Day Trips from Boston: Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, North Shore, Salem, Berkshires

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Boston

Day Trips

One of the best things about Boston is its proximity to a wealth of New England attractions – all very different, but all within a short drive. The most famous is Cape Cod and the islands known simply as "The Cape," "The Vineyard," and Nantucket. A less-touristy and more laid-back beach vibe is found north of the city in towns like Marblehead and Gloucester; the North Shore, as it's known, is also home to Salem, infamous for its witch trails. Finally, mountain lovers will adore the greenery and cultural pursuits found in the Berkshires. The most famous town here is Lenox, home to Tanglewood, the summer outpost of the Boston Pops.

Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, & Nantucket
The Cape Cod National Seashore (www.nps.gov/caco) boasts 40 miles of beaches and nearly 45,000 acres extending from Orleans to Provincetown. With a car, and light traffic, you can travel over the Cape Cod Canal via the Sagamore or Bourne Bridge to the sandy shores and beach towns of the Cape in about an hour; with more time, we recommend driving an extra 30-45 minutes down Route 6 to the Lower Cape, which includes the towns of Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, and Brewster. Of these, Chatham is the most lovely, with its timeless main street, gracious homes, and wonderful beaches. If you are traveling sans car, you can visit the Cape via ferry (mid May-Sept; 8am, 1.30pm, 5pm; 617/748-1428; $69RT; www.baystatecruises.com) from Boston to Provincetown, the easternmost town on the Cape and known for its large gay community and picturesque village.

If you choose to visit Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket, you can catch a ferry to both from Hyannis (www.hy-linecruises.com), about 15 minutes onto the Cape once you're over the bridge. Both islands are charming and equally upscale – Nantucket draws more of a "scene" to its shores, while the Vineyard is more laid-back. Lily Pulitzer dresses for women and pink pants for men abound on both. Though Martha's Vineyard probably attracts more celebrities, it is the more laid-back of the two islands; Nantucket, while equally beautiful, boasts more of a see-and-be-seen attitude. Both have miles and miles of pristine public beaches, grand summer homes, and plenty of shopping, dining, and nightlife.

The North Shore
Though positively bustling around Halloween, the city of Salem (www.salem.org) makes for a great year round side trip. A 30-minute drive north from Boston, you can also get there by train, bus, and ferry. It's an interesting coastal city most famous for the witch trials that took place in 1692 and led to deaths of 20 people for suspicion of practicing witchcraft. Start your visit at the Salem Witch Museum (19 ½ Washington Square; daily 10am-5pm, 7pm in July and Aug; $7.50; 978/744-1692; www.salemwitchmuseum.com), which provides a history lesson about the trials themselves and also educates about witches in general.

Eighteen miles north of Boston lies the striking town of Marblehead, one of the prettiest in New England. Its reputation as the "yachting capital of America" should clue you in on what to expect here – a lovely harbor, six beaches, upscale shopping, and beautiful, tasteful homes, some dating back to before the Revolution. The main beach is Devereux Beach, with over five acres of fun on the Atlantic (summer is the best time to visit). The most picturesque part of Marblehead is Old Town, with winding streets, upscale shopping, and views of the harbor. You can drive or take a train or bus to get here.

A bit further north (about an hour by car from Boston) is the village of Gloucester (www.gloucesterma.com), the oldest fishing port in the country and still a working port today. The city was immortalized in the movie The Perfect Storm, and many people come to see the places where the events leading up to this tragedy took place, especially the Crow's Nest bar (344 Main St.; 978/281-2965; www.crowsnestgloucester.com) of which a replica was built for the movie. Its rocky shoreline is dramatic and its most popular beach (Good Harbor) delightful. The section known as Rocky Neck Art Colony (www.rockyneckartcolony.org) is the most charming part of town and the oldest art colony in the country.

The Berkshires
In western Massachusetts, just a two-hour drive from Boston, are the Berkshires. These low-lying mountains are great for lovers of the outdoors – hiking, fishing, golfing, and rafting are common pastimes – but first-time visitors are often surprised at the region's depth of cultural activities. Besides being home to many important historical sites, like the home where Herman Melville wrote Moby Dick, Edith Wharton's estate, and a restored Shaker village, the region also possesses a wealth of museums, including MASS MoCA (87 Marshall Street, North Adams; 413/662-2111; Sept-June Wed-Mon 11am-5pm, July-August daily 10am-6pm; $10; www.massmoca.org), the largest contemporary-art center in the U.S. Fans of Norman Rockwell's work will delight in the Norman Rockwell Museum (9 Glendale Rd., Stockbridge; 413/298-4100; May-Oct daily 10am-5pm, Nov-April Mon-Fri 10am-4pm Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; $12.50, www.nrm.org), with the largest and most-important collection of the artist's original work in the world. But the area is primarily known for Tanglewood (Lenox; 413/637-1600; www.tanglewood.org), the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a mecca for music lovers. The 250 acres are the site of outdoor concert performances all summer long, and having a picnic while listening to the music under the stars is an unforgettable experience.