MASSACHUSETTS

MUST SEES

• The first shots of the American Revolution were fired in Lexington and Concord in 1775. Learn more at the Minuteman National Historical Park Visitor Center, then ride the hop-on, hopoff Liberty Ride trolley to the sites.
• Old Sturbridge Village recreates rural New England life in the 1830s. Watch sheep-shearing and help with the harvest; check out the school house and shoemaker’s, two of some 40 authentic historic buildings.
• As well as the Normal Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge is home to the 80-year-old Berkshire Theatre Festival, one of America’s oldest regional theatres.
• In New Bedford, once New England’s biggest whaling port, the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park encompasses the world’s largest whaling museum, a whaling merchant’s home and whaler’s chapel.
• Stroll through Historic Deerfi eld past the main street’s museum houses and private homes dating from 1730-1850, plus the Flynt Center of Early New England Life.

MASSACHUSETTS

Cape Cod has mythical status in the American psyche as a summer playground. For the East Coast’s middle classes, it’s the destination of choice – civilised, not in the least bit flash, somewhere to wind down, dine on lobster, oysters and clams, and above all commune with nature... Fred Mawer, Daily Telegraph www.massvacation.com