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Waterfront Activities

Boston Harbor is a unique urban harbor that offers a wide range of opportunities for family fun, boating, swimming, Harbor Island getaways, waterfront walks, sightseeing, and observing marine life.

Check out The Boston Harbor Association's "Best of Boston Harbor"
as selected by TBHA members and friends.

 

Water Transportation Information 

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Traveling in and around Boston's Inner Harbor

MBTA Inner Harbor Ferry: A 10-minute commute between Long Wharf, Boston and Charlestown Navy Yard aboard a Boston Harbor Cruises passenger vessel. For additional information on schedule and fares, call the boat operator at 617-227-4321, or the MBTA Customer Service line at 617-222-3200 or visit www.mbta.com.

Boston Harbor Islands Service: 
Short ferry ride aboard the Harbor Island Express passenger vessel to the Boston Harbor Islands May through October. Visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, and fishing, or just relax on one of Boston's closest and most extraordinary national park areas. Trips depart from Long Wharf (beside Christopher Columbus Park), EDIC Pier in South Boston, Quincy and Hingham. For additional information, call 617-223-8666 or visit www.bostonislands.com.

City Water Taxi: On-call water taxi servicing Logan Airport and ports in the Inner Harbor. Runs year-round seven days a week; call as if you would call a land taxi. For additional information, or for a pick-up, call 617-422-0392 or visit www.citywatertaxi.com.

Rowes Wharf Water Taxi: The only on-call water taxi servicing Rowes Wharf. Other stops include Logan Airport and other ports in the Inner Harbor. Available seven days a week, seasonal schedules vary. For additional information, or for a pick-up, call 617-406-8584 or visit www.roweswharfwatertaxi.com.

Boston Harbor Water Taxi: Boston's largest on-call water taxi, offering service to and from Boston's Logan Airport at a low price. The boat has a heated cabin with upholstered seating as well as an open viewing deck. For additional information, or for a pick-up, call 617-593-9168.

Courtesy Bus Service Between Logan Airport Boat Dock and All Terminals:
Massport operates a free shuttle bus, the Route #66 Water Transport Bus, which makes frequent and continuous trips between the Logan Boat Dock and all airport terminals during regular Harbor Express and water taxi operating hours. The ride between the terminals and the Logan Boat Dock takes approximately 12 minutes. For additional information call 1-800-23-LOGAN (TTY: 1-800-262-2335)

South Shore Connection

MBTA Harbor Express: High-speed everyday service connecting Quincy and Hull to Boston's Long Wharf and Logan Airport, provided by Water Transportation Alternatives. For additional information on schedule and fares, call the boat operator at 617-222-6999 or the MBTA Customer Service Line at 617-222-3200 or visit www.mbta.com.

MBTA Commuter Boat: Weekday year-round service between Hingham and Rowes Wharf, provided by Boston Harbor Cruises and Mass Bay Lines. For additional information on schedule and fares, call the boat operator at 617-227-4321 or the MBTA Customer Service Line at 617-222-3200 or visit www.mbta.com.

Boston Harbor Cruises to Provincetown: Travel between Provincetown and Long Wharf, Boston in 90 minutes May through October aboard a catamaran. Satellite TV, gourmet snacks and cash bar available on board. For additional information, call 617-227-4321or visit www.bostonharborcruises.com.

Provincetown Fast Ferry: Access Provincetown from the World Trade Center in 90 minutes May through October. The terminal in Boston is easily accessible by the MBTA Silver Line or the Seaport Express. For additional information, call 877-783-3779 or visit www.baystatecruises.com.

North Shore Connection

Salem Ferry: High-speed catamaran from Salem to Boston in about 45 minutes May through October. For additional information, call 978-741-0220 or visit www.salemferry.com. Starting May, 2009, weekday commuters on the 7 a.m. ferry from Salem can get off at the World Trade Center in the South Boston Seaport District, with return trips at 5:25 p.m. and 7:25 p.m. from a second departure location at the World Trade Center.

For more information and a map of transit options, visit www.bostonwatertransportation.com.

Sightseeing Tours and Dinner Cruises

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Boston Harbor Cruises: Boston Harbor Cruises offers four different sightseeing cruises, including historic and sunset cruises. Most run from May to October and depart from Long Wharf, Boston. Boston Harbor Cruises also offers speciality cruises that allow guests to experience theater on water or dance the night away.

For additional information please call 617-227-4321 or visit www.bostonharborcruises.com.

Odyssey Cruises: The Odyssey, Boston's premier dining cruise line of the Harbor and the Harbor Islands, offers elegant sit-down lunch, brunch, and dinner cruises every day of the week as well as seasonal moonlight cruises, festive holiday season cruises, and a gala New Year's Eve cruise. The Odyssey can also be chartered for private or corporate parties for up to 600 guests. Cruises depart the dock at Rowes Wharf. 

For more information call 866-307-2469 or visit www.odysseycruises.com.

Spirit Cruises: What better way to see Boston’s remarkable skyline than from the Spirit of Boston and the Seaport Elite vessels. Both depart from the World Trade Center and offer lunch and dinner cruises with Boston Harbor views, and a variety of live entertainment and dancing as well as cruises to Boston Light and other historic sights in the Harbor. Holiday cruises offering lunch or dinner, include Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and 4th July cruises, group charters, and moonlight charter cruises from 12am-2am are available. Also try their "Lobster Lunches" from 12 noon to 2pm, Thursday through Sunday from June to October. 

For more information call 866-211-3807 or visit www.spiritcruises.com.

For a full listing of all sightseeing tours, cruises, and chartered
services available in Boston Harbor, please visit www.bostonwatertransportation.com.

Exhibits 

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Arts on the Point:
Located on the University of Massachusetts Boston campus, Arts on the Point is the region’s first collection of large-scale outdoor sculptures by some of the world’s leading artists. Founded in 1997, the collection of contemporary art changes periodically. In January 2007, Roy Lichtenstein’s colorfully painted aluminum sculpture “Brushstroke Group” was installed in front of the campus Student Center. Other sculptures in the collection include works by Dennis Oppenheim, Mark di Suvero, William Tucker, Luis Jimenez, Seth Kane Kwei “Paa Joe” Joseph Tetteh Ashong, Sol LeWitt, Tony Smith, and Willem de Kooning. All University facilities are open to the public. For more information please visit www.bostonharborwalk.com/art/location.php?nid=2&sid=10

Atlantic Works
80 Border Street in East Boston. The Atlantic Works Gallery displays works from 29 members of the East Boston Artist Group. For a listing of exhibits, please visit www.atlanticworks.org.

Boston Children's Museum
The first “green” museum in Boston opened 14 April 2007! Families and the general public are enjoying the newly renovated Boston Children’s Museum along the Fort Point Channel. The New Balance Climb, a three story climbing structure, and Kids Power, with bikes, basketball, wall climbing and an interactive dance floor, are already favorites of many children. Visitors can get lunch and snacks at the new Au Bon Pain café located in the Museum and in the newly-renovated Hood Milk Bottle which is opened seasonally.

As part of its commitment to “green design”, the Museum has integrated roofs with plantings into the new addition; storm water retention system to reduce run-off into the Fort Point Channel; new infrastructure and fixtures to ensure building efficiency; and use of recycled, local, low-emitting building materials.

Special thanks to Target for $1.00 admission Fridays 5:00-9:00 pm.

Exhibit: Boats Afloat
Daily 10am - 5pm, Fridays to 9 pm

Come aboard and discover Boston’s urban marine environment. Kids can sail an assortment of boats and barges while controlling the current in an amazing 28 foot, 800 gallon tank that replicates the Fort Point Channel at Children’s Wharf. You can try your hand as a marine fireman, or strap on a life jacket with foul weather gear aboard the Minnow, a small lobster boat, for a virtual ride around the harbor.

Location: Boston Children’s Museum, 300 Congress Street

For further information, contact 617-426-6500 or visit www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Like its neighbor the New England Aquarium, the Boston Children's Museum on the Fort Point Channel is a popular destination for families and visitors.

For more information call 617-426-8855 or visit www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org

Boston Marine Society
Located in Building No. 32, Charlestown Navy Yard, the Boston Marine Society’s collection of art and artifacts depicting maritime history and life on the sea is open to the public weekdays free of charge. Founded in 1742, the Society is the oldest association of sea captains in the world.

Boston Public Library - Copley Square
Those who love Boston Harbor will appreciate the extraordinary collections housed at the Boston Public Library. The Arthur Lane/Jane W. Mead Maritime Industrial History Collection in the Rare Books Room of the Library was unveiled summer, 2007. Donated and endowed by Arthur Lane, one of The Boston Harbor Association’s founders and past presidents, the collection includes vessel logs, stevedoring day books, photographs, and other records of the daily life of Boston’s working port. Relying on his contacts with maritime businesses, including Peabody & Lane, Boston Shipping Association, Moran Shipping, its predecessor Patterson Wylde, and Ports American (formerly P&O Ports), Mr. Lane was able to persuade these companies to contribute invaluable records and materials about the Port of Boston to the collection. Concerned about the future of the Port, Mr. Lane has provided an endowment to give the public an opportunity to learn about the Port’s past.

In September, 2007, Norman Leventhal, one of Boston’s most respected business leaders and developer of the much-admired Rowes Wharf complex on the waterfront, donated $10 million to the Boston Public Library for a permanent endowment of the library’s map center. The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center contains hundreds of historic maps of Boston, New England, and Massachusetts Bay donated by Mr. Leventhal, whose collection is widely regarded as one of the finest private collections in New England. Dozens of maps from the Leventhal Map Collection are on permanent display in the lobby of the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf.

The Boston Harbor Association (TBHA) has remaining copies of "Mapping Boston: The City Takes Form and Transforms" which describes an earlier exhibition of Mr. Leventhal's maps. For a copy, please contact TBHA at 617-482-1722 or mail@tbha.org.

Fort Point Art Gallery 
Located on the lower level of 300 Summer Street, in the Fort Point Channel Area, the Fort Point Art Gallery displays innovative works by Fort Point artists. The gallery is located in an artist coop-building with artist's live/work space exclusively. While visiting the gallery, be sure to leave time to eat at the popular Channel Café. 

For more information on exhibition schedules, call 617-423-4299 or visit www.fortpointarts.org.

Hull Life Saving Museum 
Dramatically situated at the mouth of Boston Harbor, with breathtaking views of Boston Light and the Graves Lighthouse, the museum is located in the restored 19th century Point Allerton U.S. Lifesaving Station, home of Joshua James and his crews, the most celebrated lifesavers in the world. A great family destination, as well as scholarly site, visitors of all ages will delight in learning about storms, lighthouses, shipwrecks, and rescues from our vibrant hands-on exhibits. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

For more information, call 781-925-0992 or visit www.lifesavingmuseum.org

Institute of Contemporary Art
No visit to the waterfront is complete without a stop at the new Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), the first art museum to be built in Boston in nearly 100 years. Opened in December 2006, the museum displays cutting-edge art in this magnificent building on the Boston HarborWalk, designed by the renowned architectural firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Visitors can also enjoy harbor views while dining on tasty entrees, salads, and desserts at famed chef Wolfgang Puck’s Water Café.

Thanks to Target, Thursday evenings after 5:00 pm is free. For additional information, please visit www.icaboston.org

"Shepard Fairey: Supply and Demand"
Featuring over 80 works that traces the artist's career over 20 years.  Opens 6 February 2009 and runs through 16 August 2009. This will be the first museum survey of Shepard Fairey, the influential street artist who created the now iconic Barack Obama poster. 

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Located on the Dorchester waterfront with panoramic views of Boston’s skyline and Harbor Islands, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum pays tribute to our nation’s 35th President. Designed by the world-renowned architect I.M. Pei, the Kennedy Library houses a museum with twenty-five multimedia exhibits and period settings from the White House, research archives, and an education center. Noted public officials and leaders speak at the free Kennedy Library Forums held throughout the year. The Library grounds are well maintained, and during summer months, President Kennedy’s sailboat can be seen near the HarborWalk. For more information, visit www.jfklibrary.org.

Moon Shot – JFK and Space Exploration
Learn about President John F. Kennedy’s efforts to achieve success in the space race that occurred during his presidency. The display features a model of Friendship 7 Project Mercury, the space capsule and atlas booster rocket presented by astronaut John Glenn to President Kennedy; a Project Mercury spacesuit, helmet, and boots; and a lunar sample that was brought back to earth by the Apollo 15 mission, among other interesting displays and artifacts. For further information, please visit www.jfklibrary.org. or call 617-514-1569. 

MIT Museum
265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge. Home of the renowned Hart Nautical Gallery with exceptional ship models and superb examples of ocean engineering technology developed at MIT, the nautical collection is one of the oldest and most important marine technology collections in the USA. The museum also features exhibits on artificial intelligence and cutting edge technologies. For additional information, please visit
web.mit.edu/museum

Deep Frontiers: Ocean Engineering at MIT
Daily, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
Formidable and sometimes inhospitable to terrestrial beings, Earth’s oceans are home to ninety percent of our planet’s living creatures. This multimedia exhibition offers a first-hand view of state-of-the-art research and tools that MIT’s Ocean Engineering Department has developed in its quest to promote the wise use and preservation of the ocean environment. Free.

Location: Hart Nautical Gallery, MIT, 55 Massachusetts Ave, Building 5, Cambridge.

For further information, contact 617-253-4444 or visit http://web.mit.edu/museum/exhibitions/oceanography.html.

Ports and Ships: Photographs By Andrea Frank
MIT Museum Compton Gallery, Building 10-150
Opening 10 February 2009, this exhibit captures on film global trade moving by sea, as it has for centuries. “Ports and Ships” shows the global network of vessels crisscrossing the seas to deliver goods to ports throughout the world. Free, through 14 June 2009. For more information, please click here.

Museum of Science

Boston Green Trail
The Museum of Science's Green Trail offers a self-guided, cell-phone/iPod tour of environmentally sustainable buildings in the Boston area. You’ll find out about what some organizations around Boston and Cambridge are doing to create great places for working, living, and learning that incorporate sustainable development principles. In the downloadable iPod/cell-phone guides, you'll hear architects, planners, and builders describe their dreams, challenges, and successes. Free.

Location: Audio tour includes five locations in Boston and Cambridge.

For further information, please visit www.mos.org/greentrail

New England Aquarium
Since its 1969 founding, the New England Aquarium has been a leader in ocean exploration, with a strong environmental mission and a deep concern for marine conservation. Not only does the New England Aquarium provide educational and entertaining exhibits to make the public aware of the most challenging problems facing our oceans today, but it also rescues endangered species of marine animals and works with scientists to develop new solutions to protect the oceans. The New England Aquarium features over 50 exhibits and thousands of marine animals. 

Location: Central Wharf, Boston (Aquarium stop on Blue Line). For further information, please visit www.neaq.org or call 617-973-5200.

Free Atlantic Harbor Seals Exhibit
Watch harbor seals frolic in their natural, rocky habitat—before stepping foot inside the Aquarium! This free exhibit is located outside next to the ticketing area. Watch the seals swim, play, and sleep, and learn more about them during a free training session.

New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center
Be sure to visit the New England Aquarium’s newest facility, the “New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center”, which opened 1 July 2009. The new $10 million facility is home to five Northern fur seals; there are only 15 fur seals in captivity in the world today. Visitors will be able to see and hear the seals and view informational panels. Seating is available during four seal shows daily. 

Move It! Marine Animals in Motion
Learn from some of the most athletic animals in the world—marine mammals! Summer 2009, the New England Aquarium offers a new program in which visitors will be able to move like marine mammals. An interactive pathway runs through the Aquarium and the Marine Mammal Center, which offers displays which teach visitors about simple activities that both people and seals use to stay fit. The program pathway includes swimming, calf stretch, toe touch, dancing, jumping, and spinning. 

Giant Ocean Tank
In addition to the new Marine Mammal Center, be sure to visit the indoor 200,000 gallon “Giant Ocean Tank,” home of over 600 sea creatures, including endangered and threatened sea turtles, tiger sharks, sting rays, barracuda, eels, and hundreds of colorful reef fish. Don’t miss the top floor where you can look down into the water from above, participate in a Giant Ocean Tank Talk, or watch the divers feed the animals. 

Penguin Exhibit
The Aquarium’s penguin exhibit surrounds the Giant Ocean Tank, and can be seen from almost everywhere in the Aquarium. See the many sights that surround the exhibit, look through the underwater periscope, play with the penguins at the penguin light station, and listen to penguin sounds at the Hear a Penguin interactive. See the Penguin Smart Station, a Penguin Presentation, or a penguin feeding to learn more. 

Aqua Kids Family Day
Every Friday morning
Participate in a variety of activities created especially for families with young children. Hear stories, work on art projects, and see Live Animal Presentations that will make you wish you lived under the sea! No registration required.

Location: Curious George Discovery Corner, New England Aquarium. For further information, please visit www.neaq.org or call 617-973-5200.

IMAX Theatre
The New England Aquarium’s 65-foot IMAX theatre is so big that it will take you to places where you’ve only dreamed of going! The screen is slightly curved, which makes it extend to the edge of your peripheral vision. Through the magic of IMAX and IMAX 3D, you can visit animals and habitats that are too large, too small, or too endangered to exhibit in an aquarium setting. Ever wished you could take incredible journeys to the bottom of the sea, outer space, or somewhere in between? Now’s your chance!

For a current list of shows, please visit www.neaq.org or call 866-815-IMAX.

The USS Constitution and the WWII destroyer USS Cassin Young
Among the best bargains on Boston's waterfront are visits to USS Constitution, WWII destroyer USS Cassin Young, and the USS Constitution Museum.

Visit the historic USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned ship still afloat in the world. 

Through October 31, the summer hours of the USS Constitution Museum are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. The ship’s hours until October 31 are 10 a.m. – 3:50 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Free tours every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

A Colors and Cannons ceremony, including cannon fire, is held daily at 8 a.m. and sunset in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Free tours of the Cassin Young are available daily at 10 am and 4 pm, weather permitting. Admission to the USS Constitution Museum is on a pay-what-you-want basis. For an easy trip from downtown and spectacular views of the harbor and Boston, take the MBTA water shuttle from Long Wharf for $2. 

For additional information, please call the USS Constitution at 617-242-5670. For museum information, please visit www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org or call 617-426-1812.

All Hands on Deck: A Sailor’s Life in 1812
This groundbreaking exhibit truly makes history come alive! Experience the War of 1812 as an actual crewmember aboard the historic battle ship “Old Ironsides.” Explore the harsh realities of life at sea by taking part in hands-on, traditional sea-faring activities. Swab the deck…hear cannons firing in the distance…furl a sail amidst gale force winds…and end the voyage by crawling into your hammock to get a few hours. Listen to and talk with sailors from 1812. Open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Free.

For further information about this exhibit, please call 617-426-1812.

Fishing

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According to our fishing sources, striped-bass are the #1 catch in Boston Harbor these days. Try your luck at these recommended spots: Worlds End in Hingham, the Washington Street Bridge over the Charles River, and the Castle Island Pier in South Boston.

Food

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Neighborhood Listing
Fort Point ChannelSouth BostonNorth End/Downtown
East BostonDorchesterCharlestown

 
Fort Point Channel

Au Bon Pain Café
300 Congress Street, Boston Children’s Museum. Visitors can enjoy lunch or snacks while they visit the Museum and HarborWalk. Outdoor seating available during the warmer months. For more information, call 617-542-0412 or visit the website http://www.aubonpain.com/.

Blue Wave Bar & Grill
343 Congress Street. This sophisticated martini bar boasts multiple plasma televisions, with DJ’s and live music Thursday through Saturday nights. Popular for inexpensive lunches. For more information, call 617-790-0720 or visit the web site www.bluewavebar-lounge.com.

Daily Catch Restaurant
2 Northern Avenue. Located next to the Harborwalk at the Moakley Courthouse, the Daily Catch Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. While taking in the views of the Harbor and downtown Boston, come and enjoy the seafood offerings that include the famous fried calamari. Be sure to view the free interactive displays of the Boston Harbor Islands during your visit. For more information, call 617-973-5200 or visit the web site www.dailycatch.com.

Drink
348 Congress Street, Fort Point Channel Celebrated chef Barbara Lynch’s Drink has already become one of the most popular after-hour destinations since its October, 2008 opening. Drink puts a creative twist on the classic cocktail. Reservations strongly encouraged, particularly on weekends. Valet parking available. 

Dunkin’ Donuts
330 Congress Street. Serving donuts, pastries, coffee and drinks. Located near the Boston Children’s Museum. For more information, call 617-439-3179 or visit the web site www.dunkindonuts.com.

Flour Bakery + Café
12 Farnsworth St. near Congress Street.
Fort Point Channel is now home to one of Boston's finest bakeries. Noted pastry chef Joanne Chang's second Flour Bakery + Cafe, which opened early 2007, has already been featured on the Food Network Channel. Be sure to try the unique sandwiches on freshly-made breads as well as the homemade soups, and leave room for the delicious desserts. For more information, visit www.flourbakery.com.

InterContinental Hotel
510 Atlantic Avenue. Located on the Fort Point Channel, the InterContinental Hotel offers three different dinning experiences.

Miel Brasserie Provencal
Located off the main lobby, offers a variety of French dishes by celebrity chef Jacque Chibois. Enjoy organic ingredients, an extensive wine collection, a New England Raw Bar and comforting and classy ambiance, with indoor and outdoor seating and views of Fort Point Channel. Be sure to try Miel’s new summer/seasonal outdoor Terrace Wine Bar, the only outdoor wine bar located directly on Boston’s waterfront, beginning 1 June 2009. A live Jazz band will play on the terrace the last Friday of each month, weather permitting.

Rumba
Located off the hotel lobby, is a sophisticated international cocktail bar specializing in Champagne and Rum. This small intimate bar celebrates Boston’s history in the rum trade.

Sushi Teq
Located inside the hotel just off the HarborWalk, Sushi Teq offers a creative fusion of Japanese and Spanish with a blend of sushi and tapas. Trendy and techy iPod docks and salsa dancing create a unique experience.

Lucky’s Lounge
355 Congress Street. On the corner of Congress Street and A Street, Lucky’s Lounge offers visitors a “Den of Cocktail Cool” where they can experience live music ranging from R&B to classic rock to Sinatra. Enjoy the creative American cuisine of the regular menu or the Sinatra Sunday Brunch. For more information visit www.luckyslounge.com.

Metro Café
332 Congress Street. A diverse take-out menu featuring sandwiches, wraps, paninis, and pizzas. You can order ahead with their online ordering option. For information and daily menu specials, please visit www.gometro.com/metrocafe/

Sebastians Courthouse Café
1 Courthouse Way. Located on the second floor of the Moakley Courthouse,overlooking Boston Harbor, the café has a varied range of selections, from a salad bar to hot meals, sandwiches, and pitas. Open during regular business hours Monday – Friday. For additional information, please visit www.sebastians.com

Sleeper Street Café
51 Sleeper Street. Located near the Boston Children’s Museum, the menu offers paninis, wraps, sandwiches, salads, soups, pastas and pastries. Open during business hours Monday – Friday.

Sportello
348 Congress Street, Fort Point Channel. Savor the spirit of Italy from highly acclaimed chef Barbara Lynch’s newest restaurant. Enjoy delicious pastas, creamy polenta, and sumptuous soups or bring home a loaf of freshly-baked bread or sandwiches. Open daily for lunch and dinner; breakfast available weekdays. For further information, please call 617-737-1234 or visit www.sportelloboston.com

The Barking Crab
88 Sleeper Street. Stop in for fresh roasted chestnuts and board games by the fire this winter at the Barking Crab! Enjoy casual waterfront dining on Fort Point Channel. Favorite dishes from the menu include New England clam chowder and fried clam platters. Non-seafood dishes are also available ranging from pastas to curries. Live music is offered Tuesday evenings during the winter months. Boaters are welcome to tie up free of charge while dining. Please call (617) 426-2722 for more information.

The Channel Café
300 Summer Street. Located in the lower level this friendly neighborhood cafe serves healthy, creative cuisine with an affordable selection of beer and wine. For additional information, please visit www.channel-cafe.com.

Water Café
Located in the new Institute of Contemporary Art. Wolfgang Puck’s Water Café on the ground floor features a new al fresco dining patio located outside the café, overlooking the harbor and providing diners with a spectacular view. Enjoy harbor views while indulging in this unique dining Harborside experience. For more information please visit www.icaboston.org.

Yada Yada Bakery & Café
Quaint family owned breakfast and lunch restaurant known for its quality, home-made selections, including vegetarian selections and unique authentic Mediterranean dishes featuring their famous “Yada” sandwich. Reasonably priced, the café offers a friendly dining experience near the Courthouse MBTA stop on the Silver Line Waterfront line.

South Boston
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606 Congress
606 Congress Street, located at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. Renowned chef Michael Schlow and Toby Hill offer modern American cuisine with regional seafood influences at this Seaport District restaurant. Outdoor seating available. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more information, please call 1-617-476-5606.

Anthony’s Pier 4
140 Northern Avenue. Anthony’s Pier 4 offers fine waterfront dining with a friendly and sophisticated atmosphere. Creative international and regional seafood dishes, and a variety of quality wines are complimented by the beautiful view of Boston’s harbor and skyline. Free parking is available. For additional information, please visit, www.pier4.com/anthonys.cfm.

Atlantic Beer Garden
146 Northern Avenue. The Atlantic Beer Garden recently replaced Eastern Pier II along the South Boston waterfront at 146 Northern Ave. An upscale sports lounge offering traditional pub fare and a wide selection of beer, Atlantic Beer Garden also includes a seasonal rooftop deck overlooking Boston Harbor. 

Au Bon Pain
Located in the Boston Design Center, Marine Industrial Park. Offering fresh baked breads and made to order sandwiches.

Dry Dock Café
7 Drydock Avenue. Located in the North Coast Seafood building, Dry Dock Café offers some of the freshest seafood in Boston. Be sure to try the homemade baked goods and desserts.

Exchange Conference Center
Located on Boston’s Fish Pier in South Boston and home to Legal Sea Foods catering, the Exchange Conference Center is a great location for your next event. Enjoy your event with panoramic views of Boston’s waterfront. For additional information, please visit www.exchangeconferencecenter.com

Fresh City
2 Seaport Lane, located near the Seaport Hotel. Open Monday – Friday 6:30 am to 4 pm. Offers a fresh food alternative to fast foods, with wraps, sandwiches, soups and salads.

Joe’s Southside Café
Located in Massport’s South Boston Maritime Park, this new café (opening 1 June 2009) will provide a range of lunch-time sandwiches, salads, and desserts which can be enjoyed in the park or elsewhere. Café is operated by J Pace & Sons.

J Pace & Sons
225 Northern Avenue. Opening June, 2009, J Pace & Sons’ newest store will carry prepared foods, bakery items, imported cheeses and Italian meats, natural foods, gelato, espresso, beer, and wines. Guests will be able to eat-in or take-out.

LTK Bar & Kitchen
225 Northern Avenue. Legal Sea Foods Company’s newest restaurant provides innovative technology including Wi-Fi access and table docks for iPod. The menu offers an array of multi-cultural items including a variety of ethnicities such as Asian, Indian, European, South American as well as the United States. For more information, please visit www.ltkbarandkitchen.com

Morton's, The Steakhouse
Two Seaport Lane. Opened in November, 2007, this is the second Boston restaurant of the well-known Morton’s chain which began in Chicago in 1978. Enjoy lunch at this Seaport location, or have cocktails and dinner near the South Boston waterfront. For additional information, please visit www.mortons.com.

No Name Restaurant
15 ½ Fish Pier. Open since 1917, the No Name Restaurant is a classic waterfront destination on Boston’s Fish Pier. Fresh seafood, famous seafood chowder, reasonable prices, and casual no-frills atmosphere are hallmarks of this popular waterfront restaurant.

Saucity
Located in the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, Sauciety’s atmosphere is social and classy just like their food. Meet friends for a cold beer or cool cocktail, or sit down for dinner and choose from 15 unique sauces, chutneys, dips and spreads to accent your entrée.

Salvatore’s
225 Northern Avenue. This casual upscale Italian restaurant opened June, 2007. The lunch and dinner menus will feature gourmet pizzas, calzones, pastas and Northern Italian entrees. Featuring a traditional Tuscan-style dining room and a seasonal patio. For additional information, please visit www.sals-pizza.com

Seaport Bar & Grille
150 Northern Avenue. This waterside bar and grille with a local feel offers a roof deck dining with full menu in the summer and a variety of draft beers to enjoy at the bar. There is free public access to the dock overlooking Boston Harbor as part of the HarborWalk system.

Seaport Hotel and Seaport World Trade Center
One Seaport Lane. Recently renovated, the hotel offers two unique dining experiences.

Aura Restaurant
Located near the waterfront, Aura Restaurant is one of the Seaport District’s most distinctive restaurants. Award-winning chef Rachel Klein creates contemporary American cuisine with global influences, introducing guests to a confluence of flavors and styles. Be sure not to miss the newest Friday-night feat, “Fine Dining, Family-Style,” where parents can enjoy excellent cuisine without having to worry about antsy two-year-olds and their messy table manners. Let the kids have fun with puppets, games, and a special kid’s menu at Aura’s play space while you relax and enjoy a romantic evening—along with a seriously tasty meal. For additional information, please visit the Seaport Hotel website.

Tamo Bar
Newly reopened and redesigned, Tamo Bar in the Seaport Hotel offers unique cuisine by award-winning chef Rachel Klein and innovative cocktails. With three flat screen TVs, a fireplace, and bi-level seating area, and decorated with Cracked Ice, an Asian art form of sculptured wooden triangles, Tamo provides the perfect setting for small events or casual dinners. For additional information, please visit the Seaport Hotel website.

Sebastians
157 Seaport Blvd. Newly-opened café in the West Office Building of the World Trade Center complex. Open weekdays 7 am to 4 pm. Serving a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, and baked goods. For additional information, please visit www.sebastians.com

Sebastians Farmers Market
157 Seaport Boulevard. Featuring an assortment of seasonal local fruits and vegetables as well as cooking demos. Open every Wednesday through October from 11:00am to 3:00pm. For further information, please visit www.sebastians.com.

Starbucks Coffee
Located in the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel.

Starbucks Coffee
601 Congress Street. Located in the lobby of the Manulife/John Hancock Building.

Yankee Lobster Fish Market
300 Northern Avenue. Located on Boston’s waterfront, Yankee Lobster offers fresh seafood. You can also buy lobster or have them ship lobster anywhere in the Continental US. For additional information, please visit www.yankeelobstercompany.com

North End/Downtown
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Boston Harbor Hotel
70 Rowes Wharf. Visitors can enjoy breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner at the new Rowes Wharf Sea Grille and waterfront terrace located in the lobby of the Boston Harbor Hotel. For an elegant meal overlooking Boston Harbor, be sure to try Chef Daniel Bruce’s Meritage Restaurant on the second floor of the hotel.

Chart House
60 Long Wharf. Located on Long Wharf, the historic Chart House offers creative and gourmet variations on seafood, steaks and chicken. Enjoy a Harbor view from the outdoor patio in warm weather. For additional information, please visit www.chart-house.com.

Emack & Bolio’s
255 State Street. Located across from the New England Aquarium, locally owned Emack & Bolio’s serve up some of the area’s best ice cream and smoothies. Enjoy one of their creative ice cream flavors, vitamin-charged juice smoothie, or soda floats (with their sodas from their very own micro brewery).

Equal Exchange (Coffee) Cafe 
226 Causeway Street. Enjoy organically grown, fairly traded coffee and tea from small farmers at this newly opened cafe near Boston Harbor and TD Banknorth Garden. Pastries, muffins, bagels, and sandwiches also available.

Harbor View Café
Located on the second floor of the New England Aquarium overlooking Boston Harbor, the café has sandwiches, salads, desserts, and beverages for the public and for families and visitors to the Aquarium. Don’t miss the mural of the Neponset River Watershed created by 1100 middle school students, as well as original paintings done by sea lions and harbor seals on display in the cafe. The café and public rest rooms are accessible to the general public from the lobby without paying the Aquarium fee.

Joe’s American Bar & Grill
100 Atlantic Avenue. Offering American cuisine with an exceptional view of Boston Harbor. In the warmer months, there is outdoor seating next to the HarborWalk. Restrooms are available to the general public, regardless of patronage.

The Landing/ Harborside Gifts at Long Wharf 
One Long Wharf. Boston Harbor Cruises’ complex next to its water transportation facilities includes public rest rooms for the general public; ice cream stand featuring shaved ice, “Hawaiian Ice Treat” specialty, soft-serve ice cream and frappes; gift shop; and “The Landing at Long Wharf”, Boston’s only fully outdoor patio bar with plasma screen televisions and serving ice tea, lemonade, frozen drinks, and signature Fish Bowl cocktails.

Legal Sea Foods
255 State Street. Enjoy waterfront dining just steps from Quincy Market and the New England Aquarium. Legal Sea Foods offers a wide array of seafood and other classic regional dishes. Legal’s clam chowder is a favorite of many.

Oceana
296 State Street. Located in the Marriot Long Wharf. While the panoramic views distinguish this location, the plush, colorful maritime décor recalls the glamorous age of classic cruise ships. Diners will enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in our spacious dining room, shaped like a ship's bow. Enjoy the harbor views while dining on the outdoor terrace.

Sel de la Terre
255 State Street. Enjoy the variety of the brunch, lunch, dinner and late-night menus offering quality ingredients and beautiful presentation. Look for the famous homemade breads available for take out. For additional information, please visit www.seldelaterre.com.

Sensing Restaurant
Located in the Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel, Sensing Restaurant is Boston ’s newest waterfront restaurant.  Opened in early 2009, the French-inspired New World cuisine is popular with visitors and residents alike.  Try to get one of the seasonal patio tables located next to Boston Harbor .  Cocktails and dining also available in the lobby lounge.  For reservations, please visit www.sensingrestaurant.com or call 617-994-9001 .

The Reef
New England Aquarium Plaza. The Reef offers lunch, dinner, and cocktails in a beautiful seaside setting overlooking Boston's waterfront, near the Aquarium's outdoor Harbor Seal tank. For additional information, please call 617-973-5200.

The Sail Loft
Located at 80 Atlantic Avenue, the Sail Loft’s nautical theme fits its location on the North End Waterfront. A great menu includes fried shrimp, burgers, and their house-made clam chowder (served in a big ceramic mug). One of the Loft’s staples: Cookie jars filled with Oreos, a sure crowd pleaser!

Tia’s on the Waterfront
Popular among the young professional crowd, Tia’s, located at 200 Atlantic Avenue, serves a wide selection of cocktails (try the signature Flirtini) and beers (15 varieties). The 55 outdoor tables draw crowds, especially during the warm summer evenings.

East Boston
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Angelo’s Seafood Restaurant
297-299 Chelsea Street. Eat at the long bar with a family-friendly Italian atmosphere or outside on a patio during the warm weather. Angelo's offers a wide assortment of pastas and fresh, grilled seafood.

Belle Isle Seafood
1267 Saratoga Street, at the Winthrop Bridge. Like good seafood and cheap prices? Check out award-winning Belle Isle Seafood, a small, cash-only shack in East Boston. The restaurant starts getting its fresh seafood sizzling at 10 a.m. daily. Sample mouthwatering fried clam dinners, lobster pies, or a cup of delicious homemade chowder. Belle Isle Seafood even features a huge, tasty lobster roll (crammed with 4 lobster tails, according to The Boston Globe Magazine) for only 16.99! For further information, please call 617-567-1619 or visit www.belleisleseafood.com.

