Hotel at a Glance: The Verb Hotel

At The Verb Hotel, it's hard to say what might catch your eye first: the fact that it's across the street from Fenway or the neon, Mondrian-inspired windows and black-and-white floors. Pulling inspiration from Boston's arts and music scene, the hotel has been lovingly restored since it originally opened in 1959. Music memorabilia from old radios to electric guitars decorate the lobby and bold colors make the hotel pop. Art is everywhere, too, with small retro pieces in the guest rooms and large murals and gallery walls in the lobby.

• In-room amenities: robes, 47-inch flat-screen TVs, mini fridges, hairdryers, and free Wi-Fi
• Work up a sweat in the Boston Sports Club, using your complimentary pass.
• Award-winning restaurant, Hojoko, serves up modern Japanese tavern cuisine in the ultra-hip surrounding.
• Must-try cocktail: Tokyo Tea blends Jcabrito tequila, lemon, bittered midori, with green tea

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 as well, including the Boston Common, which is the starting point for the famed Freedom Trail.

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.