Massachusetts

With most people staying local this summer due to the pandemic, I wanted to put together a list of things to do in my home state!

I hope this inspires you to explore of what's in your backyard and to appreciate what you have. We can get so caught up in planning that one big trip a year or needing to get to that country when we need to take a step back and remember what we do have. Beauty is all around us no matter where you are in the world.

First, let's talk about wine. Massachusetts has (in my opinion) some amazing wineries.

Cape Cod: Truro Vineyards (my personal favorite) and Cape Cod Winery

Central Mass: Sail to Trail WineWorks, Broken Creek Winery, Nashoba Valley Winery, and Hardwick Winery

Places to Visit: I am all about finding the beauty no matter where you go. Over the years, I have visited to many amazingly beautiful spots in this state I've called home my whole life yet it wasn't until the pandemic that I started to truly appreciate my home state. Here are some areas that I highly recommend visiting:

Cape Cod and islands (I prefer Nantucket)
Marblehead
Stockbridge/anywhere in the Berkshires
Newburyport (like a mini Portsmouth, NH)
Boston (South End is my favorite)
Salem (not just for Halloween)
Walden Pond (Concord area)
Harvard the town (many movies filmed here)
Wachusett Mountain (hiking)
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
Tower Hill Botantic Gardens (especially for Christmas Lights)

Whether you enjoy the ocean/lakes, hiking/exploring the city, this state has something for you to do and see. Certain areas I will highlight what to do there below.

Cape Cod: any beach, Ptown (Scottscakes has the best cupcakes), Beachcomber in Wellfleet, Sundae School for ice cream, Kream and Kone for fried seafood, Chatham Bars Inn, the Candy Manor for out of this world chocolate covered apricots, Chatham Squire bar, West Dennis Beach for amazing sunsets in the summer, and Stage Stop Candy for cranberry cordials and peanut butter taffy that doesn't stick to your teeth

Nantucket: Cisco Brewers, The Juice Bar for homemade ice cream and my favorite drink the Watermelon Cream shake, Stubbys for waffle fries, clam chowder on the ferry over, Provisions near the Boat Basin for sandwiches (highly recommend the turkey terrific sandwich), and Aunt Leah's Fudge.

Boston: all the museums including the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, explore the streets like Boylston and Newbury, visit the North End for Italian cuisine, restaurants like Aquitaine in the South End and Lolita's in Back Bay or Fort Point, the best wine list and oysters at Island Creek in Back Bay or visit them in Duxbury, Legal Harborside for a fun on the water view, Trillium, Cisco, Harpoon, and Downeast for beers and ciders. I will eventually do a post on Boston...eventually.