massachusetts.

Logan was in NYC for a work trip so I decided to fly out to see him, explore NYC, and then drive up the coast to visit family. We rented a car from NYC and headed north! We were surprised by the heavy traffic leaving the state of NY on a Saturday so beware of traffic if you choose to drive. Otherwise, the drive wasn’t too bad and allowed us to see states we hadn’t yet seen.

We drove through Connecticut and went straight to the College of the Holy Cross in Wuschter, MA. Logan’s family had been tailgaiting at the football fields so we decided to stop and join in on the fun. After seeing Holy Cross, we jumped back in the car and headed towards Boston. Our whole drive that day was filled with beautiful fall trees, views of harbors, and long winding roads.

We stayed with Logan’s cousin in Southie. She lives in a beautiful, older home that just screamed Boston charm. There were real wooden floors, fireplaces, rooftop patios, and steep and narrow staircases.

We walked down Newburghy street which is full of high-end shops and eateries. The old, brick building were so cool as we have nothing like that in California! Newburghy street lead us to the Boston Gardens and the Boston Commons. Both parks were full of changing leaves and beautiful ponds.

Following the parks, we hoped onto the Freedom Trail and walked the old streets. Walking in Boston was not only easy but also, everything was so close by! It’s one of my favorite cities I’ve ever visited.

We walked to Quincy Market, this market reminded me of Pike’s Place in Seattle. You can get any type of food here you want, especially all sorts of seafood!

Next, we hoped back on the Freedom Trail which took us to Little Italy. Cannoli’s are a must while in Little Italy. Our cannoli’s were the best I had ever had.

Our last stop in Boston was for a drink at the Top of the Hub. The Hub is also known as the Prudential Tower in the center of downtown Boston. The main level of the tower is a high end mall. We walked through the mall to the Hub’s reception area and took an elevator to the top floor. We had delicious drinks and great views looking down on Boston.

After Boston, we drove about 45 minutes North to the town of Salem, MA. Salem is known for the Salem Witch Trials and in the month of October, the witches certainly come out! I’ve never seen a city turn into a real life Halloween town quite like Salem. There were street markets late into the night, performers, costumes, and more. The small town certainly blows up in October! Logan’s cousin lives right downtown so we were able to walk everywhere.

Salem had so many restaurant options and most of the restaurants had outdoor patios with heat lamps! I loved how walkable the city was and it was extra spooky to see Salem in October. If you want to truly experience fall, Massachusetts in October is a must.

Where We Stayed:

When we stayed in Boston, we stayed with Logan’s cousin in the Southie Neighborhood. While in Salem, we stayed with another cousin right downtown.

Where We Ate:

Caesar. Salad. Pizza. Oh my goodness, I had never heard of such a thing. We enjoyed this at The Broadway in the Southie neighborhood of Boston. I’m on the hunt for another restaurant that makes this deliciousness.

Flour Bakery is a delicious bakery that offers several gluten-free options. I highly recommend stopping by one of their locations.

Did you know the oldest and longest operating restaurant in the country is in Boston? The Union Oyster House is a must see.

The Sea Level Oyster Bar in Salem is situated right on the harbor. With great views and mouth-watering oysters, what more could you ask for? We weren’t starving so we just had a couple of oysters but the menu was to die for! I will definitely go back the next time I’m in Salem.

Village Tavern in downtown Salem has amazing burgers. I am not usually a big burger eater, but I have to say, these were top of the line.

Front Street Coffee is a great option for a grab and go breakfast. We both enjoyed flavored coffees and bagel sandwiches.

Best Time to Visit:

Summer
Fall

maine.

sedona.