Quincy:

Just minutes south of Boston awaits one of New England's most captivating destinations, the City of Quincy ("quin-zee"). Called the "City of Presidents" and "Birthplace of the American Dream", Quincy is the birthplace of the second and sixth U.S. Presidents, John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams. Rich in historic treasures, Quincy's impressive past remains vibrant today as the city lays claim to an exciting future.

Fascinating historic sites abound, while miles of coastline capture the imagination with their enchanting beauty. Culture and commerce blend to create an impressive array of things to see and do year round.

Be sure to visit the Adams National Historical Park, commemorating the distinguished men and women of the Adams family who dedicated their lives to the founding and strengthening of the United States. The thirteen acre park includes the home of this remarkable family; the farmhouse where both presidents were born, recognized as the oldest presidential birthplace in the country; the Visitor Center; and the United First Parish Church and Adams Crypt.

Other prominent attractions that you won't want to miss include: the Hancock Cemetery, the colonial community's first and main burial ground; the Thomas Crane Public Library, a national architectural landmark; the Adams Academy Society; the birthplace of John Hancock; the Dorothy Quincy Homestead; and the Josiah Quincy House, site of many Sons of Liberty meetings.

Stroll the boardwalk at picturesque Marina Bay, the largest marina in the Northeast, and enjoy the incredible view of the Boston skyline. Known for its spectacular sunsets, Marina Bay has several restaurants offering outdoor and indoor waterfront dining as well as a variety of retail shops.

Waltham:

Waltham was first settled in 1634 as part of Watertown and was officially incorporated as a separate town in 1738.

In the early 19th century, Francis Cabot Lowell and his friends and colleagues established in Waltham the Boston Manufacturing Company - the first integrated textile mill in the United States.

The city is home to a number of large estates, including Gore Place, a mansion built in 1806 for former Massachusetts governor Christopher Gore; the Robert Treat Paine Estate, a residence designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted for philanthropist Robert Treat Paine, Jr. (1810-1905); and the Lyman Estate, a 400-acre (1.6 km2) estate built in 1793 by Boston merchant Theodore Lyman.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Waltham was home to the brass era automobile manufacturer Metz, where the first production motorcycle in the U.S. was built.

Waltham is the home of the Walter E. Fernald State School, the western hemisphere's oldest publicly funded institution serving people with developmental disabilities. The storied and controversial history of the institution has long been covered by local and at times, national media.