Boston

One of America’s oldest cities, Boston is also the tenth-most popular tourist destination. Boston is a modern city that’s full of history. From quaint brownstones in the Back Bay and Beacon Hill to the high-rise buildings of the Financial District to the Green Monster of Fenway Park, Boston offers something at every turn of the Freedom Trail. Though it’s large in spirit, Boston is a compact city, making it easy to navigate by foot and perfect for walking tours.

A highlight of any Boston trip is a walk along the Freedom Trail, which takes you through the heart of the city, including Boston Common, the state capitol building, the Granary Burial Ground, and the historic Old State House. The Freedom Trail winds up across the Charles River at Charlestown, with the Leonard P. Zakim—Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, the Bunker Hill Memorial and the USS Constitution.

Along the trail, visit Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere’s House and grab some great Italian food in the North End. The Big Dig seems to finally be wrapping up; the North End is now visible from the rest of the city, and the former Central Artery construction is already being turned into parks and green space.

There’s also shopping to do in Boston, from the Downtown Crossing area with the famous Filene’s Department Store, to the quaint shops along Charles Street in Beacon Hill, to the boutiques, art galleries, and cafes along Newbury Street, to the historic Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. And, of course, you’ll want to stop in one of Boston’s many excellent seafood restaurants for lobster or a cup of clam chowder. The bar that inspired the hit TV show Cheers, a popular Boston attraction, is located on Beacon Street near one of the many entrances to the Charles River waterfront, which is known as the Esplanade.

Many plays destined for Broadway have extended preview runs in Boston’s Theatre District. Boston is also home to several excellent museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, which features one of the best collections of early American art in the world. The New England Aquarium and Museum of Science are popular destinations for families and kids of all ages. The Boston Children’s Museum is an interactive, hands-on museum for children and families to enjoy together.

Not only is Boston the historic epicenter of America, it’s also the home of champions—the New England Patriots have become perennial Super Bowl contenders, and the beloved Boston Red Sox finally broke the 86-year old “Curse of the Bambino” with a World Series victory in 2004. Catch a game at Fenway and stick around the Landsdowne Street area for a great clubbing scene featuring world-class DJs.

Boston’s public transportation system is well-organized, inexpensive, and tourist-friendly. The MBTA (known locally as “the T”), can take you to virtually anywhere in the metro area via subway or bus. Hop on the Red Line and visit the city of Cambridge, home to two of America’s most prominent universities, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Harvard Square, in the center of Cambridge, is a district of coffee shops, unique gift shops and book stores. Cambridge is also a great place to go for live music, poetry readings, and off-beat film screenings at the Brattle Theatre and Harvard Film Archive.