Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a New England state with an Atlantic Coast that runs from the sandy barrier beaches of Cape Cod to the rocky headlands of the North Shore. It borders New York to the west, Connecticut and Rhode Island to the south, and New Hampshire and Vermont to the north. The state spans five distinct travel regions: Greater Boston at the center of the region’s cultural and economic life, Cape Cod and the Islands arcing southeast into the Atlantic, the Berkshires in the far west offering mountain terrain and arts destinations, the Pioneer Valley along the Connecticut River, and the North Shore stretching northeast toward Gloucester and Newburyport.

Massachusetts’ Atlantic coastline is one of its defining features. Cape Cod alone has more than 559 miles of shoreline, and the state’s beaches, salt marshes, and coastal dunes draw millions of visitors each summer. The state has no major natural lakes, but its ponds and reservoirs, including Quabbin Reservoir, Wachusett Reservoir, and dozens of glacial kettle ponds on Cape Cod, are central to both recreation and the state’s water supply.

Major draws include Cape Cod National Seashore, the Freedom Trail in Boston, Salem, Tanglewood in the Berkshires, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and Walden Pond. The best time to visit is May through October, with peak summer for the Cape and Islands and mid-September through mid-October for fall foliage in the Berkshires.

Featured State Parks in Massachusetts

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