The Lancaster Arts Hotel, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a full supporter of the city’s burgeoning arts scene. With more than 260 pieces in a variety of media scattered around its lobby, guest rooms, hallways, and public spaces, including the elevator, the hotel enticed me to appreciate the works of local artists and, by leaving a sketch pad and pencil in my room, encouraged me to make my own contribution. The boutique hotel provides all the modern comforts you’d expect, in its art-gallery atmosphere, and gives great nods to the building’s original function—a tobacco warehouse. Read about it >

Lancaster, Pennsylvania—always, for me, associated with the Amish—has an unexpected diversity among its populace, a shockingly high percentage, given this city’s relatively small size of just under 60,000 people. That heterogeneity translates into a terrifically international food scene. For my first night in town, I headed to one of the less common cuisines around, at Himalayan Curry and Grill, for a bountiful Nepali feast. Read about it >

“Kind people are our kind of people.” A lofty mantra, indeed, pressed onto the tee shirts of the wait staff at HomeGrown. And they live up to it, hiring the nicest staff you can imagine. At this daytime eatery in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, you’ll experience memorable breakfasts, clearly made with love and served with kindness. Read about it >

As summer temperatures soar, a fountain—whether it’s trickling or gushing—can help you beat the heat, especially in urban environments, where concrete and tar make increasingly angry thermometers seem even more oppressive. The care, attention, and craftmanship of many fountains add to the relief these enchanting oases provide, and give you something very pretty to look at and contemplate while misty sprays cool you down a bit. Read about the top five fountains >

Boston has the best, most authentic Little Italy I’ve ever been to. So, when I found myself there on an early Sunday afternoon, I channeled my Italian heritage and tradition of having Sunday dinner at about 1 p.m. and strolled into Monica’s Trattoria. Opened three decades ago by Monica’s sons, this warm, friendly restaurant serves up love in every delectable bite. Read about it >

Located on the ground floor of The Alexandrian Hotel, King & Rye prides itself on seasonal slow food, genuine Southern hospitality, and “damn fine whiskey.” Many of its ingredients are sourced through real relationships with farmers, makers, and butchers. And if you just came from the Old Town Farmers’ Market across the street, you’ll find some of those ingredients in your brunch selections on a lazy Saturday morning. Read about it >

Dinner always tastes better when it comes with a great story. At Il Porto Ristorante, a beacon for authentic Northern Italian food in Alexandria, Virginia, your excellent meal is served with a hefty dose of history—you’ll be dining in a building that was a sea captain’s house, a brothel, a secret distillery, a butcher shop, a speakeasy, and a Nazi radio network. Read about it >

At the quieter end of King Street Mile, Archer Hotel Old Town Alexandria straddles the perfect intersection of walkability east to restaurants, shops, and the bulk of the attractions in this appealing Virginia city and west to the Amtrak train station where I would be arriving, a handy Washington, D.C Metro station, and the colossal George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Complementing its ideal location, the hotel’s services, amenities, and general vibe make it the perfect place to stay. Read about it >

If you start walking up King Street Mile in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, from its head at King Street Park on the Potomac River, the very first restaurant you’ll see is Mai Thai. Why go further if you’re ready for dinner? Pop in and take a “journey of authentic Thai cuisine” in one of many historic buildings in the third-oldest historic district in the United States. Read about it >