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15 Best Things to Do in Belmont (MA)

Eight miles from downtown Boston , Belmont is a mostly residential suburb in the heart of the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area.

One thing to love about Belmont is how many of the best bits you can see on foot.

There’s a compact downtown area along Leonard Street, and then a block to the west is Pleasant Street, flanked by imposing old mansions including the Homer House, where artist Winslow Homer stayed for time.

On the walking theme, Belmont and neighboring Waltham have a tapestry of conservation areas and reservations, all tied together by the Waltham Western Greenway, which runs for more than seven miles through this green corridor in both towns.

1. Belmont Center

Along a short but sweet stretch of Leonard Street, Belmont has an adorable town center. The way is lined with historic buildings and tasteful reproductions, with brick and clapboard facades.

In front are wide sidewalks, with dainty street lamps, newly planted trees and lots of benches if you want to linger for a while.

Side-by-side there’s a whole directory of locally-owned businesses, with more than a dozen eateries at the last count, and shops for home design, clothing, books, jewelry and more.

Leonard Street is the stage for anticipated community events, like Belmont Town Day in May and the Holiday Tree Lighting in early December.

Just to the east, the Town Center Parking Lot hosts the Belmont Farmers’ Market on Thursday afternoons, June through October.

2. Pleasant Street Historic District

Parallel to Leonard Street, Pleasant Street was on the main route between West Cambridge and Watertown in the 17th century, and was lined with large plots of land belonging to early Belmont families.

The farmhouses were updated according to the fashion, and rebuilt over time, leaving a wonderful succession of grand houses in a spectrum of styles.

To name a handful you’ve got the Georgian-style 1763 Captain Stephen Frost House (467), the 1815 Federal-style Isaac Locke, Sr. House (593), as well as the 1808 Charles Wellington House (631) and the 1841 Edwin Locke House (575), both of which are in the Greek Revival style.

Later, this part of town became a popular place for wealthy Boston businessmen to build lavish summer homes, and a prime example is the Homer House (661), which we’ll talk about later.

3. Mass Audubon’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary

Perhaps the star of the many natural spaces in and around Belmont is this 90-acre Mass Audubon property, composed of meadows, ponds, vernal pools and big stands of deciduous and evergreen forest.

The Habitat Education Center here is a delight, with nature-oriented exhibits for kids to browse, and a wealth of programs for all ages throughout the year.

Next door is an elegant Georgian Revival house from 1914, surrounded by formal gardens designed by the famous Olmsten Brothers firm, and rented out for events.

Outside there are three miles of trails, including the Weeks Pond and Turtle Pond trails, leading to charming little ponds, providing a habitat for turtles, ducks and bullfrogs in summer.

4. Homer House

Posted on a rise at the corner of Pleasant Street and Concord Avenue is a stately Italianate mansion, built in 1853 by William Flagg Homer, uncle of the famous painter, Winslow Homer (1836-1910).

Homer, the artist, lived nearby and spent plenty of time at his uncle’s house before moving to New York in 1859.

Recognized by its splendid cupola and mansard roof, the Homer House was saved from demolition by the Belmont Woman’s Club, which restored the building in the 2010s and offers guided tours of the interior, which has changed little in 170+ years.

On a visit you’ll get a sense of the lesser-known, idealistic young Winslow Homer, and learn how Belmont influenced his early work.

5. Beaver Brook Reservation

A big swath of western Belmont is taken up by this public recreation area, managed by the DCR.

The Beaver Brook Reservation comprises a north section, for passive recreation, and a more developed south section where there’s a much-loved spray deck that we’ll talk about later.

Totalling more than 300 acres, the park dates back to 1893, and abounds with water in the steeper, wooded north section.

One of the sights to track down here is a six-foot waterfall and set of cascades created by an historic dam on Beaver Brook.

Close by, the park headquarters are in the house of the influential landscape designer, Robert Morris Copeland (1830-1874), who wrote his seminal book, Country Life (1859) while living here.

6. Waltham Western Greenway

One of the great things about Belmont’s ample natural space is that much of it is connected by a path, linking some 20 individual parcels both here and in neighboring Waltham.

This green corridor adds up to more than 1,200 acres of open land, with a wonderful variety of landscapes, diverse flora, and abundant wildlife, from birds of prey to painted turtles.

Winding from the Storer Conservation Area in Waltham, to Pleasant St, at the Beaver Brook Reservation, the Western Greenway is just over seven miles in length, but has a multitude of side trails to explore.

7. Beaver Brook Spray Deck

An icon of the Beaver Brook Reservation is the spray deck and playground, first installed in the 1980s. This quickly became a beloved feature among families, and has been given a complete makeover in the last few years.

The spray deck is part of a sizable self-contained area, made up of a dry playground and an historic covered picnic area.

On hot summer days, younger children are sure to have a fun time playing around the fountains and sprinklers, and clambering over the many low boulders in between.

