Boston is where so much of America started. The city gave the country its first public school, first public park, first subway and first large free public library, and you can feel that history on nearly every block. But this brainy college town is anything but stuck in the past.

The best Boston trips blend old and new. Walk in the footsteps of patriots at the Paul Revere House and Faneuil Hall, then spend an afternoon among the masterpieces at the Museum of Fine Arts. Wander the gaslit streets of Beacon Hill, where elegant historic homes sit beside stylish boutiques and hotels. Hollywood loves to show the city's gritty side, but today's Boston is polished and cosmopolitan, with great restaurants, green parks and modern museums.

Live like a local: catch a Red Sox game, join a free yoga class on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and browse the quirky SoWa Open Market. Slurp oysters and clam chowder at a classic pub, or grab a coffee and stroll Newbury Street in Back Bay. Give yourself more than a weekend, because there's a lot to love. I'll find the right neighborhood and plan your days so you see the highlights without rushing.