From
the wild seacoast that beckoned Pilgrims in 1620 to the stone
walls that sheltered Minutemen in 1775, Massachusetts has
been the site of some of the defining moments in U.S. history.
It's a land of superlatives (especially "firsts"
and "oldests"). Not surprisingly, most visitors
to the state go looking for things that will fulfill their
vision of the nation's colonial and Revolutionary past.
Happily, Massachusetts lives up to such expectations. Its
small towns remain repositories of 200-year-old homes, square-rigged
sailing ships continue to bob in the harbors and fine living-history
museums let travelers experience sights, sounds and activities
of centuries past.
This isn't to say that Massachusetts is
all picture-postcard views and well-preserved communities.
It's as contemporary as any state, with a thriving arts
scene, bustling nightlife and a well-developed transportation
system. Taken as a whole, it's an enjoyable combination
of what's now and what came before.
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