Massachusetts

I first came to this state on a road trip with some friends! We came right after Halloween so the leaves were absolutely beautiful and still on the trees! Then last year Jason and I came to Boston to see his beloved Red Sox and sit on the Green Monster (must do so awesome!).


Boston
Ok, the main city in Massachusetts! It is a perfect blend of old and new with the right amount of sass. Yes, you heard me sass! Let's be real most of the people that live in this area are/were from Ireland aka the king country of sass.


Fenway Park - you have to go at least once, and if you have the means, go sit on the Green Monster and try to catch a home run (good luck they are flying up there).

On top of the Green Monster!

Sitting on Top of the Green Monster

Freedom Trail - a 2.5-mile long trail marked by bricks that hit a bunch of historical sites! 16 sites to be exact. Most of the sites are free or ask for donations, but the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, and Paul Revere House require tickets. Old North Church is included in this walking tour. You know "1 if by land 2 if by sea"! 

Old North Church

The Freedom Trail does omit the Liberty Tree (the gathering place for Revolutionists) and the Boston Tea Party (which you really should go throw some tea into the Harbor -- do not say I told you to!!)

Harvard - at least go and take a walk around the commons! It is a beautiful campus! I was lucky enough that I had a friend going to school here and he gave me a tour! Also, try out Insomnia Cookies for all your late night sweet fixes! (SO GOOD) 

Harvard

Harvard

Harvard

 Finally, the Smoke Shop in Cambridge (by Harvard) is one of the best BBQ joints I have ever eaten at!!!


Gloucester 
Easily my favorite town in Massachusetts. I will have to say when my friend begged to go, I was against it. I didn't think we had time/wasn't anything of interest here. Boy was I wrong! It is the oldest seaport in America and is quite possibly the most beautiful place I've ever seen. It's settled in the little bay like area. If you are looking out towards the Harbor on your right is Stage Fort Park and on your left is a lighthouse. There is a little boulevard like area right up on the water, where you can walk from end to end.

Map of Gloucester

Memorial on the Boulevard 

Stage Fort Park is beautiful and such a fun place to bring children! It has a little beach area for swimming in the summer as well as several paths for picnicking and exploring. 

Eastern Point Lighthouse is the name of the lighthouse you can see on your left! It was featured in the movie Perfect Storm. You are not permitted on the grounds since it is an active lighthouse, but there is a walkway out to the middle of the harbor that gives amazing views! 

Walkway in the Harbor

Pondering life in the middle of the Harbor

Salem

If you love Halloween like me, then you definitely have seen/love Hocus Pocus. The entire reason why we went to Salem was to do our own version of the Hocus Pocus movie tour. Salem also has various witch museums along with a maritime museum. 

Town Hall - where they Danced til they die! 

Memorial

Old Salem Graveyard

The Hocus Pocus house! 

The pilgrim museum where the Sanderson Sisters live 

Plymouth

I'm putting this in here for completeness. But this is not worth anyone's time. Literally, Plymouth rock is a rock in the sand with a date on it. You can't even touch it! There are some replicas of the ships Christopher Columbus came over here in, but you have to pay to see them. 

Plymouth Rock

The Replica ship

Cape Cod and Provincetown

The beaches are amazing at Cape Cod and Provincetown is an adorable little community! We drove through here and stopped to play on the beaches and then ended our day in Provincetown for dinner! There are a lot of shops and food places in Provincetown that makes it definitely worth spending your summer week on vacation here! 

One of the roads to the Cape Cod Coast

Delicious food!! 

Ok, that is all I have for now on Massachusetts!! 

any questions let me know! graceparsons2023@gmail.com