8. Mount Auburn Cemetery

A seminal piece of landscape design, the Mount Auburn Cemetery rewrote the rulebook for what a burying ground could be when it opened in neighboring Watertown in 1831.

Until then places of burial were simple and austere whether attached to churches or on town plots.

Mount Auburn Cemetery on the other hand is a rolling arboretum that is a joy to visit on foot, setting the blueprint for numerous other suburban cemeteries in the decades that followed.

One of several noteworthy buildings on the grounds is the 62-foot Washington Tower (1854), which was built from Quincy granite and offers a complete panorama of the Boston Skyline.

9. Fresh Pond Reservation

One of many large bodies of water close by, Fresh Pond is a 155-acre kettle hole lake just past Belmont’s eastern boundary.

The lake, serving as a reservoir for Cambridge, is enclosed by a large green buffer, adding up to another 165 acres.

This contains a perimeter trail, nine-hole golf course (more later), sports facilities, a section of rail trail, playgrounds, a dog beach, and more besides.

A wonderful way to soak up this scenery is on that perimeter path, loved by walkers, joggers and cyclists, and winding around the shore for 2.25 miles.

10. Lone Tree Hill

Adjoining the Beaver Brook Reservation is a smaller parcel of land managed by the Town of Belmont and the Land Management Committee.

Lone Tree Hill is a blissful 88 acres of meadows and woods, previously belonging to the McLean Hospital, which relocated to Belmont from Somerville in 1895.

A memorable feature here is the grand Pine Allée, running along the northern section, parallel to Concord Ave. South of Pine Allée the Western Greenway takes you to the namesake hilltop, which has unbroken views when the trees are bare in winter.

11. Alewife Brook Reservation

Managed by the DCR, this large band of protected open space can be reached from Belmont via the Fitchburg Cutoff Bike Path, which begins at Brighton St on the eastern edge of town.

The Alewife Brook Reservation encompasses forest and wetlands on the banks of this watercourse.

There’s a section of boardwalk over the wetlands for a rare opportunity to explore this ecosystem in an urban environment.

The wetlands brim with life in summer, and it’s common to see plenty of swans, geese, mallards, teals and wood ducks, along with lots of frogs and turtles.

12. Menotomy Rocks Park

Another place to go for some peace and fresh air, Menotomy Rocks Park is 35+ acres of woodland, just next door in Arlington.

A trail, with access points at Spring St in the west and Jason St in the east, cuts deep into the hardwood forest here, and loops around the picturesque Hills Pond.

In the summer you can find painted turtles sunning themselves on the pond’s banks. A spur running south from the pond leads to a children’s play area, next to a council ring that was built in 2012.

13. Fresh Pond Golf Course

On the western shore of Fresh Pond there’s a 9-hole municipal course, available to all, and with fine views of the pond and surrounding landscapes.

Fresh Pond Golf Course is 3,000 yards from the tips, with a mix of par 3s, 4s and 5s. There are several water hazards to contend with, as well as fairways lined with dense woodland, and some sudden slopes to consider.

Given the location the green fees are as reasonable as they come, at $27 for non-residents on weekdays at the time of writing.

14. Minuteman Commuter Bikeway

Starting at Brighton St in Belmont you can get onto the Fitchburg Cutoff Bike Path, which runs through the Alewife Brook Reservation for just under a mile.

At Alewife Station this spur brings you to the start of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, a ten-mile rail trail that roughly follows the route of Paul Revere’s famous Midnight Ride at the very start of the American Revolution in April 1775.

That original path became the Lexington and West Cambridge Railroad, which closed in the early 1980s, and the trail took its place in the 1990s and 2000s.

The trail runs through Lexington and past the green where the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired.

15. Payson Park Music Festival

For more than 30 years there has been a schedule of concerts all summer long in Belmont’s Payson Park.

Running from mid-June to the end of August, these performances offer something for all tastes, with shows starting at 6:45 pm in June/July and 6:00 pm in August.

As opposed to many summer concert series, almost all of the performers in the festival are real artists with original music, in genres ranging from soul to blues, country and rock. On Friday mornings in July there’s also a series of weekly concerts just for kids.

15 Best Things to Do in Belmont (MA):

• Belmont Center
• Pleasant Street Historic District
• Mass Audubon's Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
• Homer House
• Beaver Brook Reservation
• Waltham Western Greenway
• Beaver Brook Spray Deck
• Mount Auburn Cemetery
• Fresh Pond Reservation
• Lone Tree Hill
• Alewife Brook Reservation
• Menotomy Rocks Park
• Fresh Pond Golf Course
• Minuteman Commuter Bikeway
• Payson Park Music Festival

THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Belmont

Things to do in belmont, tours near belmont.

Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with 14 Stops

Freedom Trail: Small Group Tour of Revolutionary Boston

Martha's Vineyard Daytrip from Boston with Round-Trip Ferry & Island Tour Option

The Revolutionary Story Epic Small Group Walking Tour of Boston

Boston Small-Group Walking Food Tour With Tastings

Tour of Historic Fenway Park, America's Most Beloved Ballpark

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Admission

Boston Historic Sightseeing Harbor Cruise with Up-Close View of USS Constitution

Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour

Top attractions in belmont.

Other Top Attractions around Belmont

What travellers are saying

• Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Boston
• Beaver Brook Spray Deck
• Mass Audubon Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
• Homer House
• sophia's greek pantry
• Joey's Park
• Grove Street Playground
• Pequossette Playground

Top Things to Do in Belmont

Things to do in belmont, tours near belmont.

Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with 14 Stops

Freedom Trail: Small Group Tour of Revolutionary Boston

Martha's Vineyard Daytrip from Boston with Round-Trip Ferry & Island Tour Option

The Revolutionary Story Epic Small Group Walking Tour of Boston

Boston Small-Group Walking Food Tour With Tastings

Tour of Historic Fenway Park, America's Most Beloved Ballpark

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Admission

Boston Historic Sightseeing Harbor Cruise with Up-Close View of USS Constitution

Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour

Top attractions in belmont.

Other Top Attractions around Belmont

What travelers are saying

• Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Boston
• Beaver Brook Spray Deck
• Mass Audubon Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
• Homer House
• sophia's greek pantry
• Joey's Park
• Grove Street Playground
• Pequossette Playground

Top Things to Do in Belmont, MA

Things to do in belmont, tours near belmont.

Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with 14 Stops

Freedom Trail: Small Group Tour of Revolutionary Boston

Martha's Vineyard Daytrip from Boston with Round-Trip Ferry & Island Tour Option

The Revolutionary Story Epic Small Group Walking Tour of Boston

Boston Small-Group Walking Food Tour With Tastings

Tour of Historic Fenway Park, America's Most Beloved Ballpark

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Admission

Boston Historic Sightseeing Harbor Cruise with Up-Close View of USS Constitution

Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour

Top attractions in belmont.

Other Top Attractions around Belmont

What travellers are saying

• Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Boston
• Beaver Brook Spray Deck
• Mass Audubon Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
• Homer House
• sophia's greek pantry
• Joey's Park
• Grove Street Playground
• Pequossette Playground

Nearby Communities

• Watertown, MA
• Arlington, MA
• Waltham, MA
• Cambridge, MA
• Somerville, MA
• Medford, MA
• Winchester, MA
• Lexington, MA
• Brookline, MA

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Community Corner

6 best things to do in belmont, according to the latest tripadviser ranking, these are the best "things to do" in belmont..

Alex Newman , Patch Staff

Belmont, MA – Summer is here again, and there's no better time to get out there and explore your neighborhood.

If you live in Belmont, you probably already know about these attractions, but maybe you never dropped by for a visit.

And if you have, there's always time for a return trip. Here's a look at what TripAdviser deems the "best things to do" in Belmont:

Find out what's happening in Belmont with free, real-time updates from Patch.

• Belmont Studio Cinema

• Boston Massachusetts LDS Temple

• Sophia's Greek Pantry

• Homer House

• Westcott Mercantile

• Hollingworth 5 & 10

What's your favorite thing to do in Belmont? Share in the comments section below.

>>>Photo: Google Earth Screenshot

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More from Belmont

Project bread welcomes carolyn volpe cunningham to board of directors.

THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Belmont

Things to do in belmont, tours near belmont.

Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with 14 Stops

Freedom Trail: Small Group Tour of Revolutionary Boston

Martha's Vineyard Daytrip from Boston with Round-Trip Ferry & Island Tour Option

The Revolutionary Story Epic Small Group Walking Tour of Boston

Boston Small-Group Walking Food Tour With Tastings

Tour of Historic Fenway Park, America's Most Beloved Ballpark

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Admission

Boston Historic Sightseeing Harbor Cruise with Up-Close View of USS Constitution

Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour

Top attractions in belmont.

Other Top Attractions around Belmont

What travellers are saying

• Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Boston
• Beaver Brook Spray Deck
• Mass Audubon Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
• Homer House
• sophia's greek pantry
• Joey's Park
• Grove Street Playground
• Pequossette Playground

Plan Your Trip to Belmont: Best of Belmont Tourism

Essential Belmont

Belmont Is Great For

Eat & drink.

Top Things to Do in Belmont, MA - Belmont Must-See Attractions

Things to do in belmont, tours near belmont.

Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with 14 Stops

Freedom Trail: Small Group Tour of Revolutionary Boston

Martha's Vineyard Daytrip from Boston with Round-Trip Ferry & Island Tour Option

The Revolutionary Story Epic Small Group Walking Tour of Boston

Boston Small-Group Walking Food Tour With Tastings

Tour of Historic Fenway Park, America's Most Beloved Ballpark

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Admission

Boston Historic Sightseeing Harbor Cruise with Up-Close View of USS Constitution

Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour

Top attractions in belmont.

