Walking distance from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts is the charming Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Eschewing the cold museum designs of the day, Isabella Stewart Gardner designed an exceptional building modeled after a 15th-century Venetian-style palace filled with warmth and light. This preeminent collection includes significant works of Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Manet, Degas, Whistler, and Sargent, set among antique furniture, rare books, and rich tapestries.

A standout feature of the three-story gallery is an enchanting flower filled courtyard. This romantic setting holds a special place in my heart. (My parents "courted" there when they were dating more than 46 years ago. They're celebrating their 45th anniversary this week.) The museum's Tapestry Room is also home to intimate concerts, including chamber music, jazz, and new music concerts.

[Photo courtesy of the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum]

The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Center is a collection of 34 islands and peninsulas diverse in nature and rich in character. For example, Boston's Spectacle Island offers a sandy beach for swimming, plus a "green" visitor center, while Little Brewster Island is home to Little Brewster Island is home to Boston Light, the oldest continually used light station in the U.S.

There are numerous ferry tours available, including the Three-Lighthouse Tour, which takes vistiors to the harbor’s three historic lighthouses—Long Island Head Light, Boston Light, and Graves Light.

Several of the parks--including the spectacular World's End in Hingham--are accessible by car. Although it's a bit far for me, World's End is definately worth the trip. Famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed the park's wonderful walking trails (which are popular among humans & dogs alike). Hikers are treated to spectacular harbor views

[Photos courtesy of Doc Searls and Liz West ]