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.
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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