Massachusett's Most Underutilized Attractions (Boston, New Bedford: appointed, 2009, chapel)

[lrfox]

We're lucky in Massachusetts to have access to the variety of cultural attractions that we do. With the economy floundering, more and more people are choosing to travel locally and explore their region over taking a big, expensive vacation. As a result, many of our local attractions are seeing increased attendance.

We all know and love places like the Museum of Science, the Aquarium, Plymouth Plantation and Plymouth Rock, Salem's Attractions, Sturbridge Village, etc. These places are very well known and well traveled and for good reason; they're excellent attractions.

However, the intention of this thread is to point locals and visitors to our state in the direction of those attractions that may get overlooked when choosing what to see and do in Massachusetts.

I'm going to start off with a destination in my neck of the woods, but I look forward to seeing what others have to offer.

The Historic New Bedford Seaport

This area is located in the Downtown area of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The focal point of the Seaport is the Whaling District National Historic Park ( New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) ).



This area is 16 blocks of cobblestone streets lined with specialty shops, art galleries, historic buildings including the Seaman's Bethel which was wrtten about in Herman Melville's Moby Dick (which was written about his experiences on a New Bedford Whaling Vessel), and restaurants (excellent seafood at the Waterfront Grill). The centerpiece is the New Bedford Whaling Museum ( New Bedford Whaling Museum - Whale History Education Research Humpback Whale Blue Whale ). Here, you can view up close and in person, full sized whale skeletons (including a blue whale skeleton), walk aboard a replica whaling ship, view art and artifacts from daily life aboard a whaling ship as well see current temporary exhibits.

The Whaling Museum Exterior and Interior:



The brand new New Bedford Ocean Explorium ( Ocean Explorium at New Bedford Seaport ) which opens in full capacity March 1, 2009 offers an exciting look at Massachusetts' coast. This is part aquarium, part museum. It includes things like living exhibits like a coastal touch tank and tanks with various local and exotic sealife as well as scientific exhibits like their "science on a sphere" exhibit.

Ocean Explorium Exterior (this past Christmas)...:


...and Ocean Explorium Interior (science on a sphere):



If art is your thing, don't miss the New Bedford Art Museum ( New Bedford Art Museum ) as well as the many private galleries scattered about the downtown area. UMass Dartmouth also has a gallery downtown worth visiting.

New Bedford Art Museum:


UMass Dartmouth Gallery at their Star Store ( their website: University Art Gallery ):


One of New Bedford's more inventive galleries (in an old church), Gallery X:


If the performing arts are more your thing, New Bedford's Zeiterion Theater ( Zeiterion Performing Arts Center) plays host to the city's own Symphony Orchestra ( Nearby Star Observers ) as well as plays and concerts.

The "Z":


You can also vist the Tall Ship, Schooner Ernestina ( Schooner Ernestina » ), or learn about Firefighting at the Fire Museum.

Ernestina:


More photos of New Bedford's Historic Seaport:



























The Seaport may be New Bedford's primary destination, but it's hardly all there is to see.

New Bedford has an award winning Zoo in the Fredrick Law Olmstead designed Buttonwood Park/ Zoo ( Buttonwood Park Zoo, New Bedford, Massachusetts ~ Home Page ). When you're done, walk around the park designed by one of America's most famous landscape designers.

Fort Taber Military Museum is an interesting attraction as well ( Fort Taber Historical Association, inc. ).

the Rotch-Jones-Duff House Museum ( The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum - New Bedford, MA ) is a preserved whaling-era mansion with gorgeous grounds and interiors to peruse and admire.

Rotch-Jones-Duff House:


Furthermore, New Bedford is about as diverse as it comes. There is a heavy influence of Portuguese Heritage as well as French Canadian, Cape Verdian, Brazilian and many others. There are plenty of restaurants from each culture, but I suggest trying Portuguese given the sheer number of establishements especially in the city's North End.

There are many festivals every year, but vist during the Feast of the Madeira and you won't be disappointed ( http://www.portuguesefeast.com/ ) over 300,000 visit each year for this festival and enjoy the food, wine, and music that Portugal is all about. The Working Waterfront Festival and the New Bedford Folk Music Festival are fun too.

