Boston
WHY GO IN JULY What better place to celebrate July Fourth than the Cradle of Liberty? The Boston Pops gives a free concert (complete with real cannons, for you Ted Nugent types) with a massive fireworks finale, and Boston's Harborfest (July 1-6) offers a multitude of walking tours and harbor cruises.
Nab tix to the Sox/Yankees game July 25-27.
Dine out. Make a reservation at celebrity chef Todd English’s Olives (10 City Sq., Charlestown, 617-242-1999, www.toddenglish.com ). Not looking for a quiet meal? Beehive (541 Tremont St., 617-423-0069, www.beehiveboston.com ) offers live music, a hip, quirky menu (think unique grilled cheese sandwiches), and a hip vibe that keeps crowds waiting in line outside even during the dead of winter.
Be a Tourist. Try the Sam Adams Brewery Tour (30 Germania St., Jamaica Plain, call 617-368-5080 for tour times, $2 charity donation requested). The Boston beer company makes the world-famous Sam Adams, and the original brewery—now a kind of test kitchen—offers previews of beers of the future.
Shop Newbury Street (www.newbury-st.com ). It’s all here: Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Armani. Add in the hip local boutiques like the high-end Stel’s (334 Newbury St., 617-262-3348, www.stelsinc.com) and punk rock T-shirt stop Johnny Cupcakes, (279 Newbury St., 617-375-0100, www.johnnycupcakes.com ), and there’s a good chance you’ll be telling your husband that a second Sam Adams tour will be just fine.
Find a Scalper. Fenway Park (4 Yawkey Way), Yankees at Red Sox, July 25-27. A word of caution: If you end up in the centerfield bleachers, a Yanks cap should be worn with a poncho (there could be some accidental "spills," after all) and ear plugs.
Sleep Here: The Liberty Hotel (215 Charles St., 617-224-4000, www.libertyhotel.com , rooms start around $500) recently underwent a $110 million remodeling, turning the former Charles Street Jail into the city’s hottest hotel. The circa-1851 structure offers the latest in modern luxury, two restaurants (Clink and Scampo), and a swanky, exclusive cocktail lounge (Alibi).
