Top 5 Massachusetts Full-Day Tours: Experience the Best of MA in a Day

Thinking of seeing Massachusetts but short on time? Well, planning full-day trips really is a fantastic option. A lot of us want to see what this state has to offer, from its place in early American history to its pretty coastal spots, so you, too, might be able to experience quite a lot even if your schedule is jam-packed. This guide should help you to sort through what’s available. So you get the best experience, it’s also important to pick the one that’s best for you.

1. The Boston Freedom Trail Tour

For anybody excited about the Revolution era, the Boston Freedom Trail Tour is really a total must. The whole tour often starts in the Boston Common, one of the oldest city parks there is. And, you know, you wind your way along a red-bricked path that actually connects sixteen significant spots tied to United States history. This probably includes visits to Park Street Church and also the Granary Burying Ground, where a number of notable figures can be found buried.

You also visit the Old North Church. That is that very building from where the famous “One if by land, two if by sea” signal ended up being sent. Paul Revere’s home, still standing from way back when, presents such an amazing look into 18th-century life, too. What’s super cool is that knowledgeable guides go along the way, very often sharing interesting stories that really help bring those events to life.

Tip: Comfortable shoes are highly suggested, basically, that way, you can walk around and really get a good experience of these historical sites without much fuss. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Boston Freedom Trail Tour)

Read our full review: Boston Freedom Trail Tour Full Review and Details

2. Salem Witch Trials Full-Day Tour

Okay, for something super different, Salem, Massachusetts, is almost where the famous witch trials ended up happening in 1692. This full-day tour gets deep into that dark part of history. Many tours very often include key spots like the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and the Salem Witch Museum, which, really, both try to paint a clearer picture of that awful moment in the past.

Walking through the historic streets there, so it’s almost like going back to what life looked like at that time, with stories regarding the accusations, the trials, and, even, the executions that actually took place. Visiting the Old Burying Point Cemetery, which actually holds the graves of a number of the trial judges and people involved in the cases, can actually give you chills. Some tours, really, even provide a psychic reading just for an added spooky sort of vibe.

Tip: Book the Salem Witch Trials tour, which, as a matter of fact, can get very busy especially around October when the town’s at its spookiest! See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Salem Witch Trials Tour)

Read our full review: Salem Witch Trials Tour Full Review and Details

3. Cape Cod Day Trip

Dreaming about seeing Massachusetts’ coastline? So you have Cape Cod, with, really, beautiful beaches and small villages. Some of these day tours regularly involve stops in Hyannis, where, by the way, you can actually visit the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum that’s worth seeing. They might also have a cruise along the coast so you get amazing views from the ocean.

Then, you could go on to Provincetown, right at the very tip of Cape Cod, a place famous for artists, boutiques, and lovely seafood places. Plus, going to spots like the Cape Cod National Seashore lets folks witness unspoiled beauty. Many of us love exploring the lighthouses that dot the coast; after all, they’re so New England! This tour really is all about just taking a load off while you admire the view.

Tip: You know, remember to pack your sunscreen along with your hat and shades, so you are well-protected for spending hours along Cape Cod’s sandy shores. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Cape Cod Day Trip)

Read our full review: Cape Cod Day Trip Full Review and Details

4. Plimoth Patuxet and Plymouth Rock Tour

Step back in time, so to speak, on the Plimoth Patuxet and Plymouth Rock Tour, almost like you are seeing where the Pilgrims landed. A key feature would really have to be Plimoth Patuxet, which actually brings you to a living history museum recreating both the original Pilgrim settlement and also a Wampanoag homeland.

And, also, at the Wampanoag Homesite, it is important to note that you could learn about native traditions as well as how they interacted with the settlers. Next stop might be the Mayflower II, a pretty cool duplicate of the ship the Pilgrims used. Oh yeah, then there’s Plymouth Rock. Is it big? Well, no, not really. Is it important, historically? Really. Even, getting the info firsthand from historians helps really to color in the background with loads more context about the pilgrims’ first experiences right there in the New World. Very impressive.

Tip: This can be educational and yet pretty captivating, and, for instance, works great when you have a whole group including any young family members along with you! See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Plimoth Patuxet Tour)

Read our full review: Plimoth Patuxet Tour Full Review and Details

5. The Berkshires Scenic Day Tour

Okay, let’s head into the mountains. Leaving the coastline, this scenic trip winds you along some of the most awesome, awesome scenery anywhere, as well as into little cultural hotspots out in western Massachusetts. Those spots there have views for what feels like days and are often framed by places like Mount Greylock (that’s actually the highest point in Massachusetts!). These tours very often get to places such as Stockbridge as well as Lenox.

Seriously, these are places you just gotta see, full of charm, art museums and old homes! Those art and book people out there, yeah, they all make a point of seeing The Mount—that was the home of Edith Wharton. Very often tours meander to Mass MoCA (that’s the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art), inside a massive converted factory. All in all, very much worth doing.

Tip: The most comfortable times of year could be fall, with foliage just putting on its riot act of color, or summers with pleasant temperatures very good to wander. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Berkshires Scenic Tour)

Read our full review: Berkshires Scenic Tour Full Review and Details