Salem
Today, the name Salem seems to be synonymous with witches. The witch trials in 1692 are the inspiration source for the many cafis, waxworks and souvenir stores you will find in the town. The Salem Witch Museum tells about the historical events. However, Salem also used to be a very important harbor from where trade was conducted with all parts of the world. In 1790 Salem was the sixth largest city in the U.S. Salem Maritime National Historic Site reminds today's visitors of this old glory.

The Peabody Essex Museum displays art brought back to Salem on the trade ships from all over the world. Salem is also home to the House of the Seven Gables. This house inspired the novel, The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a famous American writer.


North Shore Drive
This drive starts in Salem, and then follows the rocky shoreline of Cape Ann. On your way to Cape Ann, you will pass impressive mansions, broad seascapes, and protected coves. A must is to stop at the art galleries and museums or take a walk in the old towns.


Rockport
This city is not only famous for its beautiful seashore but also for its granite. This stone was used to rebuild Chicago after its fire, San Francisco after its earthquake and perform the construction of the Panama Canal. Rockport is somewhat of an artist colony, and the nature is easy to recognize through all the paintings made from this area. The most popular subject for painters and photographers is a dark-red fishing shack. Its nickname is Motif No. I and is a "must see" during a visit in Rockport.


Halibut Point State Park
On the way from Rockport along the shoreline of Cape Ann is the Halibut Point State Park. This State Park is a unique and beautiful coastal seascape and the Halibut Point itself is made of sheets of 400 million year-old granite. The vegetation includes few trees because of constant onshore winds, but offers plenty of barberries, blueberries and an assortment of wildflowers. During wintertime, many species of seabirds feed in the rich offshore water.

Visitor Information
North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

Quincy
This suburb's nickname is the "City of Presidents". The second president, John Adams (1735-1826), and his son the sixth president, John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) were the first two of four generations in Quincy. Their house is still standing. These days it is supervised by National Park Service and often referred to as the Old House.


Plymouth Plymouth has a place in history as the birthplace of United States. After a quick stop at Cape Cod, the pilgrims sailed their boat, the Mayflower, over the bay. They eventually settled in what today is known as Plymouth. There are two places that visitors must see, the Mayflower II and the Plymouth Plantation. Plymouth Plantation is a recreation of a 17th-century community, and here you can see how the pilgrims lived in their new land.

Visitors Information
South of Boston

This is one of the most famous spots for vacation in the United States. Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are appealing to all ages and all tastes. All of the towns have their own personality and distinct character.

Old King's Highway
This drive follows Mass. 6A, the Old King's Highway. In fine weather, this also can be a nice bike ride. The starting point is the city Sandwich, and the drive ends up in Orleans. It gives you a good picture of what Cape Cod has to offer.

Provincetown
This is a small town at the end of Cape Cod. It has two main streets and the best way to see the city is by foot. Provincetown, also known as P-town, is popular with the gay community and arranges several festivals each year.

Martha's Vineyard
This is an island south of Cape Cod. Martha's Vineyard has broad beaches and beautiful nature that is pleasing to the eye. The pace is a bit slower than on the main island and some places on the island that have been a popular resort for more than a century.

Nantucket
Nantucket is another island just outside Cape Cod. The atmospheric streets complement its busy and scenic shoreline. Many visitors come to the island to experience the charm of what is known as the Little Gray Lady.

Visitor Information
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce

Many people say that New Hampshire has it all, mountains, lakes, beautiful country roads and an active city life. Its surroundings give inspiration in various ways. For instance, John Irving's book, The World According to Garp, takes place in New Hampshire and its story entices many visitors to the area. New Hampshire is an area with several interesting places to visit. Please look at the link below for more information.

Monadnock
In the Monadnock region, you will find everything associated with New Hampshire. There are white steeple churches, old covered bridges, beautiful country roads, wild woods and lakes. There are a lot of things to see and places to visit in New Hampshire. To give some examples: the town Peterborough and its Historical Society Museum, Mount Monadnock and Monadnock State Park are interesting places to visit.

White Mountains
The White Mountains are a beautiful place for all kinds of outdoor activities all year around. In the summer, you can go hiking, play golf and go fishing. In the wintertime, the mountains offer good skiing.

Visitor Information
State of New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development

Newport/Rhode Island
It is hard to find a more beautiful approach to a city than the drive over Newport Bridge. The city Newport has a colonial heritage, great yachting and tennis traditions, and renowned music festivals. The mansions are impressive, and one should take the time to walk through the old Newport.


Providence
This is the capital of Rhode Island. It's a small and attractive city built along the Providence River. If you are interested in history, Benefit Street is for you. And, if you are crazy about art, you should visit the Rhode Island School of Design's Museums of Art. The gourmets will have plenty of restaurants to choose from. In Providence, there is a place for everyone.

Visitor Information
The Official Rhode Island Tourism Web Site

New York City (NYC) is the largest city and probably the most famous city in the U.S. Here, you can find many fun and interesting attractions: the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square, many great museums, and up-scale boutiques.

Visitor Information
The Official New York State Tourism Website NYC & Company

Check the Guide's section on transportation to find how to get to New York, and the MIT Hotel Directory for hotel recommendations.

Some more helpful websites and nice places to visit include:

National Park Service: Here you can find information on different parks, historical sites and more places to visit
Connecticut: Mystic Seaport and Aquarium
Vermont: Skiing, Lake Champlain
Maine: Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor
Washington DC: White House, Lincoln Memorial, War Memorials, Museums

Don't forget to check MITAC for bus trips to interesting East Coast destinations.