If there’s one thing I can lay claim to, it’s that I’ve perfected the long weekend getaway.
Before I settled into domesticated bliss, I was quite the urban adventurer. Always living on a budget but never allowing that to cramp my style, I understood that vacations – even mini getaways – are necessary to rejuvenate the body and soul. Alas, I couldn’t afford to jet off to Europe or book a Caribbean cruise, so I started researching urban, historical and most importantly, gastronomical destinations on my own continent. And that’s when I realized that just four days – an extended weekend if you please – can turn into the most sublime micro getaway.
My travels took me to the usual suspects – Toronto, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Miami – but in terms of the “surprise and delight” factor – the one place that I expected to like but in turn loved – was Massachusetts. Just a 90-minute flight (or 8-hour drive) from Toronto and brimming with natural beauty, it offers some of the best tourism spots and travel activities in the US.
The decision to visit was an easy one; my husband (who was my then-boyfriend) was keen on taking in a baseball game at the famed Fenway Park in Boston; we both have a love of history and architecture, and from what I was told, I could expect the best damned clam chowder and lobster roll on this side of the Atlantic. A place that offers sports and seafood? Yes please.
And so it was with equal parts optimism and fascination that we descended on Massachusetts, ready to explore the vibrant culture that the state has to offer. And just what could we expect?
For the vacationer and family traveler, more than 1500 miles of seacoast, tradition-steeped professional sport teams and unforgettable dining experiences. For the academia enthusiast, hundreds of years rich in United States history, a diverse arts and culture scene and a leading US hub of innovation and technology. And for the celebrity stalker, the former stomping grounds of Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Conan O’Brien, Elizabeth Banks and the Wahlberg brothers. (Ben, Matt and Mark? Let us pause for a moment of hotness.)
Truly, whatever it is you want to do or see or visit, it’s all right here for you in Massachusetts.
Of course, my very favourite feature of Massachusetts as a destination – and the reason travelers are able to make Mass Memories – is the fact that it’s a one-stop shop! Excellent shopping, beautiful beaches, historic monuments, outdoor adventures, scrumptious food – well, they can all be enjoyed in a single day. No need to choose a beach vs. city trip – because you can do both! That’s right, bonus points for appealing to every traveler. …