If you live in New England, you're already pretty familiar with some of the great cities and towns that you have around you. It's one of the main reasons why the region is such a popular vacation destination. As we're in the midst of Winter, perhaps you're wanting to plan your next great road trip for the upcoming Spring months. Or maybe even sooner. As is the case throughout the New England region, there happen to be several great downtown areas throughout Massachusetts to take note of.

The Bay State tends to get several of its unique small towns named to certain nationally published lists, such as 'Best Small Towns in New England', or some sort of variation of that. Often times, there are towns on the western side of the state that get picked for those, and they definitely deserve some recognition. But what about the cities and towns around the rest of Massachusetts that have some of the best downtowns? And why are they named as such?

While I am definitely not the person that made this list, it did get me thinking about what I look for in a good downtown area. The downtowns that have a nice walkable area with unique shops, restaurants, and maybe a bar and/or venue to enjoy some nightlife are typically what I enjoy. It just so happens that this list has plenty of that and more.

It's also understood that it's not always the downtown area that can make any given town or city unique. There's always alternative spots in the surrounding communities that give off a great local vibe. That being said, 'World Atlas' decided to make its own list of the best downtowns in the state of Massachusetts. Let's take a look at the cities they picked out for having the best downtowns in the Bay State...

8 Massachusetts Cities That Have the Best Downtowns

Gallery Credit: Google Maps

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