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Thursday, December 29, 2011

British Virgin Islands Tourist Board Sponsors SAIL Magazine's Newly Launched Charter Channel

The British Virgin Islands, known among yachtsmen as the "Sailing Capital of the World" has continued with its efforts to promote and support yacht charters by sponsoring SAIL Magazine's new Charter Channel, an online series of video segments devoted to educating and inspiring travelers about yacht chartering. The 12 videos in the series are 4-6 minutes and each cover a different charter subject, including choosing your charter boat, provisioning for a week-long charter, how to properly moor a yacht, and all the ins and outs of a yacht charter trip.

SAIL Associate Editor Meredith Laitos hosts the videos, in which she walks viewers through helpful informational topics. Her years of experience as a national college sailing champion and consummate Caribbean charterer are evidenced through the relaxed and credible tone of the videos. The first video in the series, which kicked off the official launch of the channel in November, can be viewed at www.sailmagazine.com/charter. 

The British Virgin Islands, a base for a wide array of yacht charter suppliers, serves as the ideal setting for the videos. Beyond practical information about yachts themselves, the Charter Channel videos feature some of the incredible destinations and yacht charter companies that can be found throughout the British Virgin Islands. With easy island-hopping, line-of-sight navigation, steady winds, and a multitude of sheltered anchorages – as well as a plethora of breathtaking natural wonders, award-winning culinary options, world-class spas, and other waterside activities – the BVI is the ultimate destination for charter sailors and water-lovers alike. For more information on all the unforgettable experiences available in the British Virgin Islands, please visit www.bvitourism.com.

Source: PR Newswire




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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The Islands of the Bahamas Make Wedding Planning Easy With Director of Romance

For many couples, the most important question after “will you marry me?” is “how do we plan a destination wedding?” Now, Freda Madrisotti, Director of Romance for The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation can help with the answers via her new application on The Bahamas Facebook page.

From large-scale, all-inclusive resort options on Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Island to the barefoot elegance of beachfront weddings on Abaco, Andros, Cat Island or The Exumas, couples will find there are countless opportunities to customize their special day.

“With this online tool, I can easily help people fully explore the variety of options available for weddings or special occasions in The Bahamas,” said Freda Madrisotti, Director of Romance.

Freda has been working with hotels, wedding planners and members of the Bahamas Bridal Association to assist with destination wedding, vow renewal and honeymoon planning needs since 2006. Fans of The Bahamas Facebook page can now interact with Freda via the ‘Romance’ tab accessed through the left hand index. There, visitors will find answers to ten of the most frequently asked questions, from what you need to get a marriage license to where you can research vendors for the big day. Fans of the page can also participate in the ‘Find your Romantic Island’ interactive quiz and contact Freda directly with any additional questions by submitting an inquiry through the ‘Ask the Director of Romance’ box.

For more information, visit www.Bahamas.com or call 1-800-Bahamas.

Source: The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism



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Friday, December 23, 2011

KidsRule Mountain Camps at Three New England Ski Resorts

For the holiday vacation week, kids may close the books temporarily for a different kind of education. Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Western Massachusetts, Bromley Mountain in Southern Vermont and Cranmore Mountain in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, have blanketed their learning and beginner trails with snow. Why? Because of their commitment to the new KidsRule Mountain Camps.

The three resorts' CEO, Brian Fairbank said, “With the challenging start to the snow season, the large state-of-the-art snow making investments, that all three mountains have made, is now paying off. With cold weather in place in the region, all three are pumping out massive amounts of snow.”

Photo courtesy of Bromley Mountain

Being sure there is good snow to learn on, is just the beginning. The KidsRule camps also take a new approach to ski and snowboard education - one based on safety, learning life long techniques and helping each child learn at their own pace. This emphasis will allow the new KidsRule Mountain Camps to take center-stage for the upcoming vacation week. 

All three resorts enter this season, pooling their resources to offer the comprehensive KidsRule children’s snowsports program, that builds on fun and the rapid development of skills for kids age 3 to 14. And, many facilities and lifts have been upgraded at each resort, for the program. Combine this with aggressive snowmaking over the last few weeks and the Kids Rule program has “come to life” at all three resorts.

“We have snow on all of our beginner trails because of our commitment to KidsRule,” said Fairbank. “Snow is a priority at KidsRule Mountains, and we want to assure everyone that we’re ready to make any holiday ski trip memorable.”

The new Bromley Snowsports School Director, Burleigh Sunflower, said that the snow is just part of the approach, “The dedicated learning centers at all three resorts have been designed with families in mind. From ease of registration, to a ‘one-stop’ approach to the rental process, we’ve built-in convenience as part of the program.”