Harborside Grill and Patio - Hyatt Harborside Hotel
101 Harborside Drive. Enjoy elegant surroundings and spectacular food at this restaurant with one of the most splendid views of downtown Boston. For reservations, call 617-568-6060.

Meridian 155
155 Meridian Street. This trendy new coffee shop offers lattes, cappuccino and Chai tea, as well as muffins, breakfast sandwiches, gelato and other tasty baked goods. Sit down in the clean modern atmosphere with free Wi-Fi or order your selections to go.

Santarpio Pizza
113 Chelsea Street. No trip to East Boston is complete without a taste of Santarpio's quality thin crust pizza. Relax with family and friends, enjoy the unadorned atmosphere and play a song on the jukebox.

Scup’s in the Harbor
Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina, 256 Marginal Street, Building 16. Tucked into an industrial building in the East Boston Shipyard is a local favorite, Scup’s in the Harbor. Homemade pastries and entrees, sandwiches, and Sunday brunch specials including French toast and baked eggs make this a popular destination before or after a visit to nearby Piers Park. Open for breakfast and lunch, except Mondays.

Sonny Noto's Restaurant
22 Central Square. Sonny Noto's has been around forever and remains an East Boston staple. Come for the friendly staff, a famous steak and cheese sub or a variety of Italian and BBQ dishes with chicken, steak or sausage.

Taqueria Cancun
192 Sumner Street. This popular tiny taco stand in Maverick Square offers sit down service with an extensive menu of authentic Mexican food for easy prices. Try a hearty plate of steak tacos, guacamole, rice and beans, save room for a strawberry milkshake.

Charlestown
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Cold Stone Creamery
Nestled in 100 City Square in Charlestown is what some consider “the highest quality ice cream available.” Stone Cold Creamery got its name from its ice cream creations, which were made to order for each customer by “blending in mix-ins on a frozen granite stone.” The ice cream is made fresh in the store every day!

Max & Dylans 
Located across from Paul Revere Park near City Square, Max & Dylans provides reasonably-priced comfort food, including mac and cheese, home-made soups, flatbreads, and sliders. Extensive cocktail selections available, making this a popular after-work destination. For further information, please visit www.maxanddylans.com

Navy Yard Bistro and Wine Bar
If fine dining in a “relaxed atmosphere” is your thing, then you must check out Navy Yard Bistro. Located on the corner of First Avenue and 6th street (behind “Store 24”), this restaurant brings you fine French cuisine “with an international twist.” The restaurant provides an open kitchen atmosphere, an extensive bar with many wine and beer selections, and indoor and outdoor dining.

Olives
10 City Square. Located adjacent to City Square Park, Olives offers a quiet, chic atmosphere and a variety of handcrafted pastas, creative appetizers, salads, and delicious selection of entrées. For additional information, please visit www.toddenglish.com

Sorelle Bakery & Café
100 City Square. Sorelle offers a wide range of gourmet coffee shop options including soups, salads, and made to order sandwiches. Enjoy their selection of baked goods and hot breakfast option in a spacious modern location. For additional information, please visit www.sorellecafe.com

Tavern on the Water
One Eighth Street, Pier 6, Charlestown. This casual dining and drinking spot offers spectacular views of the Boston skyline and Boston Harbor while guests enjoy burgers and seafood entrees. The second floor is particularly popular, with a feel of “a back porch”, according to a July 2009 Boston Magazine review. Tavern on the Water, like its sister restaurant Max & Dylan, is within walking distance of the USS Constitution and the Pier 3 water transportation dock. For further information, please call 617-242-8040 or visit www.tavernonthewater.com.

Dorchester
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Au Bon Pain
240 Mount Vernon Street. Enjoy fresh baked goods and the variety of sandwiches, salads, and soups.

Bon Bon Pizza and Café
27 Harbor Point Boulevard. Offers a variety of pizza options along with salads and pasta dishes.

C.F. Donovans
112 Savin Hill Avenue. This popular location offers an upscale yet relaxed atmosphere while offering a variety of menu options ranging from steak tips to pizzas. Enjoy you meal with live music in the evenings.

McKenna’s
109 Savin Hill Avenue. This local favorite serves breakfast all day long with tasty options such as blueberry pancakes, hearty breakfast sandwiches, and plenty of baked goods. McKenna’s offers a casual, family friendly atmosphere.

Museum Café
John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Enjoy breakfast as well as reasonably-priced sandwiches, salads, ice cream, and light snacks in the cozy café of the Library and Museum. Be sure to get a table by the window for waterfront views.

Seapoint Restaurant
367 E Eighth Street. In addition to the extensive seafood menu, Seapoint Restaurant offers video games and televisions to follow sports as well as Trivia Thursdays at 8pm.

Venezia Waterfront Restaurant
20 Ericsson Street. The menu offers a large assortment of unique European cuisine in an upscale atmosphere. A new HarborWalk segment and pier allows for views of the waterfront. For additional information, please visit www.venezia-onthewater.com

Free/Nearly Free Activities

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  • TBHA HarborWalk tours and Harbor cruises: To increase awareness and enjoyment of Boston Harbor, The Boston Harbor Association sponsors free HarborWalk tours and Harbor cruises for the general public. Please visit our event page for a complete list of upcoming tours and cruises. Free, but reservations are required (call 617-482-1722, or email mail@tbha.org).
     
  • TBHA Chelsea Creek Cruises: Join The Boston Harbor Association (TBHA) on free cruises to Chelsea Creek and the Lower Mystic River. Speakers from port-related businesses, non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies will discuss Boston's Working Port, waterfront land use and planning, as well as environmental restoration along the two waterways.
     
  • Boston Children’s Museum: Families and the general public are enjoying the newly renovated Boston Children’s Museum along the Fort Point Channel. The New Balance Climb, a three story climbing structure, and Kids Power, with bikes, basketball, wall climbing and an interactive dance floor, are already favorites of many children. Visitors can get lunch and snacks at the new Au Bon Pain café located in the museum. Enjoy the museum Friday evenings from 5:00-9:00 pm for only $1.00 thanks to Target.
     
  • Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston's newest museum displays cutting-edge art in a magnificent building on the Boston HarborWalk designed by the renowned architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Enjoy harbor views from famed chef Wolfgang Puck’s Water Café. Be sure to check out Sergio Vega’s parrot payphone sculpture on the HarborWalk. Special thanks to Target for sponsoring free admission Thursday evenings from 5:00-9:00 pm.
     
  • Leventhal Map Collection: The Norman B. Leventhal Boston Harbor map collection in the lobby of the Boston Harbor Hotel is just a sample of one of the world’s most comprehensive collection of maps of the Harbor and Massachusetts Bay. The collection shows exploration, development, and changes along the Boston waterfront and New England coast from the seventeenth through the nineteenth century. The rest of the Leventhal collection is on display at the main branch of the Boston Public Library at Copley Square.
     
  • Arts on the Point: Besides offering spectacular views of the Harbor and Islands, the University of Massachusetts Boston campus is also home to Boston's first contemporary sculpture park that exhibits large-scale outdoor sculpture by some of the world's leading artists. Founded in 1997, Arts on the Point includes both outside and indoor works of art on display seven days a week for free. In January 2007, Roy Lichtenstein’s colorfully painted aluminum sculpture “Brushstroke Group” was added to the collection, and is located in front of the campus’ Student Center across from the shuttle bus stop.
     
  • Commonwealth Museum: When visiting the Kennedy Library, be sure to leave time for the Commonwealth Museum at the Massachusetts Archives. A special exhibit, "Highway to the Past," includes items excavated from Charlestown, the North End, South Boston and a portion of Massachusetts Bay during preparation for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. Also visit the ongoing exhibit, "Atlas of American Independence,” which explores the political philosophy of John Adams and Adams’ influence on national political culture. Free and open to the general public.
     
  • USS Constitution and WWII destroyer USS Cassin Young: Among the best bargains on Boston's waterfront are visits to the USS Constitution, WWII destroyer USS Cassin Young, and the USS Constitution Museum. Free tours of the USS Constitution are available 10:00 am to 3:50 pm Thursdays through Sundays during the winter and Tuesdays through Sundays during the summer. Free tours of the USS Cassin Young are available daily at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, weather permitting. Admission to the USS Constitution Museum is on a pay-what-you-want basis. For an easy trip from downtown and spectacular views of the Harbor and Boston, take the MBTA water shuttle from Long Wharf for $1.70.
     
  • John Joseph Moakley Courthouse: Enjoy a guided tour of the art (including specially-commissioned paintings by Ellsworth Kelly) and architecture of the Moakley Federal Courthouse and learn about the Federal Court system. Offered by Discovering Justice: the James D. St. Clair Court Education Project, these unique tours are offered year-round Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at no charge. Inside the Courthouse, electronic devices must be checked with security, and two forms of identification, including one with a photograph, are required. In the Daily Catch restaurant next to the HarborWalk are two free monitors which allow for a "virtual tour" of the Boston Harbor Islands.
     
