Explore Things to do Today in Massachusetts
If you’re planning a trip to Massachusetts, the old adage “big things come in small packages,” should be kept in mind. Even though Massachusetts is only a fraction of the size of some of America’s states. It’s filled with enough monuments, attractions, and destinations to rival anywhere in the world.
As one of the original 13 colonies of New England. Massachusetts has played a central role in American history. Visitors to the state can enjoy touring sites related to the Pilgrim’s arrival in America. The state is also known for its beautiful natural bays, coastlines, and islands. That attract visitors of all types for recreation and relaxation.
Fenway Park
Boston’s Fenway Park is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium still in use. The park has hosted many World Series and every home game of the Boston Red Sox, to sold-out crowds. Making it a record breaker.
With more consecutive sold-out games than any Major League Baseball team. The park listed on the National Register of Historic Places and it is a must-see for baseball fans and sports lovers visiting Boston.
Take in the magnificent view atop the fabled Green Monster, standing 37 feet 2 inches high, overlooking left field. Let experienced tour guides lead you through the hallowed walls and legendary moments of historic Fenway Park.
New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium in Boston is the four-story Giant Ocean Tank. Which contains sea turtles, sharks, hundreds of colorful reef fishes, and 200,000 gallons of water. A wide ramp travels up and around the tank with exhibits tucked off in every direction.
New England Aquarium, situated on the scenic Central Wharf, has more than a dozen exhibits that highlight hundreds of different species from around the world.
The Aquarium is home to more than 50 penguins who live in a bustling colony surrounding the Giant Ocean Tank. The Shark and Ray Touch Tank features sharks and rays in a mangrove-themed tank surrounded by shallow edges and viewing windows, allowing visitors to have a close encounter with them.
Museum of Science Boston
Museum of Science with three levels of educational adventures awaits the inquisitive. With gallery themes running the gamut from paleontology to medicine to technology. Exhibits include Project Vaccine Our Best Defense learn about vaccines and their development, viral transmission, and the many steps and countless professionals involved in the creation of vaccines.
Hall of Human Life, the Museum’s biology exhibition. Encounter questions on an amazing journey inside the human body. Spanning more than 70 interactive components. Arctic Adventure from the Blue Wing, comes to life in front of you, with digitally immersive sights and sounds including a touchable wall of real ice.
Boston Common
Boston Common Park is America’s oldest park. The park is one of the most popular Boston Attractions for relaxing and enjoying nature. Visitors come to walk through the historic grounds. Where memorials, monuments and plaques tell the story of its remarkable over 375-year history.
The Common contains walking paths, open green spaces, historic city buildings, a “frog pond” with a fountain frequented by children. The parks host concerts, plays and other sorts of gatherings. The Public Garden is famous for its swan boats and has inviting walks and lovely bridge views. The Garden has a variety of flora and a centrally featured Swan Pond.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum houses an art collection of world importance. Including significant examples of European, Asian, and American art. From paintings and sculpture to tapestries and decorative arts.
Today, the museum hosts exhibitions of historic and contemporary art. Concerts, lectures, family and community programs, and changing courtyard displays. Behind her palace is a glass-encased building designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, creating spaces for music and contemporary art.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Faneuil Hall Marketplace appealing mix of local shops, international brands. Street performers, top restaurants, pubs, and food stalls spill out onto its cobblestone plaza. A historic market area where merchants and shoppers have come together for centuries. Located in downtown Boston, steps away from the waterfront.
Encompasses four historic buildings. Three of them – Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market date back to the 1800s and became known as “Quincy Market.” The fourth building Faneuil Hall even older built and donated to the city in 1742 by Peter Faneuil.
Plimoth Patuxet Museums
Plimoth Patuxet Museums is a popular destination for tourists and history lovers alike. The museum is a recreation of the 17th century Plymouth Colony.
At the museum visitors can tour exhibits. Listen to and view actors and interpreters who speak, act, and dress as villagers of the 1627 English Village. Complete with timber-framed houses furnished with reproductions of the types of objects that the Pilgrims owned.
Be sure to visit the full-scale reproduction of the Mayflower, Mayflower II, fresh from a four-year restoration and birthed at Plymouth Pier, to learn about the historic voyage from costumed guides representing the passengers and crew.
House of the Seven Gables
The House of the Seven Gables made famous by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel is a 1668 colonial mansion in Salem. You will discover over 300 years of history as you explore the museum grounds and collection of historic buildings. Inside the House of the Seven Gables, you will find a secret staircase.
The mansion is the oldest 17th century wooden in New England. Today, the House of Seven Gables is a popular tourist attraction for history, architecture and literary buffs alike. Mansion Tour Experience includes: up to a 45-minute tour of The House of the Seven Gables with a professional interpreter.
Boston Public Garden
Boston Public Garden holds the distinction of being America’s first public botanical garden. You can see the colorful arrangements and exotic trees from the 4-acre pond in the center of the garden before taking in the lagoon by Swan Boat.
Additionally, the park houses two of Boston’s most iconic statues. “Make Way for Ducklings” (a bronze sculpture of a duck and her eight ducklings) and the George Washington Statue.
Famous for its Swan Boats, has over 600 varieties of trees and an ever-changing array of flowers. It is America’s first public garden.
USS Constitution Museum
With nearly 2,000 artifacts and over 10,000 archival records. The USS Constitution Museum has the most comprehensive collection of related to “Old Ironsides.” Includes a wide range of artifacts and records that span Constitution ‘s over 200-year history.
The Museum serves as the memory and educational voice of USS Constitution and provides engaging and hands-on experiences for all visitors. Conveniently located on Boston’s Freedom Trail, the Navy Yard offers two historic ships, interactive exhibits, and engaging programs for adults, families, and students of all ages.
Things to Do in Massachusetts
Whether you’re headed to the Bay State for its historical interest or to unwind on a beautiful beach, Massachusetts packs a lot of fun into a small space.