Day trips from Boston give you a wonderful opportunity to explore our beautiful New England countryside, visit other exciting cities, and experience some of America's most historic sites.

Here's a small sample of what you can do onday or weekend getaways from Boston:

• Experience the magnificent beauty of theNew England countryside andcoastal areas
• Discover charming villages and small towns as you seebrilliant fall foliage at its peak
• Explore sites memorialized inliterature and American Revolutionary War history
• Have fun on nearbyski slopesand gorgeoussandy beaches
• Visit other exciting towns and cities - and even make a day trip by plane to seeNiagara Falls

Planning weekend getaways and day trips from Boston to thePilgrims' Plimouth Plantation, sizzlingNew York City, "Witch Capital"Salem, enchantingBoston Harbor Islands, coastalNewport, historicConcord, and other iconic destinations iseasy.

To get to these destinations, you don't need to have your own car.  You can choose from a variety of options: luxury all-inclusive tours, the convenience of public transportation, the freedom of a rental car, the fun of a cruise boat.

Planning one or two day trips and New England weekend getaways as part of your Boston visit lets you experience the best of history, beauty, and adventure as close as an hour away!

Top Photo:  Provincetown, near the harbor

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Take the Fast Ferry from Boston to Provincetown

Looking for afast and easy way to go fromBoston to Provincetown on the outer end of Cape Cod?

Take the Provincetown Fast Ferry from Boston's centrally located Long Wharf, next to the New England Aquarium.  You'll be stepping off the ferry in Provincetown in only 90 minutes.

Whether you stay for just a day or a long weekend, the fast ferry puts Provincetown's wonderful art galleries, boutiques, scenic beaches, and acclaimed restaurants within easy reach from Boston.

Find out more about spending a day or a weekend in Provincetown and the Cape

Get Your Provincetown Fast Ferry Tickets Online - One-Way or Round Trip

Watch the Whales Frolic at Stellwagen Bank

Whale watching trips give you a unique glimpse of the rich marine world just beyond Boston's doorstep. 

High-speed boats and catamarans whisk you out toStellwagen Bank,a protected marine sanctuary 25 miles east of the city, with marine biologists on board as your tour guide for Boston's most popular cruise. 

Once you reach the sanctuary, you'll fascinating view of whales, dolphins, sea birds, and other marine life in their native habitat. 

Book your whale watching cruise now

More about the best Boston whale watching cruises

See Beautiful New England Fall Foliage

Fall foliage tours from Boston take you to see brilliantly colored leaves in some of the most beautiful parts of theNew England countrysidenear the city. 

On these popular 1-day tours on comfortable coaches, you get to enjoy the spectacular scenery, take as manyphotosas you please, andexplore selected locations, depending on which tour you choose.

Explore Kennebunkport on the Southern Maine Coast

Kennebunkport,located on the beautiful Southern Maine Coast, boasts beautiful beaches and rugged coastline, charming boutiques, and fun places to eat.  Despite being a major visitor attraction, it still retains its authentic charm.

To experience Kennebunkport and other wonderful spots along the way, join the full-day Kennebunkport Day Trip from Boston,which includes pickup from downtown Boston hotels, an optional trolley tour plus free time to explore Kennebunkport, a coastal walk in Ogunquit Maine, and a photo stop at the Nubble Light in York.   

Cambridge, Lexington, and Concord Revolutionary War Day Trip

You'll see thebeautiful countryside and towns west of Boston on thisprivate day trip to Cambridge, Lexington, and Concordwith pickup at your central Boston hotel. 

You'll roughy follow the path taken by Paul Revere in 1775 when he warned Colonists that the British were coming, starting in Cambridge where you'll see Washington's Boston headquarters at Longfollow House, as well as Tory Row, where the wealthy loyalsts to the Crown lived. 

You'll also explore Lexington, where the first battle of the American Revolution took place on Lexington Green (an event we still commemorate each April onPatriots Day). 

Finally, you'll visitConcord, the destination of Paul Revere's ride, and the Old North Bridge, the site of another battle. 

Fall foliage in Lexington and Concord is usually breathtaking from late September through November and sometimes into December.

More about the Cambridge, Lexington, and Concord Tour

Day Trip to New York City from Boston - Shows, Broadway, Excitement!

Possible as aday trip from Boston, but also a popular weekend getaway, New York City offers excitement, iconic sites, Broadway shows, great restaurants and hotels, and some of the best shopping in the world. 

Learn about must-see New York tourist attractions

Salem - Witch Museums & Historic Sites

Salem Massachusetts, located about 1 hour north of Boston, is famous for its fascinating witch museums devoted to bringing to life the 17th century Salem Witch Trials, its many "haunted" tours, and month-long Halloween celebrations. 

But you'll find lot more to do and see beyond the occult in this lovely small coastal city.  

Explore the fascinating collections atPeabody Essex Museum, visitHouse of the Seven Gables made famous by American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, and enjoy thegorgeous waterfront and excellentrestaurants.  

What if one day isn't enough?  Check out Salem'shistoric inns.

Getting to Salem from Boston is easy - just hop on theBoston-to-Salem ferry at Long Wharf near Faneuil Marketplace and the New England Aquarium.

If you prefer, you can join aGuided Day Trip to Salem by Ferry with Witch Museum, which combines a guided portion by a guide with time at the end to explore on your own.

Find more things to do & see in Salem

Find out more about Halloween in Salem

Soak Up Sun on Local Boston Beaches

You can find a surprising number ofnice beaches in or close to Boston - perfect for a day trip or soaking up some sun for an afternoon. 

Some host special events, such as the annual sand-sculpting contest at Revere Beach while others just provide tranquil stretches of sandy shoreline for relaxing or enjoying leisurely walks.  

