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Some pictures and information about the sites in Massachusetts This page is by no means comprehensive. Please see some of the Boston links on our links page for more information on places to visit in the state.
	The Boston Skyline as seen from the Boston Harbor Downtown Boston is very small and can easily be seen by foot. The best way to see all the sites downtown is to walk the Freedom Trail. Start at the corner of Park & Tremont and follow the red painted line to such sites as the spot where the Boston Massacre took place, Paul Revere's house, the U.S.S. Constitution (never lost a battle) and the church where the "one if by land, two if by sea" lantern was hung.
Boston's neighborhoods Boston's neighborhoods are charming and worth taking a stroll through. Some neighborhoods you may like: 1. Beacon Hill - narrow tree line streets and architectural showpieces make up this residential area in the shadow of the State House. You will find the Bull & Finch tavern (i.e. the "Cheers" bar) here as well as easy access to the Boston Common and Public Garden. 2. Chinatown/Theater District - In the third largest Chinatown in the U.S., you will find Asian restaurants and other businesses there. Right next door is the Theater District. 3. The South End - This landmark district is packed with Victorian rowhouses and little parks. You will find many galleries, boutiques and great restaurants. Don't confuse the South End with South Boston. South Boston is a predominately Irish residential area (commonly known as "Southie"). 4. The Back Bay - created out of landfill in the 1800s, the Back Bay is home to gorgeous architecture and chic shops (on Newbury Street). You will find Kenmore Square nearby, which is where Boston University is. At Kenmore Square you will find the large red and white Citgo sign and Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. 5. The North End - one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, it is primarily Italian-American. You'll hear Italian spoken in the streets and find many Italian restaurants, cafes and shops.
	Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market Faneuil Hall is the small building in front of the Marketplace. Nicknamed "the Cradle of Liberty," many important meetings were held there in the early days of America. To learn more, listen to a free 20 minute talk given by the National Park Service, every half hour from 9-5 on the 2nd floor. The other buildings in the complex comprise of food stalls, restaurants, stores and cart vendors. You can also find street performers and even Ben Franklin walking around.
The Duck Tour By far the most fun, and unusual, way to see Boston. The "ducks" are reconditioned War War II amphibious landing craft that can go on land and water. Start the tour at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay and travel through downtown and into the Charles River. Tickets can sell out so call ahead or visit www.bostonducktours.com.
	The Waterfront and the Charles River Boston's waterfront area has plenty to do and see. You can check out the New England Aquarium, go on a whale watch, visit the various islands of Boston Harbor or go on a sightseeing cruise. Boston also has the beautiful Charles River that divides Boston and Cambridge. On the Boston side, the esplanade is a beautiful park filled with walking trails and bike paths. It is also home to the Hatch Shell, an outdoor performance center and Boston Community Sailing. On the Cambridge side, you can see Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Cambridge Cambridge is a series of squares, the most famous being Harvard Square. You can stroll through Harvard Yard and visit the statue of founder John Harvard. Mount Auburn Cemetary was the first of America's rural/garden cemetaries. The graves of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Winslow Homer and Mary Baker Eddy are there.
	The North Shore Gloucester, Rockport and Salem are among the towns that make up the North Shore. Salem, approx. 16 miles northeast of Boston, is where the Salem witchcraft trials occurred in the late 1600s. You can see a reinactment of a witch trial and visit the graves of some of the people involved. You can also see the House of Seven Gables, made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne's book by the same name. Gloucester (approx. 30 miles northeast of Boston) is America's oldest fishing town. The town was made famous in the movie Perfect Storm, which is based on a true story. Sites to see include the Man at the Wheel statue, a statue honoring the fisherman from the city that lost their lives at sea. The names of those fisherman are listed on a plaque near the statue. You can also take a whale watch tour from here. Rockport is 40 miles northeast of Boston and is represented in the picture to the left. It is a town full of artists and you can check out their work in the numerous galleries found in the town center. It is truly a picturesque New England town.
Lexington/Concord The shooting phase of the Revolutionary War began in Lexington with the skirmish on the Town Green between the British troops and the local militia, known as minutemen, pictured to the right. In Concord you'll find the Minute Man National Historical Park, which preserves the scene of the first Revolutionary War battle, fought on April 19, 1775.
	Cape Cod Cape Cod is a 70 mile long curling peninsula composed of beaches, freshwater ponds and historic New England villages. While summer is the most popular time of the year to visit the Cape, you will find plenty to do and see in October. The upper Cape has a state forest and nature center, while the mid-Cape is where Hyannis is located. Next to Hyannis is Hyannisport, where the Kennedy Compound is located. The outer Cape is a long drive away but is where one of the most interesting towns on the Cape is located. Provincetown has tons of art galleries, nature trails and whale watching tours. Also near the Cape are Martha's Vinyard and Nantucket. The Vinyard is larger, closer and busier than Nantucket but both are great places to visit.
The rest of New England One great thing about the Boston area is the close proximity to the 5 other New England states. Drive south and you can visit America's first resort town in Newport, RI or gamble in two of the largest casinos in the country in eastern Connecticut. Drive northwest to Vermont, which has the classic American landscape of rolling hills punctuated with slender white church spires and covered bridges. To the north are New Hampshire, a tax-free state full of beautiful lakes and mountains, and Maine, whose 3,500 miles of coastline is absolutely stunning. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, New York City is four hours away and Montreal is about 6 hours away.