Jillian is a freelance travel and culture journalist with an enthusiasm to learn from the world. She traces her wanderlust back to eight years old when her family relocated to the island of Bermuda. Since then, she has lived in London, Santiago, Boston, and New York City. Her work has appeared in Travel + LeisureUSA Today, Forbes, Michelin Guide, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler and Wine Enthusiast. Jillian’s simple pleasures include a hotel with an ocean view, a symmetric charcuterie board and a dry martini—dirty. Follow her on Instagram @jilliandara.

Jillian Dara

Jillian Dara

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Articles (4)

20 best Airbnb cabins near Boston

20 best Airbnb cabins near Boston

Don’t let yourself fall victim to apartment fever this season. Instead, consider retreating to some of New England's most picturesque cabins available on Airbnb. The region provides a wealth of activities for you to choose from—leaf-peeping in the fall, skiing in the winter, or simply taking a break from city life during any season. In fact, weekend getaways provide welcome respite all year round. So, take a chance to reconnect with nature; it'll do you some good. Make the most of it in one of these cozy cabins near Boston for rent (some offering opportunities to unwind in front of a roaring fire!). For other unique accommodations near nature, explore the best secluded Airbnbs near Boston and the best waterfront Airbnbs near Boston. Updated November 2024: Trust we're always on the hunt for the most extraordinary holiday rentals for your next adventure, so you never have to miss out. This season, we simply couldn't keep this cool A-frame to ourselves any longer, nor this New Hampshire treehouse. No need to thank us; it's kind of what we do.  RECOMMENDED: 🌇See our guide to weekend getaways near Boston🛏Stay in the best Airbnbs in Boston🎭check out the best things to do in Boston Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links
10 best things to do in Boston this May

10 best things to do in Boston this May

According to the magnolias of Newbury Street and tulips of the Public Garden, spring is in full swing in Boston. With the weather only getting warmer, there are more al fresco events in the May lineup—whether you want to sip, sing along or savor a meal outside, there’s something for everyone when it comes to the best things to do in Boston this month.
The best French restaurants in Boston

The best French restaurants in Boston

It’s no secret that Boston is home to an extensive list of amazing restaurants, which includes some of the city’s most prominent dining options for getting a taste of la cuisine française. That’s right: The best French restaurants in Boston strive to emulate France’s renowned culinary tradition, which spans from casual cafes and intimate bistros to refined brasseries and upscale Parisian eateries. Here in the Hub, you’ll find all of your French favorites, whether it’s a croque madame, coq au vin, ratatouille or even a distinctive, imported cheese plate—just check out this list of the best French restaurants in Boston right now. In search of more European eats? Visit the best Italian restaurants in Boston. 
Best hookah bars in Boston

Best hookah bars in Boston

From Cuba to the Middle East, smoking tobacco is historically a culturally strong social activity. In western society, cigar lounges and hookah bars are now prolific, with nightclubs garnering inspiration from these respective regions to adopt social smoking customs. From shisha (also spelt sheesha and called hookah) to cigar lounges, here are Boston’s top places to join in the fun—just keep in mind that most of which are exclusively 21+. For other casual nightlife outings, check out Boston's best college bars or Boston's best beer bars. Looking for something more refined? The best cocktail bars in Boston will do the trick. RECOMMENDED: See the full list of the best bars in Boston

Listings and reviews (33)

Cisco Brewers Seaport

Cisco Brewers Seaport

Nantucket’s popular brewery opens a seasonal pop-up every summer in the heart of the Seaport from April into October. (It returns for the 2025 season on April 14!) The open-air beer garden offers citygoers the chance to sip on Cisco favorites like Gripah Grapefruit IPA and Whale’s Tale Pale Ale, as well as cocktails and wine by sister brands. There are a variety of happenings throughout the season, including live music and partnership events, and a rotating fleet of food trucks can easily turn an after-work beer into an entire evening out. When the cold weather inevitably arrives, devotees can get their Cisco fix on draft at many local bars around Boston.
Petit Robert Bistro

Petit Robert Bistro

5 out of 5 stars
If you’re craving steak frites or coq au vin, this South End address is here to satiate. The elegantly styled French bistro serves a number of unique French dishes at both lunch and dinner (like calf’s liver with onions and beef tartare), all of which can be perfectly paired with a selection off of its lengthy French wine list. No matter what time of day that you visit, just don’t skip the baguette, an elevated offering on a bread course you won’t want to miss.
Cornell Inn