Other Top Attractions around Belmont

What travellers are saying

• Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Boston
• Beaver Brook Spray Deck
• Mass Audubon Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
• Homer House
• sophia's greek pantry
• Joey's Park
• Grove Street Playground
• Pequossette Playground

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Things to do in belmont, visit belmont.

Belmont Attractions

It's not difficult to find fun things to do in Belmont. Brush up on the area's history and check out the best tourist attractions in this charming city. Arrange your itinerary now so you're ready to go once you arrive.

Explore the best sights in Belmont with some popular tours & day trips , or get through our list of {29 fun activities in Belmont fun activities in Belmont }. We have no booking fees as well as free cancellation, so you can relax and channel your energy into planning your dream vacation.

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Recommended things to do in Belmont

What to do in belmont, free things to do in belmont.

Vacationing in Belmont on a budget? The following can be experienced for nada.

Belmont NC Historical Society Cultural and Heritage Learning Center - Bring the whole family and set out on a journey of discovery through history together.

Belmont Abby College - This popular landmark is a wonderful backdrop for a selfie.

Stowe Park - If you relish spending time in the garden, this place will captivate your inner green thumb.

Things to Do in Belmont with Kids

Belmont has loads of close by fun experiences for you and the kids. Our family friendly experiences will keep the gang happy for hours.

Looking for sports, concerts, or theater events in Belmont? Search event tickets to see what's happening today, or to plan what to do this weekend!

Frequently asked questions

• Belmont Abby College
• Gaston County Travel and Tourism
• Gaston County Visitor Center

Discover the most popular places to visit in Belmont

• Lake Norman

Explore the great outdoors at Lake Norman, a popular spot to commune with nature in Charlotte. Stroll along the lakeside in this family-friendly area, or check out its top-notch restaurants.

• Spectrum Center

Catch an event at Spectrum Center during your trip to Charlotte. Experience the lively festivals and acclaimed theater scene in this vibrant area.

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Walk around the campus of University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a top university in Charlotte. Experience the area's entertainment choices or attend a sporting event.

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Catch an event at Charlotte Motor Speedway during your trip to Concord. Experience the area's acclaimed theater scene and great live music.

• Charlotte Convention Center

In downtown Charlotte check out trade shows, sporting events and conventions at this key venue that features grand ballrooms and dining areas.

• NASCAR Hall of Fame

Experience the roaring speed of a car race in a simulator, see historic muscle cars, and test out your mechanical skills in this place of honor for successful car racers.

• PNC Music Pavillion

You can enjoy a show at PNC Music Pavillion on your trip to Charlotte. Experience the area's acclaimed theater scene and entertainment choices.

• Billy Graham Library

The life of famous evangelist Billy Graham, whose sermons touched millions through TV and radio, is illustrated in films and exhibits at this barn-like building.

• Bojangles' Coliseum

Catch an event at Bojangles' Coliseum during your trip to Charlotte. Experience the acclaimed theater scene or attend a sporting event in this vibrant area.

Discover the most popular landmarks and neighborhoods in Belmont

Belmont Historic District

You'll enjoy the coffeehouses and gardens in Belmont Historic District. You might want to make time for a stop at Lake Wylie or Belmont NC Historical Society Cultural and Heritage Learning Center.

South Belmont

You'll enjoy the lake views and theaters in South Belmont. You might want to make time for a stop at Catawba River or Lake Wylie.

North Belmont

North Belmont is well-liked for its restaurants, and you can visit sights like U.S. National Whitewater Center and Textile Lanes Inc Bowling if you have time to explore the area.

Popular day trips from Belmont

McAdenville

• Places to visit
• Hotels near popular Charlotte Attractions
• Nearby cities for things to do
• Expedia's Latest Trends
• Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
• Belmont NC Historical Society Cultural and Heritage Learning Center
• Textile Lanes Inc Bowling
• Harbortowne Marina
• Belmont Heritage Learning Center
• The Belmont General Store
• Millican Pictorial History Museum
• Carowinds Theme Park
• Bank of America Stadium
• SouthPark Mall
• Charlotte Douglas Airport Overlook
• Concord Mills
• Northlake Mall
• Davidson College
• Rock Hill Sports & Event Center
• Fillmore Charlotte
• Great Wolf Lodge Water Park
• Queen City Quarter
• Quail Hollow Club
• Queens University of Charlotte
• Ovens Auditorium
• U.S. National Whitewater Center
• Charlotte Premium Outlets
• Discovery Place
• Birkdale Village
• Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
• Hotels near Bank of America Stadium
• Hotels near Carowinds Theme Park
• Hotels near Spectrum Center
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• Hotels near University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Hotels near Lake Norman
• Hotels near PNC Music Pavillion
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• Hotels near Davidson College
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• Hotels near Queens University of Charlotte
• Hotels near NASCAR Hall of Fame
• Hotels near Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
• Hotels near Belmont Abby College
• Hotels near Belmont NC Historical Society Cultural and Heritage Learning Center
• Hotels near Textile Lanes Inc Bowling
• Hotels near Harbortowne Marina
• Hotels near Gaston County Visitor Center
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• Hotels near The Belmont General Store
• Myrtle Beach Activities
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Top Things to Do in Belmont

Things to do in belmont, tours near belmont.

Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with 14 Stops

Freedom Trail: Small Group Tour of Revolutionary Boston

Martha's Vineyard Daytrip from Boston with Round-Trip Ferry & Island Tour Option

The Revolutionary Story Epic Small Group Walking Tour of Boston

Boston Small-Group Walking Food Tour With Tastings

Tour of Historic Fenway Park, America's Most Beloved Ballpark

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Admission

Boston Historic Sightseeing Harbor Cruise with Up-Close View of USS Constitution

Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour

Top attractions in belmont.

Other Top Attractions around Belmont

What travellers are saying

• Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Boston
• Beaver Brook Spray Deck
• Mass Audubon Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
• Homer House
• sophia's greek pantry
• Joey's Park
• Grove Street Playground
• Pequossette Playground

18 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Massachusetts

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Mar 30, 2022

Art, music, colonial history, patriotic landmarks, shopping, idyllic beaches, laid-back islands, succulent seafood — Massachusetts has something for everyone. Take your pick from tourist attractions that range from classical music concerts by a world-class symphony orchestra to perfecting your tan on a pristine beach.

As one of the original 13 colonies, Massachusetts has preserved more than its share of historic landmarks from as far back as pilgrim days. But it's not all history — in Boston's vibrant Faneuil Hall Marketplace, you'll find fashions as new as tomorrow.

Landscapes are just as varied, and as you explore these must-see sights, you'll find rolling mountains, waves crashing on rocky shores, green pastures and farmlands, deep forests, and beautiful little postcard-perfect villages that Norman Rockwell immortalized in his paintings. To be sure of finding the best places to visit, plan your trip using this handy list of the top attractions in Massachusetts.

1. Freedom Trail

2. faneuil hall, 3. cape cod beaches, 4. boston common and public garden swan boats, 5. fenway park, 6. harvard square and museums, 7. museum of fine arts and the isabella stewart gardner museum, 8. mayflower ii and plimoth patuxet museums, 9. salem's historic houses, 10. whale watch at stellwagen bank national marine sanctuary, 11. museum of science, boston, 12. old sturbridge village, 13. tanglewood concerts, 14. norman rockwell museum, 15. uss constitution and bunker hill monument, 16. minute man national historical park and lexington green, 17. island life on martha's vineyard, 18. historic deerfield, more things to see and do in massachusetts.

Some of Colonial America's most iconic landmarks mark Boston's three-mile Freedom Trail as it winds through the old city's narrow streets to connect 16 historic monuments and attractions. Follow the red brick line and brass medallions in the pavement, from the Visitor Center in the Boston Common all the way to the 54-gun frigate USS Constitution , "Old Ironsides," at the Charlestown Navy Yard .

Along the way, wander through two old burying grounds to find the graves of Paul Revere, John Hancock, and the first female to step off the Mayflower . The Old State House , Boston's oldest public building, was the scene of the infamous Boston Massacre, when five colonists were killed by British soldiers. A few steps off the Freedom Trail, at 1 Milk Street, is the birthplace of Benjamin Franklin , a site marked by a bust of the patriot, who was born here in 1706.

The trail's best-known attraction is Faneuil Hall , called the "cradle of liberty" for its role as the meeting-place of revolutionaries and later, of abolitionists. Along with a museum, it houses the stalls of Faneuil Hall Marketplace , which also includes three more long halls filled by pushcarts, food stalls, and shops.

Two more iconic places for sightseeing are in the lively Italian neighborhood, the North End : the 17th-century Paul Revere House and Old North Church , Boston's oldest and the one from whose steeple two lanterns were hung to signal the start of Paul Revere's famous ride.

Official site: https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

• Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Boston

Built in 1740-42, Faneuil Hall was given to the city as a market hall by merchant Peter Faneuil. Along with a market, it was a place for public meetings well-used by colonists protesting British taxes and other grievances.

In the mid-19th century, it was the scene of anti-slavery meetings, rallies, and speeches. The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Museum on its top floor preserves paintings of battles, along with arms and uniforms.

True to its origins, the ground floor is filled with market stalls, which flow out into the three nearby market halls - Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market - to make up Faneuil Hall Marketplace . This entire area is almost always lively, filled with shoppers, buskers, tourists, and workers from nearby offices enjoying their lunches on the benches that line the wide promenades between the market halls. The halls themselves are filled with food stalls, pushcarts, shops, restaurants, and cafés.

