A circle of granite pavers in front of the Old State House commemorates the Boston Massacre of 1770. The site marks the spot where British soldiers and colonists clashed: what started as a skirmish escalated into a riot, resulting in the deaths of five civilians. It’s considered one of the most pivotal events leading to the American Revolution.
The 2.5-mile-long (4-kilometer) Freedom Trail winds through downtown Boston, from southerly Boston Common, the nation's oldest public park, to the Bunker Hill Monument on the north side of the Charles River. The red-brick path and its designated stops, including colonial-era churches, museums, and meeting houses, make for an excellent introduction to Boston and its role in the American Revolution and United States history.
Relive the revolutionary events of December 16, 1773, at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Located in Boston Harbor, this floating museum offers visitors an immersive experience, featuring full-scale replica tea ships, live costumed actors, a multi-sensory documentary, interactive exhibits, and historic artifacts. It’s a fun way to get the whole family interested in these pivotal events in US history.
Located in Cambridge, just northwest of Boston, Harvard University is synonymous with educational prestige and accomplishment. Known for a curriculum that challenges and inspires its students, this Ivy League university boasts numerous Nobel Prize winners and eight US presidents, including Barack Obama, among its faculty and alums.
Dating back to the 18th century, the Portland Head Light watches over the rocky coastline of Maine as the state’s oldest lighthouse. Its picturesque location also makes it the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. And the surrounding Fort Williams Park is a popular beach and hiking destination.
Located in Lappin Park in Salem, the Bewitched Statue is a tribute to actress Elizabeth Montgomery, the star of the popular 1960s show, Bewitched. Unveiled in 2005, the 9-foot (2.7-meter tall bronze statue features Montgomery’s character, the fictional witch Samantha Stephens, sitting on a broomstick in front of a crescent moon.
Housed in a 19th-century building designed by architect Charles Follen McKim, the Boston Public Library was founded in the 19th century and serves millions of Bostonians annually. This sizable public library is the second largest in the US after the Library of Congress. The central library in Copley Square is spread across two buildings.
In the heart of downtown Boston, Copley Square is a public park flanked by some of the city’s most notable buildings. Composed of lawns, a fountain, and the imposing 19th-century Trinity Church, it serves as the finishing point for the Boston Marathon and a relaxation, shopping, and dining hub for locals and visitors.
Erected to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill, Charlestown's Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the first fight of the American Revolutionary War. This granite edifice memorializes a key battle and is maintained by the National Park Service. Stop by on a tour of the Freedom Trail to climb its 294 steps and visit the on-site museum.
The Breakers, the crown jewel of the Newport mansions and the summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, is an architectural and social mark of the Gilded Age, with 70 rooms, five stories, and a design modeled after 16th-century Italian Renaissance palaces. Inside, all the furnishings on view are original; outside, open-air terraces give way to breathtaking ocean views. If America had castles, this would surely be one of the greatest.
One of Boston's most popular and family-friendly tourist attractions, the New England Aquarium has spearheaded aquatic conservation efforts for more than 50 years. Today, it is home to thousands of sea creatures of all sizes, shapes, and colors. It boasts a 4-story Giant Ocean Tank, seal and penguin habitats, and a Shark and Ray Touch Tank, as well as cosponsors seasonal whale-watching cruises.
Located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay, 200 Clarendon—once known as John Hancock Tower—is the tallest building in the city and a well-known creation of architect I.M. Pei. Though notorious for now-fixed falling panels, and once a destination for its since-shuttered observation deck, the tower today is mostly eye candy for design fans.
Boston’s most cherished landmark isn’t Bunker Hill or the Tea Party Ships—it’s old Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. A must-see for sports enthusiasts as well as history and architecture buffs, Fenway Park is famous for its uniquely shaped playing field and towering left field wall known as the Green Monster. Watching a game with a hot dog and beer will make you feel like a Bostonian in no time.
The Boston Athenaeum, founded in 1807, is one of the country's oldest independent libraries. This historic cultural institution dedicated to literary and scientific pursuits is a must-see for bibliophiles interested in visiting Boston's historic spaces. You can find hundreds of thousands of books, exhibitions, and peaceful reading rooms.
Back Bay borders the south bank of Charles River, southwest of Downtown Boston. Balancing commercial streets with residential avenues, the area is characterized by handsome Victorian brownstones, modern high-rises, grand 19th-century public buildings, and high-end restaurants, shops, and bars.
Casco Bay is a scenic stretch of coastal waters off Portland, Maine, known for its mosaic of islands, historic lighthouses, and seafaring heritage. From the waterfront in Portland, you can explore charming offshore communities, enjoy scenic cruises or ferry rides, and experience classic New England seascapes. Wildlife watching is a highlight here, with seals, seabirds, and whales when in season.
