massachusetts nice,quaint,small towns (Boston, Worcester: houses, high school, live)

[billybob1050]

I will be traveling in Mass. in a few weeks and would greatly appreciate any recommendations you folks would have concerning high-quality small towns that I can visit when I am there. Ipswich, Truro(Cape Cod), Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket have been recommended to me, but dont have any other recommendations for the rest of the state. I am looking for small towns with historic districts in the downtown area, nice shops and restaurants, old architecture, high quality. I would be willing to travel any part of the state to visit such towns. I am coming in from NY and going back out that same way, so would like to visits some nice towns in the west and centralpart of the state, not just the coast area. Thank you for your advice.

[jumbolaw]

I like Newburyport a lot, a port town with a nice little downtown. I would definitely recommend Edgartown and Oaks Bluff on Martha's Vineyard but I'm not sure what they'll be like at this time of the year.

Enjoy your visit!

[leorah]

New Bedford isn't a small town, but there's lots of history there. Nearby is Fairhaven, with some beautiful architecture, particularly the high school and library. Easton, MA has some wonderful old buildings, too. Concord is quite nice, as is Plymouth. Manchester-by-the-Sea is another lovely town.

Away from the coast, Charlemont and Rowe are pretty, and of course, Lenox and other Berkshire communities.

[vter]

Marblehead. Manchester-By-The-Sea.

[brightdoglover]

Concord, for sure. Historic houses, Lousia May Alcott House, Walden Pond, beautiful.
Anything on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard require a ferry ride,and I'm not sure what is open there this time of year.

[MAtoNC!]

Marblehead and Newburyport

[missionhill]

OK, Billybob... All the places mentioned are good. I would consider Great Barrington, Lenox, and Stockbridge, all close to one another in Berkshire County. Old Deerfield is very high quality. Shelburne Falls, on the Mohawk Trail, is small, lovely, and lively. Bigger bustling towns are Amherst and Northampton, both with historic sites and a lively atmosphere. In Worcester County I'm not so sure-- Hardwick is a gem but very small--no stores. West Brookfield and Brookfield are nice--maybe not worth going out of your way. Sturbridge has the somewhat artificial but interesting Old Sturbridge Village (admission fee). Lancaster has a beautiful Bulfinch church and other historic buildings; also Groton has lots of old, high quality stuff. Essex County is crammed with very old houses--in addition to Newburyport, Amesbury and Ipswich are worth a visit. In Ipswich be sure to visit the Crane Estate. Exeter and especially Portsmouth, N. H., are also great. On the south shore, Hingham and Cohasset are both very high quality towns, historic districts, etc. The buildings someone cited in Easton are H. H. Richardson buildings--if you like Richardson's work you can do a whole tour of his buildings in the Boston area.

Boston and Cambridge, neither one a small town, have nevertheless preserved some of the historic atmosphere. Charlestown counts as a small town and and is worth a visit. On the Cape, you have Sandwich, Chatham, Falmouth, and perhaps others. I know you posted in Connecticut. How about RI?

[willdufauve]

Newburyport, maybe Gloucester.

Northampton/Amherst (add a quick run up I-91 to Brattleboro, VT).

[TomDot]

Petersham near the Quabbin Reservoir. You will feel transported back in time!

[Analyzer]

Harvard Massachusettes is a great small town, great schools, Historic, great town center, rural yet close to route 495 and route 2..In my opinion it is one of the most beautiful towns in Mass.