Boston, Massachusetts factories to visit and tour
If you live in, or are going to visit, Boston, Massachusetts, you can find a factory to visit and tour. Many factories, large and small, from several person chocolate factories and cheesemakers to large manufacturers making paper towels, wood products, beverage cans and bottles, are open to the public with real tours, exhibitions and fun education. There are often engineering facilities and museums, dinosaur digs, even government facilities, like NASA, astronomy oberservatories and more that are open to the public on certain days and times. These are perfect for homeschooling, for stem, and for fun! Kids love visiting these places! And most of these are completely fee! What's better then fun, entertaining, good for children and families, educational and free?
Here are some of the top factory tours in Boston, Massachusetts and contact information and tips about visiting them.
Top Boston, Massachusetts destinations
- Freedom Trail - Most of what you will want to see is along this path! Boston's Freedom Trail is a walking trail you follow through the city to
see the most famous Colonial America landmarks. It is easily identified by the red brick line and brass medallions set in the pavement. The trail
starts at the Visitor Center in the Boston Common and goes 3 miles to
- the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
- Cemeteries with the\graves of Paul Revere, John Adams and John Hancock,
- The Old State House, Built in 1713, the "Town House" served as a merchants' exchange on the first floor and the seat of colonial and later state government on the second floor throughout the 1700s. The royal governor, appointed by the King of Great Britain, held his office in the building until 1775, and from the balcony gave voice to the King 3000 miles removed from London
- the birthplace of Benjamin Franklin,
- Faneuil Hall,
- the North End:
- the Paul Revere House
- Old North Church
- Minute Man National Historical Park and Lexington Green - 174 Liberty Street, Concord, Massachusetts. Walk along the same route taken by the British regulars as they marched from Boston that sparked the American Revolution. Head on out to North Bridge in Concord, where the first Colonials Minutemen engaged the British in battle. There is a North Bridge Visitor Center with artifacts, uniforms, and a historical film. Walk on down to Battle Green in Lexington, where the first shots were fired on April 19, 1775.
- Faneuil Hall - Deserves it's on listing! There is a walking tour throughout the property and original artifacts in Historic Faneuil Hall. Then grab some food in the many restaurants. Taste the area's specialties like Boston Baked Beans, New England clam chowder, Indian Pudding, clam chowder, lobster rolls, oysters on the half shell at the world-famous Food Colonnade.
- Boston Common and Public Garden Swan Boats - Famous since Victorian times!
- Harvard University - 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The U has historic buildings and
excellent
museums and a thriving local community of shops, restaurants, cafés, and bookstores. Museums worth seeing include:
The Harvard Art Museums, Fogg Art Museum (Italian early-Renaissance art), the Busch-Reisinger Museum (German and northern European Expressionist art), the Arthur M. Sackler Museum (Asian antiquities and Jade art), the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, the Mineralogical Museum, the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the Botanical Museum. - The Museum of Fine Arts - 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts
Staying on the Museum theme here's an excellent fine arts museum. - Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - 280 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Old Sturbridge Village - 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, Massachusetts. This popular
destination is a living history museum that re-creates life in early 1800's New England . There are over40 authentic historic homes,
craft shops, stores, mills, and farm buildings moved to this 200-acre site. People dressed in the period's attire demonstrate daily tasks of
the town's folk. There is even a working farm and
garden with livestock and heirloom plant varieties.
- Norman Rockwell Museum - 9 Route 183, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Norman Rockwell lived here for the
last 25 years of his life, painting and become a common figure in the town. Famous for his Saturday Evening Post covers depicting every day American
life.
- Whale Watching at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary - The Stellwagen Bank is considered one of the top whale-watching locations in the world, you can also see white-sided dolphins, harbor porpoise, seals, and other marine life. Hop on board a whale watching tour boat in Boston, Gloucester or Provincetown. . See this NOAA page to find a whale watch company to view a complete list of vessels that view whales in the sanctuary. Make the most of your whale watching experience by following the suggestions on the Tips for Whale Watching page.
Factories to visit in Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston National Historical Park:, Boston, MA. The Old State House, is here in the heart of the city which could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
- Boston African American National Historical Site:,
Boston, MA.
Centered on the north slope of Beacon Hill, the African American community of 19th century Boston led the city and the nation in the fight against slavery and injustice. These remarkable men and women, together with their allies, were leaders in the Abolition Movement, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and the early struggle for equal rights and education.
- Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation area:,
Boston, MA.
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, visit historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking or swimming-all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.
