Massachusetts essentials
Massachusetts essentials
The practical answers a Massachusetts trip actually needs — getting into the state, getting around by region, when to visit, money and costs, and staying safe on and off campus.
Arrival
Getting around
Planning
Planning When to visit Massachusetts Fall is the headline season: foliage usually peaks across the state in October, and the color arrives earlier in the western hills than on the coast. Watch the college calendar, because move-in, parents' weekends and spring graduation fill hotels in the campus cities. Summer belongs to the Cape and the coast, while winter and the muddy weeks of early spring are the quiet, cheaper times. Planning Money and costs in Massachusetts Massachusetts is one of the more expensive US states, and Boston and Cambridge sit at the top end for lodging and food. Public transport is the main place to save: an MBTA pass beats single fares if you ride often. Student IDs and museum free or discounted days cut admission costs, and the state's sales tax has some visitor-friendly quirks worth knowing.