Massachusetts: The Do's & Don'ts of Visiting Massachusetts - Wolters World
video description
Use English (UK) pronunciation, not American for our place names. Hint: we are actually more English than American. I'm generally assumed to be from the English Midlands when traveling in the UK (and Western Europe, for that matter)and they're correct, I do speak English with a decidedly Midlands / Birmingham accent. Educated Bostonians are familiar with common British slang. Our politics / issues of the day tend to be similar to that in the UK.
Our favorite participatory sport is Politics. Politics here is definitely retail and our politicians are actually quite approachable.
We LOVE our Ice Cream. There isn't a wrong time to eat Ice Cream. in fact, the best time to get an ice cream is in the winter, right after you dug your car out, cleared your driveway, sidewalk, etc after a nasty Nor'Easter. (Hint: don't move lawn chair place holders. Yes, it's illegal in most cities and towns, but we just spent an hour digging it out, we deserve to keep the spot for a few days) BTW, Jimmies are what are called 'sprinkles' in other parts in America and Canada.
Most Bostonians came from somewhere else (like me.
In Boston, we'll use the terms 'inbound' and 'outbound' when giving directions. Inbound is towards Boston and, in Boston, inbound is towards Park Street / Boston Common / Statehouse and outbound is away from this.
The Statehouse is the center of the universe in Massachusetts. Distances are measured from it.
The County is what people from Berkshire County call it. There's North County: North Adams, Williamstown, etc, Central County: Pittsfield and South County: Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge, etc.
People from The County are just as likely to root for the Yankees as the Red Sox, because their TV comes from New York State. Springfield and east definitely part of Red Sox Nation.
The needs of the County are generally given short shift by the Statehouse, so you'll hear a lot of griping about that.
God Dam New Yorkers! is a common cuss you'll hear in the County. This generally refers to those from Downstate NY (south of the northern border of Westchester and Rockland Counties in New York State. People from The County will gripe about Bostonians, but not to the same extent as New Yorkers.
Definition of Western, Central and Eastern MA depends solely on where you're from. To me, Western MA is from the New York State Liine to I-91 / Pioneer Valley. Central MA is from the Pioneer Valley to just past Worcester, to the I-84 interchange, where the MassPike goes from 2 lanes to 3 lanes. Someone from Eastern MA would include Springfield /Pioneer Valley as part of Western MA and say Eastern MA ends at I-495.
The T is pretty good and most Bostonians use it. A car is a rusty piece of metal that's easily stolen, has to be shoveled out and expensive to insure. Many Bostonians are 'car free'. They'll rent a car when they need one. Most (but not allSturbridge Village and Plimoth Plantation are notable exceptionsyou'll need an Uber/Lyft ride to/from the Purple Line) are accessible by T or Purple Line (Commuter Rail.
Do visit Providence, RI. it's an hour Purple Line trip away.
Tourist in the T (Green line, Coolidge Corner, inbound) asks about a good place to eat. The whole back half of the trolley gives said tourist directions to their favorite local places. Tourist had to take notes. I gave directions how to get to the No Name, a classic Chowder Parlor working man sort of place(sadly closed, COVID-19. Ditto for Union Oyster House) on Fish Pier in Southie I was waiting to be seated and a crew returning from a fishing trip and two of them hauls a swordfish into the kitchen as payment for a meal. Swordfish steaks is about to be on the Specials board.
Mike's Pastries are a pretty good, but a rip-off compared to Modern Bakery, across the street from Mike's in the North End.
Winter is the BEST TIME to visit us! We LOVE Winter. It's when most of our cultural activities are in full swing. Boston is actually pretty boring in the summer, with the schools out.
We have the best medical care in the word. Don't you forget it.
I wouldn't diss your beloved Yankees in New York, so don't diss our beloved Red Sox in Boston (I know. At one time I was a Red Sox fan living in New York) Even if you're not a baseball fan, do try to see the Red Sox play in Fenway Park. (The Red Sox / Yankees rivalry isn't nearly as fun as the famous European football rivalries, such as The Old Firm Derby, Liverpool vs ManU, etc)
Boston is a city of neighborhoods. It's generally very safe. The Arnold Arboretum itself is not sketchy, but the orange line that far south is. Orange line is generally safe to MassAve, after that it begins to loom more urban, but it's still daytime OK. The neighborhood near the Sam Adams brewery can be sketchy. Follow the directions on the card / website to get there and you'll be OK.