Cornell Inn

This Lenox, Massachusetts, property was revamped and reopened in June 2021 from its existing 18th and 19th century standalone buildings, to now reflect a 28-room inn–17 of which have personal fireplaces. The lobby also offers a double-sided fireplace to appeal to the property’s bed and breakfast style allure, but with all the luxuries of a contemporary resort.
The Lodge at Spruce Peak

The Lodge at Spruce Peak

As Stowe Mountain’s only ski-in, ski-out luxury resort, The Lodge is the spot to see and be seen (and stay!) in Stowe. The property’s suites are designed with cozy in mind as fireplaces bathe the rooms in golden hues set against the backdrop of the mountain’s snowy trails in winter and lush greens in summer.
The Chanler at Cliff Walk

The Chanler at Cliff Walk

Newport’s Cliff Walk features historic mansions that attract regular visitors to ogle at their opulence. As the only hotel on this heritage stretch, The Chanler allows you to actually live in this grandiose style, offering 20 rooms, each reflecting a different epoch and all offering the comfort of in-room fireplaces.
Jackson Gore Inn at Okemo Mountain Resort

Jackson Gore Inn at Okemo Mountain Resort

Located at the base of Okemo, one of Vermont’s mainstay ski mountains, Jackson Gore Inn immediately transports guests into a world of coziness with their lobby’s stone fireplace. The resort knows that nothing warms you up faster than a roaring fire following an outdoor outing filled with ice skating, snow tubing or skiing. That’s why their multi-bedroom suites—complete with full kitchens—include sitting rooms centered around fireplaces or, in some cases, a fireplace featured in the bedroom. If the latter is something you desire, be sure to request this upon booking.
Rabbit Hill Inn

Rabbit Hill Inn

In unequivocal bed-and-breakfast fashion, The Rabbit Hill Inn combines the best of homey accommodations with outstanding culinary offerings (Four Diamond inspired farm-to-table nonetheless). Fourteen of the guest rooms present guests with warming fireplaces, along with three common area fireplaces that extend warmth throughout the property in Lower Waterford, Vermont.
Chatham Inn

Chatham Inn

This Relais & Châteaux property on Cape Cod is a beachside haven. Nine of the 18 rooms here offer personal fireplaces, including one suite, two premier fireplace category rooms and six standard fireplace rooms (there’s even one with a double-sided fireplace that opens to a soaking tub for optimal R&R). The rooms follow a stunning contemporary format, with clean, minimal lines that encourage you to declutter your mind on a weekend away. In case you muster up the energy to leave your intimate, cozy quarters, the property also has fireplaces in the dining room, wine bar, common sitting area and an outside fire pit.
Cape Arundel Inn & Resort

Cape Arundel Inn & Resort

Nothing embodies Kennebunkport charm more than an oceanfront Victorian mansion, and at Cape Arundel that’s exactly what you can expect. With rooms perched above the famed Ocean Avenue, guests can admire pronounced ocean views from their windows—an enchanting juxtaposition next to the roaring fireplace. The rooms are warmly decorated in a homey style you’d expect from an Inn-inspired property, however, with a modern flair you might not normally get at this historic seaside destination. There are also a mix of fireplaces throughout the public space, in case you want to wander outside your personal accommodations.
Winvian Farm

Winvian Farm

Nestled in the woods of Western Connecticut (Litchfield Hills), this Relais & Châteaux offers 18 designer cottages, all equipped with at least one wood burning fireplace. In case this isn’t cozy enough, hearths also line the common areas, restaurant and even the spa, where two of the treatment rooms feature—you guessed it—wood burning fireplaces. Though you’ll likely catch a whiff of smoke from another guest’s chimney, with the accommodations spread over 113 acres, Winivan Farm ensures a rustic privacy, where you’ll feel as if you’re miles away from anyone else.
Mill Falls at the Lake

Mill Falls at the Lake

A rustic retreat in Meredith, New Hampshire, this property overlooks Lake Winnipesaukee and is just a short drive from skiing at Gunstock Mountain. There’s a total of 98 guest rooms with fireplaces across the variety of accommodations offered on site, ranging from the main inn to cozy cottages and separate houses, like Chase House, which is geared toward romantic getaways with all 21 of their guest rooms featuring crackling fireplaces and two-person jetted baths.
Twin Farms

Twin Farms

Located in Barnard, Vermont, this adults-only, all-inclusive property proves you don’t need to travel far (or to a Caribbean destination) for this style of getaway. Twenty cottages and suites are spread over 300 acres of tranquil woods, each designed by various architects and designers to impart their unique flair. One thing they all have in common? Guests can expect wood-burning fireplaces that open onto screened porches at all 20 lodgings on the property.