Boston, Massachusetts State parks and historic sites
-
Alewife Brook Reservation
Cambridge, MA -
Ames Nowell State Park
Abington, MA -
Appalachian Trail
Lanesborough, MA -
Ashland State Park
Ashland, MA -
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Lanesborough, MA -
Bash Bish Falls State Park
Mt. Washington, MA -
Beartown State Forest
Monterey, MA -
Beaver Brook Reservation
Belmont, MA -
Belle Isle Marsh
East Boston, MA -
Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State
Park
Uxbridge, MA -
Blue Hills Reservation
Milton, MA -
Borderland State Park
North Easton, MA -
Boston Harbor Islands
Boston, MA -
Bradley Palmer State Park
Topsfield, MA -
Breakheart Reservation
Saugus, MA. -
Brimfield State Forest
Brimfield, MA. -
Bristol Blake State Reservation
Norfolk, MA. -
Brook Farm Historic Site
West Roxbury, MA. -
C.M. Gardner State Park
Huntington, MA. -
Callahan State Park
Framingham, MA. -
Camp Nihan Education Center
Saugus, MA. -
Cape Cod Rail Trail
Brewster, MA. -
Castle Island, Pleasure Bay, M
Street Beach and Carson Beach
Boston, MA. -
Charles River Reservation
Boston, MA. -
Chestnut Hill Reservation
Brighton, MA. -
Chicopee Memorial State Park
Chicopee, MA. -
Clarksburg State Park
Clarksburg, MA. -
Cochituate State Park
Natick, MA. -
Connecticut River Greenway State Park
Northampton, MA. -
Constitution Beach Park
Boston, MA. -
Cutler Park Reservation
Needham, MA -
Daughters of the American Revolution
(DAR) State Forest
Goshen, MA. -
Demarest Lloyd State Park
Dartmouth, MA. -
Dighton Rock State Park
Berkley, MA. -
Douglas State Forest
Douglas, MA. -
Dunn
State Park
Gardner, MA. -
Ellisville Harbor State Park
Plymouth, MA. -
Elm Bank Reservation
Wellesley, MA. -
Erving State Forest
Erving, MA. -
F. Gilbert Hills State Forest
Foxborough, MA. -
Fall River Heritage State Park
Fall River, MA. -
Farnham-Connolly State Park
Canton, MA. -
Federated Women's Club State Forest
Petersham, MA. -
Fort Phoenix State Reservation
Fairhaven, MA. -
Fort
Revere Park
Hull, MA. -
Francis D. Martini
Memorial Shell Park and Moynihan Recreation Area
Boston, MA. -
Franklin State Forest
Franklin, MA. -
Freetown-Fall River State Forest
Assonet, MA. -
Georgetown-Rowley State Forest
Georgetown, MA. -
Granville State Forest
Granville, MA -
Great Brook Farm State Park
Carlisle, MA. -
Great Falls Discovery Center
Turners Falls -
Halibut Point State Park
Rockport, MA. -
Hammond Pond Reservation
Newton, MA. -
Hampton Ponds State Park
Westfield, MA. -
Harold Parker State Forest
North Andover, MA. -
Hemlock Gorge Reservation
Newton, MA. -
Holyoke Heritage State Park
Holyoke, MA. -
Hopkinton State Park
Hopkinton, MA. -
Horseneck Beach State Reservation
Westport, MA. -
Houghton's Pond Recreation Area
Milton, MA. -
Jug End State Reservation and Wildlife
Management Area
Egremont, MA. -
Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest
Plainfield, MA -
Lake Dennison Recreation Area
Winchendon, MA. -
Lawrence Heritage State Park
Lawrence, MA. -
Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course
Weston, MA. -
Leo J. Martin Ski Track
Weston, MA. -
Leominster State Forest
Westminster, MA. -
Lowell Heritage State Park
Lowell, MA. -
Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest
Lowell, MA. -
Lower Neponset River Trail
Boston, MA. -
Lynn Shore and Nahant Beach Reservation
Nahant, MA. -
Manuel F. Correllus State Forest
Edgartown, MA. -
Mary O'Malley State Park
Chelsea, MA. -
Massasoit State Park
Taunton, MA. -
Maudslay State Park
Newburyport, MA. -
Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex
Roxbury, MA. -
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Stoneham, MA. -
Mohawk Trail State Forest
Charlemont, MA. -
Monroe State Forest
Monroe, MA. -
Moore State Park
Paxton, MA. -
Mount Everett State Reservation
Mount Washington, MA. -
Mount Grace State Forest
Warwick, MA. -
Mount Greylock State Reservation
Lanesborough, MA. -
Mount Holyoke Range State Park
Amherst, MA. -
Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation
South Deerfield, MA. -
Mount Tom State Reservation
Holyoke, MA. -
Mount Washington State Forest
Mount Washington, MA. -
Myles Standish Monument State Reservation
Duxbury, MA. -
Myles Standish State Forest
Carver, MA. -
Mystic Lakes State Park
Medford, MA -
Mystic River State Reservation
Medford, MA -
Nantasket Beach Reservation
Hull, MA -
National Monument to the Forefathers
Plymouth, MA. -
Nashua River Rail Trail
Ayer, MA. -
Nasketucket Bay State Reservation
Mattapoisett, MA. -
Natural Bridge State Park
North Adams, MA. -
Neponset River Reservation
Boston, MA. -
Nickerson State Park
Brewster, MA. -
Norwottuck Rail Trail
Northampton, MA. -
October Mountain State Forest
Lee, MA. -