Advance reservations are highly recommended. 

For more information and reservations, visit http://www.kidsrulecamps.com.



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Steel Pan Christmas Medley -- Renaissance Steel [Video]




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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Travelzoo Opens Boston and Vancouver Offices

Travelzoo Inc., a global Internet media company has announced it has opened offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Vancouver, British Columbia.  The new offices give Travelzoo an expanded presence across the Northeast and Canada.

"Boston is a leading center for Internet media and high-tech companies," said Chris Loughlin, chief executive officer for Travelzoo.  "Having a presence there will allow us to recruit from top colleges and universities in the area.  With our Vancouver opening, we are now in two of Canada's leading cities.  These new offices will help better service our advertisers and allow us to source even better content for our subscribers in these regions."  

Travelzoo's new offices are located at 75 Arlington Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 and Park Place Building, 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada U6C 3P6. 

For more information, visit www.travelzoo.com.  




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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Round Hill Celebrates the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival with Special Offer

Round Hill Hotel and Villas is no stranger to celebrity sightings, with a storied guest list including the likes of John F. Kennedy and Paul McCartney. The lure of crystal blue waters and the laid-back pace still resonate with jet-setters looking to relax and escape. Hollywood stars seeking the solace of Round Hill's classic Jamaican hospitality, recently include Ryan Gosling, Alan Rickman and Emma Watson. Now, Jamaica looks forward to adding iconic Canadian native Celine Dion to that list when she arrives for the 16th annual Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival.
Courtesy of Round Hill

Celebrating Jamaica's 50th year of independence, the festival will run from January 26-28, 2012. A particular favorite in Jamaica, Celine 's highly anticipated performance promises to excite and astound locals and guests alike. Alicia Keys, Lionel Richie and Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child fame will join the line-up, as well as Cee Lo Green, The Temptations and many more. 25 live acts will perform over the three days of the Festival at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium near Montego Bay.

Round Hill invites music lovers to head to Jamaica for this once-in-a-lifetime event and experience classic island hospitality at its finest. In celebration of this exciting weekend of fun in the sun and fantastic music,  Round Hill is offering the Jazz & Blues Special Package including spacious Villa Suites from $495 per night and cooked-to-order breakfast daily.

For more information, visit www.roundhill.com/jazzandblues.

Source: PR Newswire



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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Fly.com Adds Orbitz; Becomes the First Airfare Search Engine to Compare All Major U.S. OTAs

Airfare search engine Fly.com™, today announced that it has started displaying fares from Orbitz, giving users the ability to compare prices from all the major U.S. online travel agencies.  Fly.com, which already compares fares from airlines, Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline, Hotwire and CheapOair, is the first airfare search engine to show results from all major online travel agencies in one view, making it the most comprehensive airfare search engine in the United States. 

"Our mission is to provide the easiest-to-use airfare search engine, with the best fares, in an uncluttered, unbiased environment," said Warren H. Chang, vice president and general manager, Fly.com.  "By adding Orbitz, we complete the picture for our millions of monthly users and give the most transparent results in the market."

Fly.com also offers many tools that help travelers find the best flight option, including: 
  • Fare calendars, available on more than 1,000 top routes, to help travelers find the best prices over a range of dates. 
  • Easy-to-use filters that help users sort results instantly.  Sort by price, number of stops, departure time, airline alliance (i.e. Oneworld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam) and more. 
  • Baggage fee information to help travelers understand the true cost of travel. 
  • Real-time Twitter fare alerts for flights from more than 40 U.S. cities. 
Fly.com is not a travel agency and does not take bookings; it compares prices and itineraries from hundreds of airline and travel websites and recommends travelers the best options for their search.  The service is free to use and available at http://www.fly.com/. 

Fly.com is owned by Travelzoo Inc.


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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Art Saturday: Feat. Nantucket Artist Christopher Wheat & St. Lucian Artist Daniel Jean-Baptiste

On this "Art Saturday", the spotlight shines on artists Christopher Wheat and Daniel Jean-Baptiste.

Christopher Wheat is a self-taught and gifted artist known for capturing the coastal scenes of Nantucket Island life and the Finger Lakes. In the first clip, Christopher is seen working on his newest project -- the painting of the world's 100 Mega Yachts and Super Yachts. To view more of his work and bio, visit... (Website link no longer works.)


