7 days in Massachusetts Itinerary

Known as the "Bay State" because of the three bays dominating its coastline, Massachusetts has played a significant cultural and commercial role through most of the country's history. An increasingly popular vacation destination for foreign travelers, Massachusetts offers numerous places to visit, ranging from historical sites to modern urban centers famous for their culinary, art, and nightlife scenes. With the majority of its population living in and around the city of Boston, in the 20th century Massachusetts went from a state largely dependent on fishing and agriculture to the country's leader in higher education, healthcare, high technology, and financial services. Home to renowned universities and research centers, the state's cities attract a young crowd of students, scientists, artists, and business professionals.

Located on the southern shore of Massachusetts, Cape Cod contains some 15 towns and two islands. The arm-shaped peninsula is a popular holiday destination throughout the year because of its historical attractions, art galleries, award-winning restaurants, and a scenic coastline dotted by sandy beaches. Start your sightseeing in Provincetown, located at the very tip of the cape and famous for being the site of the first Pilgrims' landing in 1620. From there you can hit up all of the Cape's other small towns, renowned for their comfortable bed and breakfasts and distinctive cuisine of fresh fish and oyster dishes. This maritime community features more than a dozen lighthouses. Part of experiencing the Cape means a trip to its two islands--which showcase several lighthouses and numerous restaurants.

Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts that is known for being an affluent summer colony. It includes the smaller Chappaquiddick Island which is usually connected to the Vineyard, though storms and hurricanes have been known to separate the two. The last such separation of the islands was in 2007 and the two islands are again connected as of April 2, 2015.It is the 58th largest island in the United States, with a land area of 100sqmi, and the third largest on the East Coast of the United States, after Long Island and Mount Desert Island. The island constitutes the bulk of Dukes County, Massachusetts, which also includes the Elizabeth Islands and the island of Nomans Land.The Vineyard was home to one of the earliest known deaf communities in the United States; consequently, a special sign language developed on the island called Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL).The 2010 census reported a year-round population of 16,535 residents, although the summer population can swell to more than 100,000 people. About 56% of the Vineyard's 14,621 homes are seasonally occupied.