From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penns Hill to the gentlemans country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of heroes, statesman, philosophers and learned women whose ideas and actions helped to transform thirteen disparate colonies into one united nation.........more >

Ames Nowell is a year-round day use area with recreational activity centered around Cleveland Pond which is popular with boaters and fisherman. Development includes a picnic area, ball field and several miles of trails along the pond edge and the surrounding woods.........more >

Ashland State Park has 470 acres including the 157 acre Ashland Reservoir. The park is operated seasonally and provides opportunities for swimming, picnicking, boating, fishing, bicycling and hiking. Beach improvements at the park include facilities for wheelchair access to the boathouse and by ramp into the pond.........more >

Borderland State Park features a historic mansion open for tours. This park also features trails for hiking, biking, or horseback riding, fishing and boating in the pond, and facilities for tennis and disc golf. Facilities Group day use Guided tours Picnic areas Visitors center ........more >

Centered on the north slope of Beacon Hill, the African American community of 1800s Boston led the city and the nation in the fight against slavery and injustice. These remarkable men and women, together with their allies, were leaders in the Abolition Movement, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, ........more >

This 17-island state park is part of the 34-island Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. They are a wonderful natural resource, only 45 minutes by ferry from downtown Boston. Seventeen of the islands are managed the Department of Conservation and Recreation DCR. Six of the 17 islands, and Webb State ........more >

Boston National Historical Park is an association of sites that together give the visitor a coherent view of the city's role in the nation's history. In downtown Boston, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House and Old North Church bring to life the American ideals ........more >

Boxford State Forest, located in northeastern Massachusetts, is a serene and picturesque natural paradise offering a refreshing retreat from the chaos of urban living. Blanketed with lush foliage and dotted with towering trees, this forest encompasses a magnificent landscape that captivates the senses. ........more >

This former estate features 721-acres of pine needled paths and sunny rolling meadows for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Activities Hiking Mountain biking Biking Canoeing and kayaking Horseback riding Fishing Cross-country skiing Snowmobiling Facilities ........more >

The Carlisle State Forest in Massachusetts is a serene natural oasis that captivates visitors with its breathtaking beauty. Nestled in the picturesque town of Carlisle, this enchanting forest boasts a diverse array of flora and fauna, making it a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. ........more >

Cochituate State Park is a popular regional day use park featuring water based recreational opportunities including boating, swimming, windsurfing, and fishing on its three large lakes. Picnicking, swimming, and boat launching are limited to the main area of the park on the middle lake and boaters can ........more >

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This park is one of the best kept secrets in the Massachusetts forest and park system. Here, an 1800-foot saltwater beach is backed by rambling hills of beach grass and shaded, grassy picnic sites. A broad, scenic marsh lines the Slocum River on the park's eastern edge. The beach is ideal for families ........more >

An 11-foot-high glacial erratic boulder known as Dighton Rock once rested on the shore of the Taunton River adjacent to this park. Covered with petroglyphs, carved designs of ancient and uncertain origin, the rock is now installed in a small museum. The museum open by appointment exhibits several explanations ........more >

The seizure and fortification of Dorchester Heights in March 1776 was the first real stroke of military success enjoyed by the Continental Army in the War for Independence. Not only were the British forced to evacuate Boston by Gen. George Washington's unexpected move, but this success served also to ........more >

Frederick Law Olmsted 1822-1903 is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker. Olmsted moved his home to suburban Boston in 1883 and established the world's first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape design. During the next ........more >

Foxborough State Forest, situated in the heart of Massachusetts, is a natural oasis that seamlessly blends dense woodlands, serene ponds, and picturesque landscapes into a captivating tapestry of tranquility. This captivating forest invites nature enthusiasts of all kinds, offering enchanting hiking ........more >

Frederick Law Olmsted 1822-1903 is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker. Olmsted moved his home to suburban Boston in 1883 and established the world's first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape design. During the next ........more >

Just 5 minutes from Fall River and Taunton, and 15 minutes from New Bedford, Freetown State Forest is a vast tract of public land acquired over a twenty year period beginning in the 1930's. Near the main entrance is a day use area, with wading pool, picnic area, fields and restrooms. The remainder of ........more >

This 1,112 acre forest offers a variety of year-round activities including horseback riding, hiking, walking, hunting some restrictions, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.........more >

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge NWR is located just 20 miles west of Boston. The refuge was established in 1947 to provide nesting, resting, and feeding habitat for migratory birds. Roughly 85 percent of the refugeaposs 3,600 acres is comprised of valuable freshwater wetlands stretching along ........more >

Harold Parker State Forest, which lies in Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton, comprises just over 3,000 acres of Central Hardwood-Hemlock-White Pine type of forest. The forest is twenty miles north of Boston and within one hour's drive of three million people. Recreational opportunities ........more >

Hopkinton State Park is located in the towns of Hopkinton and Ashland and includes the picturesque Hopkinton Reservoir. The park offers a variety of year round recreational activities including 2 life guarded swimming beaches, stocked fishing, 1 reservable group picnic site see Split Rock below, 12 ........more >