St. Anthony's in New Bedford's North End:


North End Street:



A day in New Bedford will not disappoint and you will surely not leave bored.

I look forward to seeing others' suggestions! I'll be back to post another shortly.

[clevedark]

I have to get down to New Bedford soon. I really enjoy your posts, Irfox. Thank you.

[moonshadow]

Oh!! This is GREAT!!! Thanks lrfox!

[lrfox]

Thanks for the responses. Please, add your own "secret destination" to the list!

I should note, I added the wrong link to the "New Bedford Symphony Orchestra" portion... the actual link is " New Bedford Symphony Orchestra " If a moderator wants to fix that, then great, if not, the real link is right here.

[ogre]

Great idea for a thread.

When people think Cape Cod, most likely they think ocean beaches and saltwater sailing. How about the Cape's interior? Forests, ponds, and quiet spots away from the crowds at the big coastal beaches:

Cape Cod Commission: Cape Cod Pond and Lake Atlas

NEW ENGLAND; Cape Cod's String of Ponds - New York Times

Freshwater Pond Fishing, Cape Cod.

Another forgotten part of the Cape is the very western end, often bypassed by people heading to the big-name beaches and resort communities farther out. But the innermost area has some nice quaint towns, and then there's the Sandwich Museum, not exactly one of the world's great museums, but worth a looksee if you're in the area enjoying the pleasant towns and attractive scenery:

Museums and Exhibitions.

[LeavingMA]

Good stuff. Nice job and good information.

[lrfox]

Ogre, excellent links. I drive by two nice looking freshwater ponds in Harwich all the time en route to a family member's home in Brewster. I have always been tempted, but never actually gotten around to going. The Western part of the Cape is absolutely too often bypassed. I do love spending time out there.

[leorah]

If you go to New Bedford, don't miss a visit to the wonderful Seamen's Bethel on Johnnycake Hill. As you visit the other attractions you'll get a overview of the history of this seaport, but when you read the cenotaphs (plaques) on the chapel walls you'll feel it in your gut.

I was married there. Very cool place.

[moonshadow]

Seeing as the subject of ponds has come up, can anyone tell me of any ponds that have outdoor ice skating in the Winter?

I'm aware of Frog Pond at Boston Common but most of the other places for skating seem to be indoors. Or public areas that don't cater to tourists.

I'm looking for somewhere that's pretty and where you could maybe go skating at night with twinkly lights, it would need to have skate hire and a really good cup of hot chocolate being available wouldn't go astray either!

[goyguy]

People from throughout New England and the world are drawn to Rockport for its "preserved" historic downtown area. They pour into Dock Square and onto Bearskin Neck and fill the coffers of the shops, art galleries, and restaurants there when not at the beach or taking in the view from the Headlands. But far fewer seek out the other attractions in town which are in more outlying sections.

One of these "hidden" landmarks is the Twin Lights. Resembling pepper shakers from a distance, they're the only paired lighthouses still in existence. Good views of them may be had from Eden Rd or Marmion Way, side streets off South St a little over a mile south of Dock Square. During the summer, boat excursions depart from the end of Tuna Wharf.

Then, toward the north end of town in the Pigeon Cove section is the Paper House. An engineer who was a voracious reader constructed an entire little cottage from rolled, pressed, and varnished newpapers: outer insulation, fireplace mantel, grandfather clock (containing front pages of papers from each of the state capitals of the "Lower 48" states), lamp stands, etc etc etc. It's, in a word, cozy: a single large room along with front and back porches. Even the most thorough inspection of the place wouldn't take much longer than a half hour, but it's a fun and quirky spot to visit.

At the northeast corner of Rockport, arguably the easternmost part of Cape Ann, lies Halibut Point State Park. It's said that you can see all the way to the Maine coastline on clear days. Much of the land is wooded and traversed by trails, but there's also a path to the edge of the cliffs which passes some of the abandoned granite quarries from which the town derived its name. This is a peaceful place even on summer weekend days, since it's far removed from the hub of activity. During migration seasons, though, birdwatchers have been known to flock (ha, ha) there.

You didn't hear those secrets from me