The town, with its gracious old homes, pristine downtown area, and mountain vistas, has charming restaurants and shops as well. Near the town of Pittsfield, the Hancock Shaker Village is a museum village with buildings and exhibits memorializing the life and work of the Shaker community that existed there from about 1800 through 1960. Characteristics Massachusetts, one of the original 13 colonies and thus one of the oldest states in the union, offers travelers a combination of city sophistication and rural charm. Climate Because it's situated near the ocean, Massachusetts's weather is generally mild. Like the rest of New England, however, Massachusetts's weather is famously unpredictable.
Public transportation is the best way to travel within Boston.
Buses also make regular runs to Boston from Providence. For other areas of Massachusetts, a car is the best means of transportation.