Official site: www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com

Cape Cod is a long, curving peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic, protecting Cape Cod Bay with its northward curve. Most of its 560 miles of shoreline is long white-sand beaches , often backed by dunes of waving sea grass. Many of them are crowded in mid-summer, but there is enough sand for everyone (although not always enough parking for their cars).

Look for the more uncrowded beaches on the quieter north shore, along Route 6-A, near Sandwich or Brewster. Chatham and Orleans both have especially scenic white beaches on the Atlantic-facing shore. Cape Cod's beaches are among the most beautiful places to visit in Massachusetts .

Cape Cod National Seashore protects nearly the whole eastern coast of the Cape, keeping a 40-mile stretch of sand and dunes almost unchanged since the 1800s. Walk its white sands, spot nesting shorebirds, and follow the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail through its beautiful cedar woodlands.

Stop at the Salt Pond or Provincetown Visitor Centers for maps, information, and passes. Lifeguards are on duty at beaches near parking areas from late June through August.

Address: 99 Marconi Station Site Road, Wellfleet, Massachusetts

The Boston Common — along with the adjacent Public Garden — paints a large swath of green in the very heart of the city. Downtown streets border one end, Commonwealth Avenue and Back Bay the other. To one side is stately Beacon Hill; the Freedom Trail begins in the Common, the state house overlooks it.

The Common spans Boston's history, with the Central Burying Ground of 1756 at one corner and the next generation of Bostonians splashing in the Frog Pond in the summer, and skating on it in the winter.

The Public Garden, America's first botanical garden, is more formal in its design, with beds of flowers and an 1869 suspension bridge over the pond, beloved by locals and tourists for the charming Swan Boats that have glided across its surface since the 1870s. Don't think these are there just for kids - most of the smiling passengers are adults.

Address: Public Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

Official site: http://swanboats.com

With all the nostalgic appeal of an old-fashioned ballpark, Fenway Park is beloved not just by New Englanders and Red Sox fans, but by baseball fans everywhere. Little changed in appearance from its opening in the spring of 1912, Fenway Park still has its hand-operated scoreboard and the legendary Green Monster, the 37-foot green wall in left field.

While most other cities have built new stadiums in the city outskirts, Bostonians have kept the old tradition of an inner-city venue for its home team, even though it has the lowest seating capacity of any major league ballpark.

Tickets for one of the only 33,871 seats are usually scarce, but you can see the park on a lively tour that's fun even for tourists who are not baseball fans.

Address: 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, Massachusetts

Harvard University , one of the world's leading academic centers, is an attraction in itself, filled with historic buildings and exceptional museums. But its surroundings are just as appealing to visit, as the shops, restaurants, cafés, and bookstores around Harvard Square throb with activity at any time of year.

The Harvard Art Museums now combine three major collections, each of which formerly ranked as major U.S. art museums. Fogg Art Museum specializes in Italian early-Renaissance art, and the Busch-Reisinger concentrates on German and northern European Expressionist art, with works by Kandinsky and Klee. The Museum's Chinese jade and bronzes, Japanese prints, Indian art, and Greco-Roman antiquities comprise some of the finest collections in the world.

Four more world-class museums sit two blocks away on Oxford Street, Harvard's research collections displayed in the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology , the Mineralogical Museum , the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the Botanical Museum . The exceptional Native American exhibits show art and artifacts in the context of a living culture that changed as contact with Europeans increased.

The best known exhibits here, however, are the more than 3,000 glass flowers and plants, so realistic that it's hard to believe they are man-made. The secret of how these were made died with their creators, and the process has never been replicated. You can take lively free walking tours of the Harvard campus led by students.

Address: 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Official site: http://hmnh.harvard.edu/

Two neighboring museums, both overlooking the green expanse of Boston's Fenway, trace fine and applied art from the ancient world to modern masters. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is renowned for its collections of Impressionist paintings; Asian and Persian fine arts; and works from ancient Greece, Egypt, and the Middle East.

An entire American Wing displays outstanding collections of American paintings, decorative arts, folk art, furniture, silver, and design from pre-Columbian to Modernist.

A few steps away is the somewhat eccentric collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner, bequeathed as a museum, along with her Venetian-style palace in which these treasures are displayed. The more than 2,500 works range from paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer to exquisite handmade lace and medieval furniture. Behind her palace is a glass-encased building designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, creating spaces for music and contemporary art.

Museum of Fine Arts

• Address: 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts
• www.mfa.org

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

• Address: 280 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts
• http://www.gardnermuseum.org

In December 1620, separatists from the Church of England, called Pilgrims, landed at Plymouth after failing to reach their original destination in Virginia, making Plymouth the first permanent European settlement in New England.

