Family-owned and operated since the early 1800’s, Bartlett’s Farm is Nantucket’s largest farm and has grown to include a garden center, greenhouse, kitchen and market. The market is a great place to pick up lunch before heading to the beach, or to browse the aisles for candles, linens and housewares. Throughout the summer, a number of events are held, ranging from “Farm Talks” featuring guest speakers to farm-to-table dinners.

Unlike Martha’s Vineyard, where many of the most beautiful beaches are private, Nantucket has miles of sandy public beaches. Families love Jetties and Children’s beaches, near town, which have playgrounds, changing facilities and a gentle surf. My favorites are Dionis Beach, at the end of Eel Point Road, which has calm waters and dunes, and the stretch of Cisco Beach known as Ladies Beach, on the southwestern shore. Surfside, with its wild waves and wide stretches of sand, is a scene, especially during high season. Less crowded is Siasconset (be sure to pick up some sandwiches at Claudette’s in the village before you go). You’ll have the most privacy at Coatue, the spit of land that stretches up from northeastern Nantucket, which is accessible only by boat or kayak.

Indagare Tip: Only Jetties and Surfside have dining options, so pack lunch and snacks if you’re heading elsewhere.

For great insider insights, take a two-hour tour of historic Beacon Hill with a Hill resident and Circle for Charity member. At its conclusion, you’ll be welcomed into three exquisite private homes. Ask to see Louisburg Square and the home where the original Thomas Crown Affair was filmed (85 Mt. Vernon Street, for those who are interested).

Conveniently located on the first block of Newbury Street, Bella Sante is a haven from the summer heat and the winter snow. If you are staying at the Taj Boston, head here for a treatment after a long day shopping – it’s about a 30 second walk from the hotel.

A great way to explore the islands and waters surrounding Martha’s Vineyard is to reserve a boat and captain for a day charter. Anything from a sunset cruise aboard a luxurious catamaran to a private party on a traditional schooner can be arranged. Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team for details.

Although the history of the Boston Ballet, which was founded in 1963, can’t compare to such old-world troupes as the Kirov or Paris Opera Ballet, the company has been ably lead by artistic director Mikko Nissinen. Appointed in 2001, Nissinen has dedicated himself to presenting contemporary, innovative choreography as well as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, the latter of which it performs for a month every year.

This fifty-acre park, adjacent to Beacon Hill and Back Bay, is the oldest in the country. Originally used as grazing ground for cattle, the green was also the site of public hangings and served as a camp for British troops. Today this small but peaceful urban oasis offers city residents and local office workers a place to retreat and relax. The Common is across the street from the Public Garden.

Central to the Public Garden is a pond on which pedal-powered swan boats provide endless amusement to young visitors. Local residents transformed the lush area from salt marsh to public park in the mid-19th century, and it has since served as an extension to the Common, which is separated from the Garden by Charles Street. Fans of the classic children’s book Make Way for Ducklings should enter at the intersection of Charles and Beacon Streets, where the path to the pond features a bronze sculpture of the story’s web-footed heroes.

Owned by Susan Chapman, this small beauty haven, on the second floor of a Victorian house in Edgartown, is a favorite pampering spot. Be sure to make a reservation—even manicures are rarely available on a walk-in basis.

An esplanade lines both sides of the Charles River, which divides Cambridge and Boston and winds into the western suburbs. A popular place for jogging and picnicking, the Cambridge side offers beautiful views of the Boston skyline.

Located next to Bartlett Farm, Cisco Brewery offers a selection of locally produced microbrews, spirits and wines. Open seven days a week, the brewery offers tours, tastings and live music, as well as lots of outdoor space where kids can run around.

Indagare Tip: Nantucket’s cold, windy climate makes it perfect to produce a version of Scotch dubbed “Notch.” Also worth trying is the blueberry vodka produced at Triple Eight Distillery, where fresh blueberries are steeped in the vodka before being filtered out.

One of Newport’s top attractions is the three-and-a-half mile walking trail that winds along the shoreline where many of the Gilded Age “Cottages” were built, so walkers are treated to the glorious New England coast on one side and the extravagant mansions and grounds on the other. The path begins at First Beach on Memorial Boulevard and runs south with exit points at various avenues and ends at Bellevue Avenue. While the walk covers flat terrain, visitors are warned to watch out for cliff drops and poison ivy.

Block Island, approximately 12 miles south of mainland Rhode Island and 14 miles east of Montauk, is a charming vacation community filled with historic homes and boasting pretty beaches. The ferry to Block Island from Newport takes about one hour and departs from Narragansett. There are restaurants and shops in Old Harbour and plenty of hiking and biking trails throughout, including the Clay Head Nature Trail and Mohegan Bluffs Trail.

This trusted rental store carries standard bikes as well as high-end specialty models. If you’re visiting during the summer, call ahead to make sure they have your kind and size in stock.

Indagare Tip: Request a bike with a basket, so you can easily store picnic food and lots of water during your excursions.

Formerly known as J. Parave (fondly nicknamed Janine's), this is a pampering spa near the White Elephant. There’s a short menu of skin-care treatments, and they also do hair, but most clients return for the long-lasting manicures and pedicures. Be sure to call ahead for an appointment.

Just half a block from the Public Garden, Exhale provides a perfect place to Zen out with a combination of spa treatments and fitness classes. In addition to the traditional massages and facials, therapists trained in Eastern medicine also perform acupuncture, reiki and shiatsu massages. Monthly memberships for the highly rated yoga classes are available, but drop-ins are also welcome.

This Mass Audubon nature preserve organizes a slew of special programs perfect for children. The property boasts two miles of hiking trails through wood- and marshlands. If you’re lucky, you can even spot nesting ospreys, the island’s most magnificent birds.

A highlight for baseball fans of all ages is a visit to the sport’s most fabled stadium, Fenway Park. Although there’s no bad time for a trip, the most exciting season occurs in the fall as the Red Sox fight their way towards the playoffs. If kids can’t sit through an entire game, take a tour of the ballpark or grab a seat by the windows of the Bleacher Bar and enjoy its views of the field.

The large white resin figurine sculptures of Tom Maley greet visitors in the sprawling garden that surrounds this lovely contemporary art gallery, which opened its doors in 1971. Exhibits change frequently, but look for the work of local photographer Jhenn Watts, who prints her vibrant seascapes on glass.

There is great fishing off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. Contact our Bookings Team to be set up with a great charter captain who always seems to know where to find the best fishing.

Martha’s Vineyard’s most famous attraction, albeit kitschy, is a guaranteed home run with children. The country’s oldest carousel in use, Flying Horses is packed with tourists during the summer months. Snag the lauded brass ring and you’ll be allowed to stay on for an additional ride.

Originally a Methodist meeting ground, this gathering of pastel-colored cottages could accurately be described as a real life Candyland. Built in the “Carpenter’s Gothic” style, the gingerbread cottages are painted in hues ranging the full color spectrum, and feature unique embellishments. The cottages are now a protected historic landmark and some of the most expensive housing on the island.

You can’t miss the sister property of the Field Gallery, housed in a bright red barn off Old County Road. More than fifty artists are represented, including painters, photographers, jewelers and sculptors, so there’s a lot to see.

Housed in a quaint red barn, the Granary Gallery is the island's oldest and largest gallery. The indoor galleries, sculpture garden and courtyard boast a variety of paintings, antiques, sculptures and photographs by both national and local artists.