[Shawn]

Great pics! New Bedford shocks people who have never been there, especially natives of Mass and Rhode Island. Tons of great restaurants and bars downtown, with an attractive and well-maintained waterfront.

8 miles down I-295 is Fall River: nearly an identical population of just under 100,000 and nearly an identical history, but decades behind New Bedford in terms of revitalization and maintenance. Fall River is what people think New Bedford is like, whereas it's really like a bigger Bristol, RI.

Both Fall River and New Bedford are slated for MBTA expansion sometime within the next few years.