2024 Massachusetts Travel Guide | Best Restaurants, Hotels, & Things to Do

2024 Best of Massachusetts: The Classics

MASSACHUSETTS CLASSIC DINING

BYOB RESTAURANT
Black-Eyed Susan’s, Nantucket

The glass rental fee is steep, so BYOG in addition to toting your favorite bottle of vino to this island restaurant, beloved for more than 30 years. Devotees who spent all of 2022 fearing for the intimate eatery’s life were delighted to reclaim their patio tables and stools overlooking the open kitchen when experienced new owners (Orla and Michael LaScola of The Proprietors) reopened the doors last summer. Chef Todd Edwards is back in the saddle, resurrecting favorites like tuna tartare while interjecting dishes that marry local seafood with flavors from afar. blackeyedsusansnantucket.com

COCKTAILS
The Baldwin Bar/The Baldwin & Sons Trading Co., Woburn

You can’t swing a bar spoon in Boston these days without hitting a Ran Duan project. Just since 2018, the superstar mixologist has launched Blossom Bar and Ivory Pearl, both in Brookline, and Birds of Paradise in Brighton—each uniquely themed, all quickly acclaimed. But his creative roots lie in the ’burbs, where a 20-something Duan first gave his parents’ Sichuan restaurant a creative spin on the classic tiki lounge (the Baldwin Bar), then took things to the literal next level with a more refined second-floor bar (the Baldwin & Sons Trading Co.). Whether you opt for the freshest of tropical libations downstairs or the clever, cutting-edge creations upstairs, rest assured you’re catching Duan’s original buzz. thebaldwinbar.com

FRIED CLAMS
Woodman’s of Essex, Essex

This 110-year-old restaurant makes a very credible claim as the birthplace of the fried clam, so you know where to start your order. But don’t stop there. The clam chowder is terrific, and you can’t go wrong with the Down River Combo (a mix of fried clams, shrimp, scallops, and fish). There’s also an extensive menu of food made to be gluten-free—a process the kitchen takes very seriously. woodmans.com

LIVE-MUSIC RESTAURANT
The Dream Away Lodge, Becket

After a period of closure and uncertainty, a rollicking farmhouse at the edge of a deep woods is once again adding to its musical legend. Made famous when Bob Dylan and pals Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, and Allen Ginsberg stumbled upon it in 1975, the Depression-era brothel and speakeasy that Mama Maria Frasca transformed into the Dream Away is everything that faithful fans recall from their twisted-road travels to its front-porch door. The bar is a psychedelic light show; dinner is an eye-popping display of local Berkshires bounty. Polish off dessert in time to nab a cushion or couch seat in the living room, where the evening’s talent might be a local combo, a literary voice, a touring recording artist, or even Arlo’s daughters. thedreamawaylodge.com

MASSACHUSETTS CLASSIC LODGING

BOUTIQUE HOTEL
The Porches Inn at Mass MoCA, North Adams

In a region prized for its arts scene, the Porches Inn drops you smack-dab in the middle of it. Its 47 guest rooms are located in a cluster of artfully converted Victorian row houses across from contemporary art colossus Mass MoCA, which opened 25 years ago. Inn guests can score two free tickets to the museum or to the Clark Art Institute, which is just a short drive from the heralded Williams College Museum of Art. Back at your home away from home, amenities are at your fingertips, including a generous breakfast spread to start your day and a luxurious sauna and pool to help you finish it. porches.com

HAUNTED HOTEL
Hawthorne Hotel, Salem

At nearly a century old and gracious as ever, the Hawthorne Hotel is the perfect home base during visits to Witch City all year, not just at Halloween, thanks to its location right downtown. Just be sure to keep your eyes and ears alert for things that go bump in the night: The hotel is rumored to be haunted. (Your pet can come along to protect you.) hawthornehotel.com

