Science and Nature in Massachusetts

Science & Nature

The wonders of nature — and the scientific know-how to explain them — surround you in Massachusetts.

Visit a museum or a zoo or take in the state's scenic wonders. Learn about plants and wildlife in an arboretum or nature center. And when summer turns to autumn, join the legions of leaf peepers throughout the state, enjoying some of America's most brilliant fall foliage. 

Marvel at flowers created in glass at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge or to see the real thing visit the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. For bird watchers view migrating shore birds on a birding expedition to Plum Island. 

Massachusetts has hundreds of farms across the state  that offer homegrown  produce to buy or pick yourself. Check out the Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources for a complete list.

In Boston, experience a bit of the Outback at the Franklin Park Zoo, where you'll find kangaroos, wallabies and emus. At the Butterfly Place, stand in a glass-enclosed garden surrounded by hundreds of beautiful, winged creatures.

Be sure to check out the Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands months calendar.

There's almost no limit to the natural wonders you can explore in Massachusetts.

WHAT'S NEW
Wondering where to roast marshmallows over the crackle of a campfire, feel the spray of the ocean or sink your teeth into a crisp Massachusetts-grown apple after a hay ride? The Great Outdoors blog will tell you about outdoor activities, wildlife, and local farms, as well as offer suggestions for places to explore, hike, fish, hunt, or go boating around the state. A great tool for planning a day-trip, weekend or family vacation, The Great Outdoors will cover topics like recipes for cooking locally grown produce, the three steepest hikes in Massachusetts, field reports from shark biologists, when to volunteer to count bald eagles, where to tour local wineries, and the best stocked fishing holes.

Check out the Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands Months Calendar for 2012 from the Division of Ecological Restoration.

• Fall Foliage
• Gardens & Arboretums
• Zoos & Aquariums
• Nature Centers
• Scenic Wonders
• Cultural Districts