Home to two of America's most prestigious universities, Cambridge exudes a certain intellectual quirkiness. A mix of historical haunts, student hang-outs, alternative art and culture venues, vintage clothing shops, bookstores and ethnic restaurants, the city is, well, really cool. Although it is located just across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge has a distinct vibe that is noticeable immediately. Start at Harvard Square, a hub of activity and mishmash of trendy stores, outdoor cafes and colorful local characters. Pick up a walking tour map at the visitors information booth in the centre of the Square. The route will take you past many important landmarks including the Mount Auburn Cemetery, Tory Row and the Longfellow National Historic Site. Harvard University offers student-led tours through the illustrious buildings and monuments of its sprawling campus. Art and architecture buffs should meander around the M.I.T campus, which includes outdoor sculptures by masters such as Picasso and 20th-century buildings designed by modern greats like Eero Saarinen and I. M. Pei. Along the way, browse through bookstores, stop to watch street performers and grab a coffee at an outdoor café to take in all this captivating city has to offer.

Best known for the witch trials that took place in 1692, Salem is sure to bewitch you with its seaside charm, its maritime history and spellbinding beauty. Follow the Red Line along the sidewalks to navigate your journey through historic sites, including the Witch Trial Memorial, the Old Burying Point Cemetery and more. Discover serenity by the sea on the beaches of Salem Willows. The Bewitched statue, the Witch Museum and the Witch Dungeon conjure up diverse takes on witchery through history.

It's no wonder that the Pilgrims fell in love with America when they landed at gorgeous Plymouth, set in the calm waters of Plymouth Harbor along Cape Cod Bay. It was here that the first English colonists made war and then peace with the Natives, celebrating their newfound cooperation with the first Thanksgiving dinner. Visit the landmarks that honor this piece of American history, from Plymouth Rock to Mayflower II to Burial Hill. Or just enjoy the sandy beaches and calm sea breeze.

Visit Provincetown and have a blast enjoying some of Cape Cod’s best beaches (Race Point Beach and Herring Cove Beach are favorites of TripAdvisor travelers). Plenty of cool boutiques, restaurants and art galleries give this town a fun and funky vibe. It’s an exceptionally LGBT-friendly destination as well. One tip: if it’s high season, take the ferry or a quick flight from Boston (unless you enjoy spending hours sitting in traffic).

Don your walking shoes, breathe in the ocean air and set out to discover this picturesque maritime town. You can join one of several organised walking tours or explore on your own. Portsmouth is filled with old homes and museums, and you'll have your pick of fascinating historic sites. Climb aboard the USS Albacore, a retired US Navy submarine offering tours and exhibits. View an 18th-century garden, striking stairway and period furniture at the Moffatt Ladd House, the home of William Whipple, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, or follow a costumed guide through the John Paul Jones House, home of the Revolutionary War naval hero. For a broader look at the city's history, visit Strawbery Banke Museum, where over 40 buildings have been assembled to depict Portsmouth life from 1695 to 1950, complete with costumed actors. If you know architecture, Portsmouth's array of Colonial, Federalist and Neo-classical styles will dazzle you. Weary of walking? Sit down for a meal at one of Portsmouth's fine eateries or relax on a narrated harbour or whale-watching cruise.

The Atlantic crashes on a coastline strewn with quaint harbours, windswept beaches, glorious dunes and romantic lighthouses. Explore Cape Cod National Seashore, bike past cranberry bogs on the Rail Trail or saunter around Sandwich, the Cape's oldest town. Many areas are full of architectural and culinary gems - weathered shingles, whaling captains' mansions, chowder shacks and upmarket dining delights. Don't miss Woods Hole Oceanquest, famed Martha's Vineyard or charmingly lively Provincetown.

