modern-day Boston, was one of the first permanent English settlements in North America
  • Ruth Graves Wakefield and her husband invented chocolate chip cookie in 1930 at the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts
  • There is a lake in Massachusetts named “Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg.”

Bucket-List Activities

  • Visit Harvard University (Cambridge)
  • Visit Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield)
  • Visit Yankee Candle Village (Deerfield)
  • Walk the Freedom Trail (Boston)
  • Visit the Salem Witch Museum (Salem)

Natural Wonders

  • Crane Beach (Ipswich)
  • World’s End (Hingham)
  • Quabbin Reservoir  & Overlook (New Salem)
  • Glacial Potholes (Shelburne Falls)
  • Natural Bridge State Park (North Adams)
  • Mount Greylock (Adams)
  • Bash Bish Falls (Mount Washington)

Major Attractions

  • Freedom Trail (Boston)
  • Faneuil Hall Marketplace (Boston)
  • Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge)
  • Cape Cod Beaches (Cape Cod)
  • Fenway Park (Boston)

Native Foods

  • Fluffernutters (sandwich made with peanut butter and marshmallow creme)
  • Grilled Blueberry Muffins
  • Boston Baked Beans
  • Hoodsie Cups (ice cream cup)
  • Apple Cider Doughnuts
  • Cape Cod Potato Chips

General Travel Tips

Common Phrases

  • The T – Boston’s subway
  • Smoot -A man-sized unit of measurement used to measure bridges
  • Packie – Sort of package store, which is actually a liquor store
  • Over the Bridge – Anything on the Cape Cod side of the Sagamore Bridge
  • Bubbler – Water fountain
  • Bang a uey – One way to deal with Boston traffic
  • Wicked – substitute for ‘very’, ‘really’, or ‘super’
  • Masshole – Used in a sentence, that wicked smaht masshole just banged a u-ey in front of me

 

 

  • Boston  / Boston Logan International Airport (BOS ✈✈✈✈) – Beantown baby!
  • Nantucket  / Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK ✈✈) – The backdoor to Martha’s Vineyard
  • Worcester  / Worcester Regional Airport (ORH ✈) – The ‘Heart of the Commonwealth’
  • Vineyard Haven /  Martha’s Vineyard Airport (MVY ✈) – The front door to Martha’s Vineyard
  • Hyannis / Barnstable Municipal Airport (HYE ✈) – A shortcut to Cape Cod
The Ultimate Guide to The Boston Freedom Trail + Interactive Map

The Ultimate Guide to The Boston Freedom Trail + Interactive Map

Our interactive map to the Freedom Trail includes all 16-historic stops along its 2.5-mile route through Boston. We’ll give you the tools and tips to take a free walking tour.…

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Travel Responsibly

Here at Coleman Concierge, we encourage everyone to travel responsibly and believe there is potential for tremendous good for the world following that ethos. There is also the potential for horrific consequences from irresponsible travel.

Before you go, please check out the latest CDC recommendations for travelers.

Even if you can’t physically explore the world, we hope that you enjoy the escape our site provides. Keep your spirits up and your hands clean. There will be a time to travel soon enough.

Meet Ed & Jenn

Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman, and together we are Coleman Concierge. It is our goal to inspire you to get out, expand your world, and to seek adventure, even in your own backyard.

We deeply believe in the transformational power of travel. Our tagline is amazing adventures for ordinary people because we believe that you don’t have to be super rich, super fit or super anything to have an amazing adventure. Expanding your comfort zone and trying new things will pay huge dividends in both health and happiness.

We advocate for sustainable and ethical travel and truly believe in the power of travel to transform both ourselves as well as the world around us.

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