Charles Street in Beacon Hill is a fabulous place for shopping – all antiques stores,little boutiques and chocolate shops. It doglegs into Newbury Street in Back Bay,which has a glorious mixture of high end,mainstream chain and indie fashion,plus cracking bookshops and record stores squeezed into the photogenic brownstone buildings.

MUST

The best views of the city come from the water. Boston Harbor Cruises runs 90-minute boat trips around the islands in Boston Harbor,throwing in plenty of history via the commentary. There's also a good ratio of"I didn't know that"snippets about the islands – such as the one where deer hid from wolves and another where a giant rubbish tip was turned into a park. Seebostonharborcruises.com

SLEEP

The Colonnade is in a handy position between the hip South End and Back Bay areas,has a rooftop pool (which is rare for Boston) and marvellously comfortable beds. There's a bit of history to it as well – a plaque out the front boasts of president Gerald Ford staying there when launching the nation's bicentennial celebrations in 1975. Rooms cost from US$256. Seecolonnadehotel.com

TIP

The up-and-coming area is Somerville,just to the north of Cambridge on the northern side of the Charles River. Bars and restaurants congregate around the already gentrified Davis Square,and the slightly more dog-eared Union Square. Both are great bet for an in-the-know night out.

More information:bostonusa.com

Disclosure:David Whitley was a guest of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau.