Massachusetts is easily one of the United States’ most underrated vacation destinations. While the New England state might not have beautiful weather year-round, Massachusetts does claim some of the most important historical sites in the country, some of the best art collections and — perhaps most importantly to the traveling stoner — legal weed.
Massachusetts is exceedingly friendly to responsible cannabis consumers, especially because there is so much for a stoner to do around the state. Here are some of the best activities for a stoner visiting Massachusetts, any time of year.
See the Fall Color
The same compound responsible for the purple color in some strains of weed is the reason that trees turn red, orange and yellow in the fall. Anthocyanin is a pigment created by some plants as defense against stress; in most cases, the intense green of chlorophyl masks the pigment, but when the plant stops producing chlorophyl, the anthocyanin can produce intense and dazzling displays of color.
New England is known as a prime leaf-peeping destination in the autumn, and if you time your Massachusetts weed-cation just right, you should be able to see some beautiful reds, oranges and yellows in the leaves of Boston and beyond. Some of the most incredible foliage can be found along Route 20, but if you want to get high before enjoying the fall color, you should consider heading somewhere you can meander on foot, such as:
- Arnold Arboretum At Harvard University, Boston
- Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont
- Mount Greylock State Reservation, Lanesborough
- Bash Bish Falls, South Egremont
Sample the New England Cuisine
When the munchies hit, you will appreciate being in one of the most interesting culinary regions of the United States. New England cuisine is characterized by fresh seafood and dairy as well as an extensive use of baking to produce rich, sumptuous and filling dishes. After you partake of your Massachusetts weed, you might launch yourself on a Boston lobster roll crawl to sample the various takes on lobster rolls available around the city. Once you get your fill of lobster rolls, you can pivot toward Boston clam chowder or find a plate of fried clams with a range of delectable dipping sauces. This might not be your typical munchie fare — because it is so much better.
Enjoy High Arts
Boston is home to a surprising number of incredibly valuable and beautiful pieces of classic art. Both the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts contain some outstanding works that will charm you even if you visit while sober. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum itself is fantastic to behold, with a grand interior courtyard filled with exotic plants. If these spaces don’t offer enough culture to captivate your buzzed brain, Boston contains a number of other art museums, such as:
- The Institute of Contemporary Art
- Harvard Art Museums
- The Peabody Essex Museum
- DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park
Try Curling
A sport you might only encounter at the Winter Olympics, Curling is a fun and exciting activity that you can enjoy if you visit Boston during the winter months. Boston Seaport maintains curling lanes that are open to the public, and they supply the stones and brushes, as well. Still, before you step up to the hog line, you might want to learn some rules and techniques for curling — or else enjoy your high watching more experienced curlers make their throws.
Survive Salem
Everyone knows the basics of the story of the Salem Witch Trials, and during your next Massachusetts adventure, you can learn the real history for yourself. Salem, Massachusetts is a quaint town about a half-hour north of Boston that celebrates its history as one of the country’s most notorious destinations. There is plenty of fun to be had in modern Salem thanks to a bevy of boutiques along the main street, but most visitors find that the town comes to life after dark. Especially during the fall around Halloween, Salem’s nighttime ghost tours can be seriously scary, and being high makes the spooks even more memorable.
It is too easy to end up visiting the same weed destinations over and over again — even big cities like San Francisco, Portland and Denver can get boring after a couple trips. For your next weed-cation, consider heading to the Northeast to explore Massachusetts, and enjoy these wondrous and exciting activities while you’re there.
