Boston is rich with historic sites, artistic venues, swanky restaurants and outdoor adventure, and if you want to keep exploring, there's even more to discover around the city.
Battle sites, beaches, colonial landmarks, creative outposts and of course seafood are all within striking distance of Boston.
Here are the best day trips from Boston.
Discover the world's most intriguing experiences with our weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.
It takes 35 minutes to travel.
The Revolutionary War began when the British Regulars left Boston to seize their weapons. Near the North Bridge in Concord, the two sides faced off first.
The battle site at the North Bridge is included in the national historical park. There are two informative visitor centers and a number of historic buildings where you can see Ranger talks and musket demonstrations. You can get a snack at the Concord Cheese Shop.
You can take public transport to get to Minute Man National Historical Park. There are commuter trains from Boston to Concord. You need a vehicle to explore Battle Road from the train depot. The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway can be used to travel from Cambridge to Lexington and then to Concord.
It takes one hour to travel.
Salem has a checkered history, from the persecution of witches in the 17th century to the town's heyday as a maritime center in the 18th century. A number of sites remember the former, including a memorial for the victims of the witch trials.
At the Salem Maritime National Historic site, visitors can learn more about the area's rich sailing tradition. There is a wonderful collection of art and artifacts in the Peabody Essex Museum.
The best way to get to Salem from Boston is by train. Boston Harbor Cruises operates a ferry ride from Long wharf.
It takes one hour to travel.
The first permanent European settlement in New England was established in 1620. Imagine what it would have been like if they had traveled across the ocean. The Pilgrims and the Native people who have lived there for more than 10,000 years can be seen at the museums.
The sites are historically accurate and have costumed actors portraying historical figures.
There is a way to get toPlymouth from Boston.
It takes one hour and 30 minutes to travel.
There is a collection of glorious beaches and bike trails through the dunes along the Cape Cod National Seashore, as well as an artistic center with galleries lined up along Commercial St. Top-notch restaurants serve lobster rolls and crab paninis.
The closest airport to Provincetown is Boston. The best way to get here is by ferry, operated by Boston Harbor Cruises or Bay State Cruise Co, if you just want to come for the day.
It takes 1 hour by car and 2 hours by public transportation.
The other Cape is located on the North Shore of Massachusetts. The heart and soul of Cape Ann is Gloucester, a fishing town with an art colony and whale watching cruises.
The souvenir shops are lined up along Bearskin Neck in Rockport. There are gorgeous coastal beaches and walking trails in the rest of Cape Ann. Causeway Restaurant and Roy Moore Lobster Co both serve seafood.
There is a way to get to Cape Ann from Boston. There are five bus routes that run around Cape Ann.
It takes 50 minutes to travel.
There are 34 islands in Boston Harbor and a park that is easy to get to from the city. There is a supervised swimming beach and a rewarding lookout on Spectacle Island.
There are more remote islands that offer trail walking and birdwatching. There is no food or water on the outer islands. A picnic is a good idea.
One way to get to Boston Harbor Islands from Boston is by ferry.
It takes 35 minutes to travel.
Providence is like Boston in that it has attractive neighborhoods, 18th-century architecture, and its own Ivy League campus.
There is a good meal right around the corner. If you want to eat lunch or breakfast, try theJulian's. WaterFire is a non-profit arts organization that brings street performers, art vendors, food trucks and dancing flames to the Waterplace Park.
There is a way to get to Providence from Boston. The cost and speed of the trains are different.
It takes two hours and fifteen minutes to travel.
Martha's Vineyard is a popular destination for day-trippers, celebrity second homes and urbanites. Many artists, musicians and back-to-nature types live there.
There's not a single chain restaurant or cookie cutter motel on Martha's Vineyard, unlike on the mainland. Instead you will find cozy inns, chef-driven restaurants and a bounty of green farms. The cotton candy and carousel scene in Oak Bluffs is a great place to eat.
The drive from Boston to Woods Hole takes 90 minutes.
The article was first published about a year ago.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