You can step back into their world at the living history villages at Plimoth Patuxet Museums (formerly known as Plimoth Plantation). In the 17th-Century English Village, costumed interpreters (who never leave their 17th-century persona) re-create the experience of living in early colonial America as they go about daily tasks of gardening, building, cooking, and military training. Craftsmen use authentic tools to make objects common in the 17th century.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums also explore the lives and culture of Native Americans at the Patuxet Homesite , a re-creation of a Wampanoag village, where you'll see dwellings, gardens, and artifacts. Here, descendants of the area's first inhabitants demonstrate how their ancestors lived before and after the colonists' arrival.

Be sure to visit the full-scale reproduction of the Mayflower , Mayflower II , fresh from a four-year restoration and birthed at Plymouth Pier, to learn about the historic voyage from costumed guides representing the passengers and crew.

You can visit Plimoth Plantation on a day trip from Boston .

Address: 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Official site: www.plimoth.org

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While early homes full of period furnishings are thick on New England soil, few places can offer the number, quality, and variety of those you can tour in the former China Trade port of Salem. What's more, they represent a wide range of Salem's history and culture, beginning with the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and including the House of Seven Gables , immortalized in the book by Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose 1804 birthplace is also open.

The 1642 Witch House was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, who presided at the witchcraft trials, and it's the only remaining building that's directly connected with the trials.

As the hub of the China Trade, it's not surprising that Salem streets are lined with homes built by men who grew rich in that era as captains or merchants. Two homes, the Hawkes and Derby houses, are part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.

Several others are part of the exceptional Peabody Essex Museum complex: the 1727 Crowninshield-Bentley House ; the 1684 John Ward House ; and the 1804 brick Gardner-Pingree House , whose interior preserves work by master builder Samuel McIntire.

The Peabody Essex Museum explores the China Trade, its participants, and their homes in its extensive collections, which include an entire original 18th-century home from China's Huizhou region, reassembled here and open to visitors.

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Among the top 10 whale-watching sites in the world, the Stellwagen Bank has one of the world's most biologically productive ocean environments. At this underwater plateau in the Atlantic, at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, you may spot several different species of whale, along with Atlantic white-sided dolphins, harbor porpoise, seals, and other marine life.

More than 50 individual humpback whales have been identified and named by researchers, all dependable returnees each summer. Many of them are females that bring their new calves to Stellwagen Bank to feed in the food-rich waters and teach their calves to hunt.

You can board a whale watching tour in Gloucester or Provincetown, the closest harbors to the Stellwagen Bank, or from Boston or several other towns on Cape Cod. For the best experience, look for a company that offers trained naturalists to provide commentary during the trips and help identify species and explain their behavior.

This constantly innovating museum invites kids and adults to jump right in, with more than 700 interactive exhibits and activities that explore all realms of science, from the human body and electricity to Arctic exploration and dinosaurs.

The dramatic Lightning Show is an all-time crowd-pleaser, as it explores electricity and its powers, using the world's largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator and Tesla coils that produce about half a million volts.

Throughout the huge facility hands-on exhibits are designed for all ages. Newer exhibits include an engineering design workshop and Project Vaccine, which explores how vaccines are developed and tested. The newest is the virtual Arctic Adventure , a digitally created immersive experience using ground-penetrating radar technology and ice core drills to explore the Arctic, its ice fields, and its wildlife.

Address: Science Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Official site: www.mos.org

One of the state's most visited tourist attractions, Old Sturbridge Village re-creates life in New England as it was in the early 1800s, in more than 40 historic homes, craft shops, stores, mills, and farm buildings brought from various places to this 200-acre site. Costumed interpreters demonstrate daily tasks of farmers, blacksmiths, housewives, and craftspeople, and offer hands-on activities for children.

A working farm demonstrates early farming and gardening, complete with back-bred livestock and heirloom plant varieties. You can also see two operating mills using water power to process wool and saw timber for buildings.

Address: 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Official site: https://www.osv.org/

The Boston Symphony Orchestra decamps in the summer to Lenox, in the heart of the Berkshires , where Tanglewood becomes a magnet for musicians and music lovers from late June through August. In the Koussevitzky Music Shed, Ozawa Hall, and other venues throughout the campus, various resident and guest musicians rehearse, learn, and perform.

The concerts vary from the full symphony orchestra to chamber groups and soloists, and from student groups, such as the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, to top-name performers like popular singer Tony Bennett and operatic soprano Renée Fleming.

The music of the BSO is often enhanced by the 120 voices of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and throughout the summer, the programs may include jazz pianists, string or wind quartets, Medieval music, contemporary works, opera, classics, and other forms and styles.

Free Fun Fridays are designed to appeal to the whole family, and Saturday morning rehearsals are open to the public by reserved ticket. Along with concert-style seating, audiences enjoy some of Tanglewood's most popular concerts seated on the well-manicured lawns.

Address: 297 West Street, Lenox, Massachusetts

Official site: http://www.bso.org

One of America's most beloved artists, Norman Rockwell lived and painted in the Berkshires for the last 25 years of his life, and his legacy is preserved here in the museum containing the world's largest collection of his original artworks. Rockwell is best known for his characterization of American life, especially in small towns, and for his representation of the country's ideals.