Yes, getting there is a bit of a project. But vacationers have been braving the ferry for years, and this tiny island off Cape Cod remains one of the most popular and picturesque destinations in New England. Among the island's towns, you're sure to find the Vineyard that's right for you. With stately Greek revival houses dating back to the whaling era of the early 19th century, Edgartown is a seaside village of boutique shopping and pristine harbour views. For more of a "beach town" feel, Oak Bluffs has the Flying Horses carousel, an arcade and an easy walk to the beach, plus the history and charm of the "gingerbread" houses in the Methodist campgrounds. Vineyard Haven offers visitors a blend of both. For a real retreat, Chilmark/Aquinnah is the place to get away from it all. In the off-season, the island is quieter and far less crowded, but the shore is always beautiful. Whenever you visit, leave your car behind! Cabs are plentiful and greet the incoming ferries to help you reach your destination. Most visitors prefer to explore the island on a bicycle, scooter or tourist-friendly public buses.

With four of the state's most popular beaches, Narragansett is a favorite summer destination of Rhode Island residents. Scarborough State Beach alone has 2,325 feet of sandy beach frontage. Once a wealthy community rivaling nearby Newport, the rich history of Narragansett is still visible. The Towers, spanning Ocean Drive, is the only remaining section of a luxurious casino built in 1883. Having survived numerous fires and vicious nor'easters, The Towers is the town's most enduring landmark.

This pleasant, walkable town right at the elbow of Cape Cod is a classic New England vacation spot. Bringing kids? Check out calm beaches like Cockle Cove Beach and Harding’s Beach. If you’re looking for stunning scenery, however, try Chatham Lighthouse Beach. Its tides can be strong (heed the posted warnings), but it’s one of the most beautiful beaches on the Cape.

This gem in the heart of Utah is more than just a small desert town—it's a gateway to some of the state's most impressive sights. With red rock formations and slot canyons, the landscape is like something straight out of an Old Western—because it is. You can visit a whole outdoor museum with sets from classic Western films to see for yourself (look up: Kanab Film Fort). For the real deal, there are plenty of main attractions—from Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, where the dunes change colour with the sunlight, to Buckskin Gulch, one of the longest slot canyons in the world. If you're lucky enough, snag a permit to see the Wave, a surreal sandstone formation that is truly other-worldly.

Faro is the best-known city in Portugal’s deservedly famous Algarve region. There’s an archaeological museum and a “Bishops’ Palace,” a Renaissance cathedral that was heavily bombed during World War II, but later rebuilt. Nearby in Estoi are Roman ruins, and Albufeira, also nearby, is a formerly quaint fishing village influenced by the Moors in the 8th century. It’s situated in a cliffside location, and has become famous for its beaches (there are 20) and nightlife.

Palma, the economic and cultural hub of Majorca, is a delightful base for exploring the island's many gold and white beaches. A former Moorish casbah, or walled city, Palma's Old Town is an appealing maze of narrow streets that are a delight to explore on foot. Hop on the Soller Railway for a 17-mile scenic trip, visit 14th-century Bellver Castle and the museum of contemporary art, and check out the nightlife.

Nearly crossing northern Italy from the Adriatic Sea westward, Emilia-Romagna gets its name from Via Emilia, the Rimini-to-Piacenza ancient Roman road it straddles. With a rich mix of age-old agriculture and modern industry, the region is home to many historic and cultural gems, both in its larger towns like Bologna, Modena and Ravenna, as well as in its many small hilltop villages. Of course, the region’s best offerings also include native culinary wonders like parmigiano cheese and tortellini.

Just a few miles from the Slovak border in south central Poland, Zakopane is a resort town in the Tatra Mountains, popular with skiers in winter and with hikers and climbers year-round. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Zakopane grew into Poland’s most visible art colony, a hotbed of culture ended by Soviet influence after World War II. Today it harkens back to an earlier time, complete with gorgeous wooden houses. Learn about these buildings and more at the Museum of Zakopane Style.

The region of Campania curves around the bays of Naples and Sorrento, with towering Vesuvius and mountain ranges and massifs looming above. Ancient classical ruins are scattered throughout the region, from the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum to the Greek temples in Paestum. Popular resort towns include charming Sorrento and Amalfi, upscale Positano and haven for the elite, Ravello. For even more memorable sights, catch a ferry from Sorrento or Naples to the isle of Capri, home of the magical Blue Grotto.