The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is dedicated to the 20 men and women tried and executed for practicing witchcraft in this colonial Massachusetts town in the late 17th century. A reminder of Salem’s darkest chapter, the open-air site is stark yet moving. The memorial’s entrance is engraved with statements of innocence from the accused, and its benches—protruding from three rough granite walls—are marked with the names and execution dates of each victim.
Home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Hall is considered one of the top classical music venues in the United States. A US National Historic Landmark, the hall is also known for its beautiful interior and is considered to have one of the best acoustics of any music hall in the world.
The Preservation Society of Newport County operates 11 Newport Mansions properties, including the Marble House. One of the first beaux-arts structures in the US, it was built between 1888 and 1892 as the Gilded Age summer cottage for William and Alva Vanderbilt. Inspired by the Petit Trianon in Versailles, the US$11 million mansion made mostly of marble became a National Historic Landmark in 2006.
At the very tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown is one of New England’s most colorful and welcoming destinations. This bustling town is a haven for LGBTQ+ visitors, though all are welcome. Walk Commercial Street and delight at the galleries, cafés, and local shops, or climb the Pilgrim Monument for panoramic views. Provincetown is also a top spot for whale watching and sunset sails, making it a prime destination for coastal adventures.
Spread across the city’s harbor, Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is just a quick trip by ferry from Downtown, offering a picturesque nature escape from the urban bustle. Featuring both natural and historic attractions, the park invites visitors to explore a Civil War–era fort, check out the oldest continually used lighthouse in the United States, head out for a hike, spend the night camping, and more.
Sweeping ocean views, flower-filled gardens, and mansions are highlights of the 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) Newport Cliff Walk, a free-to-access pedestrian trail that winds along a series of landmarks between Memorial Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue. The over-the-top mansions along the way include some of the city’s most famous 19th- and early 20th-century homes, including The Breakers, Marble House, and Rosecliff.
With granite walls that appear to rise straight up from the surface of Portland Harbor, this abandoned military fort was built on a small island during the Civil War. Only accessible by boat, today it’s a reminder of Maine's military past and a curiosity for passing harbor cruises or intrepid kayakers.
The gorgeous Rhode Island shoreline unfolds along Ocean Drive, a 10-mile (16-kilometer) scenic road along Newport’s southern coast. Points of interest include the New York Yacht Club, Fort Adams State Park, Hammersmith Farm (where John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy had their wedding reception in 1953), Brenton Point State Park, and Gooseberry Beach. And if you take it all the way to Bellevue Avenue, you’ll run into the finest Gilded Age mansions in the country.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the world’s most influential research universities, with a 168-acre (68-hectare) campus on the Charles River in Cambridge, just across from Boston. Founded in 1861, MIT is known as much for its architecture and public art as its Nobel laureates and innovations. The campus is home to works by Picasso and Calder, alongside neoclassical architecture and contemporary buildings designed by architects including Frank Gehry.
Tombstones from the 17th century draw visitors to Salem into the Old Burying Point, also known as the Charter Street Cemetery. This is the final resting place of victims of the infamous Salem witch trials, in addition to other historical figures, including judges from the Salem witch trials, former governors, and even a pilgrim from the Mayflower. This cemetery is a popular stop on spooky nighttime tours of Salem.
At the Salem Witch Museum, learn more about the tragic Salem witch trials of 1692 through a series of life-size stage sets and two distinct presentations. See and hear how neighbors turned against neighbors, and learn more about everyone involved. You’ll also get an overview of the evolving perception of witches throughout history, and learn how the term “witch-hunt” originated.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay, Fort Adams State Park is a popular recreation area for swimming, sailing, fishing, and field games. The park also has a historic character thanks to sprawling Fort Adams, and is the home of major music festivals each summer.
One of Boston’s leading art institutions, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum occupies an early 20th-century mansion that’s modeled on a medieval Venetian palazzo. The 7,500-strong collection—which belonged to the city’s leading fin de siècle arts patron Isabella Stewart Gardner—includes highlights such as Titian’s Europa and works by John Singer Sargent, Botticelli, and Rembrandt. Empty frames in the galleries serve as reminders of an infamous art theft, which has remained unsolved since 1990.
Designed to connect Cape Cod Bay with Buzzards Bay, the Cape Cod Canal is a 7-mile-long (11-kilometer) artificial waterway built in 1914. Visitors and locals use it for both commercial and recreational boating and fishing, as well as walking and cycling along scenic paths on both sides.
