Best Classic Attractions in Massachusetts | 2013 Editors’ Choice Awards

There’s a lot to see in do in the Bay State, but some activities really stand the test of time. Read our picks for the best classic attractions in Massachusetts. BEST EARLY WHALING MUSEUM NANTUCKET WHALING MUSEUM, Nantucket Nantucket was the Houston of its day, when whale oil lit the lamps and greased the wheels of industry. From the majestic skeleton of a sperm whale to delicate scrimshaw, this museum tells of the historic hunt for leviathans and our modern quest to save them. 13 Broad St. 508-228-1894; nha.org/sitesBEST RURAL-HISTORY LESSON OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE, Sturbridge Dramatic events are not the only stuff of history. This outdoor museum depicts a rural New England village and does a superb job of capturing the details of daily life from 1790 to 1840. Heirloom gardens feature fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamental flowers. 29 Stallion Hill Road (off Route 20). 800-733-1830, 508-347-3362; osv.orgBEST VINTAGE SUMMER THEATRE CAPE PLAYHOUSE, Dennis Many stars of stage and screen have trod the boards at the Cape Playhouse since it opened in 1927 in a former Unitarian meetinghouse. The country’s oldest professional summer theatre knows how to put together an entertaining six-play mix of comedies, musicals, mysteries, and old favorites. 820 Main St. (Route 6A). 508-385-3911; capeplayhouse.comBEST BICULTURAL INTERPRETATION PLIMOTH PLANTATION, Plymouth Days were filled with work in 17th-century New England, whether you were a Native American carving a canoe from a log or an English settler tending livestock. Visitors to this living-history museum can observe both ways of life and decide for themselves whether they’d rather retire to a dome-shaped wigwam or a thatch-roofed cottage at the end of the day. 137 Warren Ave. 508-746-1622; plimoth.orgBEST MILL HISTORY LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, Lowell Tours and exhibits at Lowell’s red-brick mill buildings tell the story of the birth of the Industrial Revolution and its impact on our country. For a more personal brush with history, stop downtown at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.) and imagine spending your days engulfed by the clatter of the looms. Visitor Center, 304 Dutton St. 978-970-5000; nps.gov/lowe