17
Geography, landmarks, etc.
I've never been there so how can I get persuaded to want to go there?
Answer
suggestions for the Bay State
(hint: never go in the winter, ever)
Boston
Museums, lots of Museums: The MFA (art) Isabella Stuart Gardner (art) ICA (art) The Aquarium, The Science Museum, Harvard and MIT museums, not to mention all the Historical sites; sites along the Freedom Trail, John Adams House
Check listings for concerts, plays and other events
Red Sox Game,or other sports event
Visit the Harbor Islands, Whale watch, Blue Hills State reservation
shopping, lots of shopping in Quincy Market, Newbury Street or Harvard Square in Cambridge, also visit the insanely overpriced Copley Place Mall
Duck tours
Go to the top of the Prudential Tower for a great view
Take a Boston Harbor Cruise. There are all sorts of cruises for different interests
Salem:
the touristy spots are right off the Commuter rail train station
check out the Peabody Essex Museum, all the witch stuff, the historic site run by the Park Service and lots of shopping and restaurants
Concord
Minute Man National Park
Cape Cod and the Islands
great beaches
lots of shopping
Cape Cod Summer baseball league
lots of small museums
many nature reserves and hiking trails
boating, fishing, mini golf
western MA
numerous small museums
hiking and camping in the mountains
Tanglewood classical music concerts
also there are zoos in Boston, Stoneham and Mendon
other points of interest include: Whaling Museum in new Bedford, Higgins Armoury a medieval armor Museum in Worcester, Tower Hill Botanical Gardens In Boylston, Magic Wings Butterfly Sanctuary in Deerfield, Beneski Dinosaur Museum In Amherst, Plymouth Plantation, shopping in Rockport and Newburyport
suggestions for the Bay State
(hint: never go in the winter, ever)
Boston
Museums, lots of Museums: The MFA (art) Isabella Stuart Gardner (art) ICA (art) The Aquarium, The Science Museum, Harvard and MIT museums, not to mention all the Historical sites; sites along the Freedom Trail, John Adams House
Check listings for concerts, plays and other events
Red Sox Game,or other sports event
Visit the Harbor Islands, Whale watch, Blue Hills State reservation
shopping, lots of shopping in Quincy Market, Newbury Street or Harvard Square in Cambridge, also visit the insanely overpriced Copley Place Mall
Duck tours
Go to the top of the Prudential Tower for a great view
Take a Boston Harbor Cruise. There are all sorts of cruises for different interests
Salem:
the touristy spots are right off the Commuter rail train station
check out the Peabody Essex Museum, all the witch stuff, the historic site run by the Park Service and lots of shopping and restaurants
Concord
Minute Man National Park
Cape Cod and the Islands
great beaches
lots of shopping
Cape Cod Summer baseball league
lots of small museums
many nature reserves and hiking trails
boating, fishing, mini golf
western MA
numerous small museums
hiking and camping in the mountains
Tanglewood classical music concerts
also there are zoos in Boston, Stoneham and Mendon
other points of interest include: Whaling Museum in new Bedford, Higgins Armoury a medieval armor Museum in Worcester, Tower Hill Botanical Gardens In Boylston, Magic Wings Butterfly Sanctuary in Deerfield, Beneski Dinosaur Museum In Amherst, Plymouth Plantation, shopping in Rockport and Newburyport
Massachusetts good or bad idea?
JE
My wife and I have 2 children, 9 and 2. She is a fresh nursing graduate and I am self employed in the tree/landscape business hoping to attend college part time. We are considering ma because of the better schools and health care system there (at least from my research). I understand winters are long and cold there and cost of living is pretty high, but would like to know: 1) what are the other pros and cons of the area? 2)What areas are best and affordable? 3)Are most of the residents really happy there? 4)Are a lot of people depressed because of the long winters? 5) What activities are there for children to do outdoors? Any other info would be greatly appreciated!
Answer
it's a mixed bag
the weather here is bad. real bad, summers are usually nice, but not always
schools (in most towns) and health care are great, you will be giving your kids a great start
the best bet will be central or western Massachusetts for affordable. Northampton is routinely rated one of the best places to raise kids
but ehre will be great towns all over, such as Shrewsbury, Grafton, Newton, Northboro and many others. Get reviews of school systems and crime in any given town. Avoid Brockton, New Bedford, Fitchburg and Winchendon (there are many others as well).
I get depressed during winter, many others do too.
other:
there is lots to do here, many places tot ake the kids
great scenery (though winter is ugly)
Massachusetts has one of the cleanest environments in the Union
the state is very progresive and liberal
Massachusetts residents have a longer lifespan than residents of most other states
traffic is bad here, locals are called "Massholes" for a reason. Avoid driving in Boston if possible
people here have a reputation for rudeness. That is not true (except for that whole driving part) We are however, rather standoffish, we don't do fake friendly. Ever.
and the weatehr here is really, really bad.
outdoor activities?
lots of camping and hiking in state parks, the Appalachian trail runs through the western part of teh state, we have great beaches (you want the Cape,Islands, and Buzzards bay, avoid the North Shore - the water is too cold) head to the Harbor Islands, take a whale watch, take a walk through Boston, try the Freedom trail)
The cities have a lot to offer as well, historic sites, shopping musuems
it's a mixed bag
the weather here is bad. real bad, summers are usually nice, but not always
schools (in most towns) and health care are great, you will be giving your kids a great start
the best bet will be central or western Massachusetts for affordable. Northampton is routinely rated one of the best places to raise kids
but ehre will be great towns all over, such as Shrewsbury, Grafton, Newton, Northboro and many others. Get reviews of school systems and crime in any given town. Avoid Brockton, New Bedford, Fitchburg and Winchendon (there are many others as well).
I get depressed during winter, many others do too.
other:
there is lots to do here, many places tot ake the kids
great scenery (though winter is ugly)
Massachusetts has one of the cleanest environments in the Union
the state is very progresive and liberal
Massachusetts residents have a longer lifespan than residents of most other states
traffic is bad here, locals are called "Massholes" for a reason. Avoid driving in Boston if possible
people here have a reputation for rudeness. That is not true (except for that whole driving part) We are however, rather standoffish, we don't do fake friendly. Ever.
and the weatehr here is really, really bad.
outdoor activities?
lots of camping and hiking in state parks, the Appalachian trail runs through the western part of teh state, we have great beaches (you want the Cape,Islands, and Buzzards bay, avoid the North Shore - the water is too cold) head to the Harbor Islands, take a whale watch, take a walk through Boston, try the Freedom trail)
The cities have a lot to offer as well, historic sites, shopping musuems
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment