Enjoying the Boston Harbor Islands
The Boston Harbor Island Ferry Center
If you are vacationing in downtown Boston, you’ll find that it’s not very easy to access the shore. Of course, Massachusetts is home to dozens of fabulous beaches, but many of them are quite a distance away and can be hard to access if you don’t have a car. For a quieter Boston waterfront adventure without renting a car, consider taking a trip to the Boston Harbor Islands.
There are 30 Boston Harbor Islands – 12 that can be visited. Georges and Spectacle Islands are each serviced by their own ferries, while Lovells, Grape, Peddocks, or Bumpkin require a transfer at Georges (or you can catch a ferry on the South Shore). Thompson Island sometimes has its own ferry, or you can catch a connection at Spectacle. There are also four peninsulas that are part of the Boston Harbor Islands – Deer Island, Nut Island, World’s End, and Webb Memorial. To access Little Brewster Island, you’ll need to sign up for the Lighthouse Tour.
The Boston Harbor Islands all offer different activities – including free jazz concerts, yoga, kids’ tide pool exploration, kayaking, island caching, hiking, and more. On a recent trip to Spectacle Island, we visited the beach (one of the few on the Boston Harbor Islands), collected sea glass, and participated in a tide pool exploration. Check out everything online before heading out so you can decide which island you want to visit, because they are all different.
If you do want to spend time on the Boston Harbor Islands, you may want to stay at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf, which is just a few steps away from the ferry center.
Disclosure: I received complimentary ferry tickets to the Boston Harbor Islands.
Photo credit: Jodi Grundig
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