NEW YORK

Where to Stay
The Mandarin Oriental. Overlooking the southwest corner of Central Park, Manhattan's newest high-end hotel has a Far Eastern flair and a superb spa. $725; 212-805-8800, mandarin-oriental.com

What to See
Hmm, let's see-the Empire State Building, Broadway, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and lots of people!

The Courses to Play
Drive 40 minutes to Long Island to play America's greatest muni, Bethpage Black. Beware: tee times are harder to get than a cab in a rainstorm. $106 for out-of-state residents; 516-249-0707.

Tee times are easier had at Ballyowen Golf Club, a links-style layout 40 minutes away in northern New Jersey. $140; 973-827-5996, crystalgolfresort.com

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BOSTON

Where to Stay
The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common overlooks America's oldest public park, but it's a private oasis inside, including a mammoth 100,000-square-foot spa. $499; 617-574-7100, ritzcarlton.com

What to See
Hop on a DUCK, the amphibious WWII landing craft that tours Beantown. And if it's baseball season, try the quintessential Boston experience: a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.

The Courses to Play
Widow's Walk Golf Course in Plymouth is among the best courses in the metro area $56; 781-544-7777, widowswalkgolf.com

Red Tail Golf Club is a fine Brian Silva design and worth driving outside the city to play. $95; 978-772-3273, redtailgolf.net

PHILADELPHIA

Where to Stay
The Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia provides a luxurious nod to the city's proud history with its federal-style furnishings $480; 866-516-1100, fourseasons.com

What to See
You can't come to town and not see the Liberty Bell. Be sure to visit the new and renowned National Constitution Center.

Where to Play
Even the founding fathers would be proud of The Golf Course at Glen Mills, a Bobby Weed-designed gem that is one of the Philly area's best public tracks. $90; 610-558-2142, glenmillsgolf.com

Another scenic layout, 20 miles outside town, is Tattersall Golf Club, a new Rees Jones course. $80; 610-738-4410, tattersallgolfclub.com

WASHINGTON D.C.

Where to Stay
The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner is in Northern Virginia's posh business and shopping district 20 minutes from D.C. and has a AAA Five-Diamond award-winning restaurant. $499; 703-506-4300, ritzcarlton.com

What to See
Two Smithsonian museums.the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum were recently renovated.
The White House.

Where to Play
Whiskey Creek Golf Course is like politics in D.C: it has its highs and lows. The elevation changes are striking and the Catoctin Mountain views are superb. $97; 888-883-1174, whiskeycreekgolf.com

Stonewall Golf Club at Lake Manassas has a fun wide-open front nine and a wooded back nine. $115; 703-753-5101, stonewallgolfclub.com

CHICAGO

Where to Stay
The Fairmont Chicago looks out over Chicago's famous lakefront. $399; 312-565-8000, fairmont.com

What to See
Shopping on the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago Art Institute.

Where to Play
The undisputed king of public layouts in the area is the Dubsdread Course at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, about 30 miles from downtown. $135; 866-264-4455, coghillgolf.com

Closer to town you'll find a pair of linksy courses at Harborside International Golf Center. $92; 312-782-7837, harborsideinternational.com