Today’s Bucket List post is HUGE because it focuses on a major historic American city: Boston! Of course we hit the surrounding suburbs as well!

Boston

• Boston African-American National Historic Site: Tells the story of African Americans in the 19th century pre-Civil War.
• Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area: Explore lighthouses, coast line, and other parks in this protected area.
• Boston Light: First lighthouse to be built in the United States.
• Boston National Historical Park: Preserves 8 Revolutionary War sites, many of which are connected by the Freedom Trail.
• Boston Public Garden: Visit America’s first public park.
• Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum: Visit this floating museum for the history of this infamous event.
• Edward M Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate: Brings the role of the US Senate to life.
• Fenway Park: Famous stadium home to the Boston Red Sox.
• Institute of Contemporary Art: Visit this modern art museum.
• International Poster Gallery: Explore vintage posters from around the globe.
• JFK Presidential Library and Museum: Explore the museum dedicated to the life and work of JFK.
• Massachusetts State House: Visit the seat of Massachusetts’ state government.
• Museum of African American History: New England’s largest African American museum.
• New England Aquarium: One of the top visited attractions in the area, this aquarium has several touch tanks and also offers whale watching tours.
• Old North Church: Church famous for “one if my land, two if by sea” signal.
• Old State House: One of the oldest public buildings in the United States.
• Paul Revere House: Home of the famous patriot.
• The Swan Boats of Boston: Take a ride in the famous Boston Swan Boats.

Brookline

• Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site: Home of the founder of American landscape architecture.
• JFK National Historic Site: Birthplace and childhood home of John F Kennedy.

Cambridge

• Longfellow National Historic Site: Home of famed poet and also site of Washington’s headquarters.
• MIT Museum: Science museum filled with lots of exhibits.
• World’s Only Curious George Store: Store filled with everything Curious George.

Charleston

• Battle of Bunker Hill Museum: Details history of the American Revolution in the area.
• USS Constitution: Explore the legacy of this ship.

Framingham

• Callahan State Park: Beautiful place to hike outside of Boston.
• Garden in the Woods: Nice wooded botanic garden outside the city.

Foxborough

• Gilette Stadium: Home to the New England Patriots football team.

Hudson

• American Heritage Museum: Museum of American military history.

Natick

• Mass Audubon Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary: Popular place to view birds and otters.

Newton

• Jackson Homestead and Museum: Served as a station on the Underground Railroad.

Quincy

• Adams National Historic Site: Preserves the home of John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
• United States Navel Shipbuilding Museum: Explore battle ships and how they were built.

Waltham

• Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation: Museum dedicated to the history of the American Industrial Revolution.

Weymouth

• Abigail Adams Birthplace: Birthplace of the wife of John Adams.

All attractions found on visitma.com

Our Massachusetts lists begin to get longer today as we begin to explore the areas around Boston.

Beverly

• Hospital Point Range Light: Historic lighthouse at the end of the avenue.

Concord

• Louisa May Alcott House: Girlhood home of Louisa May Alcott and setting of her novel: Little Women.
• Minute Man National Historic Park: Commemorates the opening battle of the Revolutionary War.
• North Bridge: Visit the site of the “shot heard round the world.”
• Thoreau Farm: Birthplace of Henry David Thoreau.
• Walden Pond State Reservation: Hike and swim on the site where Thoreau wrote Walden.

Gloucester

• Eastern Point Light: Lighthouse located in the oldest seaport in America.

Lincoln

• DeCordova Sculpture Park: Largest sculpture park in New England.

Lowell

• Lowell National Historic Park: Explore the water powered textile mills that helped propel the nation into the industrial age.

Marblehead

• Marblehead Light: Skeletal framed lighthouse; the only one of its kind in New England.

Newburyport

• Newburyport Harbor Light: Historic lighthouse located in the harbor of Newburyport.
• Plum Island Beach: Cool off in one of the area’s most popular beaches.

Salem

• Bakers Island Light: Historic stone lighthouse.
• Derby Wharf Light: Square tower light.
• New England Pirate Museum: Explore the history of pirates in a hands on way.
• Salem Witch Museum: Explore the history of the Salem Witch Trials.
• Winter Island Light: Old lighthouse located near Old Fort Pickering.

Saugus

• Saugus Iron Works National Historical Site: Site of the first integrated ironworks in North America.

West Townsend

• Pearl Hill State Park: Hike in this wooded area north of the city.

All attractions found on visitma.com

Moving further into the state of Massachusetts, today we explore the Central region before taking a long weekend holiday from blog posting to enjoy 4th of July travels!

North Oxford

• Clara Barton Homestead: Birthplace of Clara Barton; celebrates the life and activities of this Red Cross founder.

Princeton

• Wachusett Mountain State Reservation: Enjoy breathtaking views from the summit of this mountain.

Royalston

• Doane’s Falls: Enjoy this tumbling cascade located near a stone bridge.
• Royalston Falls: Waterfall located in granite gorge.

Sturbridge

• Wells State Park: Rugged rock terrain located among the wetlands.

All attractions found on visitma.com

Today we begin a new state! It may be a smaller state, but it is rich with history and there’s plenty to do and explore! We begin in the Western portion of the state!

Adams

• Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum: Birthplace of the woman who help give other women the vote!

Amherst

• Emily Dickinson Museum: Birthplace and home of famed poet, Emily Dickinson.
• Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: Museum devoted to the art of the picture book.
• Mount Holyoke Range State Park: Explore this 7 miles stretch of mountain range.

Clarksburg

• Clarksburg State Park: Hike through this hardwood forest that offers mountain views.

Glendale

• Chesterwood: Home of the famed sculpture who created icons such as the seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial.

Great Barrington

• Monument Mountain: Hike the short trail to the summit of this mountain.

Lanesborough

• Mount Greylock State Reservation: Preserves the highest point in the state.

Lenox

• Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary: Explore 7 miles of hiking trails along the pond and woods area.

Mount Washington

• Bash Bish Falls state Park: Explore the waterfall within the park.

South Deerfield

• Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation: Take in stunning views from this mountain.

Springfield

• The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Museum dedicated to all things Dr. Seuss, a Springfield native.
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Explore the history of the sport of basketball and all the great players who have made it memorable.

Stockbridge

• Norman Rockwell Museum: Museum dedicated to the artwork of Norman Rockwell.

All attractions found at visitma.com