Hotel at a Glance: Boston Park Plaza

Since 1927, Boston Park Plaza has occupied a spot in the city’s famous Back Bay area. The historical property is located near some of the city’s most famous sights. Take a short stroll to the Boston Common and Public Garden (the nation’s first public park) or the upscale boutiques on Newbury Street. Afterward, rest up in newly renovated luxurious accommodations modeled on the stately hotels of Europe.

• Stylish guest rooms are decorated with chic furnishings and outfitted with flat-screen TVs and premium bedding with plush king-sized pillows.
• Grab a bite at the on-site restaurants, including Off the Common, STRIP by Strega, MJ O’Connor’s, or coffee at Starbucks.
• Bring Fido: Pets are welcome for $75 per stay.

Boston’s Back Bay: Victorian Architecture and Historical Landmarks on the Charles River

Boston’s Back Bay used to be just that—a literal bay that extended into the Charles River. In the mid 1800s, developers added landfill and created the grid-style neighborhood that remains today. Victorian brownstones and kempt gardens line the wide avenues of this waterside enclave that lies just west of Beacon Hill. Boston is a highly walkable city with a good public transportation system to boot, so you’ll be able to get to several other neighborhoods from Back Bay as well.

Often called the Rodeo Drive of the East, Newbury Street stretches eight blocks east from Massachusetts Avenue to Arlington Street. The quaint tree-lined street is home to dozens of high-end retailers such as Chanel and Cartier, as well as vintage boutiques and consignment shops. Between Newbury and the Charles lies some of the most desirable real estate in Boston; the historic brownstones are worth checking out. The Esplanade, a 3-mile jogging path along the Charles, is especially popular in the summer.

The famed walking path known as the Freedom Trail begins a mile east of Back Bay in the Boston Common, and it’s a must-see for history buffs. The 2.5-mile trail wends through cobblestone streets, bringing Revolutionary history to life with stops at the Old South Meeting House, where plans for the Boston Tea Party were secretly hatched, and the site of the Boston Massacre.