  • MBTA Water Shuttle: For an inexpensive way to see Boston Harbor, take the TBHA Water Shuttle between Long Wharf and the Charlestown waterfront for only $1.70.
  • Observation areas around the Harbor which are free and open to the general public include:
  • Fosters Rotunda at 30 Rowes Wharf, open Monday-Friday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Independence Wharf at 470 Atlantic Avenue, 14th floor, 10 am to 5 pm
  • John Joseph Moakley Courthouse, 2nd floor seating area and from the Library on the 9th floor, normal business hours
  • Binoculars located on the Boston HarborWalk free of
    charge are at:
  • Pilot House on Lewis Wharf
  • Commercial Wharf
  • Long Wharf
  • 14th floor of 470 Atlantic Avenue
  • Castle Island
  • International Cargo Port at 88 Black Falcon Avenue
  • NSTAR site accessible from 1st Street near I Street
  • Boston Walking Trails:
  • Boston HarborWalk: Enjoy Boston Harbor's waterfront from the Boston HarborWalk, over 47 miles of free, public walkways along the Harbor. Currently, the HarborWalk is about 80% complete. The newest way to experience the HarborWalk is with a free podcast-style audio tour of the HarborWalk from Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park to the Fort Point Channel. Download the audio tour to your MP3 player from the HarborWalk website, www.bostonharborwalk.org.
     
  • East Boston Greenway: This three-mile linear park will soon connect East Boston's waterfront to the rest of East Boston and is ideal for both walking and biking. The completion of the Bremen Street Park extends the East Boston Greenway from Marginal Street to Prescott Street with a connection to the East Boston Memorial Park's playing fields. Plans for the extension of the Greenway through East Boston all the way to Belle Isle Marsh are underway.
     
  • The Freedom Trail: One of Boston’s most popular attractions, the Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walking trail that leads visitors to 16 nationally-significant historic sites, including some along Boston Harbor. From Bunker Hill in Charlestown to the Boston Common, the Freedom Trail is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond.
     
  • Neponset Trail: Along the Neponset River Greenway are some of the most beautiful parks and natural areas along Boston Harbor. The 60-acre Pope John Paul II Park is the premier park along the Neponset waterfront, with areas for active and passive recreation such as soccer playing, kite flying, playground, and walking and biking trails. Neponset II Park provides access to the Neponset River Salt Marsh, one of the few remaining extensive salt marshes within the Boston area. The Neponset Estuary and Marshes are designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. While providing ample opportunities to observe wildlife, the marshes are important nursery habitat for smelt and productive shellfish beds. Wide varieties of birds visit these marshes during their seasonal migrations and some species nest here. A fully-accessible public boat landing with nearby parking is located in the Neponset II Park.
     
  • South Bay Harbor Trail: A work in progress, the South Bay Harbor Trail is a path and recreation area that connects diverse Boston neighborhoods including Lower Roxbury, the South End, Chinatown, South Boston, and Fort Point Channel, to each other and to the expanding amenities of Boston Harbor. Lively and inviting, the Harbor Trail is designed to provide safe and convenient access for pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists, and people of all ages and abilities. For additional information, please visit www.southbaytrail.com
  • Boston Harbor Beaches: Boston Harbor Beaches are open to the general public for the 2007 season (life guard coverage begins in June).
The Boston Harbor Islands

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2009 regularly-scheduled boat service to the Harbor Islands begins on 9 May to George's and Spectacle Islands. To view the schedule for Harbor Islands Express service as well as island activities, please visit www.bostonislands.com.

For more than three decade, The Boston Harbor Association has been promoting the Boston Harbor Islands. In the mid-1970s, The Boston Harbor Association was the first organization to organize trips for the public to the Harbor Islands. TBHA actively participated on the Spectacle Island Park Advisory Committee whose work resulted in the public opening of Spectacle Island in summer of 2006 with a visitor's center, dock, and beach. As a member of the Boston Harbor Island Advisory Council, TBHA actively promotes affordable water transportation to ensure access to the Islands for all. TBHA sponsors free programs to the Harbor Islands every year that introduce the public to the joys of the Boston Harbor Islands and provides background and information about these local treasures.

Boston's Harbor Islands were designated as a national park area in 1997, consisting of 32 islands and 2 coastal peninsulas. As close as 20 minutes from Boston's downtown by ferry, the Harbor Islands provide the perfect escape for a short day trip right in Boston's backyard. Activities by a number of non-profit and public agencies present ideal ways to examine local history, scientific research, archaeology, and architecture. 

The Boston Harbor Island Alliance and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation have worked together to improve the facilities on both Spectacle and Georges this year. On Spectacle, a newly constructed structure near the beach offers improved full body showers and new changing space for bathers. Starting in 2009 and continuing over the course of the next few years, Georges Island will undergo a complete rehabilitation and expansion initiative. New exhibit spaces, additional rest room facilities, a new sheltered seating area with food concession, and the relocation of maintenance operations to a quieter area of the island will dramatically improve the visitor experience. As part of the commitment to environmental sustainability, a new photovoltaic solar energy system and other green technologies will be installed on Georges. Solar panels are also visible on Spectacle’s docks and on the roof of the Visitor’s Center. 

For a listing of activities and access for the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, visit our Boston Harbor Islands page.

HarborWalk

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For more information about Boston’s Harborwalk,
please visit www.bostonharborwalk.com.

Since 1984, The Boston Harbor Association has been actively working with local and state officials and waterfront property owners to create a 43-mile HarborWalk in Boston featuring continuous public access and amenities along the waterfront. When complete, the HarborWalk will be an inviting public walkway along Boston's waterfront, with public parks, seating areas, cafes, exhibit areas, water transportation facilities, viewing areas, and other public amenities. Some special sites we recommend on the HarborWalk include:

  • Rowes Wharf offers a wide range of options for anyone who is enjoying a walk along Boston's waterfront. Enjoy scenic Harbor views from Foster's Rotunda, a priceless map collection of Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay in the lobby of the Boston Harbor Hotel, spectacular architecture, or people watching while relaxing on a waterfront bench. Water transportation is readily available, including to and from Logan Airport and the South Shore.
  • In the North End, view the yachts at Yacht Haven Marina, see historical waterfront displays in the lobby of Lewis Wharf, and enjoy the HarborWalk at Joe's American Bar and Grill. 
  • One of our favorite quiet places is the herb garden and small fountain at Lewis Wharf- an oasis for reading and contemplation. 
  • While visiting the Boston Children's Museum, children will be delighted with the various free outdoor activities, along one of the newest segments of the HarborWalk on the Fort Point Channel.
  • Public access at 470 Atlantic Avenue offers a 14th floor observation deck with a panoramic view from the Blue Hills to Deer Island. This unique vantage point is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, including weekends. 
  • In Dorchester, look out from the Harbor Point development, where on a clear day you can see the egg-shaped digesters of Deer Island.
  • Over in South Boston, stop by International Cargo Port to make use of their mounted binoculars to see ships unloading their cargo at Conley Terminal and planes landing at Logan Airport.
  • On East Boston's HarborWalk next to the Hyatt Harborside Hotel, there is a bronze sculpture with the skyline of Boston etched into it and locations identified.
  • Fort Point Channel has been touted as Boston's "next great place," and if you visit its HarborWalk you will see why. The HarborWalk abounds with energy and a vibrant mix of uses, with popular restaurants and cafes, hotels, and museums. Its eclectic architecture ranges from historic, brick warehouses to sleek glass towers. The Fort Point artist community is one of the most active in the Greater Boston area.
  • Award-winning Piers Park in East Boston is a beautifully designed 6.5-acre park by Pressley Associates of Cambridge. Located on the waterfront, the park has a community boating facility and sailing club which provide sailing lessons, an outdoor fitness system, walking paths, pavilions honoring the memory of ship builder Donald McKay, and an amphitheater. Children will enjoy the park’s climbing equipment and slides. Benches along the paths provide visitors a place to sit and enjoy the beautiful landscape and breathtaking views of Boston and the Harbor.

For more information about Boston’s Harborwalk,
please visit www.bostonharborwalk.com.

 

Lodging

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Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf
Located on Boston Harbor, the Hotel’s distinctive architecture is one of the most photographed landmarks in Boston. The archway is often referred to as the Gateway to the City of Boston. The hotel is in the midst of a $12 million renovation to the guest rooms. The newly-renovated Wharf Room is one of Boston’s most beautiful function rooms.
The Hotel is home to the renowned Norman B. Leventhal Boston Harbor Map collection. Between June and early September, visitors to Rowes Wharf can enjoy free summer events, including swing dancing on Wednesday evenings, Blues concerts on Thursday evenings, and movie night on Friday evenings. Enjoy outstanding waterfront views while dining on fine food served at the new Rowes Wharf Sea Grille Restaurant and waterfront terrace, as well as the hotel's award-winning Meritage Restaurant. Connected to the Boston Harbor Hotel, the Marina at Rowes Wharf can accommodate vessels up to 75 feet in length in 19 transient slips. The marina has electric and water hookups, pump-out service, shower, ice and a laundry facility. For additional information, please visit www.bhh.com.

Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel at 296 State Street
The Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel is located on Boston Harbor at historic Long Wharf near Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market. Enjoy the harbor views from the hotel lounge and Oceana Restaurant with fresh seafood cuisine. Overlooking Columbus Waterfront Park, the second floor lobby has an art and historic collection, including porcelain artifacts recovered from Spectacle Island and three multi-story paintings by William C. Reynolds depicting Long Wharf as a major fishing and maritime trading center. For additional information, please visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/boslw-boston-marriott-long-wharf/.

Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel
Boston’s newest hotel, the Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel, is a much-welcomed addition to the North End waterfront. Located just off of Commercial Street, the 150-room hotel has one of the most attractive HarborWalk public access segments in all of Boston. Visitors and art lovers will appreciate the Rotunda Ballroom, with its glass ceiling and glass art work by noted artist Nicholas Weinstein. Opened in July, 2009, a new maritime museum highlighting the activities of the adjacent Coast Guard facility and free second-floor observation deck make this one of the most visitor-friendly locations on Boston Harbor. The hotel and its fine-dining restaurant, Sensing, are easily accessible by water taxi (passengers can wait in a well-designed water taxi waiting area). For reservations, please visit www.fairmont.com/batterywharf or call 617-994-9000.

Hyatt Harborside at Boston’s Logan International Airport at 101 Harborside Drive
Located along the Boston HarborWalk near Logan International Airport, the hotel offers excellent views of Boston Harbor and the downtown skyline. Located at the end of the HarborWalk segment is the Kim Zullo memorial and an etched stone sculpture of the Boston skyline. The hotel’s Harborside Grill and Patio offers inspired cuisine and striking views from the newly renovated dinning area. For additional information, please visit http://www.harborside.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp.

InterContinental at 510 Atlantic Avenue
Opened in December 2006, the hotel features sleek, modern architecture along the Fort Point Channel. Miel Brasserie Provencal, open 24 hours, as well as Rumba and Sushi Teq Restaurants offer visitor a variety of menu items with beautiful waterside views. For additional information, please visit www.intercontinentalboston.com.

Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel
606 Congress Street. This hotel is the newest addition to the Seaport District. The Renaissance Waterfront offers easy access to Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, Logan Airport, and the Financial District. For further information, click here to visit their website.

Seaport Hotel
The hotel is located near Eastport Park, an open-air sculpture garden with over an acre of winding paths and lush greenery and a collection of public art by noted artists Shingu, Judy Kensley McKie, and David Phillips. The Seaport Hotel provides an inviting space with panoramic views of Boston Harbor and the city. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel’s public areas. Aura Restaurant serves New American cuisine, with an accent on fresh local seafood with its the lounge facing the harbor. For additional information, please visit www.seaportboston.com.

Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel at 425 Summer Street
Next to the Boston Convention Center, the hotel is accessible to many Boston sites by MBTA Silver Line Waterfront or bus service. The hotel restaurant Sauciety offers modern American cuisine. For additional information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1528.

Nightlife

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Rowes Wharf Events
Between June and early September, visitors can enjoy free summer evening events Tuesday through Friday at the Boston Harbor Hotel on Rowes Wharf. Summer Soul, held Tuesdays, offers an array of R&B and soul singers, covering hits from the 1950s to today. On Wednesdays, you can dance the night away to the sounds of the Big Band era. On Thursdays, some of the best-known local and national Blues artists will perform on the Blues Barge next to the hotel. Enjoy a relaxing end to the week with Movies by Moonlight every Friday evening. Activities are free, and cushions are available for seating during performances. Outdoor dining is also available. For additional information and a schedule of events, call 617-439-7000 or visit www.bhh.com

Bank of America Pavilion
If you enjoy top-notch concerts combined with remarkable views of Boston's skyline and Harbor, check out the Bank of America Pavilion. Pop, country, jazz, and rhythm & blues are all represented here. For more information and concert schedules, please call the Bank of America Pavilion at 617-728-1600. Tickets can also be ordered through Ticketmaster at 617-228-6000 or on the Ticketmaster website, www.ticketmaster.com.

The Barking Crab Restaurant 
Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, the Barking Crab Restaurant on Fort Point Channel offers live music featuring rhythm & blues, jazz, reggae, and rock 'n roll throughout the year. In the winter months, we enjoy sitting by the wood stove, roasting chestnuts, and playing board games. Boaters are welcome to tie up free of charge while dining. For more information and weekly schedules, call 617-426-2722.

The Birch Bar, located in the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, Seaport District, is a perfect spot for drinks in a sophisticated setting. Patrons can also order entrees from a full dinner menu. The bar is open from 4 pm – 2 am.

Blue Wave Bar & Grill, 343 Congress Street. This sophisticated martini bar boasts multiple plasma televisions making a sports friendly hang out with DJ’s and live music Thursday through Saturday nights. Also popular for inexpensive lunches. For more information visit www.bluewavebar-lounge.com.

C.F. Donovans, a community favorite, offers plenty of night-time fun with DJs to dance to Friday and Saturday nights, occasional live entertainment and cash-prize Trivia nights every Tuesday at 8:30 pm. For additional information, please visit www.cfdonovansrestaurant.com

The Landing at Long Wharf is Boston's only completely outdoor waterfront bar. Known for its summery frozen drinks and famous fish bowl mixes, The Landing is convenient to Quincy Market and to water transportation. For additional information, please visit www.thelandingboston.com

LTK Bar and Kitchen is located at 225 Northern Avenue. Besides freshly-prepared seafood, this trendy spot offers live music Tuesday and Thursday nights from 9:30-12:30. Performers include local Boston bands and artists like Justin Beech, Second Chance and Joe Carson. There is no cover charge. For additional information, please visit www.ltkbarandkitchen.com

Lucky’s Lounge, 355 Congress Street. On the corner of Congress Street and A Street, Lucky’s Lounge offers visitors a “Den of Cocktail Cool” where they can experience live music ranging from R&B to classic rock to Sinatra. Enjoy the creative American cuisine of the regular menu or the Sinatra Sunday Brunch. For more information visit www.luckyslounge.com.

Marriott Long Wharf Hotel. The Marriott Long Wharf Hotel's lounge, "Waves," features a DJ playing hits from the 1950's to 90's on Friday and Saturday nights. For additional information, please call 617-227-0800.

Murphy's Law, located at 837 Summer Street, is a friendly neighborhood bar that offers beer, wine and a full bar accompanied by pub snacks. Enjoy darts, video games and live local bands in the evenings most Thursdays and every Friday. There is no cover charge. See website for schedule. www.murphyslawbar.com.

Rumba, located off the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel at 510 Atlantic Avenue, is a sophisticated international cocktail bar specializing in Champagne and Rum. This small intimate bar celebrates Boston’s history in the rum trade.

The Reef, located at the New England Aquarium Plaza, offers lunch, dinner, and cocktails in a beautiful seaside setting overlooking Boston's waterfront, near the Aquarium's outdoor Harbor Seal tank. For additional information, please call 617-973-5200.

Sushi Teq, located in the luxury waterfront Intercontinental Boston Hotel, is a chic new salsa bar, pairing sushi with vintage tequila. Every Tuesday during the summer months, Sushi-Teq hosts Tequila Tuesdays. Open 12-2pm for lunch, and from 5pm- 2am for dinner and drinks. For more information, call (617) 747-1000.

Tamo Bar, located in the luxury Seaport Hotel. Newly reopened and redesigned, Tamo Bar offers unique cuisine by award-winning chef Rachel Klein and innovative cocktails. With three flat screen TVs, the bar is perfect for watching Boston's local sports teams. Decorated with Cracked Ice, an Asian art form of sculptured wooden triangles, and a fireplace, Tamo provides the perfect setting for small events or casual dinners. For additional information, please visit www.boston-hotel.seaportboston.com.

Water Cafe, Wolfgang Puck's restaurant at the Institute of Contemporary Art, pairs great food with enticing harbor views. Menu selections include fresh breads, grilled panini, salads, and delicious entrees. Through September 11, the restaurant is open until 11:00 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, allowing visitors to stop in after the ICA closes at 9:00 pm.

Off the Beaten Path

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The USS Constitution Museum
One of the little-known jewels along Boston Harbor is the USS Constitution Museum in Charlestown, with its excellent interactive exhibits devoted to the history of "Old Ironsides." Visitors can swing from a sailor's hammock, maneuver Old Ironsides into a firing position, try a video battle, take a self-guided tour of the highlights in the Museum, and watch volunteers from a Model Ship Building Club. Join the staff for Gallery Talks at 1:30 and 2:30 pm each day and learn about topics ranging from the construction of the USS Constitution to the War of 1812. The visitor's information desk is staffed by knowledgeable staff/volunteers. The Museum, located in Dry Dock One's Pumphouse, is free to the public (donations accepted), and is handicap accessible. The Museum is open daily from 9am-6pm, May through October and from 10am-5pm during the winter months. For more information call 617-426-1812 or visit www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

The Charlestown Navy Yard
The USS Constitution Museum and the USS Constitution are just part 
of the National Park Service's offerings and attractions at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The information center also provides daily program schedules. Self-guided or ranger-guided tours can be arranged to explore other sites, including Dry Dock 1, which is one of the first dry docks constructed in the nation. Hours of operation are from 9am-5pm. For more information, call the National Park Service at 617-242-5601.