The second clip features St. Lucian-born Daniel Jean-Baptiste. The Master silk artist draws inspiration from the Caribbean sea, and the beauty of tropical flora and fauna. Here he paints the St. Lucia parrot in rich, vibrant colors. To view more of his work and bio, visit https://www.jean-baptiste.com


Courtesy of Tugla on YouTube




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Friday, December 16, 2011

Royal Caribbean Launches New Brand Campaign: “The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally.”

Royal Caribbean International has launched a new brand campaign that embodies the most inspirational element at the very core of the global cruise line’s offering … the sea. The campaign is aimed at reawakening consumers to the sights and sounds of the sea and conveys the relaxation, romance and adventure that only can be had on the open waters aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation. The campaign will kick off with playful imagery of a conch shell as a phone – dubbed the “Shellphone” – and communicates the campaign’s decree: “The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally.”
Through the new campaign, Royal Caribbean is addressing the emotional aspects and motivations for taking a vacation with the award-winning cruise line. “The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally.” engages consumers and invites them to explore their individual best selves on a Royal Caribbean ship. The new campaign speaks to the universal truths discovered through focus groups and quantitative research conducted in 16 countries around the world, where people feel a connection to the sea; where, at sea, one can feel detached from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and the responsibilities of taking care of everyone else; and that the Royal Caribbean brand conveys a sense of quality and best in class. Throughout, "The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally." is presented in an easily relatable fashion through the playful and witty tone of voice for which Royal Caribbean has been known, particularly through the "Shellphone."

“We are tapping into the sea’s powerful, emotional force to reframe the context of cruising for consumers who don’t understand what a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation offers,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “‘The Sea is Calling’ is a global-scale campaign that will resonate with people no matter where they live, what language they speak, or whether or not they’ve cruised before. And we want vacationers everywhere to know that Royal Caribbean’s distinctive and innovative ships, personal service and breadth of destination experiences is how we ‘Answer it Royally.’”

The campaign will unfold over the coming weeks and officially launch in North America in January 2012, and then deploy globally throughout the new year. The Shellphone will begin appearing on Dec. 19 in a series of wild postings in major cities including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston and Miami. 

More information is available at www.TheSeaisCalling.com.



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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Maine Documentary - They Came By Sea Part 1 & II

Part 1 & II of a PBS Documentary about the history of Maine's seagoing industries. Courtesy of Bath History on YouTube.

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JetBlue Celebrates Inaugural Seasonal Service to the Warm and Tropical U.S. Virgin Islands from Logan

JetBlue Airways, Boston's largest carrier, today celebrates inaugural seasonal service to the warm and tropical U.S. Virgin Islands, with at least five weekly flights between Logan International Airport (BOS) and St. Thomas International Airport (STT). The southbound flight to St. Thomas will operate non-stop, and the northbound flight to Boston will operate via San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Caribbean-loving airline now boasts 43 nonstop destinations out of Boston to points all over the carrier's growing network.

"Just as the cold weather is settling into New England, we're pleased to offer Bostonians a great escape to the beautiful, warm Caribbean with the start of nonstop service to St. Thomas," said Scott Laurence, vice president of network planning. "Our continued growth in both Boston as well as the Caribbean make this new city pairing a match made in paradise, literally!" 

"We are very excited about the new nonstop service to St. Thomas, which makes the U.S. Virgin Islands even more accessible for New Englanders looking for a warm weather getaway," said U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty. "And with no passport required for U.S. citizens it couldn't be easier to visit the U.S.V.I. to enjoy our legendary beaches, national parks and world-class attractions." 

"With JetBlue starting service to the St. Thomas market, another important leisure destination from Boston will be served by a low cost carrier; that means competition will lower fares and our customers will win,'' said Ed Freni, Director of Aviation for Massport. "We congratulate JetBlue for its 43rd destination from Boston and for its timing in providing New Englanders nonstop service to the U.S. Virgin Islands in the winter!''

JetBlue's schedule between Boston and St. Thomas:

Boston to St. Thomas:
St. Thomas to Boston:
Depart – Arrive
Depart – Arrive
9:20 a.m. - 2:28 p.m.
3:20 p.m. - 7:25 p.m. (+1 stop)
- Flights operate at least 5x a week -
- Northbound flights will operate via San Juan -

For more information or to make a reservation call 1-800-JET-BLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com.

Source: JetBlue Airways


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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Mayor's Holiday Special 2011 - Boston

The Mayor's Holiday Special provides 1/2 price arts tickets and more festive discounts through January 1, 2011. Brought to you by The Boston Mayor's Office of Arts, Tourism, and Special Events, ArtsBoston, and the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Visit MayorsHolidaySpecial.com to purchase tickets.


Courtesy of Arts Boston on YouTube



Many of Boston's finest hotels are offering First Night packages. Take a look at the Boston Hotel Galleries page on bostonstylehub.com for a selection of area accommodations.  
 
 
 
 
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Friday, December 9, 2011

St. Barth Properties Publishes the 16th Edition of its Publication Live Your Dream®

St. Bart’s Shell Beach was the venue for St. Barth Properties’ annual November Beachside Bash which officially launches the season and provides a festive occasion to unveil the current edition of its publication Live Your Dream®. 

Filled with beautiful images and island information, Live Your Dream® lists the over 160 private villas in the company’s portfolio with descriptions and pictures and the properties in its branded Hotels of St. Barth collection.The publication is widely distributed on St. Bart and an electronic version is available on the company website. 


Live Your Dream® is St. Barth Properties’ trademarked maxim, and company president Peg Walsh decided it was the perfect title for its catalogue as well. “Our clients - and prospective island visitors – find it to be a great resource for planning their St. Bart vacations. It provides a detailed overview of the island including its history, events and festivals.” She added, “It really piques their interest. Then, a visit to our website or a call or email to one of our specialists will help them decide if a villa or hotel would best suit them and in turn, what amenities and services are included at different price points.”

As an example, Walsh cited St. Barth Properties’ Grand Cru collection which includes some of the island’s most distinctive and amenity-laden villas. Rentals of these properties come with the delivery of a breakfast of fresh fruit and French pastry and evening turn down service. Value seekers can consider villas participating in the company’s Drive, Dine & Relax Package that includes a week’s car rental and dinner prepared and served by a private chef. She recommended visiting the company website for full details.

Live Your Dream® also provides descriptions of St. Bart’s many beaches, the myriad water sports, excursions available and a wealth of suggestions from sunset cruises to in-villa massages. The company offers a full range of concierge services to ensure every client experiences a “dream vacation”.

The company’s Real Estate Division St. Barth Properties Sotheby’s International Realty has its own section with a sampling of villas for sale with a full inventory on its site. 

For more information, visit http://www.stbarth.com/lyd.shtm

Source: PR Newswire

 

 

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Radisson Blu Resort, Marina & Spa on St. Martin will reopen its doors on Dec. 15, 2011

Radisson Blu Resort, Marina & Spa on St. Martin will reopen its doors on Dec. 15, 2011 after undergoing a renovation in excess of USD 10 million.

The upscale 8-acre resort property in French St. Martin offers guests 1,600 feet of beachfront in Anse Marcel, and an exclusive water taxi service between the airport and resort marina.

The property features 63 suites and 189 guestrooms; a 7,000 square foot ballroom; a full-service spa (Le Spa) and fitness center. There are three on-site dining venues, including complimentary full breakfast buffet at Le Marche, a wide selection of the region's finest rums and tapas at Le Lobby Bar, and world-class cuisine and panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea at C Le Restaurant.

Some of the key upgrades include:
  • Replacement of  air conditioning and domestic hot water systems with new state-of-the-art systems.
  • Spacious accommodations showcasing contemporary Euro-Caribbean furnishings were completely re-carpeted and marina suite rooms were converted to tile floorings.
  • The 7,000 square foot ballroom features upgraded AC, lighting and sound systems.
  • The resort gardens were landscaped and feature enhanced lighting.
  • The breakfast buffet at Le Marche will now offer additional breakfast items including hot and cold selections which will vary daily.
In addition to property improvements, guests will benefit from a higher level of customer service including faster check-in and check-out.

Special seasonal promotional rates start at USD 185 for Guest Rooms and USD 355 for Marina Suites.

For more information visit www.radissonblu.com/resort-stmartin




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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The New Hotel Veritas in Harvard Square Ranked #1 Hotel in Cambridge, MA on TripAdvisor

Since opening in May, 2011, Hotel Veritas has quickly risen to the top position for hotels in Cambridge, MA based on guest reviews on TripAdvisor.com. With comments such as, “Veritas is a little gem” and “Special Hotel, Special Staff,” the guest reviews consistently praise the décor, personalized service, luxurious amenities, and location – while frequently mentioning the small size of the rooms. As one review states, “…if it's more about quality than quantity, look no further.”

Benson Willis, General Manager of the 31-room Hotel Veritas, says, “Our concierges strive each day to provide an intimate level of service to our guests. ‘Personalized service’ isn’t just a marketing tagline for us - it’s what we do every day and our small size allows us to take greater care of our guests.”

