Shopping, dining, and people-watching are elevated to a sport along Boston’s Newbury Street, the 8-block, tree-lined shopping spot in trendy Back Bay. Fashionistas start at Arlington Street to get their high-end shopping fix at places like Armani and Burberry, while those in the know make a regular pilgrimage to Louis Boston, a trendy, multilevel clothing boutique. Further down, funky local shops selling everything from tattoos to second-hand goods intermingle with national chains including the Gap and Pottery Barn. In between, there are art galleries, day spas, wine shops, and a handful of bed and breakfasts sprinkled in for good measure. It’s a little like New York’s Fifth Avenue, but without the attitude.

No one goes hungry on Newbury Street, with dozens of bars, coffee shops and eateries to choose from, offering every type of cuisine imaginable, from casual to upscale. Newbury Street’s sidewalk cafes are filled on warm, sunny days when neighborhood residents and shoppers linger and watch the world go by from the coveted outdoor seats. It’s truly an eclectic crowd, where street performers and skateboarders peacefully coexist with coeds and soccer moms, making a shopping outing much more interesting than a trip to the mall.