HISTORIC INN
Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, Sudbury

There are no TVs in the guest rooms, but who needs them? The History Channel’s prime-time lineup pales next to the immersive thrills of America’s oldest continuously operating inn, opened in 1716. Depending on when you go, you may see locals in breeches and tricornes practicing their musket skills; meanwhile, a replica of an 18th-century grist mill churns out vintage photo ops as well as flour for the inn’s baked treats. The two oldest of the 10 rooms look much as they would have a few centuries ago—good enough for the inn’s purported ghost, apparently. With its wood-beamed ceiling and expansive fireplace, the 1707 Old Bar is the place to order a “Coow Woow” (purported to be the fledgling nation’s first cocktail) and drink it all in. wayside.org/dine-stay

SEASIDE RESORT
Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, Harwich

At just a year shy of its 100th birthday, Cape Cod’s premier beach, pool, and golf resort is showing off new tricks under new ownership. This was the first winter season the property did not shutter, bolstering the Cape’s efforts to sustain a year-round workforce and tourism economy. We have to admit, though: Summer’s still the time to experience this magical spot on Pleasant Bay at the crest of its energy and elegance. Between morning walks and evening s’mores, there’s a daily menu of curated activities with a real sense of place. Grab a pastry to go at The Sill, a new bakery inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s penchant for swiping pies from neighbors’ windowsills. Go clamming or fishing. Sip wine on a sunset sail. Dine indoors or out on beautifully plated seafood at Twenty-Eight Atlantic. You’ll sleep knowing you’ve made the absolute most of your Cape getaway. wequassett.com

MASSACHUSETTS CLASSIC ATTRACTIONS

CANDY STORE
Richardson’s Candy Kitchen, Deerfield

Celebrating 70 years, Richardson’s makes the kid inside everyone squeal, regardless of actual age. Purveyors of original-recipe fudge and nostalgia-loaded penny candy like malt balls, spearmint leaves, sour belts, butter rum sticks, and Dad’s root beer barrels, they’re best known for handmade chocolates such as a dozen varieties of nut-studded dixies (many folks would call them turtles) and, in June, chocolate-dipped strawberries. richardsonscandy.com

CONCERT VENUE
Tanglewood, Lenox

If classical music were a sport, the Boston Symphony Orchestra would be hanging championship banners from the rafters of the Koussevitzky Music Shed, the main open-air venue at the orchestra’s summer home in the Berkshires. Purchase a lawn pass book, and it brings the cost of seeing 11 concerts down to just $22 apiece. Lawn tickets for most orchestral concerts are free for children under 18, making this the ideal place to show young students who’ve just picked up an instrument at school where practice and dedication can take them. This year, the BSO will honor Tanglewood founder Serge Koussevitzky’s 150th birthday, but it’ll be James Taylor’s 50th anniversary of performances at the venue that will fill every inch of the lawn with picnicking 3rd and 4th of July revelers. Once you’ve experienced a concert under the sun or stars in this glorious green setting, it will become your own annual tradition. tanglewood.org

FACTORY TOUR
Old Schwamb Mill, Arlington

Since 1864, the wood turners in this unassuming red clapboard building have crafted exquisite oval and circular picture frames, which today can be found in major museums the world over and in prestigious collections at Buckingham Palace, the White House, the Vatican, and the like. Located on the oldest continuously operating mill site in the country, Old Schwamb has served dual purpose as a living history museum since 1970. It hosts a diverse lineup of exhibitions and is open for free tours (donations accepted) and shopping on Tuesdays and Saturdays. oldschwambmill.org

FREE FAMILY FUN
Harvard Alpaca Ranch, Harvard

Load everybody up for a country-roads drive to this sweet farm. You’ll pet the herd and hear these gentle animals’ cute humming on a free tour with a knowledgeable guide. Advance reservations and donations are appreciated, as are purchases. The soft goods in the Alpaca Shop—everything from socks to yarns to stuffed animals—are touchably irresistible. harvardalpacaranch.com

2024 Best of Massachusetts: New & Buzzy

MASSACHUSETTSNEW & BUZZY DINING

CHEAP EATS
Rubato HK Café, Quincy

Newly minted James Beard Award semifinalist Laurence Louie offers a taste of modern Hong Kong. The fun, mostly small-bites menu features fluffy bolo baos (sweet buns) stuffed with fried chicken or barbecued pork, stuffed French bread with condensed milk and cookie crumbs, congee, and a terrific baked pork chop with tomato sauce and fried rice. rubato-food.com