Date: 2022-02-04
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Comments and reviews: 9
Scott
Don't forget about the Dr. Suess museum as well (if I'm correct, that is also in Springfield MA! Good run down, but I think you overstate the The Cape and The vinyard sayings. We do say it that way, but we completely know what you mean when saying it in the proper geographical phrasing. The Boston accent is really just in southy (south end. Out side of southy its not that common and most have the standard New England accent.
Frappe and a Milkshake are two different drinks here. Though similar, but an important distinction is that a Frappe is much thicker as a Milkshake is usually milk mixed with some syrup and not very thick. The best way to think of it is. a Frappe is a Milkshake with Ice cream otherwise your just getting milk shaken with syrup and flavoring. This goes for all of New England!
Most New England'ers whom live in the Greater Boston Area just say we are from Boston as it's just easier when we are traveling else where. Boston is actually very small. I think people are surprised how small Boston actually is.
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Don't forget about the Dr. Suess museum as well (if I'm correct, that is also in Springfield MA! Good run down, but I think you overstate the The Cape and The vinyard sayings. We do say it that way, but we completely know what you mean when saying it in the proper geographical phrasing. The Boston accent is really just in southy (south end. Out side of southy its not that common and most have the standard New England accent.
Frappe and a Milkshake are two different drinks here. Though similar, but an important distinction is that a Frappe is much thicker as a Milkshake is usually milk mixed with some syrup and not very thick. The best way to think of it is. a Frappe is a Milkshake with Ice cream otherwise your just getting milk shaken with syrup and flavoring. This goes for all of New England!
Most New England'ers whom live in the Greater Boston Area just say we are from Boston as it's just easier when we are traveling else where. Boston is actually very small. I think people are surprised how small Boston actually is.
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Alan
Since youre from St. Louis, as someone from The Greater St. Louis Area, allow me to share this story.
Ive lived in New England since 2007.
I started going to Fenway Park in 2008, and I always wear my Cardinals stuff.
When the Red Sox were on the verge of winning the 2004 World Series, thousands of Red Sox fans converged on St Louis to celebrate, and Cardinals fans helped many of them by giving them their ticket stubs to they could enter Busch II and witness the final out.
They havent forgotten that.
People still shake my hand at Fenway as a Cardinal fan, as a thank you.
Some tips:
The chain hotels are in Boston and theyre expensive. Look at the smaller, locally owned places. Theyre perfectly fine and youll save money.
Learn the T. Forget about driving in Boston. Mass natives that I know wont do it.
Take the tour at Fenway Park. well worth it.
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Since youre from St. Louis, as someone from The Greater St. Louis Area, allow me to share this story.
Ive lived in New England since 2007.
I started going to Fenway Park in 2008, and I always wear my Cardinals stuff.
When the Red Sox were on the verge of winning the 2004 World Series, thousands of Red Sox fans converged on St Louis to celebrate, and Cardinals fans helped many of them by giving them their ticket stubs to they could enter Busch II and witness the final out.
They havent forgotten that.
People still shake my hand at Fenway as a Cardinal fan, as a thank you.
Some tips:
The chain hotels are in Boston and theyre expensive. Look at the smaller, locally owned places. Theyre perfectly fine and youll save money.
Learn the T. Forget about driving in Boston. Mass natives that I know wont do it.
Take the tour at Fenway Park. well worth it.
reply
Marilyn
Massachusetts born and raised and I hate Duncan. But I love this state. Also I prefer to pronounce the words the way they should be pronounced not the way they are pronounced by people in Massachusetts. I hate being called a mass hole. Trust me the drivers are better in Massachusetts than they are in Rhode Island big time. We live on the edge of Rhode Island so I speak from experience. To me the whole New England accent is ridiculous and I don't use it. I guess I'm just a bit picky when it comes to speaking English (I pronounce my R's and my ing's. My husband who is from Rhode Island has a whole different ridiculous accent. But I love Massachusetts.
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Massachusetts born and raised and I hate Duncan. But I love this state. Also I prefer to pronounce the words the way they should be pronounced not the way they are pronounced by people in Massachusetts. I hate being called a mass hole. Trust me the drivers are better in Massachusetts than they are in Rhode Island big time. We live on the edge of Rhode Island so I speak from experience. To me the whole New England accent is ridiculous and I don't use it. I guess I'm just a bit picky when it comes to speaking English (I pronounce my R's and my ing's. My husband who is from Rhode Island has a whole different ridiculous accent. But I love Massachusetts.
