Boston Common
After you've done enough shopping and people watching, stroll down Newbury Street to the free-for-the-taking pleasures of Boston Common, one of the oldest public parks in the country. This 50-acre green oasis offers ice skating under the holiday lights in the winter and movies and free Shakespeare performances under the stars in the summer.

Kenmore Square/Landsdowne Street
Kenmore Square moves to the beat of thousands of college students who come here to unwind. Here stands the inimitable Fenway Park, the nation's smallest, oldest but possibly best-loved ballpark-you can't say you've been to Boston until you've gone inside. Right next door is Landsdowne Street, the city's nightlife epicenter. Dance the night away at clubs like Axis and Avalon, or, if you're under 21, hit the pool tables, rock climbing walls and video games at the grown-up amusement park Jillian's.

Harvard Square/Central Square
Peruse the eclectic mixture of shops and restaurants in Harvard Square, where Nobel Prize winners meet street musicians. Stroll through Harvard University's impressive grounds and art museums. Down Mass. Ave. you'll find Central Square. Partake in some of the best cuisine around, from falafel to Ethiopian stews to Caribbean cornbread, while listening to unbeatable live music.

Faneuil Hall / North End
Visit Faneuil Hall and get transported to the time when the Sons of the Revolution were here plotting their rebellion. Today, enjoy delicious food in Quincy market, the outdoor performers and the upscale shops. Down the street, past Haymarket (a weekly market where you'll get top-notch seafood just off the docks), you'll find the North End, Boston's own Little Italy. This maze of colonial streets is filled with the scents of incredible Italian delicacies, Espresso, homemade gelato and mouth-watering pastries.

Waltham/Moody Street
Just west of Boston, this hip area has gone through a renaissance. This one-time factory town is now buzzing with activity due to its eclectic stores and cosmopolitan "Restaurant Row." You'll notice your tastebuds begin to tingle as you view the countless opportunities for ethnic, upscale, downscale and good old American cuisine. When you're ready for a break, take in a flick at the Landmark Embassy Cinema, which shows the latest in independent films. (www.discoverwaltham.com)

Jamaica Plain
An eclectic blend of cultures, festivals, artists, political activism and the crown jewels of the Emerald Necklace lie in wait just 10 minutes from downtown. Stand in line with the locals for a Centre Street Café or Sorella’s brunch, or try any of 16 excellent ethnic restaurants between the Monument and Hyde Square. A stroll around Jamaica Pond or the 265-acre Arnold Arboretum designed by Olmstead will help you work off the calories. After dark, let loose to live local music, dancing and yes, bowling, at Milky Way Lounge and Lanes.

Castle Island
Catch a bus out of South Boston to explore this urban treasure insland, which includes an old fort, scenic vistas, and beaches. (www.mass.gov/dcr/listing.htm)

The Esplanade
Once underwater, this stretch of green riverfront was created from soil transported from the city's hills. Now it's a beautiful waterside park, the perfect place to sunbathe, picnic, go for a jog or just watch the Charles River roll by. On a nice day, this area is a magnet for thousands of local area students. The Hatch Shell concert venue here offers free concerts and outdoor movies all summer, not to mention the best Fourth of July celebration around, complete with a live symphony performance and fireworks over the water.

Coolidge Corner
Under the fantastic Art Deco marquee of the Coolidge Corner Theater, this streetcar suburb of Boston is packed with ethnic restaurants, arts and crafts galleries and used bookstores. If you need a break from the city, take the trolley here for the best falafel sandwich this side of the Atlantic and a sci-fi movie marathon at the region's only non-profit first-run arthouse theater. Don't miss a stop at the Brookline Booksmith, one of the area's best bookstores.

Davis Square
Want to try something different? You might want to head to this hidden gem in Somerville, a fun, unassuming neighborhood frequented mostly by locals. Formerly known only to Tufts students, this is now a great hangout for all area students and young professionals alike. Check out the best barbecue around at Redbones. Or, you can while away the afternoon at any of several tranquil parks, catch the hippest new bands at the Somerville Theater and then wrap it all up with a 4 a.m. snack at Dolly’s Late Night Cafe.

