New Bedford

The sixth-largest city in Massachusetts, New Bedford, is referred to as "the whale city" because during the 19th century, it was one of the most significant whaling communities in the world. Whale skeletons are on display in the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the largest museum in the United States devoted to whaling. The church that served as the inspiration for Moby Dick is located across the street from the museum at Seamen's Bethel.

Additionally, there are homes of whaling merchants, art, and firefighting equipment museums that visitors can view. The city also has a charming side, with a number of historically significant areas. Because of its crucial position in the 19th-century whaling business, New Bedford, which is located on the shore of Buzzards Bay, is known as "the city that lights the world." The New Bedford Whaling Museum and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park address this past as well as other subjects like natural history, conservation, immigration, cultural diversity, and the significance of New Bedford as an Underground Railroad hub for abolitionists.

If whaling isn't your thing, New Bedford also has the best Portuguese-speaking population in the USA, a vibrant arts scene, and the well-kept Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Military Museum. The city is teeming with seafood eateries and plays host to the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, the biggest Portuguese cultural festival in the world.

• Location: Massachusetts