Facts About Massachusetts

Massachusetts, officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one of the states of New England. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and southeast, Rhode Island and Connecticut on the south, and New York on the west. North of Massachusetts lie Vermont and New Hampshire. Boston is the capital and largest city of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts, the sixth smallest state in the nation, covers 23,934 sq km (9,241 sq mi), including 1,098 sq km (424 sq mi) of inland water and 2,536 sq km (979 sq mi) of coastal water over which it has jurisdiction. It is roughly rectangular in shape, except for the peninsula of Cape Cod, which extends from the southeast. The state has a maximum dimension east-to-west of 295 km (183 mi). Including the offshore island of Nantucket, the maximum distance north-to-south in the east is 182 km (113 mi), while at the western border the distance is only 77 km (48 mi). The approximate mean elevation is 150 m (500 ft).

Nearly all of Massachusetts was once covered by glaciers. These glaciers rounded off mountains, changed the course of streams, and left hundreds of ponds and lakes. Glacial deposits in the form of clay, stones, and boulders cover most of the state.

Massachusetts is a great location to enjoy some of the most diverse and beautiful scenery in the United States. Boston is a historical city, home to the Freedom Trail and the U.S.S. Constitution. Plymouth allows a look back at the Pilgrim's voyage to America on the Mayflower. A visit to the Springfield Armory National Historic Site reveals one of the world's largest firearms collections. Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord preserves several sites that relate to the battles of the American Revolution. The Berkshires (or the Berkshire Hills) region in western Massachusetts is a favored resort destination with several attractive villages and attractions such as the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket are filled with many classic seaside towns whose architecture has been emulated worldwide.

• Boston and Cambridge: There's no better way to experience the cosmopolitan flavor of Boston than by donning your favorite walking shoes or hopping on a "T" trolley. You'll find that Massachusetts' capital successfully combines big-city amenities with a friendly, small-town atmosphere.
  Cross over the Charles River and you're in Cambridge, a vibrant mix of ethnic cultures, students, scholars, and visitors from around the world. The city is home to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, the nation's oldest university
• Cape Cod: It doesn't take long to discover why Cape Cod is known as Massachusetts' year-round playground. You'll find miles of warm-water beaches, fresh-caught seafood, hiking and biking trails, and challenging golf courses.
• Nantucket Island: Step off the ferry or the plane and you're in another world. Thirty miles off Cape Cod, this crescent-shaped island retains a quiet charm found in past days when whaling ships made this island haven their home.
• Travel to Boston's West Suburbs: The suburban cities and towns west of Boston are both the site of historical landmarks as well as a modern hub of high-tech companies and hotels. Lexington and Concord are the site of famous Revolutionary War battles. Also worth visiting is Walden Pond in Concord. Some places to visit in Boston's West Suburbs include: Battle Road Trail, Garden in the Woods, Historic Concord, and Walden Pond.
• Hampton Beach: Hampton Beach has accomodations to suite every taste and budget from hotels, motels and cottages to campgrounds. Walk or trolley to one of our many remarkable restaurants and enjoy tax-free shopping at the gift shops. Public tennis and golf abound nearby and a harbor full of deepsea fishing and whalewatching ships await your arrival. You may visit to take advantage of the exciting free nightly entertainment, spectacular fireworks or other events, but you will stay for the beauty and sheer pleasure of Hampton Beach

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