Allston / Brighton
For the most students per square inch in Boston, check out Allston/Brighton. As the nickname ‘Allston Rock City’ implies, the neighborhood is known for its eclectic music scene, with places like Harper’s Ferry offering live performances 7 nights a week. At night, students spill into dozens of ethnic eateries, and late-night favorites like Spike’s Junkyard Dogs and Redneck’s, open till 3 a.m. During the day, visit Bagel Rising, whose breakfast deals often result in out-the-door lines, and Herrell’s Renaissance Café, a great place for coffee and their famous ice cream. Visit Urban Renewal, a vintage clothing store and other area second-hand stores that make life as a student more affordable.

Newbury Street
Do you have what it takes to stroll along this promenade, Boston's ritzy equivalent of Rodeo Drive? This eight-block stretch features 40 restaurants, more than 100 stores, 40 art galleries, about 100 hair salons and a zillion ways to put your credit card to good use. One end of the street boasts chic outdoor cafes and internationally recognized clothiers, while the other end offers a more eclectic mix of used CD stores, hipster gear suppliers and book nooks.

Kendall Square
Once populated only with old industrial buildings, this area was given an ultra-cool jumpstart by the thriving tech companies sprung up around MIT. You want it, you'll find it here, whether it's a purple crushed velvet leisure suit at vintage clothing emporiums like The Garment District and Dollar-A-Pound, a perfect game of pool at Flat Top Johnny's, the latest indie film sensation at the upscale Kendall Cinema or maybe a surprise performance by Elvis Costello or Ben Harper at the Kendall Cafe.

Copley Square
There's no better place to enjoy the sheer variety of Boston's buildings than the architectural smorgasbord known as Copley Square. Whether you're looking for an ancient manuscript or artistic masterpieces, it's easy to spend a fascinating afternoon in the Boston Public Library, the country's first book-borrowing library. Down the street you can lose yourself in the stained glass windows of Trinity Church, designed in the 1870s by famed local architect H. H. Richardson. Look up and you will see the famous landmark, the modern glass-enclosed I.M. Pei--designed John Hancock Tower, reflecting all the beauty around it.

North Shore
So you're looking for that salty New England maritime experience? Take a 45-minute trip up to the North Shore by car or commuter rail. Pay homage to the cod fishers of old in authentic Gloucester, enjoy saltwater taffy and steaming clam chowder in the artist colony of Rockport (www.rockportusa.com)and relive the gruesome witch trials of 1692 in Salem. Or you could be in the need of long, quiet stretches of sand, in which case point your tiller towards the summertime playground of Crane Beach (www.thetrustees.org), the squeaking sand of Singing Beach, or the relaxing bird sanctuary on Plum Island.

Foxboro/Mansfield
If you can't think of a better way to spend a day than screaming your head off with a few thousand of your closest friends, put your tailgating face on and head on down to this giant playground south of Boston. At the state-of-the-art Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, you can cheer on our world champion New England Patriots on the gridiron, or catch the New England Revolution as they dominate on the soccer pitch. Just down the road is the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts, where you can sit on the lawn, look up at the stars and enjoy national rock, pop, jazz and classical acts all summer long. If you need some snazzy new threads to go with the occasion, pick up some unbelievably cheap duds at the Wrentham outlets.

Cape Cod
A Mecca for sun worshipers, Cape Cod still boasts countless miles of pristine coastline and quaint seashore villages, a whole different world just an hour down the road from Boston. Towns like Sandwich, Hyannis, Falmouth and Provincetown make for perfect oceanside staging areas for your beachcombing, surfing, seashell collecting and whale watching. Or you can pitch your tent along the Cape Cod National Seashore and enjoy miles of hiking and biking trails, not to mention unparalleled bird watching and fishing.

The Berkshires
The mountainous, western area of Massachusetts is known for its spectacular scenery. Take a hike, browse through galleries and shops, or experience great music at Tanglewood. (www.berkshires.org)