Even better, jump on a ferry and head toProvincetown, other Cape Cod destinations, or the Islands -Martha's Vineyard andNantucket.

Where to find the best Boston beaches

Boston to Provincetown ferry service

Newport, Rhode Island - Mansions, Beaches, Shopping, & the Harbor

A glamorous destination ever since the gilded age,Newport lies just 60 miles south of Boston overlooking Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Spectacular beaches, Cliff Walk, glamorous mansions, appealing boutiques, and historic sites are just a few of the attractions.  Come for a day trip, spend the weekend, or visitNewport Mansions with a small-group tour with transportation from Boston.

Find out about the best Newport attractions

More ways to see Newport

Martha's Vineyard

The island of Martha's Vineyard lies just to the south of Boston but it's another world filled with beautiful secluded beaches, rugged cliffs, and quaint villages such as Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. 

The easiest way to get here is to join aday trip by mini-coach and ferry from Boston. Once you're on the island, rent a bicycle or jeep and explore on your own, or choose an optional tour.

There's so much to see and do here!  Explore the beaches, catch the brass ring as you ride on one of the country's oldest carousels, sample fresh seafood at one of the island's many cafes and bistros, admire gingerbread-trimmed cottages and sea-side mansions, visit the many antique shops, art galleries, and boutiques.

Find out more about the day trip to Martha's Vineyard from Boston, and optional tour

Discount Shopping in Wrentham Village Outlets

Wrentham Village Premium Outlets is where you can find thebiggest discount shopping savings near Boston. 

Located just 37 miles south of the city, this discount shopping mall is the biggest in Southern New England. 

You gethuge mark-downs, especially if you come during seasonal sales, but there's another bonus as well: no Massachusetts sales tax on clothing items pricedunder $175. 

So if you live in a nearby state such as New York or Maine where you'd normally pay high state sales tax on clothes, shopping at Wrentham Outlets willsave you even more!

Find out more about how to save at Wrentham Outlets

Visit Plimouth Patuxent, Mayflower II, Situate Lighthouse, & The Adams Birthplace All in One Day

Plimouth Patuxet(formerly Plantation), is a living history museum that transports you back to the 1620s and thefirst Pilgrim settlement in the New World,where the native Patuxet people were already in residence.

In this fascinating recreation of this first settlement, skilled actors wearing historically authentic clothing bring to life the real people who made their homes here - Edward Winslow, Susanna Fuller White, William Bradford, and other English settlers and the native Wampanoag people (who are usually represented by people from the local Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, rather than actors) who made the Pilgrims' survival possible. 

Chat with them and ask them questions, and they'll tell you about their lives and culture as you explore this re-created 17th village overlooking the water.

The easiest way to get here from Boston is to join an activities-packedday trip tour, which takes you along theNew England coastline where you'll stop at theQuincy homeplace of two presidents, see theScituate Lighthouse, and then proceed to Plymouth, where you'll visitPlymouth Rock, the Mayflower II, and Plimoth Patuxent. 

Find out about the day trip to Plimouth Plantation from Boston

More Fun Ways to Visit Plymouth and Historic Plimouth Plantation

New England Ski Areas & Resorts

Friendly local slopes and fabulous New England ski resortswithin easy reach of Boston welcome you for a day trip or ski weekend. 

Best of all, you can visit at least a few New England ski areas where skiing season lasts more than 6 months. 

Find out what makes New England winters fun!

Best Massachusetts ski areas near Boston

Complete guide to New England ski areas

Castle Island - Historic Fort, Beaches, Sullys, & More

Once an actual island, but now connected to the mainland after a strait was filled in 1891,Castle Island anchorsPleasure Bay Beach and is home to historic Fort Independence, a nice beach, and Sully's, famous for its hot dogs, lobster rolls, fried clam strips, and ice cream.

Castle Island also provides a perfect spot for watching theUSS Constitution make her annual July 4th turn-around cruise and give a 21-gun salute to independence. 

 More about Castle Island

Concord, Massachusetts:  Walden Pond, American Revolution Sites,Little Women Home

BucolicConcordis home to famous sites inAmerican Revolutionary War history, along with authentic Colonial architecture, quaint village shops, and wonderful restaurants. 

But in addition to the American Revolutionary War sites, Concord offers a lot more to explore:  the childhood home ofLittle Women authorLouisa May Alcott, Thoreau'sWalden Pond, andSleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Explore Concord's & Lexington's top attractions on this day trip from Boston

Find out more about what to do & see in Concord

Boston Harbor Islands - Explore Another World

Board the ferry from downtown to theBoston Harbor Islands, and 15 minutes later you'll arrive in a different world. 

Rich with beauty, fascinating sea life and birds, and evocative history, the Harbor Islands make up Boston's largest park.   Spend a day exploring, or set up camp for the weekend.

Top activities to enjoy on the Boston Harbor Islands

Visit Boston Craft Breweries on this Popular Half-Day Tour

Boston has been a beer townever since the Puritans arrived with their barrels of brew, and today dozens ofbreweriesandmicrobreweries are creating a huge variety ofhandcrafted beers with unique local flavors. 

TheCraft Breweries Tour lets you experience thebest of the bestin and around Boston.

On this guided tour from downtown, you'll cruise around in a comfortable vehicle to visit threeof the Boston area's most interesting and unique craft breweries and cider houses where you'll sample up to12 locally crafted brews, get an insider's look at Massachusetts' vibrant brewery scene, and learn about what makes each style of beer unique. 

You'll enjoy asnack paired with the perfect beer.  This is a 21+ experience.

Find out more & book this tour

More Fun Ways to See Boston