FARM STAND
The Farmstead Creamery at High Lawn Farm, Lee

Part farm store (you can buy fresh milk and cheese), part food boutique (pick up locally made charcuterie, bread, honey, and jams), and part scoop shop (the homemade ice cream is some of the best in New England), the Farmstead Creamery is our dream of a country store. Browse the shelves, then enjoy a cone at a picnic table while taking in the view of pasture, rolling hills, and the farm’s signature hexagonal clock tower. highlawnfarm.com

JEWISH/MIDDLE EASTERN
Lehrhaus, Somerville

This welcoming tavern serves modern takes on Jewish foods from across the diaspora—and offers classes on everything from Jewish sci-fi and fantasy to Hebrew calligraphy. With chef Michael Leviton in the kitchen, the menu is a delightful mix of mac-and-cheese kugel, bourekas (savory pastries), smoked fish spreads, and terrific fish-and-chips. lehr.haus

TASTING MENU
Nightshade Noodle Bar, Lynn

Chef-owner Rachel Miller has kept her restaurant small, focused (it’s tasting menu–only, though you can choose the number of courses), and consistently noteworthy since opening just before the pandemic. Miller takes her inspiration from French and Vietnamese cuisine, with an emphasis on seafood and noodle dishes, but that can mean shrimp toast with white sesame, Cajun shrimp bisque, or handmade noodles with caramelized garlic sauce. nightshadenoodlebar.com

WATER-VIEW DINING
The Homeport Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Menemsha

Long beloved for its stunning sunset views, the Homeport has found new life in the hands of seasoned restaurateur Seth Woods. Try the steamed mussels with coconut and ginger, the bass and clam chowder, the stuffed quahogs, or the seared scallops. Or let them prepare a takeaway clambake with all the fixings. thehomeportmv.com

MASSACHUSETTSNEW & BUZZY LODGING

BERKSHIRES B&B
Granville House, Great Barrington

When a great chef is told, “Just make what you’d like,” it can yield delights that the diner never thought of. In the same way, Granville House (opened in 2020 by two former New York restaurant pros, as it happens) feels like an irresistible expression of what owners Terry and Terri Coughlin like best. Classic vinyl records, from Nina Simone to the Sex Pistols. Eclectic stacks of food, music, and art books. A sassy mix of vintage and modern decor, with nods to Terry’s travels in Italy and highlights from his autograph collection (yes, that’s a Star Wars lunch box signed by Mark Hamill). All set in a renovated 1825 house, this is as personal—and memorable—as a B&B gets. granvillehouseinn.com

COASTAL STAY
Addison Choate, Rockport

Watch one video @addisonchoate on TikTok or Instagram, and you’ll already know that overnighting at this coastal B&B will be a playful treat. Marshall and Courtney Tulley have styled common spaces and seven rooms—including the two-floor Dog Watch suite with its pine floors, pops of turquoise and coral, and full kitchen—to wake up your imagination. After a bagged breakfast on the porch, you’ll be all fired up for the short walk to Bearskin Neck with your easel and paints or to Shalin Liu for a concert with an ocean view. addisonchoate.com

RESORT
Margaritaville Resort Cape Cod, Hyannis

Jimmy Buffett was no stranger to Cape Cod—the late singer name-dropped Buzzards Bay in his 1979 song “Volcano”—and this summer his Margaritaville Resorts brand puts its toes in New England sand. The former Cape Codder Resort, which already boasts a popular indoor water park, is getting a $30 million makeover for this summer’s reopening. The 272-room hotel will feature dining outlets such as the LandShark Bar & Grill and 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar. And plenty of palm trees, plus Cape-inspired artwork and decor. Fins up! margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-cape-cod

