Snowy mountains and ski vacations.

Here are your pictures from gorgeous snow destinations around the world. Where’s your favorite place to ski or play in the snow?

Whistler Gals. Sonia and Melanie take a break from snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb to smile for the camera in Whistler, Canada.

Professional photographer Lee Trujillo sent us this beautiful landscape shot that he accurately titled “Frozen Tranquility”. It was taken on the top of a snowy peak popular with snowmobilers near Grand Lake, Colorado. Lee’s amazing photography work can be viewed at Reflection and Light Photography.

Kristine, @SpecialkSD on Twitter, sent us this great shot from Julian, California. She used the Instagram filter app to enhance the photo. She says:

“During a rare snowstorm in San Diego county, my family and I headed to a spot just outside the quaint town of Julian, CA. There was something so pure and simple about seeing everything dusted in white. Julian is a beautiful place any time of year and besides being known for its old-fashioned shops and the best apples around, it offers beautiful scenery.”

Snow isn’t just for adults. Little Isabella enjoys the fun in Edmonton, Canada.

Bird. A very artistic creation of bird feet and hands in the snow, @eat_smart sent us this picture she took in Switzerland.

Vanessa confronts the blizzard in Boston with courage and great fashion.

Nicknamed the hub of the universe, Boston is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States.

Also considered the Capital of New England, Boston’s standard of living is among the highest in the nation due to industries such as biotechnology, research, and medicine.

With an abundance of rich historical and cultural sites, and being home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world, I actually consider Boston a very intellectual city as well.

If you have a few days to visit Boston, here are some things to do that can give you a better appreciation of the city.

Boston Common and the Freedom Trail

Boston Common is the central park of the city and the oldest park in the United States.

It is a great place to start your visit to get a better feeling of its historical importance during the American Revolution.

As a matter of fact, right at the park’s visitor center, begins the most famous walking tour in Boston: the Freedom Trail. This is a 2.5 mile path that goes through 16 historic landmarks.

Some of the sites you’ll see are the magnificent Massachusetts State House (see photo), the King’s Chapel, Boston Latin School (oldest public school), Paul Revere’s house, the USS Constitution, and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Newbury and Boylston Streets

After exploring the Freedom Trail, you’ll realize Boston is a great city to enjoy walking. Two great streets you should stroll are Newbury St. and Boylston St.

The streets are famous for its shopping offering an eclectic blend of options, from upscale brand-name stores to small coffee houses and bookstores.

Both modern and historic 19^th century brownstone buildings blend seamlessly together, making Boston a unique architectural jewel in the United States.

The Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory

For the best 360-degree panoramic bird’s-eye view of Boston, you must visit the Skywalk Observatory, located on floor 51 at the top of the Prudential Center.

Some of the places you can see from the observatory are Fenway Park (home of the Red Sox), the Cambridge district, downtown and the Boston Common grounds, the Charles River, as well as the harbor.

Not far from the Prudential Center is Chinatown, another unique cultural experience.

A Wealth of Museums

The museums in Boston are true gems and it’s a delight to see the wealth of options offered in the fields of arts and sciences.

Some of the best options are the Museum of Science, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Fine Arts, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

I absolutely love the impressive collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, where you can see works from different periods and from all over the world.

The Egyptian collection brings an impressive compilation of relics such as sarcophagus, sculptures, and pieces made of gold and ceramic.

Don’t miss the works of Hokusai in the Japanese hall and be mesmerized by the European collection with paintings from Rembrandt, Canaletto, Van Gogh, and Monet, just to name a few.

The American hall is very well represented with paintings by Winslow Homer, Mary Cassat, and John Singleton Copley (see painting).

But one of the best things about this museum is the element of surprise that awaits you around every corner. A sculpture by Fernando Botero, an original Stradivarius violin, or an abstract painting by Jackson Pollock seem to appear when you least expect it.

Where to stay and vicinities

A truly authentic hotel to stay in Boston is the Kendall Hotel, located in the neighboring district of Cambridge and with easy access to the main spots in town. Take a look at a review TravelPlusWine.com did on this hotel.

From concerts & theatre shows, sports events, upscale shopping, world-class museums and great dining, Boston has something for everyone at any time of the year.

If you have more time to visit places near Boston, two great choices are Cape Cod and Salem, the latter famous for the 1692 witch trials.

Culinary Landmarks

An article about Boston cannot be complete without talking about some of its culinary icons.

The first one is Legal Sea Foods; since the 50’s, this restaurant has been a symbol of the exquisite sea food that has made Boston so famous. You can’t go wrong with the clam chowder or the lobster bisque.

Wash this food down with the most representative beer of Boston. You guessed right, I’m talking about Samuel Adams. Don’t forget to bring a valid ID in case you want to tour the brewery.

And in case you wanted to know who Samuel Adams was… he was one of the most successful politicians in Massachusetts and a signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Cheers to that!

One of the most beautiful metropolitan cities in the USA is Boston. And to prove great minds really do think alike, according to BostonUSA.com, 18 million people visited Boston & Cambridge in 2008!

Boston & Cambridge offer all types of great entertainment related to the arts, sports, science, history, and more.

So where is a fun place to stay that offers easy reach to both areas, a real taste of New England, and perhaps even a little bit of history?

The Kendall Hotel offers that plus more. You can go ahead and search for large hotel chains, but nothing will ever replace the charm and warmth of a local boutique hotel. And when you are in Boston you have to make the Kendall Hotel your home.

The history of the Kendall Hotel is quite unique; its building was originally built in 1895 as a Victorian Firehouse known as Engine 7. The Queen Anne-style structure was designed to accommodate stables, coal bunkers, and dormitories for the firemen.

Engine 7 operated for almost 100 years until it was closed in 1993.

The building was then purchased by a local couple who, in 2000, began renovations to convert the firehouse into the Kendall Hotel. They did such a great job in maintaining its historic architecture and ambiance that the Kendall Hotel is the only one in Cambridge selected to be a member of Historic Hotels of America.

Located near MIT, the Kendall Hotel offers 73 guest rooms and 4 luxury suites. It is interesting to mention that although all the rooms have a classic American décor, each guest room is unique in design, spacious, and comfortable.

The hotel’s restaurant, The Black Sheep, offers a complete breakfast buffet free for guests. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner offering chef selections that use top-quality organic and locally grown produce.

Regarding our favorite grape juice, they have a great wine selection that includes wines from the best vineyards in the country.

And when it comes to moving around town, the Kendall Hotel is located just a few steps away from the Kendall Subway Station (red line).

Due to its charm, convenience, and comfort, the Kendall Hotel definitely earns the Tried & True Travel + Wine seal of approval.