Divided by the Charles River, these twinned cities complement and enrich one another. Boston, a major port since it was first settled, was home to some of the earliest conflicts of the American Revolution and its landscape is sprinkled with associations. Faneuil Hall, Beacon Hill, and the Commons, now prime downtown areas, are steeped in this rich past. Cambridge is more spread out, and its famed universities bring a more bookish intensity to Harvard Square and environs than the more boisterous schools of Boston do in Kenmore Square. Both are very walkable cities, allowing visitors to take in architecture, neighborhood life, and pockets of appealing shops - go to Boston's Newbury Street for the ritziest stores, Charles Street for antiques, and poke around college neighborhoods for more eclectic offerings. Several fine art museums, in-town national sports venues, and a chain of parks vie for residents' leisure time.
Must See
- #1 Gardener Museum
- #2 Freedom Trail
- #3 Red Sox at Fenway Park
- #4 Walk Newbury street to the Common
- #5 Harvard Yard
Skip It
- #1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace