Best Outdoor Attractions in Massachusetts | 2014 Editors’ Choice Awards

The Bay State has plenty to offer in the Great Outdoors. Read our picks for the best outdoor attractions in Massachusetts for 2014. BEST WATERFALL: BASH BISH FALLS STATE PARK, Mount Washington From the early-summer mountain laurel in bloom to the blazing colors of fall foliage, even the drive to this state park is a scenic delight. A woodsy trail leads to the falls, which plunge down a rocky gorge into a deep pool. The highest single-drop falls in the state even has its own tale of an Indian maiden in peril. Adjacent to Mt. Washington State Forest. Falls Road. 413-528-0330; mass.gov/eea BEST MOUNTAIN COASTER: IMINY PEAK MOUNTAIN RESORT, Hancock Families are the beneficiaries as ski resorts seek to offer more unusual summer activities. Jiminy Peak claims to be the first to bring a European-style mountain coaster to the East Coast. You can control the speed as you twist and turn on a scenic track through the woods. Many small-fry who don’t meet the requirements for traditional coasters can enjoy this gentler ride. 37 Corey Road. 413-738-5500; jiminypeak.com BEST LAKE RECREATION: TULLY LAKE CAMPGROUND, Royalston Formed by a flood-control dam, 200-acre Tully Lake and the surrounding woodlands have become a recreational gem for the North Quabbin region. Even non-campers can access hiking and mountain-biking trails, rent canoes and kayaks, and join the free ranger programs. If you haven’t tried disc golf, this is a good place to start. 25 Doane Hill Road. 978-249-4957; thetrustees.org BEST LIGHTHOUSE CRUISE: HARBOR TOURS OF CAPE ANN, Gloucester On a two-and-a-half hour cruise around Cape Ann, you’ll see fishing boats at work and learn firsthand why there are six lighthouses to guide sailors along this rocky coast. You’ll also appreciate the scenery that has drawn generations of artists to these shores. 66 Harbor Loop (off Rogers St.). 978-283-1979; capeannharbortours.com BEST KAYAK TOUR: MILL CREEK KAYAK TOUR, Sandwich Mill Creek was early Cape Cod’s link to the sea for commerce and fishing, and the two-hour tour from the Sandwich boardwalk toward town is a journey through more than 375 years of local history. The 1.8-mile paddle on a sit-on-top kayak also offers an unparalleled chance to watch herons, egrets, and ospreys fishing in the winding marshes. 20 Jarves St. 508-888-1627; ecotourz.net