Curate Your Stay in Massachusetts

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism

There’s a reason people from around the country—and the world—delight in exploring Massachusetts’s cities and towns: There’s always more to discover. A stroll through a tropical conservatory could give way to downtown shopping for fine handcrafts; a morning spent admiring big, bold public art could be followed by a tranquil afternoon enjoying high tea.

No matter which part of the Bay State you set out to explore, it’s flush with options for dining out, going shopping, and appreciating local arts and culture. From the South Coast to the North Shore to the Pioneer Valley, here are three itineraries that tap into the best of the Commonwealth. All you have to do is pick a place to start.

South Dartmouth                                 

Count on Padanaram, South Dartmouth’s charming coastal village, to shine bright during the holiday season. Things kick off in early December with the annual Buoy Tree Lighting, when a tree decorated with hundreds of hand-painted fishing floats is set a-sparkling. The Hallmark-movie vibes continue at the Dartmouth Cultural Center, which hosts an exhibit of local artists’ work during the Padanaram Holiday Stroll. For quiet contrast, take a different kind of walk at the Frank Knowles/Little River Reserve, a Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust property with a trail that winds through woods and wetlands before ending in a scenic boardwalk. 

A seaside getaway is the ideal opportunity to indulge in fresh-caught seafood—and in Padanaram, that means heading to Sail Loft, whose menu spans from lobster rangoon to scallop carbonara. Just around the corner is Farm & Coast Market, a specialty food shop with an all-day café known for oven-fired pizza with house-made dough and sauce. Just need a caffeine boost? Seek out Scuttlebutt, which focuses on artisanal coffee in addition to breakfast and lunch eats. 

Shop for stocking stuffers at Folia, a colorful boutique selling everything from stationery to children’s apparel. At nearby Strawberry Moon, you’ll find shelves of crystals, tarot cards, candles, jewelry, and, during the holidays, a bewitching array of ornaments. Do stop into the oldest continually operating general store in Massachusetts, Davoll’s General Store, established in 1793 and stocked with books, jams, trinkets, candy, and more.

Salem                                                                  

Visit Salem after its wave of October visitors has crested, and you might even feel you have the place to yourself. That’s certainly the case at the ever-popular Nocturne, a Victorian-style gothic boutique with artfully arranged perfumes, candles, jewelry, and other gift-giving staples. There are more treasures to be browsed at Oak + Moss, a cheery shop with houseplants of all kinds, alongside punchy greeting cards and eclectic goods and decor. Check out Wicked Good Books, too, an independent bookstore connected to the kiddie favorite Silly Bunny Toys.

Culture lovers can while away hours at the Peabody Essex Museum, which holds the world’s largest collection of Asian export art, plus a rich array of maritime art and artifacts. Closer to the waterfront is the Punto Urban Art Museum, an open-air collection of 75 large-scale murals within a four-block radius. For a hit of literary lore, there’s The House of Seven Gables, the 1668 mansion where Nathaniel Hawthorne found inspiration for his novel of the same name.

Make time to sit down for high tea at Jolie Tea Company, replete with stacks of sweet and savory treats on tiered trays. More-casual bites await at All Souls Lounge, a lively bar serving gourmet grilled cheeses and vintage cocktails. And for dinner, enjoy relaxed, French-inspired elegance at Bernadette, where dishes like Pemaquid mussels with crème fraîche or duck à l’orange might be followed by a lush espresso crème brûlée.

Northampton                                             

Start your trip to “Paradise City” by stepping into the leafy oasis better known as the Botanic Garden of Smith College. A renowned collection of tropical and subtropical plants—including banana trees and Venus flytraps—fills the 12,000-square-foot Lyman Conservatory, which feels warm and full of life no matter the weather outside. Inspire your creative side by heading to the New England Visionary Artists Museum, where boundary-pushing paintings and sculptures bring their exciting energy to a former factory building. And for a dose of local lore, look to Historic Northampton: Founded in 1905, this nonprofit runs a by-donation history museum and offers a rich lineup of walking tours, performances, and programs.

All that exploring will need some refueling, which is where house-made pasta and an inventive cocktail from Homestead might come into play. Or duck into The Tunnel Bar for oysters and a martini from a lineup of more than a dozen versions. If it’s a casual atmosphere you’re after, Ana Bandeira Chocolates has sandwiches, pastries, soups, hot cocoa, and other comforting favorites, plus tree-to-bar chocolate delights. 

Essential for any visit to Northampton is a shopping tour along Main Street, starting with Pinch, a gift boutique stocked with handcrafted ceramics, jewelry and accessories, and home goods. Fellow indie retailer Kestrel also carries an eye-catching range of artisan jewelry and wares, alongside plants, candles, and beauty products. But if you stop into Thornes Marketplace, be prepared to linger: It’s home to a dozen-plus local businesses, including menswear shop Jackson & Connor and stationery store Noteworthy—and leading the dining lineup here is the flagship location of Herrell’s, Massachusetts’s original pioneer of gourmet “mix-in” ice cream.

For more Massachusetts travel inspiration, go to: VisitMA.com

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