You can follow America’s history across the state of Massachusetts, from the Plymouth settlement of the Pilgrim Fathers to the birth of the Revolution in Boston. And then you’ll see that today, the state is full of quirky snapshots of modern American life, from Boston’s café culture to Salem’s Canobie Lake Park.

The best of Boston

The state capital is famous as the birthplace of the war of independence against the British. Today you can walk the well-marked Freedom Trail to explore many of the main landmarks linked to the Boston Tea Party and the spark of revolution. Lively Faneuil Hall sums it all up: originally a settlers’ dockside warehouse, it became a meeting place for colonialists and is now the centre of a vibrant waterfront area of cafes, shops and street food.

Historic Salem

A short drive north of Boston, you’ll find the old town of Salem - which is still famous for its witch-hunting campaigns of the 17th century. Tour the old sights connected with the witch-finding hysteria, including the ‘Witch House’ that was home of one of the witch-trial judges. Away from the history of this area, it’s easy to unwind in a waterfront restaurant or browse some interesting shops. There’s even the chance to soak up a fine dose of culture at the acclaimed Peabody Essex Museum, which has a stunning collection of art and history, including a whole house from ancient China.

Coastal retreats

The coast of Massachusetts is a sequence of great sights and things to do. You could start by taking a boat trip to the tiny former whaling island of Nantucket, which is now an up-market beach destination with classy boutiques and restaurants. Nearby is the busy island of Martha’s Vineyard, where harbour towns, lighthouses and fishing villages are punctuated by popular sandy beaches. Further north, discover the historic recreation of the original Pilgrim Father’s settlement at Plymouth, where the first thanksgiving feast was held. And visit the coastal town of Gloucester to find more great beaches and the landmarks of the oldest seaport in America.

The long, curved peninsular of Cape Cod is really one long sandy beach, backed by pretty traditional villages among the sweeping sand dunes and trees. You’ll have fun pottering around the old fishing villages and pretty tourist towns, especially Provincetown.