Goldgirl, I live about 20 minutes south of Boston and we visit Provincetown every summer. If there is anything I can help you with, please let me know. Most, if not all the nicer B & Bs and hotels in Provincetown have 3-5 night minimums and can be pricey. If you are planning your visit during carnival week (aug. 16th-22nd), things book up very, very quickly. We like the Crowne Point Inn - the standard rooms are very small, we usually book the upgraded rooms. The Carriage House and Carpe Diem are wonderful and a bit less pricey. All have great locations. Front Street (expensive) and Bayside Betsys (moderate) are our favorite places to eat. There are many fabulous restaurants and shops run the gamut from artsy boutiques and galleries to tee shirt shops. In Chatham, the Chatham Bars use to be the place to stay - friends have given it mixed reviews lately. If you want to treat yourself, the Wequassett Inn Resort is top notch. Great shops and restaurants there as well. In Boston, try to get to the North End (little Italy). On summer weekends there's a really fun farmers market. Transit is fairly easy once in town. I can't recommend a particular hotel, but I'd be happy to do some legwork for you - let me know what you're hoping to see and some idea of your budget!

I don't have any specific advice for any of the areas you are visiting but do want to recommend www.restaurant.com. I've used it traveling and in my own city. You can view the menus online before you go and then buy a savings certificate and print it right out. I never had a problem with using this service. You will probably be eating out a lot when traveling and the savings really add up. It is great to view the menus beforehand and get a map to the location. You can even make reservations online too. The offering include small independant ethnic restaurant to upscale supper clubs - no chains. ------------- I see you may be travelling through The Badlands. Check out Jewel cave in the area. It is awesome. http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/home/thingstodo/parksmonuments/nationalparks/jewelcavenationalmonument Here is a link that might be useful: Restaurant

I used to travel very frequently to Boston on business, and my bank had a corporate rate with all the Four Seasons so that was where i stayed. It is, of course, top notch, but I would not recommend it for your purposes. To me, urban Four Seasons (not their resorts) are a little boring (very lovely, very well run, great service, but boring). When I travel I go to urban 4S if I need services (overnight drycleaning was a lifesaver) or I want to make sure my every need is met (eg travelling with kids sometimes). I would second the old jail hotel (just heard great things about it from a co-volunteer who was there) or the goldfish hotel (which must be Kimpton). I love Kimpton hotels; they are often a bit small rooms and can have their issues but they are usually very au courant and fun. I just booked one in Phila for a girls weekend. That said, I have never stayed in either and have stayed in the 4s many a time! I have said it before, but we loved Central Provisions in Portland and a day trip to Peaks Island.

I'm so jealous! We've been to Nashville 4 times in the last year or so to purchase/visit our property in the Franklin Leipers Fork area but never in the middle of spring. I've heard that's one of the most beautiful times to visit. I would also recommend the backstage tour of the Ryman. I've been twice and it's really interesting. I would also recommend visiting the Nashville Capitol Bicentennial park to see the bells and granite maps documenting the state history. We also enjoyed several evenings at the Listening Room where singer songwriters perform on stage while you enjoy a nice dinner. You have to try the Nashville hot chicken at Hattie B's (my DS ordered the hot chicken everywhere we went and all were delicious but Hattie B's was the best! There are different heat levels ranging from no heat to Damn Hot and Shut the Cluck Up hot!). The 3 story Acme Feed and Seed is fun too and also has great food and live music, but it was very busy on a Saturday. Downtown Franklin is really charming and there's great shopping at the nearby antique stores and at The Factory down the street. Definitely check out The Iron Gate, City Farmhouse, and The Barn Door. I would recommend lunch or dinner at 55 South, Pucketts in downtown Franklin for great bbq pork or brisket, or Pucketts Boat House for spicy shrimp and amazing cheesy grits. Bunganut Pig also has great burgers and music. If you're in Leipers Fork visiting your friend you could stop by the original Pucketts there for a good old fashioned ice cream cone and take a scenic drive down the Natchez Trace and the beautiful country roads around Beechwood Plantation and Old Hillsboro Road. Our farmhouse on 15 acres is nearby and we just fell in love with the area. The Carnton Plantation tour was amazing to learn about the Battle of Franklin during the Civil War. It was surreal and humbling to visit the children's bedrooms where the surgeries were performed on the Confederate and Union wounded soldiers and to see their bloodstains still remaining on the wood floors. Franklin is just an amazing place with so much history. All of this making me homesick and it's not even my home yet :) Hopefully by this summer!