7 Best Sights in Boston, Massachusetts

What was once large, barren fields and the former home of a Ford assembly plant is now a thriving destination neighborhood along the Mystic River. Seemingly always growing, Assembly Row is an open-air community of live-work-play spaces all connected by waterfront walkways and parks. Retail abounds, with stores like Puma, Brooks Brothers, a J.Crew outlet, the area's only Saks Off Fifth, and more. For entertainment, check out the AMC movie theater, the newly revamped LEGO Discovery Center, and Lucky Strike Social, a 36,000-square-foot space with dining, bowling, games, and shuffleboard on the first floor and an island bar on the second. Seasonal programming includes Club Volo's volleyball and pickleball courts, yoga in the park, Markers Market, live music Fridays, free lessons at Dancing on the Row, and September's Riverfest.

There are 40 restaurants including the trendy River Bar (loved for its year-round fire pits), casual noodles and sake at Fuji, a three-season patio at Salt & Stone, Greek at Zo, and the relocation of neighborhood favorite Posto. The eight-in-one fitness studio FitRow has you covered for whatever workout you desire, from boxing to cycling to Pilates.

Need some downtime from all that activity? Pop into Heyday Facial and the area's first Squeeze Massage location for a quiet respite. Also here is the Row Hotel at Assembly Row, a boutique hotel with some of the best interior design around.

This pocket of early-19th-century brick row houses, near Arlington and Piedmont streets, is a fine, mellow neighborhood (Edgar Allan Poe was born here) that's actually Boston's smallest officially recognized neighborhood. Its window boxes and short, narrow streets make the area seem a toylike reproduction of Beacon Hill. Note that, owing to the street pattern, it's difficult to drive to Bay Village, and it's easy to miss on foot.

Located at Massachusetts Avenue (known by locals as "Mass Ave."), Prospect Street, and Western Avenue, Central Square has burger and beer joints, ethnic eats, music clubs, vintage record stores, and consignment shops. Cambridge's city government is here, and Ben Affleck and Matt Damon used to live here. The Central Square T stop is on the Red Line.

Located just over the border from northwest Cambridge and easily accessible on the Red Line, this funky neighborhood near Tufts University is packed with great eateries, lively bars, and candlepin bowling. Harvard Square can sometimes feel a little tired after midnight, but there's still a lot of energy here late at night. At the Somerville Theatre ( 55 Davis Sq.), you can enjoy cheap first-run matinee movies ($10), excellent popcorn, and even beer and wine with your feature. The Davis Square T stop is on the Red Line.

At the intersection of Cambridge and Hampshire streets, Inman Square has a great cluster of restaurants, cafés, bars, and shops. This place is just plain cool. Sadly, there's no T service to Inman, but you can get here from Harvard Square or Central Square on foot.

Cast-iron fences, Victorian-era town houses, a bubbling fountain, and a grassy area all add up to one of Boston's most charming slices of a neighborhood.

This neighborhood is located in the southeastern part of Somerville. Used by the Union Army during the American Revolution, today it's home to numerous restaurants, shops, and bars and is considered one of the area's most under-the-radar hot spots. The Union Square Farmers Market is held on the plaza every Saturday from mid-May through October.