Cambridge

Anchored to the banks of the Charles River by Harvard University and M.I.T., Cambridge blends its intellectual character with a rich serving of arts and culture. The city is certainly known for its highbrow academic pursuits—it has developed into a life sciences and tech mecca in recent decades—but it also boasts its fair share of world-class museums, a thriving music and arts scene, quirky boutiques, and notable restaurants. Although just moments away from Boston, this historic city has a persona all its own. Browse through bookstores in Harvard Square by day, and savor virtually every kind of cuisine by night.