Massachusetts
3
Day Itinerary •
USA
Three days in Massachusetts gives you the essential Bay State experience, from the extraordinary Freedom Trail of Boston, the most extraordinary concentration of American Revolutionary heritage in a single walkable mile, to the magnificent Cape Cod National Seashore and the remarkable Salem witch trial heritage. This route covers the heart of Massachusetts. The extraordinary Paul Revere House and Old North Church of Boston, the remarkable Plimoth Patuxent living history museum, the extraordinary Race Point Beach and Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod and the magnificent Walden Pond of Henry David Thoreau.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to November
Getting There
Fly into Boston Logan (BOS)
Getting Around
MBTA subway in Boston. Rental car for Cape Cod.
Budget Per Day
Approx $130 to $220 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, mostly walking and driving
DAY 1
BOSTON
MORNING
BOSTON FREEDOM TRAIL, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE WALK IN AMERICA
The Freedom Trail is the most extraordinary historic walk in America, its extraordinary 2.5-mile red-painted brick line connecting 16 Revolutionary War sites including the Massachusetts State House with its gold dome, Park Street Church, the Granary Burying Ground where Paul Revere and Samuel Adams are buried, King's Chapel, the Old South Meeting House where the Boston Tea Party was planned and the extraordinary Old State House. All free. Drive: MBTA from airport
MIDDAY
PAUL REVERE HOUSE AND THE NORTH END
The Paul Revere House in Boston's North End is the most extraordinary colonial house museum in New England, its extraordinary 1680 building the oldest surviving structure in downtown Boston and the home from which Revere departed on his midnight ride of April 18 1775. The Old North Church nearby, from whose steeple the two lanterns signaled the British approach, is the most extraordinary church in Revolutionary America. The North End's extraordinary Italian cannoli shops are unmissable. Revere House entry approx $6. Drive: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
BEACON HILL AND BOSTON COMMON
Beacon Hill is the most extraordinary historic neighborhood in Boston, its extraordinary Federal-style brick rowhouses with purple window glass and bow fronts on Acorn Street and Mt Vernon Street giving the finest 19th-century residential streetscape in New England. The Massachusetts State House with its extraordinary 23-karat gold dome is free to tour. Boston Common, the oldest public park in America since 1634, and the Public Garden with its famous swan boats are unmissable. Both free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain is the finest hidden park in Boston, its extraordinary 281-acre living collection of trees and shrubs including the finest lilac display in New England in mid-May giving the most extraordinary free botanical garden experience in Massachusetts. Free. The most extraordinary hidden gem in Boston.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Tatte Bakery, Boston The finest breakfast in Boston. Extraordinary Israeli-inspired pastries and strong coffee. | Lunch: Neptune Oyster, North End The most celebrated oyster bar in Boston. Extraordinary New England clam chowder and lobster roll. | Dinner: No. 9 Park, Boston The finest restaurant in Boston. Extraordinary local New England produce and outstanding wine.
DAY 2
CAPE COD
MORNING
CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE, RACE POINT BEACH AND PROVINCE LANDS
The Cape Cod National Seashore preserves the most extraordinary barrier beach landscape in New England, its extraordinary 40-mile stretch of Atlantic coast including the magnificent Race Point Beach at the tip of the Cape, the finest white sand beach in Massachusetts, the extraordinary Province Lands dune landscape and the remarkable Highland Light, the oldest lighthouse on Cape Cod. Race Point Beach gives the finest whale watching from shore in summer. Entry $25 per vehicle. Drive: 2 hr drive
MIDDAY
PROVINCETOWN, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY TOWN AT THE END OF THE CAPE
Provincetown is the most extraordinary town in Massachusetts, its extraordinary Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum above the most colorful and vibrant small town in New England giving the finest arts and culture experience on the Cape. The MacMillan Wharf whale watching boats give the most extraordinary humpback whale encounter in the Atlantic. The extraordinary Commercial Street of galleries, seafood restaurants and the Pilgrim Monument are unmissable. Monument entry approx $16. Drive: 15 min drive
AFTERNOON
PLIMOTH PATUXENT AND PLYMOUTH ROCK
Plimoth Patuxent is the most extraordinary living history museum in New England, its extraordinary recreation of the 1627 English Pilgrim village and the remarkable Wampanoag Homesite giving the finest insight into the first Thanksgiving and the Pilgrim-Wampanoag relationship in America. Plymouth Rock, the most extraordinary underwhelming monument in America, and the extraordinary Mayflower II replica ship give the finest Pilgrim heritage experience. Plimoth Patuxent entry approx $30.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on Cape Cod is the finest hidden nature reserve in Massachusetts, its extraordinary tidal flats, salt marsh and upland forest giving the finest migratory shorebird experience in New England. Entry approx $8. The most extraordinary hidden gem on Cape Cod.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Heaven, Provincetown The finest breakfast in Provincetown. Extraordinary local Cape Cod ingredients and strong coffee. | Lunch: Mac's Seafood, Wellfleet The finest raw bar on Cape Cod. Extraordinary Wellfleet oysters and local Cape Cod clam chowder. | Dinner: The Mews Restaurant, Provincetown The finest restaurant in Provincetown. Extraordinary local Cape Cod seafood.
