Brattle Street, Boston

Brattle Street did not begin life as a quiet, leafy avenue for afternoon strolls. Originally known as the King’s Highway and later nicknamed Tory Row, this stretch of Cambridge has been one of the most prestigious residential streets in the United States for more than two centuries, attracting both political and cultural heavyweights.

As such, the street is home to an impressive lineup of historic buildings, ranging from sleek modernist architecture—like the former Design Research store—to a grand Georgian mansion once occupied (albeit at different times) by George Washington and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Centuries later, another American poet, Robert Lowell, also made Brattle Street his home address.

During the early days of the American Revolutionary War, in 1775, George Washington settled here, establishing his army headquarters in the abandoned mansions of seven wealthy loyalists. Remarkably, all of them have survived the test of time, allowing modern visitors a chance to walk past buildings that watched history unfold from their front windows...

In 1913, historian Samuel Atkins Eliot described Tory Row as one of the most beautiful and historic streets in America—a bold statement, though walking here makes it difficult to argue otherwise...

Laden with stories of Puritanical trials, British Loyalists, and poetic talent mixed with beautiful architecture and well-manicured gardens, Brattle Street has also given the world — courtesy of its residents — baking powder, Fig Newton cookies, Polaroid cameras, and even inspired Sadie Hawkins Day. Quite a legacy for a street, which, at a glance, simply looks like a pleasant place for a walk...

And before you move on, pause at No. 44, home to Harvest restaurant, the long-time pinnacle of dining in Harvard Square. For decades, its kitchen has attracted some of the world's finest chefs. Slip around to the rear patio, where the neighborhood slows down just enough to remind you that Cambridge has always known how to combine intellect with good food...