I chose to work in Massachusetts partially because its close proximity to many popular towns in New England. Although I worked in central Massachusetts, it was still within 30 min-2 hours of nearby towns. Here are my top recommended day or weekend trips nearby.
Boston:
I preferred not to live in Boston due the major traffic, but I enjoyed being close enough to take advantage of the history and culture. Since it is a large city, there is a lot to do and it is very diverse. I have been to Boston several times in the past, but it was my first-time visiting Cambridge – where Harvard is.
I recommend visiting: Boston Common Park; Boston Tea Party Museum and Ships; Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum; Freedom Trail tour; Boston Harbor, Downtown etc.
Newport, RI:
This is a cute New England town. I met up with my friend and we did the Cliff Walk. It was fun and you got to see some beautiful mansions on the coast. I thought it was going to be a boardwalk type of walk, but it did require climbing over some large rocks, so make sure you wear sneakers! The weather was perfect. We lucked out with a nice breeze and sunshine. They have famous mansions in town that were previously owned by the Vanderbilt’s or made as copies of French Palaces. They were gorgeous!
Hartford, CT:
Hartford is only 30 minutes from Springfield, MA so I actually flew in and out of that airport. West Hartford is a nice area. They have Mark Twain’s House and Museum; Wasdworth Atheneium Museum; and Elizabeth Park Conservatory which are fun.
Cape Cod:
Cape Cod is gorgeous! I love the rocky landscape. It was nice to walk along the beaches and there were a lot of people doing water sports activities. They have lighthouses and views similar to parts of Maine. I recommend going to National Seashore. They have a boat you can go on to cruise around. You can also go whale watching but I am saving that experience to do with my partner. I also recommend going to Pronvincetown all the way at the end for the shops.
Martha’s Vineyard:
I didn’t have the chance to go to Martha’s Vineyard but I heard from co-workers and friends that it is a lovely place to visit. You can take the ferry and spend the day there. There are a lot of cute shops and restaurants. Some people even go to the beach there but the water would be too cold for a Floridian.
Berkshires in the Fall:
This is where the New Yorkers and New Englanders go when they want to get away from the city. Being there for fall was absolutely beautiful! It was only a 40-minute drive from where I was working. I wasn’t there for peak leaf peeping but fortunately was able to see some red leaves which are my favorite.
