Massachusetts

One of the most prominent states in the history of the US, Massachusetts boasts a rich past as well as a luminous present. The story of the Bay State stretches back more than 400 years, when the British first colonized the area. A hotbed of rebellious activity during the American Revolution, the state was home to some of the most important figures of the era. Massachusetts' largest city, Boston, has benefited from a multicultural zest for centuries and stands today as the social, economic and cultural center of New England. Beachcombers and social climbers flock to coastal areas of Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Hyannis each year to put their feet in the sand and rub elbows with the rich and famous. The central and western regions are a nature-lover's haven of rolling hills and bucolic scenery. Cambridge is home to several of the top universities in the country, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the ivy-covered Harvard University. The state's economic endeavors include banking and finance, communications and technology, real estate and health care. Other popular destinations include poetic Amherst, a famed rock at Plymouth, and bewitching Salem.