Boston

[JWebb]

With a 5pm arrival at Logan it will probably be dark by the time you get to Danvers.

With that said Salem would be a good starting point, Salem was also famous for its Maritime trade and was once one of the largest cities in the country. Number of the homes of the prosperous captains can be seen on Essex Street. It's been a number of years since I returned in 2006 (lived in Marblehead through the 60"s) but at that time there was a tall ship "Friendship" that was either being rebuilt or a replica in progress. Also down about a block was the House of Seven Gables built back in 1668.

Have a great time. Although I left that area back in 72, the North Shore is still is one of my favorite places.

[Nathan Potter]

If you are in Danvers, Salem makes good sense for the 17th and 18th century architecture. Also as Winger suggested the Peabody Essex museum is one of the best small museums in the country. The artifacts collected by the whaling trade are phenominal, especially the northwest indian art that is extensively on display. A fully reconstructed house from China has been completely rebuilt within the museum walls, including the chairman Mao posters, and is a great visit. The museum restaurant is first rate elegance.

Another place nearby that I like is Cranes beach and neck, in Ipswich, for images of dunes and seaside plants.

On the north shore and on the Merrimac River you'll find the massive array of old mills at Lawrence and Lowell MA. that are worth photographing for the archtecture; if that is your persuasion.

Too much good stuff around there.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[StoneNYC]

You should post to this thread

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...d.php?t=111738

[Winger]

While the DeCordova in Lincoln is great and the grounds are fun to wander through, they started charging admission (gatehouse on the road into the property) a few years ago. There are some nice New Englandy-type scenes on the roads near there, too.

Some pretty good museums in Boston, too, but not quick to go through.

I was only in New Bedford for work and did notice some cool looking buildings (old mills and such), but would never have gone there to photograph without an armed escort. The fact that I was there for work more than frequently was enough of a clue for me (forensic chemist for the MSP). Guess it hasn't changed since I left.

FWIW, Rockport, MA was always a good place to shoot for me. There's "motif #1", nice harbor, and some really cute stores.

While there's plenty in eastern mainland MA, what I miss the most is the Cape. There's this little salt marsh near Falmouth (off Sippewisset) that I really want to wander around in.

[tgtaylor]

Thanks again for everyone's replies. I'm really looking forward to this trip!

Thomas

[Jim Andrada]

When I was a kid (1940's) our next door neighbors had a Summer place on the Cape in North Truro, It was really ON the beach - step off the porch onto the sand kind of thing. In that era a Summer place was often a little cottage with a sitting area, a kitchenette and two small bedrooms maybe 9 by 10 feet each. Maybe 500 sq ft total. Pretty basic and great fun with a freezing cold shower on a post near the porch to wash the sand off. And the water hadn't yet been polluted and you could dig clams and actually eat them without dying of some horrible disease. The flip side of course was that antibiotics were not common and every year a classmate or two died of some REALLY horrible disease that modern kids only read about in history books - if anyone still reads books that is. No TV in the cottage but then again there wasn't any TV anywhere yet so you didn't miss it.

[StoneNYC]

When I was a kid (1940's) our next door neighbors had a Summer place on the Cape in North Truro, It was really ON the beach - step off the porch onto the sand kind of thing. In that era a Summer place was often a little cottage with a sitting area, a kitchenette and two small bedrooms maybe 9 by 10 feet each. Maybe 500 sq ft total. Pretty basic and great fun with a freezing cold shower on a post near the porch to wash the sand off. And the water hadn't yet been polluted and you could dig clams and actually eat them without dying of some horrible disease. The flip side of course was that antibiotics were not common and every year a classmate or two died of some REALLY horrible disease that modern kids only read about in history books - if anyone still reads books that is. No TV in the cottage but then again there wasn't any TV anywhere yet so you didn't miss it.

When I was a kid (1990's) my mom and her sister used to rent a cabin and her kid, husband, my mom, me would all stay together in a tiny place on a road made of sand, same size, no TV, outside shower (but we had hot water as well as cold thank goodness!) to wash the sand off etc. None of my classmates died, and life wasn't too bad... Not sure the point of this, except I think there are certain places like the cape, where life is just better, if only for 1 week (or the summer if you're that lucky).

[Noah B]

If you've got some time stop by the north end, (haymarket, north station T stop). It's little italy and the architecture is amazing, it's a jump back in time. The molasses flood happened there too. The cape is one of my favorite parts of Mass, and Gloucester/Rockport area is really nice as well. As far as galleries go the griffin museum, ICA, MFA are decent. There are some smaller galleries in the south end like kayafus etc. which have a variety of shows up. I have some pals that run kijidome, another independent art space. Concord/Lexington is a great area with Minuteman Historical Park and Walden Pond. If you're into US history its really neat to explore, but more than likely there's still snow all over the place, there was last weekend.

[Jim Andrada]

I was going to recommend the North End as well, but it's become so Yuppified that I hesitated. I remember when you really needed to speak Italian if you wanted to talk to half the people who lived there and whole lambs hung out over the street around Easter time. And downstairs Faneiul Hall was full of hanging sides of beef, complete with flies. Last time I stopped by Haymarket a few years back the pushcarts were still there in force and I think still are - might be an interesting area for a photo or two. My favorite spot used to be Chelsea before the 1973 fire that burned down a couple of dozen city blocks. A bit dicey in some ways, it was where all the scrap dealers were concentrated and a gold mine of LF photo opportunities.

[tgtaylor]

I'm here! The wind is colder than a witches tit! Speaking of which I'll be photographing tonight in Salem. I'll post more later but have to go to work. I'm here for the Boston Seafood Show. Send me a PM if you would like to meet up.

Thomas