Boston is one of the all-time-great cities to live in... but once in a while even the city's most avid urbanites require a getaway.
Fortunately, Boston is well-positioned for quick weekend escapes to a variety of places that offer both a chance of pace and scenery.
Cape Cod, about 80 miles from Boston, is one of residents' favorite romantic weekend destinations. Beachy and laid-back, with superlative seafood, it entices visitors and gets them to slow down.
Chatham, at mid-Cape, is a popular destination. Its historic Chatham Bars Inn has been named one of the top resorts in the world by Travel & Leisure and the best hotel on Cape Cod by Boston Magazine.
Provincetown, at land's end, has a freewheeling spirit of fun and has always been especially welcoming to same-sex couples, who give the town its flair. And the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are beautiful worlds unto themselves.
On popular summer weekends, traffic out of Boston can get backed up and snail-slow once you reach the Cape... hardly a romantic situation. Here's how to get around that: Either plan a midweek "weekend getaway," go in the off-season when the crowds have dwindled, or cruise to the Cape on the ferry that sails from Boston to Provincetown in just 90 minutes.