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Ryan
Im from Mass/ Boston. As for the Boston accent you will actually hear less of the dropped Rs and such in Boston (the city) because Boston tends to be more transplants, college students from all of the world, young professionals from elsewhere. Its in the surrounding towns and small citys that people are from generations of living in Mass, that you hear it. I can attest to that, being raised in Lowell, (40 minutes north of Boston) as opposed to living basically in Boston now. my friends that actually live in Boston gig me all the time for dropping an ahh (R) when Im not be aware of it.
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Im from Mass/ Boston. As for the Boston accent you will actually hear less of the dropped Rs and such in Boston (the city) because Boston tends to be more transplants, college students from all of the world, young professionals from elsewhere. Its in the surrounding towns and small citys that people are from generations of living in Mass, that you hear it. I can attest to that, being raised in Lowell, (40 minutes north of Boston) as opposed to living basically in Boston now. my friends that actually live in Boston gig me all the time for dropping an ahh (R) when Im not be aware of it.
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Jiy
Another thing about the history that a lot of people seem to skip over, but if you're a fan of warships and Moby Dick or want to see the rich fishing history of Massachusetts, you gotta go and see the South Coast; specifically New Bedford, Fall River, and even Nantucket. Those cities are loaded with history that a lot of tourists sadly look over. (Hopefully, the train line that's being built that connects Boston to New Bedford will change this in the future)
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Another thing about the history that a lot of people seem to skip over, but if you're a fan of warships and Moby Dick or want to see the rich fishing history of Massachusetts, you gotta go and see the South Coast; specifically New Bedford, Fall River, and even Nantucket. Those cities are loaded with history that a lot of tourists sadly look over. (Hopefully, the train line that's being built that connects Boston to New Bedford will change this in the future)
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travel
Born and raised in Boston and sadly since covid nothing is the same. Be prepared to have a vaccine passport to go to anything ahead of time. Outside of Boston there are tons of other towns that are great. I worked at the colonial Inn in concord that's a great historic area and inn if you come for historic reasons. Minute man trails are beautiful also Lexington, Acton and most mill towns are beautiful too.
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Born and raised in Boston and sadly since covid nothing is the same. Be prepared to have a vaccine passport to go to anything ahead of time. Outside of Boston there are tons of other towns that are great. I worked at the colonial Inn in concord that's a great historic area and inn if you come for historic reasons. Minute man trails are beautiful also Lexington, Acton and most mill towns are beautiful too.
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Samantha
I grew up in the Berkshire's and I laughed all throughout this video. I know I am totally a masshole and I am a horrible driver (aggressive. My wife is Jamaican and she hates how I drive. I now live in Clinton MA with my wife and that's something I'd like to point out about MA, is that we are one of if not the most accepting state when it comes to LGBTQ rights and marriages and I absolutely love it!
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I grew up in the Berkshire's and I laughed all throughout this video. I know I am totally a masshole and I am a horrible driver (aggressive. My wife is Jamaican and she hates how I drive. I now live in Clinton MA with my wife and that's something I'd like to point out about MA, is that we are one of if not the most accepting state when it comes to LGBTQ rights and marriages and I absolutely love it!
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Ven
Loads of us could care less about Dunkin'. ;) Don't stay in Springfield any longer than you have to, definitely don't stay there. And please don't call us Massholes, Connecticut has much worse drivers. I hate sports but even I defend our teams. The Frap thing is just eastern Mass, milkshakes are just milkshakes are everywhere else. Oh and apple anything is great here!
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Loads of us could care less about Dunkin'. ;) Don't stay in Springfield any longer than you have to, definitely don't stay there. And please don't call us Massholes, Connecticut has much worse drivers. I hate sports but even I defend our teams. The Frap thing is just eastern Mass, milkshakes are just milkshakes are everywhere else. Oh and apple anything is great here!
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E1
Boston is my home and I love it and I'm proud to be from Massachusetts but I don't have a Boston accent LOL I haven't been home in a while but I'm always keeping in touch with my family and friends and I have Boston and Massachusetts memorabilia and my house, no matter where I am I am forever a New England Patriots fan I just love New England
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Boston is my home and I love it and I'm proud to be from Massachusetts but I don't have a Boston accent LOL I haven't been home in a while but I'm always keeping in touch with my family and friends and I have Boston and Massachusetts memorabilia and my house, no matter where I am I am forever a New England Patriots fan I just love New England
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