Throngs of visitors converge on Boston every year and with good reason: It's partly a walkable historic park (especially the Freedom Trail) and partly a modern waterfront metropolis (the "Hub of New England") with no lack of things to do once darkness descends. While the city has never stopped reaching for the future and welcoming high-tech companies, it has lovingly preserved the treasures of its past, cherishing its patriotic connections with the Boston Tea Party and Bunker Hill. It is a living symbol of the melting pot early residents fought to create, including lively ethnic neighborhoods, sophisticated centers of academia and sedate sanctuaries of old wealth. Each seems a world unto itself, yet each is an integral part of Boston's urban identity.

Even with so much to do and so many doing it, Boston is a relatively easy place to visit. Its historical sites are laid out in simple-to-follow walking tours, and its subway system efficiently whisks passengers around the city. (You won't need a car, which is good because driving in Boston is hair-raising, even for locals.) The most difficult part of your visit may be opening your credit-card bill: Boston can be expensive, but you'll find a lot to enjoy for each dollar spent.