The guest comments on TripAdvisor.com frequently mention the complimentary Internet access, complimentary access to the Gym at Karma Yoga just across the street from the hotel, as well as the complimentary beverages (Nespresso coffees, teas, sodas, juices, and bottled water) available 24-hours a day. “I loathe $6 price tags on bottled water in hotels, so we’ll never have them at Hotel Veritas,” says Willis. Guests also appreciate the Anichini linens and Palais Jamais by Etro bath amenities, and our location just steps from Harvard University.

As for the small size of the guest rooms, Willis says, “As we read the early reviews on TripAdvisor and heard from our guests, we knew that we needed to do more to set the right expectation for potential guests. We created the ‘Petite Queen’ category for our smallest rooms and rewrote parts of the website. We appreciate when guests mention the small rooms in their online reviews, as it reiterates that issue.”

Hotel Veritas is located at 1 Remington Street, at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, MA. Rates range from $195 to $595 and include Internet access, domestic phone calls, Nespresso coffee, teas, juices, sodas and bottled water, as well as access to the Gym at Karma Yoga.

For more about Hotel Veritas, visit www.thehotelveritas.com

Source PR Newswire


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Monday, December 5, 2011

Green Globe Certified Blue Horizons Garden Resort on Grenada Offers Weeklong Dive Package From $215 Per Night

Grenada's quaint, family-run and Green Globe Certified Blue Horizons Garden Resort www.GrenadaBlueHorizons.com is preparing for the 2012 dive season with an eight-day/seven-night Value Pack Dive Package from $1,504 per person, based on double occupancy, for travel through April 15, 2012. 


The package includes:
    • An air-conditioned superior studio complete with kitchenette and deluxe amenities
    • Daily two-tank dives with experienced guides
    • Dive equipment rental (tanks and weights)
    • A welcome drink
    • All taxes and service charges
    • Roundtrip airport transfers

    Popular dive sites in Grenada include the five-mile-long Boss Reef as well as the Bianca ‘C’ Cruise Liner, an enormous 600 ft. cruise ship wreck overgrown with a colorful variety of sponges and black corals and home to large schools of fish, barracudas, jacks and mackerels (for advanced and experienced divers because of the ship’s depth). For beginners, Flamingo Bay offers majestic coral gardens, seahorses and many other small creatures.

    The dive package is offered in conjunction with Aquanauts Grenada Ltd., a full-service PADI operation offering a comprehensive array of dive packages to various sites around the island.

    Boats feature dive platform with ladder, DAN oxygen units, sun deck, cabin or shade, water shower, filtered drinking water, cell phones and more.

    All dives are weather permitting and unused package features are not refundable. Additional surcharges apply for dives not included within the package such as night dives and day trips to off-shore islands.

    Single occupancy rates as well as non-diver companion rates are also available.

    For more information, visit     http://www.GrenadaBlueHorizons.com.

     

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    Friday, December 2, 2011

    Boston Irish Tourism Group Releases New Issue of Travel & Culture Guide

    The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) recently released its Travel & Culture Guide (fall/winter issue) of Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts.  The 28-page color magazine details upcoming holiday concerts, dances and theatre through March 2012  It lists selected Irish pubs, gift shops and cultural groups in the Bay State plus hotels and travel agencies for visitors from out-of-town. 

    The Guide is available for free at tourism centers across the state and at museums, hotels and cultural venues.  See distribution centers. 

    “Visitors looking for the very best Irish and Celtic music can find it right here in Massachusetts,” said BITA director Colette Quinlin.  

    The fall/winter 2011 Travel & Culture Guide includes stories on the new public art exhibit at Terminal E, Logan Airport, the Butcher Shop Market in Adams Village, Dorchester, plus profiles of Mia Tavan, Marketing Director at Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, and Paul Wilson, Operations Manager at the Glynn Hospitality Group and its flagship pub, the Black Rose.  

    There is also a travel story on Ireland in the Off-Season with tips for traveling to Ireland this winter. 

    The Boston Irish Tourism Association was formed in 2000 to promote cultural tourism year round.  It publishes three travel and culture guides each year, and has created an Irish Heritage Trail highlighting Irish landmarks in Boston and around the state.  

    For further details on the festivals and concerts, as well as year-round Irish and cultural activities, hotel packages, gift shops and Irish pubs, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. 

    For details on vacationing in Massachusetts, contact the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism at massvacation.com and Bostonusa.com.

    More than 24% of residents in Massachusetts claim Irish ancestry, making it the most Irish state in the United States, according to the US Census. 

    Source: IrishMassachusetts.com



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