Boston Day Trips Guide

Cambridge
Cambridge is just three miles from Boston, and it is accessible by car or public transportation. The city is most famous for Harvard University, but it offers much more than that to tourists. Harvard Square, Brattle Square, and Central Square offer a fantastic range of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. Some of the best dining in metro Boston, ranging from ethnic to fusion cuisines, is located in Cambridge. Many of the city's bars and restaurants feature live music on the weekends.

Concord
Concord is a town rich in history and culture. Not only was it integral in the American Revolution, but it was also home to several famous writers and intellectuals. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bronson Alcott, and Louisa May Alcott all called Concord home. Popular attractions in the town include The Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods, Walden Pond, Minute Man National Historical Park, and Orchard House (home of the Alcott Family). Concord, which is full of preserved land, attracts nature lovers from all over. It also has many unique stores for shopping fanatics. A drive from Boston to Concord takes approximately 30 minutes.

Essex
Essex, known as "America's Antique Capital," is primarily famous for its antique shops. Most of Essex's 35 antique shops and restoration centers are within walking distance of each other, allowing for a leisurely stroll in and out of stores. Serious collectors will not be disappointed in this town because many shops offer high-quality antiques. Spend a day browsing the shops for ancient treasure, or stop for a meal at its fantastic seafood restaurants. Essex, which has a successful clamming industry, is located approximately 40 minutes from Boston by car.

Gloucester
Gloucester, established in 1623, is America's oldest seaport. The town, located about 45 minutes north of Boston, received national recognition when the movie "The Perfect Storm" opened to audiences nationwide. However, Gloucester already had a reputation for its fantastic scenery. American painters such as Fitz Hugh Lane, Winslow Homer, Milton Avery, and John Sloan have all found inspiration in Gloucester. The town's seven beautiful beaches, beloved by New England natives and visitors alike, are as much a recreational lure as an aesthetic one. Those driving to the beach should arrive early, because traffic to the parking areas gets congested.

Plum Island
Plum Island is only about an hour's drive from Boston, but it seems like it's a world away. The island is home to various beaches and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. The beaches are family-oriented, with lifeguards stationed throughout the area. Parking fees range from $3 to $6, which is relatively inexpensive compared with other beaches close to Boston. The refuge is a birder's paradise, with over 302 species spotted throughout the years. It is most famous for its protected Piping Plover, but many other birds such as herons, gulls, and woodpeckers also abound. Walk, bike, or drive through the 4,662-acre refuge to bird and enjoy the natural scenery.

Plymouth
History comes alive with a trip to Plymouth! The city, located 42 minutes from Boston, is an ideal day trip for families and history buffs. Tourists flock to see the same glacial boulder (Plymouth Rock) that New England's first settlers stepped on to get to the New World. Plimouth Plantation allows visitors to experience and interact with "settlers" in a recreated 17th-century Pilgrim village. The plantation is historically accurate, and it even explores the struggles between the Pilgrims and the native Wampanoag to coexist. Do not miss a tour of the Mayflower II, a replica of the boat that brought the Pilgrims to America.

Rockport
Rockport, approximately 50 minutes from Boston, is a thriving tourist attraction. Visitors can swim at Rockport beaches, enjoy the amazing natural scenery that draws artists from all over, sightsee at its many historical attractions, or indulge in freshly caught seafood at its various restaurants. Bearskin Neck, Rockport's central shopping area, is well known for its wonderful shops and galleries. Trinkets from around the world can be found at Bearskin Neck's interesting stores.

Salem
To most, the name "Salem" is synonymous with the word "witch." In the 17th century, a group of young girls blamed their hysterics and ailments on the witchcraft of various townspeople. This resulted in the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Twenty people died due to these trials. The town of Salem embraces its notoriety for this event and pays tribute to its victims in a variety of witch-related attractions - the Salem Witch Museum, Wax Museum of Witches and Seafarers, and Witch History Museum. Beyond that, Salem is also home to America's first millionaires. Overseas trading brought great wealth to this maritime city, as evident by the architecture at the Peabody Essex Museum, House of the Seven Gables, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, and the Stephen Phillips Memorial Trust House. Salem is a 30-minute drive from Boston.

Sturbridge
The town of Sturbridge is most famous for Old Sturbridge Village, a 200-acre outdoor history museum. Old Sturbridge Village is a re-creation of a New England town from the 1830s. The village is full of actors who pretend to be farmers, craftsman, shopkeepers, blacksmiths, and housewives living in the 1830s. Curious tourists can talk to characters and learn about their lives and work while walking around the recreation. In certain parts of the village, visitors can even join characters at work. This is an amazing educational experience for children and adults alike.