Day Trips from Boston

Renowned for its beauty and mystery, Cape Cod National Seashore features an array of diverse animal and plant life. The forty-mile-long beach is backed by marshes, ponds and upland areas.

• Wild cranberry bogs and ancient lighthouses dot the long coastline.
• Cape Cod National Seashore is filled with opportunities for sightseeing and exploration. Hiking, biking and relaxing on the beach are some popular activities among visitors.
• There are also designated areas for hunting and fishing, but these activities are only permitted at certain times of the year. Here is how you get a license.
• Cape Cod National Seashore management also runs junior ranger and junior lifeguard programs for children.

Kennebunkport is a historic seaside town with a rich seafaring culture. Home to roughly 3,500 people, Kennebunkport was the summer home of President George H.W. Bush. Several prominent world leaders, including Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, Vladimir Putin and Nikolas Sarkozy, have spent time in this New England town.

• The center of Kennebunkport is filled with locally-owned shops, galleries, restaurants, museums and more.
• For recreation, visitors enjoy walking around town, hanging out at the beach, dining at one of the many seafood restaurants near the harbor, and visiting the local parks.

Kennebunkport is 1.5 hours from Boston.

Rockport is home to roughly 7,000 people. This quaint New England town sits at the tip of Cape Ann peninsula and is surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean. Once home to Native American villages, Rockport's year-round population now consists mainly of fishermen and artists.

• Tourists enjoy seeing Rockport's beaches and walking around the historic downtown area.
• Halibut Point State Park, Thacher Island, the Paper House, and the Rockport Art Colony Galleries are among the popular tourist attractions in the area.
• There are also several museums and performing arts centers in town.

Rockport, MA is one hour from Boston.

Stonington Borough was originally settled back in 1752 and is full of history. The town is beckons visitors to come and enjoy a coastal getaway in a place where there is a slower and more relaxing vibe. Stonington is just 15 minutes from popular Mystic and excellent beaches.

• Go on a scenic harbor cruise.
• Take long strolls along the Seawall.
• Visit the historic Lighthouse Museum.
• Enjoy a bit of retail therapy at the many quaint and unusual independent stores and boutiques and along the popular Stonington Borough Antiques Trail.
• The town has a selection of accommodation and restaurants to suit all tastes, including the Whitecrest Eatery, Dog Watch Cafe and Water Street Cafe.

Stonington, CT is 2 hours from Boston.

Portsmouth is another iconic coastal town that draws tourists from all over the United States for the weekend.

• Portsmouth is packed with history, and some of its most popular attractions include historic homes, forts, cemeteries, gardens, and parks.
• For families, Portsmouth boasts New England's largest water park along with a marine and Science Center.
• There are beaches and museums that are also great for day trips with kids.
• Adults will find ample nightlife in Portsmouth along with wineries, golf courses, shopping centers, high-end restaurants, river cruises, hiking trails, locally-organized tours and more.
• Where to Eat: The Wilder, River House and Surf Portsmouth.

At the Butterfly Place in Westford, MA visitors can learn all about butterflies from around the world. The unique observation center gives guests the chance to see and interact with butterflies in their natural habitat.

Why we love it:
• Koi fish and quail birds live among the hundreds of butterflies in the exhibit.
• To learn about the butterfly life cycle, visitors can watch a 15-minute video that discusses each stage of a butterfly's life when visiting.
• There is an exhibit that contains eggs, caterpillars, cocoons and chrysalises.
• Kids can also pick up an at-home hatching kit for butterflies or moths.
• Souvenirs at the visitor's center include educational books, butterfly-themed gifts, jewelry and more.

Where You'll Find it: 120 Tyngsboro Road, Westford, MA 01886, Phone: 978-392-0955

The Peabody Essex Museum, known simply as PEM, contains an array of interesting and beautiful art objects. PEM began in 1799 when pilgrims brought art to North America from Asia, Oceania, India and elsewhere.

Known early on as a “cabinet of natural and artificial curiosities,” PEM officially gained its designation as a museum in the early 20th century.

The museum's collection currently sits at 1.8 million items.

The Peabody Essex Museum holds 400,000 books, manuscripts and documents, and is also home to 22 historic buildings. The sprawling Salem campus contains an impressive glass atrium and ample space for relaxing and studying.

161 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970, Phone: 978-745-9500

Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum where guests can get a feel for life in the 1830s. You can buy tickets before you go.

Why we love it:
• The village features authentic homes, a conference center, a store, a tavern, a sawmill, some barns, a church and a gift shop & bookstore.
• There are plenty of spots throughout the village for dining and shopping, and there are also accommodation options for visitors who wish to stay overnight.
• Old Sturbridge Village holds special events and reenactments throughout the year.
• For school groups, the village runs special tours with guides in period costumes.

Where You'll Find it: 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road Sturbridge, MA 01566, Phone: 800-733-1830

The Norman Rockwell Museum in the Berkshires pays tribute to one of America's most iconic artists.

Why we love it:
• Born in 1894, Norman Rockwell formerly began his art studies at age 14. He honed his skills while attending some of the most prominent art institutions in the United States.
• The Norman Rockwell Museum holds the largest collection of Rockwell's works in the world.
• In total, the museum holds more than 100,000 items, including photographs, letters, business documents and more.
• The museum also hosts educational programs, tours, art appreciation events and school programs to increase appreciation for Rockwell's work among visitors of all ages.
• Spend a few days relaxing at the nearby Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

Where You'll Find it: 9 Glendale Road/Route 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262, Phone: 413-298-4100

The House of the Seven Gables is a stately cabin that dates back to the mid-1600s.

• Built by a sea merchant named John Turner, the home stayed in the Turner family for three generations before being sold to Captain Samuel Ingersoll in 1782.
• Ingersoll left the property to his daughter Susanna, the cousin of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
• The sprawling cabin served as the setting for The House of Seven Gables film.
• The house has been preserved over the years and now serves as a space for educational programs and special events.
• The building is also available to rent for corporate events and weddings.

Where You'll Find it: 115 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970, Phone: 978-744-0991