MASSACHUSETTSNEW & BUZZY ACTIVITIES

CHEAP THRILL
Gillette Stadium Lighthouse Experience, Foxborough

How much would you pay to ascend the tallest lighthouse in America? What if the 22-story elevator ride also came with digital photos of your crew from two angles once you reached the 360-degree observation deck? Plus views of forested hills (particularly pretty in the fall), two city skylines (Providence and Boston), and the hallowed field where the Patriots play? The newest attraction at Gillette Stadium is definitely worth a fiver. Your kids 10 and under can join you for free. patriot-place.com/lighthouse

CITY VIEWS
View Boston, Boston

You’re not among the clouds, but you’re close when you ascend to the Prudential Tower’s 52nd floor, a completely reimagined use of the once-famed Top of the Hub restaurant and the two levels below it. The resulting $182 million overhaul is View Boston, an observatory, open-air terrace, and immersive virtual tour that whisks visitors through the city’s nearly two dozen neighborhoods. The on-site bar and restaurant, Stratus, will keep you looking and lingering, while metal sculptures made in partnership with the Perkins School for the Blind are designed to be touched, allowing those with visual impairments to experience the same landmarks the observatory overlooks. viewboston.com

HISTORY MUSEUM
American Heritage Museum, Hudson

The ground shudders; artillery blasts. You’re in a World War I trench, and this next-level-immersive museum is about to spark gratitude in your heart for those who have fought for Americans’ freedoms, from the Revolution through today. Opened in 2019, the 66,000-square-foot facility was designed to house Jacques M. Littlefield’s collection of massive armored vehicles, yet stories told by Vietnam POWs make an even bigger impression. For a premium, you can ride in a World War II–era tank or even learn to take the controls. americanheritagemuseum.org

IMMERSIVE ART MUSEUM
WNDR Boston, Boston

You know the rules when it comes to museums: Don’t touch the work. Unless you’re touring WNDR, a fully interactive space opened this year that beautifully marries art and technology. WNDR’s sister locales include Chicago and San Diego, but its Downtown Crossing home is its largest, and its immersive exhibits—from an infinity mirror room to a rolling simulated thunderstorm (you can leave your rain jacket at home)—offer up sensory experiences you won’t find at more traditional institutions. Watch for monthly WNDR After Dark events that add drinks and tunes to the mix. wndrmuseum.com

LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Samuel Slater Experience, Webster

If you haven’t heard of the man for whom this new historic attraction is named, you’re in for quite the introduction to the traitor-hero. Opened in 2022, this museum has artifacts, sure. But as you journey across the Atlantic with Slater, who smuggled secrets that launched America’s Industrial Revolution, it’s the multisensory effects that will wow you. Get ready to talk to holograms, hear the sounds of a re-created textile mill, design your own fabrics (maybe even register for a weaving course), and board a trolley for a virtual ride down Main Street in 1910, when Webster was a boomtown thanks to the Slater-built mills’ wild success. samuelslaterexperience.org

NOSTALGIC RIDE
Salisbury Beach Carousel, Salisbury

There was a time when no self-respecting New England beach town was complete without a merry-go-round, and a carousel is once again an essential part of Salisbury’s summer allure. Housed in a classically designed post-and-beam pavilion that was opened in 2023, the 1909 Looff-Mangels carousel—the town’s first since its original was sold off in the 1970s—enchants a new generation of sand-encrusted kids with 44 hand-carved horses; whimsical interlopers like goats, giraffes, and a zebra; and a pair of ornate chariots that accommodate riders with mobility limits. Rides are $4. Kiddos shorter than 42 inches ride free with an adult. salisburybeachcarousel.org

PLACE TO WALK
Moraine Farm, Beverly

In 1880, the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted transformed 275 acres of worn-out farmland and a ridge of rocky glacial debris into a beautiful landscape of natural woodlands, ponds, meadows, and wetlands enhanced with carriage roads, hiking paths, lawns, and stone walls and terraces. Thanks to a recent acquisition by The Trustees, the core 76 acres of the former gentleman’s farm will open to the public in time for summer. Highlights also include connecting trails to the neighboring J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve, community gardens, and views of the Tea House and other elegant buildings composing the Estate at Moraine Farm, a popular wedding venue. thetrustees.org/place/moraine-farm

2024 Spotlight: Summer Weekend in Boston | Travel Guide