DAY 3
CONCORD AND SALEM
MORNING
WALDEN POND AND THE CONCORD LITERARY HERITAGE
Walden Pond in Concord is the most extraordinary literary heritage site in Massachusetts, the pond where Henry David Thoreau lived in a cabin he built himself from July 1845 to September 1847 and wrote the most extraordinary work of American environmental literature. The replica cabin, the cairn at the original cabin site and the extraordinary swimming in the same pond where Thoreau bathed give the most extraordinary literary pilgrimage in America. Entry $8 per vehicle. Drive: 1.5 hr drive
MIDDAY
MINUTE MAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND THE NORTH BRIDGE
Minute Man National Historical Park preserves the most extraordinary Revolutionary War landscape in America, its extraordinary Battle Road from Lexington Green to Concord's North Bridge giving the finest 2.5-mile walk through the landscape where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired on April 19 1775. The extraordinary North Bridge with its Minute Man statue and the Wayside home of Hawthorne and Alcott are unmissable. Entry free. Drive: 10 min drive
AFTERNOON
SALEM, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY WITCH TRIAL HERITAGE IN AMERICA
Salem is the most extraordinary heritage town in Massachusetts, its extraordinary 1692 witch trial heritage preserved in the Peabody Essex Museum, the extraordinary Salem Witch Museum and the remarkable Witch Trials Memorial giving the finest dark history experience in New England. The extraordinary Charter Street Cemetery with its 17th-century Puritan graves and the extraordinary Chestnut Street Federal architecture give the finest historic town experience in Massachusetts. Museum entry approx $16.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary House of the Seven Gables in Salem is the finest hidden literary heritage site in Massachusetts, its extraordinary 1668 mansion that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous novel giving the most extraordinary colonial house tour in Salem. Entry approx $20. The most extraordinary hidden gem in Salem.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Concord's Colonial Inn The finest breakfast in Concord. Extraordinary local Massachusetts produce in the most historic inn. | Lunch: Walden Local Meat, Concord Outstanding local Massachusetts farm-to-table lunch. Extraordinary local produce near Walden Pond. | Dinner: Turner's Seafood, Salem The finest restaurant in Salem. Extraordinary local Massachusetts seafood and craft beer.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Boston, Night 1 The Liberty Hotel or Newbury Guest House. Approx $160 to $350 per night. Provincetown, Night 2 The Brass Key or Anchor Inn. Approx $150 to $320 per night. Concord or Salem, Night 3 The Colonial Inn or Hawthorne Hotel. Approx $140 to $260 per night.
Top Tips
1. The Freedom Trail is entirely free. Start at Boston Common and follow the red line for 2.5 miles.
2. North End cannoli: Mike's Pastry vs Modern Pastry. The debate is the finest in Boston. Try both.
3. Race Point Beach at Provincetown is the most extraordinary white sand beach on Cape Cod. Free.
4. Salem in October is the finest Halloween in America. Book accommodation 6 months ahead.
5. Walden Pond swimming in summer is the finest literary swimming experience in America. Entry $8.
6. Boston clam chowder at Legal Sea Foods or Neptune Oyster is the finest in New England.
Total Budget
$130 to $220/day