I'm planning a trip to Boston and the surrounding areas. I would love some advice on must sees and restaurants.

Boston is a big place with lots of things to do. What are your interests? History? Shopping? fine dining? outdoor activities? sports?
I would suggest you take an organized tour of the city upon your arrival. It's a great way to get your bearings. Gray Line Trolley tours have stops at most of the major hotels. The Boston Duck Tours are a great tour, but are also very popular and get sold out quickly. www.ducktours.com
Have a great visit!

To bm: My interests are sightseeing tours and history, any suggestions?

For history..that's easy....walk the Freedom Trail..follow the line through historic Boston..

Many, many options. Depends on what your interests are.
Outside of Boston, to the North is Salem with the Witch museum, House of Seven Gables and the seaport towns of Gloucester and Rockport.
to the South is Plymouth with the "rock" Mayflower replica and Plymouth Plantation.
To the West is Lexington and Concord with National Park Service Parks.
Im Boston is the Freedom Trail, USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill Monument.
Great Museums: Science, Fine Arts, Aquarium, Childrens Museum, to name a few.
The central city is very walkable. The Boston Duck Tours are the most fun but many other cos run tours.
Harvard Square is a people watchers paradise as is Newberry Street.
If you are lucky the Red Sox will be in town (check their website to get tickets).
Restaurants are everywhere and for all tastes and prices.
Have a great time.

Wow! That last post said it all! I'd second Salem (the Witch Museum, House of Seven Gables, and Peabody Esses Museum), and Gloucester (be sure to visit the Hammond Castle Museum!) As for restaurants in that area, Essex has the most famous seafood joints: Woodmans or the Village. In Salem, we enjoy both Grapevine and The Lynceum. Marblehead has a couple funky places: The Kings Rook and Maddie's Sail Loft.
As for Boston, check in to the North End Culinary Tour!

We just got back from a "too short" trip to Boston. We loved the freedom trail and visiting the USS Constitution, the Trolley tour is hop on hop off and is great if you want to see a lot in a short time. Along the Freedom Trail, got to see Sam Adams grave and other notables, enjoyed a stroll through Boston Common and also their nice Aquarium was a highlight...(not bad for 24 hours!) must go back to this terrific city soon. We ate at Legal seafood as it was close to the Aquarium and we were walking, for people from So. Cal it was heaven (I think locals are more "in the know" but it was easy to find, reasonably priced and really a great dinner. We also enjoyed Fanuell Hall and the Quincy Market. If you have time, brush up a little bit on your American history to get the most out of your trip, we really wish we had.

Thanks everyone for the responses, if you have anything else post again.