Boston is not only New England's capital, but also its gateway. One of the city's strongest appeals is the access it provides to the rest of the Northeast region. No matter a city's allure, there always come times when a break is needed. From Boston, the mountains of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are just a couple of hours to the north; the gorgeous, clapboarded towns of the Berkshires the same to the west; and Cape Cod's sandy beaches closer still.
With cobblestones underfoot and skyscrapers overhead, Boston continually revels in every one of the nearly 400 years that constitute its history. A constant and indomitable youthful energy blends in an oddly seamless way with a timeless, old-school sense of city self. The Sox may win the Series again, but even if they don't, the Boston sense of expectancy, of things to come, will only continue to be stoked. Whether for ski bums, beach bums or barflies, there's always a trip to be made, and returning back to Boston's fold is usually one of its best parts.