Otter River State Forest
Baldwinville, MA. -
Pearl Hill State Park
Townsend, MA. -
Pilgrim Memorial State Park
Plymouth, MA. -
Pittsfield State Forest
Pittsfield, MA. -
Ponkapoag Golf Course
Canton, MA. -
Pope John Paul ll Park Reservation
Boston, MA. -
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation
Sutton, MA. -
Quabbin Reservoir
Belchertown, MA. -
Quincy Quarries Reservation
Quincy, MA. -
Quincy Shores Reservation
Quincy, MA. -
Quinsigamond State Park
Worcester, MA -
Rehoboth State Forest
Rehoboth, MA. -
Revere Beach Reservation
Revere, MA. -
Robinson State Park
Feeding Hills, MA. -
Roxbury Heritage State Park
Boston, MA. -
Rumney Marsh Reservation
Saugus, MA. -
Rutland State Park
Rutland, MA. -
Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Salisbury, MA. -
Sandisfield State Forest (York Lake)
Sandisfield, MA. -
Sandy Point State Reservation
Ipswich, MA. -
Savoy Mountain State Forest
Florida, MA. -
Scusset Beach State Reservation
Sagamore, MA. -
Shawme-Crowell State Forest
Sandwich, MA. -
Skinner State Park
Hadley, MA. -
South Cape Beach State Park
Mashpee, MA. -
Southern New England Trunkline Trail
Douglas, MA. -
Southwest Corridor Park
Boston, MA. -
Spencer State Forest
Spencer, MA. -
Squantum Point Park
Quincy, MA. -
Stodder's Neck and Abigail Adams Park
Hingham, MA. -
Stony Brook Reservation
Hyde Park, MA. -
Sudbury Reservoir
Southborough, MA -
Tolland State Forest
East Otis, MA. -
Upton State Forest
Upton, MA. -
Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
Princeton, MA. -
Wachusett
Reservoir
West Boylston, MA. -
Wahconah
Falls State Park
Dalton, MA. -
Walden
Pond State Reservation
Concord, MA. -
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
East Falmouth, MA. -
Watson Pond
State Park
Taunton, MA. -
Webb
Memorial State Park
North Weymouth, MA -
Wellfleet Hollow State Campground
Wellfleet, MA. -
Wells State Park
Sturbridge, MA. -
Wendell State
Forest
Millers Falls, MA. -
Western Gateway Heritage State Park
North Adams, MA. -
Whitehall State
Park
Hopkinton, MA. -
Willard
Brook State Forest
Townsend, MA. -
Willowdale
State Forest
Topsfield, MA. -
Wilson
Mountain Reservation
Dedham, MA. -
Windsor State
Forest
Windsor, MA. -
Winthrop
Shore Reservation
Winthrop, MA. -
Wompatuck State
Park
Hingham, MA. -
Wrentham State
Forest
Wrentham, MA
Many DCR facilities have a parking fee. Massachusetts residents pay lower fees than non-residents. Resident and non resident status is determined by the vehicle license plate. Some parks only charge fees during certain times of the year. Click the link below to view the most recent parking fees schedule for every state park.
Parking fee locations and schedule
Annual Parking Pass
You can save money on park visits by getting an annual ParksPass. A ParksPass waives the daily parking fee for most DCR parks. The parking pass costs $60 for Massachusetts residents.
Senior ParksPass
Massachusetts residents aged 62 and older can buy a lifetime parking pass. The lifetime Senior Parks Pass costs $10. Senior Parks passes may only be bought in person or by mail.
Learn how to get a lifetime Senior ParksPass
Boston, Massachusetts Seasons, bugs, topography and climate
Massachusetts is mainly a humid continental climate, with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters and plenty of precipitation. The state does have extreme temperatures from time to time with 100 °F or 37.8 °C in the summer and temperatures below 0 °F or −17.8 °C in the winter not being unusual. Bugs... near stagnant lakes and marshes black flies, no-see-ums and mosquitos.
Camping in Boston, Massachusetts
If you're looking to save money on your trip, camping may be a fun alternative to hotels and motels, especially, if you already have the gear, or are looking to get some. BTW, this websites ( https://RoadTrippingAndCamping.com ) explains everything you need to know about camping gear and where to the best gear at the lowest prices.
Massachusetts has accessible tent sites, too, with hard-packed level ground, pedestal grills, and accessible picnic tables. All our accessible sites are marked on Reserve America with a figure in a wheelchair.
You'll always find accessible restrooms in the same loop as accessible sites, though there usually isn't an accessible pedestrian route between the sites and the restrooms. Before you make a reservation, you should contact the park to see if their cabins, yurts, or tent sites fit your specific needs. Also, be sure to learn about DCR campground regulations before you reserve your campsite.
If you have questions about accessible camping in general, please contact the Universal Access Program.
There are both state parks and private campgrounds in Boston, Massachusetts.