Massachusetts is the gateway to New England so, chances are, you’ll start your trip in Boston, a cosmopolitan city packed with Revolutionary history, outstanding art institutions, lively sidewalk cafes, and great shopping.

But the state offers so much more. If your idea of a perfect holiday is to head straight to the shore, our 1,500-mile coastline includes the summer playgrounds of Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. North and south of Boston, picturesque fishing ports, old whaling towns, and restored mill cities offer a rich array of maritime and industrial heritage experiences. Plymouth is known as “America’s Hometown”; it’s where the Pilgrims landed in 1627 to start their life in the New World.

Head west and you’ll discover charming village greens, hiking and biking trails, spectacular attractions the whole family will enjoy, and a wealth of art and history museums, theater, and dance venues.