On a warm summer night, the winding streets of Old Town Marblehead are a haven for peace and quiet. Life slows its treadmill pace and is conducive to just being. Flower boxes attached to vintage clapboard homes overflow with geraniums and trailing vines, and the rosy glow of Maxfield Parrish sunsets invite daydreaming.

About 35 miles north of Boston is the planned city of Lowell, built around the Merrimack River and its canals. Because it was designed for industrial production and hosted a large amount of textile mills, which have since been converted into museums, apartments and office space, it attracted many immigrants. Most people came straight off the boat and right into the factories, in turn creating many different kinds of neighborhoods throughout town. Because of its beginnings, Lowell has a deep and rich history and begs to be explored.

Here's something your fourth-grade teacher left out of the lecture on early American history: Plymouth is cool. Known worldwide as the landing point of the Mayflower, today's Plymouth boasts a burgeoning arts scene, a diverse population, and a community that welcomes visitors to "America's Hometown." Located 50 miles south of Boston, just above Cape Cod, its landscape runs the gamut from beaches to pristine forests to working farms. In addition to beautiful natural surroundings and a living link to the past, Plymouth has a surprisingly cosmopolitan flair.