Although Boston is small in area (about 90 square miles), it is densely populated, young (the median Bostonian is 32, largely due to the huge numbers of colleges and universities), and culturally and ethnically diverse. There are a number of neighborhoods within the city, each with its own flavor and energy and each with an interesting mix of the historic and the modern. It is not uncommon to find a national historic site adjacent to skyscrapers. Surrounding Boston are several towns and the city of Cambridge, which collectively form the greater metropolitan Boston area (all connected by subway and bus). No matter what your interests might be, there's always something to do or see. And best of all, many events are free.
Boston sits on the Atlantic Ocean. From the heart of downtown, you are walking distance from the harbor, the Charles River and community boating launch, Boston Common, the Boston Garden, the historic Beacon Hill, Back Bay, North End, and South End neighborhoods, and countless restaurants and bars. A thirty minute drive will put you in rural countryside (including scenic Walden Pond, once the secluded home of Henry David Thoreau) and will bring you through picturesque old New England towns like Lexington and Concord. In just 45 minutes you could be on Crane Beach or the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Some of the best hiking on the east coast is within 3 hours of the center of Boston. The Maine coastline is only 1 hour north of Boston. A 90 minute car ride will get you to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Casinos. And Montreal and New York City are just 4.5 hours away.
