Massachusetts
THE ATLANTIC COAST: Bristol County, Plymouth County,
Cape Cod & The Islands
BRISTOL COUNTY
Southernmost on the coast lies Bristol County, home to the
great mill town of Fall River and the whaling city of New
Bedford.
The city of Fall River has undergone strategic urban renewal
in the recent past, saving many of the mills and factories
and putting them to modern uses, from new manufacturing to
museums to malls. Some of the greatest shopping in the country
is in Fall River's factory outlets and not to be missed. The
historic sites are worthy of note including Lizzie Borden's
house - now a Bed & Breakfast for the more adventurous!
and Battleship Cove, home to several decommissioned major
ships and subs, all open to the public.
In New Bedford, the original whaling village has been well
preserved and cobblestone streets give way the the shore where
you can visit the The New Bedford Whaling Museum, which includes
boarding a half-scale model of a whaling vessel and the Seamen's
Bethel, a chapel for whalers and their families and the one
of the inspirations for Herman Melville's Moby-Dick.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY
Plymouth and Plimouth Plantation is the place where the
Pilgrims landed in North America in 1627. The Plymouth
Rock is still there for all to experience and enjoy and
the working village of the Olde Plimouth Plantation, scene
of the first Thanksgiving, is a living museum and testament
to the tenacity of the original settlers and the kindness
and guidance of the Native Americans. The Mayflower II,
a full-scale reproduction of the Pilgrim's ship is open
to the public and sometimes sails. Whale watching is the
best in the country - the increased whale population guarantees
sightings just about every day. And don't forget the Cranberry
World Visitors Center. Here you'll find a museum which
explains the history, harvesting and marketing of the
small, red fruit which is a must at holiday times and
you'll see the industry in action as this is the home
of the Ocean Spray company.
CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS
| The Cape is the long arm of Massachusetts, a penninsula
which juts 75 miles out into the Atlantic offering
protection from the weather and invaders both to
the seacoast of the Bay State. Beginning at Hyannis,
a playground for the rich second only to Newport
Rhode Island and Woods Hole, the home of the world's
foremost oceanographic institute, the Cape continues
on and on, village after village, offering the richest
history, scenery, swimming, boating, fishing and
seafood in the nation, all in a quiet, relaxed setting.
The more adventurous can head all the way out to
the tip and Provincetown, a first line of defense
in olden times with a watch tower hundreds of feet
high which is open to the public. |
Deep sea fishing charters are
plentiful on the Cape and provide memories that
will last a lifetime as well as the catch of the
day. |
There is a lively arts community, from serious painters
exhibited in fine galleries to the cartoonists and cariciturists
who dot the wooden sidewalks in front of the many antique
shops and fine gift shops. There is world-class summer
stock theatre here as well as a rich musical community.
Provincetown is also known as a gay mecca for its longtime
tolerance and defense of individual rights going back
over two centuries. And, if that's not enough, the most
spectacular sunset in the East is yours for the watching
from anywhere along the miles and miles of world-class
sandy beachs, harbor side for quiet seas and ocean side
for the more adventurous.
Martha's Vineyard is the closest of the two major islands
off the coast of Massachusetts, easily reached by ferry from
Woods Hole, by air or by sea. The original town of Oak Bluffs
is famous for its "gingerbread" Victorian village,
the most detailed and well-preserved settlement of its kind.
There you can visit the oldest working carousel in the country
and rub elbows in the bars, clubs and restaurants with the
island's famous residents and summer colonists, from rock
stars to presidents. Vineyard Haven is a turn of the century
port and the modern center of the island. Edgartown, once
a whaling port, is now home to the rich and famous who live
in the stately summer palaces of the golden age. The beaches
on the island can't be beat and the sailing, swimming and
fishing are all world class.
Nantucket, which lies thirty miles out to sea, is more like
stepping into another time. Once a major whaling center, the
island is now dedicated to a peaceful way of life and the
preservation of the many historic sites. The dining is world
class year-round. The whaling museum is the best in the country.
And access to the sea is unparalleled. Cruises, day and evening,
are available and affordable. Deep sea fishing is the name
of the game here as you're already out in the middle of the
ocean! The sailing is great year -round and the beaches and
swimming are out of this world.
Take a trip to where it all started - set foot on the very
spot where the first settlers landed and enjoy all that this
country has become out on old Cape Cod.
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