Romantic Getaways in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to several places perfect for a romantic outing or getaway. Blessed with scenic mountains, lovely beaches, a long heritage in art, culture and politics, this state has something to offer to couples of every taste.

The Berkshires

The Berkshire Mountains region of western Massachusetts is a haven of romantic vacationers with its pristine mountains sprinkled with gems of cultural and outdoor activities. Here you and your partner can take the historic Mohawk Trail or cross the Bridge of Flowers over the Shelburn River. Don’t miss the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens at Deerfield, which houses more than 3,000 butterflies in an indoor tropical garden and which can make a nice stop for winter or days of inclement weather. During the day, the Berkshires are the ideal setting for quiet pursuits. Woods and shady lanes, waterfalls and public gardens, all provide you with ample quality time with your partner. Couples who enjoy biking, hiking, and canoe outings will find much worth exploring in this part of Massachusetts. Apart from its natural beauty, the Berkshires offer a wealth of cultural attractions, starting with Tanglewood in Lenox, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra to Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Among museums, the region’s big draw is the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, with the world’s largest collection of original Norman Rockwell art, a perennial attraction for kids and families. In North Adams is located the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, that charms visitors with every imaginable slant on the visual and performing arts. In Pittsfield, the restored Hancock Shaker village, a living history museum, provides a glimpse into the lives of these agrarian people. Similarly, Historic Deerfield displays New England life in the pre-modern times. The Berkshires of Massachusetts can also make for a great winder getaway option since the region offers ample winter activities for couples like skiing and snow sports at the Butternut and Catamount ski areas.

Martha’s Vineyard

For a getaway idea that is high both on romance and style, it is difficult to top Martha’s Vineyard. An island jewel off the coast of Cape Cod, it is blessed with lovely beaches, elegant towns, and plentiful excellent dining and shopping. Martha’s Vineyard attracts vacationing couples with its streets of brightly painted Victorian gingerbread cottages in the town of Oak Bluffs. While there, be sure to visit the Flying Horses carousel, considered the oldest working carousel in the United States. Other towns on the island are Vineyard Haven, a picturesque, turn-of-the-century community, as well as Edgartown, formerly a wealthy whaling port heavily salted with the old, stately homes of ships’ captains and now a center of yachting. The most dramatic display of outdoor beauty probably is the famous color-streaked Aquinnah Cliffs above Aquinnah public beach. If you have time, drop in at nearby Nantucket where a big draw is the town’s whaling history. In the present days, whales play safely in the waters off the island – a delightful sight that you and your partner can witness on any of the whale-watching cruise that takes off from this crescent shaped island.

Cape Cod

However if you are looking for a full-fledged beach getaway, Cape Cod With its warm sea breezes sand more than five hundred miles of unspoiled coastline, continues to be the most popular option for couples in Massachusetts. Spectacular ocean settings with views of wide dune fields and sandy bluffs form the edges of Cape Cod. Add to this the charm of numerous harbors, quaint villages, and forests with the smell of the sea, and you realize why this places makes for the most romantic of getaways. In Cape Cod, you and your partner can Spend a night dining on fresh local seafood or indulge yourselves in lodgings as varied as a majestic seaside resort hotel, a quaint inn, or a B&B. Devote your days to the beach, as you go salt water swimming in the ocean or Cape Cod Bay, or freshwater swimming in the region’s many ponds. Swimming, sailing, fishingand whale watching are available the length of Cape Cod. The Cape Cod National Seashore has great walking and bicycle trails in addition to miles of woods and unspoiled beaches. Lovers of art and culture would not return disappointed since the Cape is home to around fifteen distinctive towns, quaint shops and countless historic sites, each telling the proud role that Cape Cod has played in American history. And be sure to view the art galleries found from Falmouth to Provincetown. Romantic weekends on the Cape are best during low or shoulder seasons, when the weather can be fine and it’s easy to get off by yourselves, pursuing a special interest or not doing much of anything.

Salem

Though Salem is known more for its grim history of witch-hunts during late seventeenth century, today the town makes for a scenic getaway for couples. Simply strolling through the picturesque streets of Salem can take you and your partner back in time, as you admire the charming Victorian homes and the village’s scenic harbor. Your Salem romantic vacation should include a stop at the House of the Seven Gables, the 1668 wooden house that inspired author Nathaniel Hawthorne to pen his novel of the same name. The site also includes gardens, a spectacular waterfront view, and the author’s birthplace. Don’t forget to take a peek into Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie located right across the street.  Founded in 1806, this is believed to be the nation’s oldest candy company and could make the perfect opportunity to treat your sweetheart with its original hard, sweet Gibralters in lemon or mint and its blackstrap molasses Black Jack sticks.  Finally, wind up your romantic tour of Salem with a stroll along Pickering Wharf, with views of the harbor, interesting shops, and all types of restaurants or take the Salem Ferry for a scenic 50-minute ride that will make it easy to by Boston during your Salem trip.

Boston

Not that Boston is a city that can be experienced as a cruise stop. Brimming with history, art, culture and natural beauty this is not surprisingly one of the visited cities in this part of the country. In Boston, one of the most favorite destinations of lovers is the Public Gardens. Located right in the heart of downtown, the Public Garden is a classic setting for romance, from its scenic vistas and the swan boats to the sight of colorful flowers and plants. If you have time proceed to the Commonwealth Avenue Mall which an extension of sorts from the Public Garden. This French boulevard style stretch runs through the heart of the historic Back Bay, with a variety of tree species creating a distinct canopy. During the winter months, the sparkling white lights of the holiday season adorn the trees, giving the mall an entirely magical atmosphere. Then again there is the Charles River where you can take a ride on a gondola or sailboat or simply grab a bench with your lover and watch the joggers, bikers, and waterway activity go by. Whether you’re on the Boston or Cambridge side, it’s the perfect place to spend a summer day with your sweetheart, and indeed the site of many a proposal. If you wish to escape the bustle of the city, head for North End; the old world charm and deep cultural roots of this neighborhood attract lovers from around the world and for foodies a bigger draw is the plethora of superior and plentiful Italian dining options which are sure to set your love juices flowing. However in order to romance in a truly historic neighborhood, it is hard to beat Beacon Hill. The place harkens back to the 19th century with brick-row houses, brick-laden sidewalks; and when the narrow streets light up at night with street gas lamps, it seems you have been transported back to more romantic times of the past.

The Harborwalk is one of the most popular haunts of vacationers in Boston as the site of evening cruises and fine dining options. No romantic tour of Boston can be complete without stopping under the Arch which at night lights up and makes for an iconic image of the Boston waterfront.