What's a St. Louisan to do in Cape Cod?

Until last year I had never been to the northeast. The first trip, a family wedding event in Connecticut, led to visits in New York City and historical Philadelphia. Now, I am heading up for another wedding, this time to Cape Cod.  

While I'm there, I plan on checking out a Red Sox vs Orioles game and a trip to the Adams National Historic Park in Braintree. I am most excited about seeing John and Abigail Adams's old stomping grounds.

Most history buffs have read David McCullough's 'John Adams' or seen the awesome HBO series based on McCullough's biography of President Adams.

Among other things, the personal relationships and incredibly tense interactions between Adams and Franklin, as well as Adams and Jefferson were fascinating. And of course, the brilliance and steady hand of Abigail Adams should be known by all who claim to be Americans.

Some of my favorite John Adams quotes include:

“There are two types of education... One should teach us how to make a living, And the other how to live.”

“It is more important that innocence be protected than it is that guilt be punished, for guilt and crimes are so frequent in this world that they cannot all be punished. But if innocence itself is brought to the bar and condemned, perhaps to die, then the citizen will say, 'whether I do good or whether I do evil is immaterial, for innocence itself is no protection,' and if such an idea as that were to take hold in the mind of the citizen that would be the end of security whatsoever.” 

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” 

“The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” 

The most interesting part of history in relation to Adams, in my opinion, is his defense of the British soldiers who were involved in the Boston Massacre.  His convictions made him unpopular at the time, but Adams stuck by the idea that the rights and liberties that he and others professed should be extended to all men, regardless of their origin or other disposition.

A wonderfully intriguing man for sure.

So, Adams National Historic Park is one place I will be sure to visit. Since my time is short, what else should I be sure to see?