Boston , General info:
9/10

Boston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The city is located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the entire New England region.[4] The city, which had an estimated population of 590,763 in 2006, lies at the center of the Cambridge–Boston-Quincy metropolitan area—the 10th-largest metropolitan area (5th largest CSA) in the U.S., with a population of 4.5 million.

Boston , Cheap stuff:
9/10

Locals believe that the tacos and burritos at El Pelon Taqueria on Peterborough Street are the city's best cheap eats. If a service charge is not added to the bill, a tip of 15% to 20% is appropriate.

Boston , Different stuff:
9/10

Redbrick townhouses, verdant public gardens and historic landmarks wedged between Italian groceries, obsessed sports fans, some of the country's finest universities and the tastiest white clam chowder

Boston , Don't miss:
9/10

Boston Harbor Tours, The Mary Baker Eddy Library, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston Public Garden, ...

Boston , Food:
9/10

La Galleria 33, Mantra Restaurant, Locke-Ober, G'vanni's Steakhouse Italiano,...

Boston , Hotels:
10/10

Encore Bend and Breakfast

Encore is a Boston bed and breakfast in the historic and trendy South End neighborhood. The ideal alternative to typical hotel lodging, Encore Bed and Breakfast offers 21st-century comfort in a 19th-century town house.

Conveniently situated and beautifully appointed, Encore Bed and Breakfast is the ideal \"home away from home\" for business travel, vacations, honeymoons, and romantic getaways.

Boston , Safety:
9/10

The city has seen a great reduction in violent crime since the early 1990s. Boston's low crime rate in the last years of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first has been credited to its police department's collaboration with neighborhood groups and church parishes to prevent youths from joining gangs, as well as involvement from the United States Attorney and District Attorney's offices. This helped lead in part to what has been touted as the "Boston Miracle." Murders in the city dropped from 152 in 1990 (for a murder rate of 26.5 per 100,000 people) to just 31—not one of them a juvenile—in 1999 (for a murder rate of 5.26 per 100,000). In more recent years, however, the annual murder count has fluctuated by as much as 50% compared to the year before, with 60 murders in 2002, followed by just 39 in 2003, 64 in 2004, and 75 in 2005. Though the figures are nowhere near the high-water mark set in 1990, the aberrations in the murder rate have been unsettling for many Bostonians and have prompted discussion over whether the Boston Police Department should reevaluate its approach to fighting crime.

Springfield , General info:
10/10

Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County. The city of Springfield is dotted with sites centered around U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, who started his political career in Springfield. These include: the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, a National Historical Park that includes the preserved surrounding neighborhood, the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site, the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, the Old State Capitol State Historic Site, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Near the village of Petersburg, is New Salem State Park, a restored hamlet of log cabins, recreating the town where Lincoln lived as a young man.

Springfield , Cheap stuff:
9/10

Cheapest and most delicious Cozy Dog.

Springfield , Different stuff:
8/10

Springfield has long had an affiliation with food. The corn dog on a stick was invented in the city under the name “Cozy Dog,” although there is some debate to the actual origin of the popular snack. The horseshoe sandwich, not well-known outside of the city, also originated in Springfield. Springfield was also once home to the Reisch Beer brewery.

The alleged first U.S. drive-thru window is still in operation in Springfield at the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop.

Springfield , Don't miss:
9/10

Although not born in Springfield, Abraham Lincoln is the city's most famous resident. He lived here for 17 years.[6] The only home he ever owned is open to the public, seven days a week, free of charge, and operated by the National Park Service.

Springfield , Food:
9/10

From infamous, one-of-kind "horseshoe" sandwich to the ever popular Cozy Dog - you'll find a delicious selection of dining opportunities in Springfield, Illinois. Along with neighborhood fare, you"ll also find four-star restaurants, quaint cafés, fast-food and more.

Springfield , Hotels:
9/10

Springfield lodging, with 4,000-plus rooms, ranges from bed and breakfasts and inns to economy and luxury hotels. You will find everything you need.

Springfield , Safety:
10/10

Very safe and friendly city.