Get back to where it all began in Massachusetts. Whether you're looking for an opportunity to experience American history firsthand, or just experience a wide sandy beach, incredible seafood and plenty of fresh air, Massachusetts is the place to be.

Boston
The "cradle of liberty" is a wonder to behold, an amazing blend of the modern and the historical. The home of America's oldest public park and first subway system is also the home of glass skyscrapers, upscale shopping and trendy clubs.

The Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile, red brick walking trail, is a must-do for many on a Massachusetts vacation. This enlightening loop takes you by 16 historically significant sites, including churches, meeting houses and burying grounds.

But whether you're interested in touring Paul Revere's House or Back Bay's galleries and cafes, Boston is an easy city to explore on foot.

Cape Cod
Travel + Leisure magazine calls Cape Cod the iconic American vacation. Perhaps that's because generations of happy families have made this Massachusetts treasure their vacation home, exploring the same beaches, shopping in the same boutiques, hiking the same trails, and generally making memories they'll one day share with their own kids.

Everyone has his or her own favorite memory, though, from watching a spectacular sunset at Provincetown's Race Point Beach to canoeing peacefully through a salt marsh to spending the night in a historic lighthouse. The weather usually obliges, especially during the peak summer months. But for those days when the sun goes away, Cape Cod vacationers simply take the fun indoors (shopping, galleries, museums, etc.).

The Mid-Cape is home to the closest thing the peninsula has to a big city: the Kennedy home of Hyannis. Here you can explore or the Kennedy family history at the JFK Hyannis Museum.

Eat...

51 Lincoln (Boston). Expect a good meal for a fair price at this fun restaurant, recently honored as Boston Globe's top pick for most creative meal deal (it was the three-course, '51 state economic stimulus package' menu that won them over).

Front Street (Provincetown). The owners here are also the talented chefs, and not the "I'll make the menu and let someone else do the work" kind. Front Street is a readers poll winner for "Best Cape and Island Restaurant" in Boston Magazine.

"Pick" your own meal. Several orchards throughout Massachusetts afford you the opportunity to pick your own strawberries, peaches, apples and pumpkins.

Play... Six Flags New England (Agawam). This family-fun park includes Superman, a four-time winner of "best steel coaster." Other attractions include a water park and a Thomas the Tank Engine area for kids.

Sox and Rox (Boston/Brockton). When in Boston...see the Red Sox at Fenway. Or, if you prefer, catch the minor league version down the road in Brockton, where the Rox showcase their talents in Campanelli Stadium.

Flying Horses Carousel (Martha's Vineyard). Built by Charles W.F. Dare in 1876 (the flying horses arrived in 1884), this carousel is the oldest operating platform carousel in the nation and a National Historic Landmark. Ride for just $1.50 from Easter Saturday through Columbus Day.

Explore...

Cape Cod Central Railroad (Hyannis). Enjoy a gourmet meal or just ride the rails for fun, as you roll past cranberry bogs, marshes and woodlands between Hyannis and the Cape Cod Canal.

Beantown Trolleys (Boston). See Boston's historical landmarks, including the Freedom Trail, on a two-hour, narrated trolley tour around the city. Full-fare tickets usually come with other perks.

New England Whale-Watching. The World Wildlife Fun lists Massachusetts as one of the globe's top 10 whale-watching locations. Charters typically run from April through October from several locations, and offer a chance to see several kinds of whales, such as humpback whales, finback whales, minke whales and pilot whales.

See the light(houses). Visit the historic beacons that once helped boats safely find their way home. You might start your tour with Boston Light, the oldest lighthouse in America (1716). Other lighthouses worth a look include Cape Cod's Highland Light, Nantucket Island's Brant Point Light, Rockport's Thacher Island Lights and Provincetown's Race Point Light (open for overnight stays).

Shop...

Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show. Held three times a year (May, July and September), the Brimfield showcases items from more than 5,000 vendors and claims to offer everything "from the shabby chic to the real antique."

Harvard Square (Cambridge). What once was a collection of eclectic bookshops has become a major center for shopping, dining and culture.

This is provided for informational purposes only. Endless Vacation Rentals does not endorse any of the resort activities, guides, vendors or service providers described. It is the individual’s responsibility to investigate the safety and suitability of any activity, and the credentials and fitness of any guide, vendor or service provider. Endless Vacation Rentals expressly denies any liability for engaging in any activity, and for using any guide, vendor or services provider, that may be mentioned or described in any Endless Vacation Rentals advertisement or publication. Additional fees and restrictions may apply to any activity or service.