A Perfect Weekend in Boston and Cambridge

Founded in 1630 on opposite sides of the Charles River, Boston and Cambridge have had a long time to polish their appeal. The results — from the blocks of genteel brownstones to the world-class museums to the thriving culinary scene — can feel quite refined. But this urban hub is also very accessible, with lots to do for travelers on a budget as well as big spenders, and for families as well as hip young singles. There’s so much on offer, in fact, that you may be wondering where to start. To help get things rolling, we combed through our recent Best of New England Editors’ Picks to highlight some favorite stops in Boston and Cambridge.

What to Do

Arnold Arboretum

A stroll through this Harvard University–owned, Frederick Law Olmsted–designed landscape is no ordinary walk in the park. This is where you’ll find some of the most rare and majestic trees and plants in the entire country, spread across verdant meadows and gardens, herbariums, bonsai collections, and greenhouses. arboretum.harvard.edu

Fenway Museums

Few small museums in the world are as admired as the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, set in a four-floor Italian palazzo in the Fenway neighborhood and featuring a stunning collection of international paintings and sculpture. Even better, nearby is the sprawling Museum of Fine Arts, home to everything from Impressionist masterworks to Nubian artifacts to Colonial American silver (including some by Paul Revere). gardnermuseum.org; mfa.org

Spectacle Island

Just a half-hour ferry ride from downtown, Spectacle is the gateway to the Boston Harbor Islands. A pristine sandy beach beckons sunbathers and swimmers; the urban towers on the horizon look close, yet are refreshingly far away. bostonharborislands.org

Tea Party Ships & Museum

A lightning bolt in 2001 and a fire in 2007 destroyed the old ship and museum devoted to this singular event in U.S. history, but a new museum and three replica ships have put the Tea Party literally on the map again. bostonteapartyship.com

Paddle Boston

Rent a canoe or kayak for the afternoon from this outfitter located in the heart of Kendall Square and cool off while taking in spectacular views of the Boston skyline, the Esplanade, and the Zakim Bridge. paddleboston.com

Where to Stay

Boston Harbor Hotel

It’s the perfect introduction to Boston: feeling the salty breeze and watching the skyline unfurl from aboard a water taxi from Logan directly to this luxury hotel. Settle into a spacious guest room replete with Frette linens and done up in elegant shades of blue (some with soaking tubs and all with views) before heading out to visit nearby top attractions such as the New England Aquarium and the Boston Public Market. bhh.com

The Verb Hotel

Think Boston is more Brahmin than rock ’n’ roll? The retro-leaning Verb Hotel begs to differ. Offering in-room Crosley record players and a fully stocked vinyl library and music memorabilia in the lobby, this colorful crash pad is just steps from Fenway Park. theverbhotel.com

Hotel Veritas

If you had a decadently wealthy but utterly refined Italian uncle who also taught at Harvard for his own amusement, his house might look something like this 31-room Cambridge hotel, tucked into a tiny lot at the edge of Harvard Square. Rooms are compact but brilliantly designed; intimate rather than cramped. thehotelveritas.com

Where to Eat

Boston Public Market

This popular indoor food market at the Haymarket T station houses some 40 vendors, many of which offer snacks, drinks, or full meals to go — from the stellar grilled-cheese sandwich at the Cellars at Jasper Hill stand to the smoked-haddock chowder at Boston Smoked Fish Company to fresh cider doughnuts from Red Apple Farm. bostonpublicmarket.org

Mike’s City Diner

New England has a lot of diners, but what makes Mike’s stand out is the from-scratch goodness of the cooking. The turkey in the club sandwich and the signature turkey dinner is roasted on-site; even the pastrami and corned beef are made right here. Weekends offer a breakfast menu only — but the French toast is so good, you won’t mind. mikescitydiner.com

Eastern Standard

For more than a decade, this Kenmore Square eatery has been the gold standard of Boston brasseries for delivering on three key variables: great service; a cutting-edge bar program; and offering something for everyone (the burger with Vermont cheddar for the Fenway set, the curated cheese plate and oyster bar for the foodie crowd). easternstandardboston.com

The Daily Catch

The thing about the North End is that it’s never just about the food. So although there are many good places to eat, we like the Daily Catch not just for its fried calamari or its linguine with clams or saucy puttanesca, but for the crowd-pleasing, pan-clattering, elbow-to-elbow authenticity of a real North End restaurant. thedailycatch.com

Flour Bakery

Set to open its eighth location in summer 2018, Flour is a homegrown success story with bustling outposts in both Boston and Cambridge. Pop in early for scones, muffins, or the sinfully rich cinnamon cream brioche, and come back at midday for hearty soups and tasty sandwiches, such as roast lamb with tomato chutney and goat cheese. flourbakery.com