The J Harry Rich State Forest, located in Massachusetts, is a serene and captivating natural landscape that offers visitors a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Spanning over thousands of acres, the forest is adorned with towering trees, lush greenery, and tranquil streams, making ........more >

As a boy, JFKs parents never expected he would grow up to be president. Yet in his birthplace home he learned values that inspired a life in public service. His mother, Rose Kennedy, recreated her familys first home to share her memories of those early years with visitors. We commemorate not only his ........more >

Lowells water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation including immigrant families and early female factory workers into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes that began here still reverberate in our shifting global economy. Explore Lowell, a living testament to ........more >

Located in three towns, this forest contains 1,140 acres including 180 acres of ponds, swamps, and wetlands. It is the probable site of a Native American village prior to colonial settlement and later was acquired to obtain granite for canals and factory foundations. The forest has six miles of trails ........more >

The events of April 19, 1775 were a turning point in the long struggle between Mother England and her American colonies. In a march of protest and petition turned independence and revolution, the fighting on April 19, 1775 would foreshadow the rebellious action of the American colonies to ultimately ........more >

Sprawling across the southern sections of Plymouth and Carver, Myles Standish State Forest is the largest publicly owned recreation area in southeastern Massachusetts. MSSF offers five camping areas, tucked into the forest or set along the edges of four of the park's 16 ponds.All are beautifully maintained ........more >

Sprawling across the southern sections of Plymouth and Carver, Myles Standish State Forest is the largest publicly owned recreation area in southeastern Massachusetts. MSSF offers five camping areas, tucked into the forest or set along the edges of four of the park's 16 ponds.All are beautifully maintained ........more >

The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedfordall these brave houses and flowery gardens came from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. One and all, ........more >

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1942 primarily to provide feeding, resting, and nesting habitat for migratory birds. Located along the Atlantic Flyway, the refuge is of vital stopover significance to waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds during pre- and postbreeding migratory ........more >

Biking Camping Cross-country skiing Educational programs Fishing Hiking Hunting Mountain biking Snowmobiling Swimming Facilities Dumpsters Grills Group day-use area Picnic area Restrooms Showers ........more >

Rehoboth State Forest, nestled in southeastern Massachusetts, is a captivating natural haven that offers a serene escape from urban life. With its enchanting woodlands and diverse wildlife, the forest spans over 3,000 acres, providing visitors ample opportunities for exploration and outdoor recreation. ........more >

Roxbury Heritage is home to the c1750 Dillaway-Thomas House, one of the oldest structures in Roxbury. This building served as the headquarters of the Continental Army in 1775 during the Siege of Boston. The house is now a museum with exhibits of Roxbury's past and present history. Landscaped grounds ........more >

In the 1600's, on the banks of the Saugus River, something extraordinary happened. Explore the place where European iron makers brought their special skills to a young Massachusetts colony. This nine-acre National Park includes working waterwheels, forges, mills, an historic 17th century home, and a lush river basin.........more >

This is the site of the first integrated ironworks in North America, 1646-1668. It includes the reconstructed blast furnace, forge, rolling mill, and a restored seventeenth century house. With the archeological site of the seventeenth-century iron-making plant, the museum collection, the seventeenth-century ........more >

Townsend State Forest, located in Massachusetts, is a serene and beautiful natural haven that entices visitors with its tranquil ambiance and diverse ecosystem. This picturesque forest offers a delightful escape from the city's chaos, featuring a mosaic of lush greenery, towering trees, and meandering ........more >

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Watson Pond State Park is a beautiful 10 acre park in Taunton. Operated seasonally, it offers swimming and picnicking. Amenities include a 300 beach, a picnic area, a bath house and a small pavilion. Easy access from Rte. 495 makes it a popular park for families and groups. ........more >

This park consists almost entirely of water the 592 acre Whitehall Reservoir was once used as a source of drinking water. The area offers boating, fishing, a public boat ramp, and hiking trails.........more >

Willard Brook State Forest contains 2,597 acres and is located in the towns of Ashby and Townsend, 50 miles from Boston. Here you can find the character and feeling of forests usually found much farther west in the state with a tumbling brook and quick water amid groves of classic New England woods. A ........more >

Willowdale offers trail-use opportunities on 40 miles of trails and fishing and boating on 100 acre Hood Pond. There are no developed recreational facilities at the Forest which exists as two separate parcels divided by Route 1. The eastern block of the Forest abuts Bradley Palmer State Park and the Ipswich River.........more >

Located just a 35-minute drive from downtown Boston, Wompatuck State Park offers 262 wooded campsites 140 of them with electricity, 12 miles of paved bicycle trails, and many miles of wooded bridle paths and hiking trails. The park is very popular with trailer campers electrical and water hookups are ........more >

Wrentham State Forest, located in the picturesque town of Wrentham, Massachusetts, is a captivating natural paradise that encompasses approximately 7,000 acres of diverse terrain. With its serene forests, tranquil ponds, and gently rolling hills, the state forest offers a rejuvenating sanctuary for ........more >