His ability to portray ordinary people and to convey nostalgia, gentle humor, and his deeply held concerns, such as civil rights and America's war on poverty, give his paintings warmth and tremendous appeal. Highlights of the collection are favorites from his Saturday Evening Post covers, the Four Freedoms, and Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas .

The Berkshire region has attracted artists, writers, and other creative figures since the early 19th century, and several of their homes and studios are open as tourist attractions, including those of Herman Melville, Edith Wharton, and Daniel Chester French.

Address: 9 Route 183, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Official site: http://www.nrm.org

Two icons of American Independence combine to form the Boston National Historic Park in Charlestown. The three-masted wooden frigate USS Constitution , nicknamed Old Ironsides, is the oldest commissioned ship in the US Navy, launched in 1797. Still afloat and crewed, the ship is open to tourists. You can explore its decks, learn about its naval exploits, and go below to experience the cramped quarters where 18 th -century seamen lived and worked.

The USS Constitution Museum, also at the Charlestown Navy Yard, tells more of the ship's history in interactive exhibits. A short walk away, the Bunker Hill Monument is another important feature of the park, marking the site of the fort built by militiamen before the Battle of Bunker Hill. This is the site of the first pitched battle of the American Revolution.

Address: Building 22, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts

Official site: https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org

You can follow the route taken by the British regulars as they marched from Boston in a move that would begin the American Revolution. Battle Road is now part of Minute Man National Historical Park, which also includes North Bridge in Concord, where the Colonials engaged the British in battle. North Bridge Visitor Center shows artifacts, uniforms, and a historical film, and at the end of the bridge is Daniel Chester French's famous Minuteman statue .

At Battle Green in Lexington, where the very first shots were fired on April 19, 1775, stands another statue commemorating a Minuteman (they were called Minutemen because they were ready for battle at a minute's notice). On a boulder are inscribed Captain Parker's words to his men: "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon but if they mean to have a war let it begin here."

Reenactments of the battles here and at North Bridge in Concord are held each year on the anniversary. Begin at Minute Man Visitor Center to learn about the battles and Paul Revere's Ride to warn the colonists of the British advance.

Address: 174 Liberty Street, Concord, Massachusetts

Nowhere in the state can you experience a more idyllic laid-back island life than on Martha's Vineyard, only five miles off the southern coast of Cape Cod . You'll feel the island's relaxed vibe almost from the moment you board the ferry from Woods Hole or New Bedford.

"The Vineyard" has six small towns, miles and miles of beaches, lighthouses, weathered shingle houses, sand bluffs, protected waters for kayaking, and a plenty of ocean for sailing. In its low, rolling landscape, you'll find working farms with farm stands selling everything from just-picked strawberries to fresh eggs.

In its villages, which have a real year-round life of their own, locals mix easily with summer people, some of whose families have been coming here for generations. You may get a glimpse of some of their "cottages," as they refer to the posh estates built by wealthy New York and Boston families.

Oak Bluffs still has rows of little 19th-century "gingerbread" cottages from its days as a Methodist Camp meeting site, along with one of the oldest merry-go-rounds, the Flying Horses Carousel . Edgartown is a bit more sedate, with white clapboard buildings lining tree-shaded streets. The oldest is Vincent House , built in 1672 and now a museum.

Board the Chappy On-Time Ferry to Chappaquiddick , an even smaller island with beautiful protected beaches and the outstanding Mytoi Japanese garden.

The remarkable history of the Pioneer Valley village of Deerfield is told in its impressive collection of well-preserved colonial and Federal period homes and at the 14 houses of Historic Deerfield and the Flynt Center of Early New England Life .

Especially outstanding are the collection of American quilts ; the 1824 Federal Wright House , with its collection of Chippendale furniture; and the Asa Stebbins House , which contains a unique arched doorway and notable collection of wall coverings.

Historic Deerfield's houses and galleries contain more than 27,000 objects made or used in America from 1650 to 1900, one of the largest collections anywhere. Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery alone holds one of the finest collections of early American textiles and costumes in any museum, and frequent programs explore their history and techniques. Throughout the season are demonstrations of early American skills, crafts, and cooking.

Address: 84B Old Main Street, Deerfield, Massachusetts

Official site: www.historic-deerfield.org

Where to Go near Boston: Many of the best places to visit in Massachusetts , including the active seaport of New Bedford with its maritime sites, are easy day trips from Boston. Other parts of the state, including the beautiful Berkshire hills to the west, are perfect destinations for weekend getaways . Closer to Boston, the lively and historic city of Portsmouth is just across the border in New Hampshire.

Where to Go for Sea and Sand: New England's favorite seaside escape route begins south of Boston, where top-rated sandy beaches surround scenic Cape Cod . Or hop a ferry in Hyannis and spend time exploring the lovely island of Nantucket .

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