Yankee‘s Editors’ Choices for the best food, lodging, and things to do in the Bay State are here. Don’t miss the Best Bargains and Local Secrets, too!
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Top 20 Massachusetts Events for 2011
MAY 6-7: STOCKBRIDGE, Annual Plant Sale. Thousands of annuals, perennials, herbs, rare and unusual plants, and trees and shrubs go on sale at Berkshire Botanical Gardens. Vendors offer potted herbs and vegetable starts, tropical plants, garden ornaments, furniture, compost, and more. 413-298-3926; berkshirebotanical.org MAY 10-15, JULY 12-17, SEPT. 6-11: BRIMFIELD, Brimfield Antique Show. Running more […]
Massachusetts
The Cape Cod Artisans Trails
The Shining Sea Trail beckons, no less so the Great Dunes Trail: seven trails in all, crisscrossing Cape Cod and the Islands, with artists and craftspeople in every medium scattered like beach glass. More than 200 destinations will tug at you, tempting you to wander into working studios and elegant galleries, some far off the […]
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Food Trail: Chowder
As long as there have been fishing and cooking, there has been chowder. In one form or another, over many centuries, coastal cooks have served up some variation of local seafood simmered in a thick liquid—a dish more stew than soup. On the northwest coast of France, 17th-century fishermen cooked their concoctions in large cauldrons […]
Massachusetts
Touching the Dream at Tanglewood
If you’re a young, talented musician and aspire to join a symphony orchestra one day, there’s one place where you want to summer. On a humid afternoon in late June, I’m walking across Tanglewood’s manicured grounds with a young violinist named Tema Watstein. She has long, dark hair and wears sandals and blue jeans, a […]
Massachusetts
Boston Best Local Secrets 2011
BEST ALTERNATIVE TO THE FREEDOM TRAIL Harborwalk, Boston A nearly 40-mile network of waterside paths from East Boston to Dorchester: Start with the Charlestown branch and head down through the North End to Fort Point Channel, stopping at historical sights (U.S.S. Constitution), bay-view restaurants (Sensing and Sam’s), and museums (the ICA and the Children’s Museum). […]
Massachusetts
Boston Best Attractions 2011
BEST UPSCALE BAR Drink, Boston Drink’s commitment to excellence at every level–from the quality of the ice, to the historic authenticity of the bitters, punches, and fizzes, to the minimalist design that hides the booze and puts the barkeep front and center–makes this venue a natural winner. 348 Congress St. 617-695-1806 BEST HISTORY LESSON Nichols […]
Massachusetts
Boston Best Restaurant 2011
BEST BAKERY Sofra, Cambridge It doesn’t sell French breads or chocolate layer cakes, but this Mediterranean-inspired pastry shop from Oleana’s Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick has elevated the Boston sweets scene with orange blossom-scented morning buns and the best falafel wraps in town. 1 Belmont St. 617-661-6131; sofrabakery.com BEST CHINESE East by Northeast, Cambridge Phillip […]
Massachusetts
Boston Best Lodging 2011
BEST HOTEL Liberty Hotel, Boston It took a sense of humor and style to turn a famous jail into a posh hotel, and that spirit informs everything at the Liberty, from the restaurants Clink, Alibi, and Scampo (Italian for “escape”) to the stunning atrium and the many thoughtful touches, such as Prosecco on arrival. Rates: […]
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Best Local Secrets 2011
BEST DIY CLAMBAKE Harwich Shellfish Permit, Harwich Port With 15 different areas, each on its own tide schedule, Harwich is tops for a do-it-yourself feast. The town offers a $15 one-day shellfish permit, plus good deals on season-long family permits. Digging is easy–the town annually reseeds its beds with 2 million baby clams. Harwich Harbor […]
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Best Bargains 2011
EASTWARD BOUND Amherst Chinese Food, Amherst Long before the current farm-to-table rush, “AmChin” began serving delectable dishes (minus the MSG) with organic veggies from its own nearby farm. Entrées: from $9.95. Lunch specials (including soup or salad and a pot of tea): from $5.50. 62 Main St. 413-253-7835 B&B VALUE Upland Meadows Farm, Cummington Judi […]
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Best Adventures 2011
BEST RAFTING Deerfield River, Franklin County Outfitters haul their yellow rafts to the banks of the Deerfield River in the spring and summer months to tumble down two stretches: the exhilarating Class IV rapids in the Dryway and the family-friendly Class II and III rapids farther south, in the deep pools of Zoar Gap. Zoar […]