Quebec

The closest thing to Europe without crossing an ocean. French is the language of street signs, menus and daily life, which gives even a long weekend a real sense of being abroad, yet Montreal's service staff switch to English easily and the time zone matches the East Coast, so there is no jet lag to fight. Pair the two cities. Montreal brings food markets, bagels and festival-season energy; Quebec City brings the walled Old Town, whose historic district UNESCO named a World Heritage Site in 1985, and which looks its best under snow. From much of the Northeast you can simply drive, and flying home from Montreal's airport means clearing US customs before departure rather than after a long line on arrival.