MASSACHUSETTS -  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - BOSTON HOTEL GUIDE

This region is ideal to explore by car as the mercury begins to drop, as the autumn is when the vibrant foliage is at its finest. Autumn leaves blanket the east coast landscape with colourful splashes of red and gold - and on a fly drive holiday, you can take in as much scenery as you like at your leisure. Boston is the best place to begin your New England fly drive holiday. While it is arguably best known for its academic achievements - the city is home to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both of which offer free tours - Boston is also a hub of culture, a historic centre and a great place to spend a few days exploring.

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You might want to begin your stay with a visit to the quirky Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, taking time to sample some of the delicious east coast seafood on offer. If you're a runner, you may want to lace up your trainers and run a portion of the world-famous 26-mile Boston Marathon route - although you will also have plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs with a spot of retail therapy at one of the city's fine shopping establishments.

From Boston, it is a short drive to many other New England attractions. Whether you're keen to see the culture of Rhode Island, New Hampshire's scenic mountains, Maine's famous shorelines or the mansions of Cape Cod, you are only a 90-minute car ride away. Best of all, in the autumn months, you are guaranteed to pass through gorgeous patches of fall foliage, setting the ideal backdrop for your holiday.

Known as the Bay State, Massachusetts extends from the gently rolling Berkshire Hills throuth the Connecticut River Valley and on to Cape Cod and the rocky North Shore. Along your drive, you will pass through several pretty towns and villages, where you can take time to stop off, go exploring and meet some of the friendly locals.

If you are a history buff, you may want to visit the site of the start of the 1775 American Revolution. One good place to stop is the North Bridge Visitor Center in Concord, from which you can take the Liberty Ride hop-on, hop-off trolley service to many historic Revolutionary War sites. The first shots of the revolution were fired in Concord and Lexington and are chronicled at the Minuteman Historical Park Visitor Center in Lincoln, which is also worth a stop as you continue on your travels. If you're travelling through New England with young children, you might want to stop off at a real-life pumpkin patch. In addition to the fun your family can have choosing their own pumpkin and seeing how they grow, you also may be lucky enough to sample a classic all-American dessert - pumpkin pie!
 

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Your young ones can also take the opportunity to learn about life in rural New England nearly 200 years ago by visiting the harvest-themed attractions at Old Sturbridge Village. The attraction depicts Massachusetts life in the 1830s, with a total of 40 historic buildings on the site. At certain times of the year, you will be able to take in demonstrations such as sheep-shearing, but other attractions - such as an old school house and a shoemaker's workshop - are open year-round. Theatre lovers will also find plenty to keep them entertained during a fly drive trip to New England. Culture vultures may wish to schedule their visit around the Berkshire Theater Festival in Stockbridge, which dates back more than 80 years and is one of the oldest regional theatrical events in the United States. You may also find it worthwhile to visit the Norman Rockwell museum, also located in Stockbridge, for an additional theatre fix. A fly drive holiday in the US is the best way to explore at your own pace - no matter where you choose to travel, you are sure to see some of the best sites New England has to offer. No matter if you're after a taste of authentic American autumn or are keen to get a closer look at the region's historic past, your road trip could be the discovery of a lifetime.