BOSTON: Like a native

They call it America's Walking City. And indeed, it's easy to pass your days in Boston meandering from one famous site (the Paul Revere House) to another (the Union Oyster House). But follow the locals and you'll discover what makes Bostonians so loyal to their hometown: a mix of parks, elegant shopping, under-sung galleries and cozy pubs (and we don't mean Cheers). Here are eight tourist traps paired with their lesser-known equivalents that locals treasure. Pubs

TOURIST/cheers

Once known as the Bull & Finch Pub, this Beacon Hill bar changed its name to Cheers after the TV show made it the most famous bar in America. The catch: No one will know your name here; the only regulars are tourists.

INSIDER/Matt Murphy's Pub

14 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-232-0188, matt murphyspub.com

Irish pub Matt Murphy's, in contrast, has built a real community in Brookline Village, the first town outside the city limits. The draw: a proper pint of Guinness, greaseless fish and chips and, most important, no cheesy leprechaun paraphernalia. For music lovers, there's a nightly lineup of local and up-and-coming national bands.

Theater

TOURIST/Wang Center

In the heart of the city's slightly gritty Chinatown, the Wang Center offers short runs of hit shows, many straight from Broadway.

INSIDER/ Theater at the Boston Center for the Arts

539 Tremont St., 617-933-8600, bostontheatre scene.com

A mile away in the hip South End, it's as if all of Off-Broadway were housed under one roof. Each year, the center hosts more than 50 theater productions. (Through Oct. 25, grab tickets to Edward Albee's "Seascape," $30-$35).

Seafood

TOURIST/Union Oyster House

Established in 1826, the Union Oyster House serves up authentic New England staples: oysters on the half shell, gluey clam chowder and boiled lobster.

INSIDER/B&G Oysters

550 Tremont St., 617-423-0550, bandgoysters.com

Sleek and airy, with cutting-edge cuisine, B&G, above, is the antithesis of the old Oyster House. Star chef Barbara Lynch does offer terrific versions of the classics - fried Ipswich clams and lobster bisque - but locals line up for more innovative fare such as the tempura gray sole with cucumber, red chiles and Thai basil. Entrees $25-$29.

Galleries

TOURIST/Newbury Street

These eight blocks used to be the place for collectors. But in recent years, rents have skyrocketed as high-end fashion stores, including Jimmy Choo, Burberry and Chanel, have moved in, encouraging smaller galleries to relocate.

INSIDER/SoWa (South of Washington Street)

Once a warehouse district, this edge of the trendy South End has become a haven for artists. There are nearly two dozen galleries, most lining Harrison Avenue. Of note: the Samson Projects (450 Harrison Ave., 617-357-7177, samsonprojects.com), where owners show both commercial (read: salable) art and more controversial pieces from emerging artists.

Historic Homes

TOURIST/Beacon Hill

With its Federal-style homes and gaslit streets, Beacon Hill remains Boston's toniest neighborhood. Former General Electric chief executive Jack Welch and Sen. John Kerry are two of the area's famous residents.

INSIDER/Bay Village

Sandwiched between the Massachusetts Turnpike and Chinatown, Bay Village is harder to get to than Beacon Hill. But this tiny neighborhood is equally picturesque. The houses, most dating from the 1820s, look like miniature versions of their Beacon Hill cousins. From Stuart Street, turn right onto Church Street. Walk past the crooked-roofed brick homes with their painted shutters and cheerful window boxes. Melrose Street has grander, five-story homes.

Afternoon Stroll

TOURIST/Freedom Trail

The 2 1/2-mile path from the gold-domed State House to the home of Paul Revere takes you past 16 historic sites. Official guides in period dress also lead 90-minute tours.

INSIDER/Esplanade River Walk

Lush and green, the 18-mile Dudley White path snakes along the Charles River. Enter at the north end of Arlington Street, near Beacon Hill, by crossing over the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge to the Hatch Shell. Then wind your way past the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.

Haute Couture

TOURIST/LouisBoston

Housed in a grand 19th-century building on Newbury Street, LouisBoston (pronounced Louie's) defines "establishment. " The store offers high-end fashion (Marni, Proenza Schouler and Jack Vartanian), legendarily snooty staff and a see-and-be-seen steakhouse, Boston Public.

INSIDER/Achilles Project

283 Summer St., 617-423-2257, achilles-project.com

The newest addition to the up-and-coming neighborhood Fort Point, the Achilles Project seems modeled on Louis, with impossibly expensive clothes and a stylish restaurant under one roof. But unlike its competition, the Achilles Project embodies cool. Limited-run designer collections hang in glass boxes that, in the evening, are rolled back to make space for a cocktail bar where regulars chat or play Guitar Hero on one of the hanging flat-screen TVs.

Photo Ops

TOURIST/Citgo sign

In full view of Fenway Park and the finish line of the Boston Marathon, the illuminated Citgo sign is a landmark of Boston's skyline.

INSIDER/Zakim Bridge

Christened in 2002, the soaring bridge has been featured in "War of the Worlds" and "The Departed. " You'll drive on it if you're heading south to Interstate 95, but the Zakim is best appreciated outside your vehicle. Head to quaint Charlestown Square for the perfect photo op. At night, the bridge is illuminated and glows a pale shade of blue.