It’s a source of pride for Bostonians that everything in our city is conveniently located within walking distance. But after a while, all that closeness can get a bit confining. Fortunately, if you do decide to escape the city for the day, there are points of interest to visit in every direction.
Lenox
Located in the peaceful, wooded Berkshire
Mountains, Lenox is best known to Bostonians
as the home of Tanglewood
(pictured right), the scenic al fresco
concert venue that hosts the Boston Symphony
Orchestra during the summer months. For more
outdoor fun visit the
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary,
which hosts Pleasant Valley
Day, a celebration of nature for all
ages, on June 24. Lenox is also home
to The Mount, the
expansive estate and gardens of author Edith
Wharton, as well as the
Frelighuyen Morris House and Studio,
a hidden gem of a museum filled with Cubist
art by painters including Miró and Picasso.
Approximate driving
time: 2.5 hours.
Driving directions:
Take Mass Pike West to Exit 2, take a right
off exit ramp to Rte. 20 West.
Other options:
Bonanza/Peter Pan bus lines
(617-526-1801, 
departing from South
Station). Amtrak (multiple departure points
in Boston, 800-USA-RAIL) service to
Pittsfield, just 10 minutes from Lenox.
Lowell
Although it’s no longer a textile-production
hub filled with mill girls, Lowell still
draws young people from miles around due to
its hip art and music scene. Each weekend,
the Lowell Summer Music
Series (pictured right) offers outdoor
concerts, with upcoming performers including
Joan Osbourne (June 29) and Buckwheat
Zydeco (June 30). And many are
surprised to learn of Lowell’s position as a
mini-museum mecca—home to the
Boott Cotton Mills Museum, the
American Textile Museum
and the culturally diverse
Revolving Museum.
Approximate driving
time: 40 minutes.
Driving directions:
Take Mass Pike West to Rte. 495 North to
Exit 35C, or Rte.3 North to 30B.
Other options:
MBTA Commuter Rail trains from
Boston’s North Station.
Martha’s Vineyard
With its vast stretches of beach and
charming small-town atmosphere, it’s easy to
see why this little island is a favorite
summer getaway for countless celebrities,
including the Clintons, Bill Gates and Carly
Simon. “The Vineyard” is also home to
several historic lighthouses (Gay Head Light
is pictured, right), as well as the
Flying Horses Carousel,
the oldest operating carousel in America.
Come dusk, make your way to the Menemsha
fishing village—the seaside area where
Stephen Spielberg shot most of Jaws—for the
best sunset viewing on the island.
Approximate driving
time: 1 hour, 40 minutes to
ferry. Island Queen ferry service
(from Falmouth, 508-548-4800) takes 35
minutes. The Steamship Authority
(from Woods Hole, 508-477-8600) takes 45
minutes. Numerous other ferry services are
available. Plymouth & Brockton
(508-746-0378, departing from Logan Airport
and South Station) and Bonanza/Peter Pan
bus lines travel from Boston to ferry
departure points, as do Amtrak
trains.
Newport, RI
Although it may be the smallest state in the
union, Rhode Island is home to some of the
most expansive estates you’ll ever see. Many
of Newport’s mansions even invite visitors
to tour their grounds, including the Italian
villa-style Chepstow,
the High Victorian Chateau-sur-Mer
and Belcourt Castle,
which is filled with an impressive
collection of art and antiques. When it
comes to culture, people who live in
mansions don’t fool around. For those who
would prefer an outdoor event,
The Newport International
Polo Series hosts matches on June
23 & 30.
Approximate driving
time: 1.5 hours.
Driving directions:
Take Rte. 95 South to Rte. 24 South to Rte.
114 South. Other
options: Bonanza/Peter Pan bus
lines serve Newport. Amtrak
trains go to Kingston, which is 15 miles
west of Newport.
Plymouth
From history buffs to beach bums, Plymouth
has a little something for everyone. The
city is chockfull of historical museums that
commemorate the Pilgrims’ 1620 landing on
Plymouth’s shores. (And yes, Plymouth Rock
is still there to mark the spot.) Don’t miss
Plimoth Plantation,
where you can immerse yourself in a Pilgrim
community from 1627 and explore the
Mayflower II (pictured right), a replica
of the ship that brought colonists to
America. When you’ve had your fill of
history, try soaking up the sun at one of
the area’s many beaches, including
White Horse Beach,
Nelson Beach and
Plymouth Beach. And
juice lovers can check out
Ocean Spray Cranberry World, a salute
to the tiny, tart berry.
Approximate driving
time: 50 minutes.
Driving directions:
Rte. 3 South. Other
options: Bus service from
Plymouth & Brockton bus lines, MBTA
Commuter Rail from South Station.
Southern Maine
Once thought of as a distant
territory populated by moose and trees,
Maine is now hipper and more accessible than
many realize. The city of Portland is home
to the Sea Dogs—the
Red Sox’ AA affiliate—as well as a
burgeoning nightlife scene and a trendy
shopping district. With more than 120 outlet
stores, Kittery is a
bargain hunter’s fantasy. And after all that
partying and shopping, the gorgeous coastal
village of Kennebunkport
(pictured right, where the Bush clan chills
in the summer) is the perfect place to
unwind, whether you choose the secluded
Goose Rocks Beach or the expansive Kennebunk
Beach.
Approximate driving
time: 1–2 hours.
Driving directions:
Take Rte. 1 North to 95 North.
Other options:
Greyhound buses (800-231-2222,) to Portland,
departing from South Station; Amtrak’s
Downeaster, offering rail service from
North Station to Portland and beyond (visit
www.thedowneaster.com for more
information).
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