Our trip to Vale do Douro was one of our most memorable in Portugal. The valley is the birthplace of port wine, attracting visitors who relish spending the night in the region’s numerous Quintas. We spent just a day in the Douro region, exploring its stunning scenery while stopping at a few towns and a winery.

One of the greatest aspects of living in Boston, is the city’s close proximity to amazing towns, natural areas and to the several states located along the East Coast. New York City is located only three and a half hour drive from Boston and one of our favorite things to do is to grab the car, drive into town and uncover the city’s limitless attractions.

Québec City is the only fortified city north of Mexico in North America. Its historical zone, commonly known as Vieux-Québec, is split between Haute and Basse Ville (High and Lower town). The upper side features the city’s citadel perched above the St. Lawrence River and the lower is where the popular Quartier Petit Champlain is located.

Located on the west coast of County Galway, Connemara is widely known for its exceptional natural beauty, delivering a mixed background of high mountains, raw coastlines, quaint villages and fjords. While drivers can devote a full day to explore this vast region, most intrepid adventurers choose to stay even longer to hike the numerous trails within its national park.

Óbidos is one of the most well-known places to visit in Portugal. The medieval town is famous for its narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and prominent fortifications which are easily observed from most of the modern town that surrounds it. These extremely high walls are the town’s highlight, offering visitors postcard-worthy views as almost all of its length is open for walking.

If you are a big city dweller like us, you may often try to find ways to break the daily rhythm and search for a calmer place outside the craziness of the city. After living in Boston for nearly a decade, we have compiled a brief list of places we often enjoy traveling to as our escape.