At Yard's End on the Little Mystic Channel, visit Building #114. Built in 1903 as the U.S. Navy's joinery shop, Building 114 is now a state-of-the-art biomedical research facility. The ground floor features an exhibit of the building's rich history, old photographs, boat models, and a display of tools used in boat making. Outside, a 25-foot bandsaw, once used to cut lumber for naval vessels, is displayed next to the HarborWalk. The blade for the bandsaw hangs from the ceiling of the building's lobby. Public restrooms and vending machines are also available to the general public.

Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant
Besides one of the best-designed Harborwalk segments, we highly recommend a tour of the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. A gem in the eyes of environmentalists and water-quality activists, this secondary treatment facility serves as a model for engineers and public works professionals around the world. The 140-foot-high, 3-million-gallon egg-shaped digester tanks have even been hailed as an architectural marvel. Available by reservation on the first Tuesday of each month, tours include a chance to view the state-of-the-art facility that treats wastewater from 43 communities to ensure that Boston Harbor remains one of the cleanest harbors in the United States. Tours also include a visit to the award winning Pump House building. By reservation, groups may also arrange for tours Monday through Friday. 

Please contact the MWRA at 617-660-7607 for more information or visit www.mwra.com.

Marriott Long Wharf Hotel
One of the best-kept secrets among Harbor goers is a series of Harbor-related art on the second-floor lobby of the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel. On display you will find a timeline of the development of Spectacle Island, paintings by artist William C. Reynolds showing Long Wharf as a major fishing and maritime trading center, a 19th Century model of the USS Constitution, and porcelain artifacts recovered from a previous landfill on the site.

Moakley Courthouse 
On the South Boston waterfront, stop by to enjoy a guided tour of the art (including specially-commissioned paintings by Ellsworth Kelly) and architecture of the Moakley Federal Courthouse and to learn about the Federal Court system. Offered by "Discovering Justice: the James D. St. Clair Court Education Project", these unique tours are offered year round Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at no charge. Inside the Courthouse, electronic devices must be checked with security, and two forms of identification, including one with a photograph, are required.

For more information, call 617-748-4185 or visit www.discoveringjustice.org.

History of Boston Harbor
The lobby of the Boston Harbor Hotel is home to Norman B. Leventhal's renowned collection of Boston Harbor maps. Nearly 90 maps show exploration, development, and changes along the waterfront of Boston and the New England coast from the seventeenth century through the nineteenth century. These priceless maps are on permanent display. 

For more information, contact the Boston Harbor Hotel at 617-439-7000.

Arts on the Point 
Besides offering spectacular views of the Harbor and Islands, the University of Massachusetts Boston Campus is also home to Boston's first contemporary sculpture park that exhibits large-scale outdoor sculpture by some of the world's leading artists. Founded in 1997, Arts on the Point includes both outside and indoor works of art on display seven days a week for free.
In January 2007, Roy Lichtenstein’s colorfully painted aluminum sculpture “Brushstroke Group” was installed in front of the campus’ Student Center across from the shuttle bus stop. Other pieces throughout the campus grounds and buildings include Willem deKooning's "Reclining Figure" and sculpture by Luis Jimenez, Dennis Oppenheim, William Tucker, and Sol LeWitt. Interpretive signage describes each piece. 

For additional information, please visit www.artsonthepoint.com.

Charles River Dam and Pumping Station 
One of the best places to see the transition between the Charles River and the Boston Harbor is the Charles River Dam and Pumping Station. From this vantage point, come and see pleasure boats negotiating the dam’s lock system. The dam also includes a fish ladder that allows for passage of anadromous fish (alewife herring, rainbow smelt and shad) during the migration season in late spring. A pier overlooking Boston Harbor with fish cleaning stations is a perfect spot for some friendly fishing. Visitors can also create their own music by playing with the colorful, interactive bells designed by local artist Paul Matisse (relative of French impressionist Henri Matisse), or admire the nearby elegant Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge. An earlier dam, located beneath the Museum of Science, was completed in 1910 with the purpose of creating a freshwater river basin and riverfront park in Boston. The current Charles River Dam and Pumping Station, completed in 1978, is located behind the Fleet Center and houses six pumps that provide flood control protection. An interpretive display and periodic tours describe the management history of the Charles River Basin, water quality improvements, and background on the dam and locks. 

For a tour schedule and more information, please call DCR at 617-626-1481 or 617-626-1483 or www.mass.gov/dcr

Park Areas on the Waterfront

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You can enjoy wonderful vistas on many of the green spaces surrounding the Harbor. A few include:

Deer Island Harborwalk
The HarborWalk at Deer Island includes a 4.6-mile pathway lined with interpretive exhibits and is perfect for walking, jogging, fishing, picnicking or simply relaxing. From Deer Island's highest vantage point, there are sweeping views of the Harbor and downtown Boston. The public can also visit and learn about the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Boston Harbor Project at the award-winning Visitor Center, which was once the original pump house on the island. 

For more information, contact the MWRA at 617-660-7607 or www.mwra.com

Piers Park, East Boston 
Enjoy stunning views of downtown Boston from the Massport-owned Piers Park. One of the best-maintained parks in the City, Piers Park has a well-lit promenade leading to two pavilions, which provide a view of the city skyline across the water, and four smaller shade pavilions. One pavilion honors the memory of Donald McKay, the noted builder of clipper ships whose facility was located in East Boston. The park also features an amphitheater, an outdoor fitness system, and a large playground. Piers Park Sailing Center, located in the park, provides an affordable and popular community-boating program.

For more information regarding the Piers Park Sailing Center, call 617-561-6677 or www.piersparksailing.org

Harborside Skate Park, East Boston
Next to the Harborside Community Center and the Umana Barnes Middle School is the City's first skateboard park. Dedicated by Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the park offers access to basketball courts and a sports field for local youths. In addition, the park provides excellent views of Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. From the back of the Center and along the water’s edge, one can observe tankers and ships as they enter and leave Chelsea Creek and the Mystic River. 

Belle Isle Marsh, East Boston
The 241-acre Belle Isle Marsh is one of the Boston area's largest surviving salt marshes, and is a calming, natural oasis in the midst of the city's bustle. With saltwater, freshwater, and meadow areas, this coastal marsh is a critical habitat for diverse wildlife and vegetation. Tall reeds provide cover for muskrats, opossums, snapping turtles, and garter snakes, and the grasslands are home to meadow voles, monarch butterflies, and songbirds. Visitors can stroll along Belle Isle Marsh's winding pathways, sit quietly and enjoy the natural surroundings, or take in the wide ocean view from the observation tower.

Condor Street Urban Wild, East Boston
A former industrial site, the Condor Street Urban Wild on Chelsea Creek has been redeveloped into a magnificent urban park. The restored site features salt marshes, meadow grasses, and other coastal habitat elements, as well as walking paths, a boardwalk, public art and sculptures, and a viewing platform overlooking Chelsea Creek. Park visitors can observe urban wildlife and sometimes during winter and spring, porpoises swimming in Chelsea Creek.

Paul Revere Park, Charlestown
Located next to the Charles River Bridge where the Charles meets the Inner Harbor, the five-acre Paul Revere Park features a large, grassy oval, a great place for ball throwing or flying kites, with a stage for performances and a large, fenced-in playground for toddlers and older children. The Park also offers great views of the new Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge. Paul Revere Park is one of the new parks along the Charles River being developed as mitigation for the river crossing of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. When completed in 2007, these parks will include more than 40 acres of new public space with over 7 miles of bicycle, pedestrian, and ADA-accessible pathways. This significant addition to the Charles River Reservation System will serve to "link the river to the sea" when the new parks are completed. 

For more information, please call DCR at 617-626-1481, 617-626-1483 or visit www.mass.gov/dcr

Shipyard Park, Charlestown
The award-winning Shipyard Park in the Charlestown Navy Yard provides a quiet oasis in which to relax. With its many benches, green lawns, and a fenced-in playground, the park is an ideal place to walk your dog or to take your children. In hot summer weather, visitors can take advantage of the intriguing fountain in the middle of the park as well as the wading pool. The fountain was designed to incorporate the granite entrance of the former building with pipes and plumbing to create the unique waterfall and wading pool so enjoyed by visitors to the park. 

Next to Shipyard Park is the Korean War Monument honoring Massachusetts Korean War veterans and those killed in the War. A motion-sensitive short oral history describes the monument and the War, and benches allow visitors to sit and reflect. Other works by the monument's sculptor, Robert Shure, include the Irish Famine Monument and the FAO Schwartz Bear sculpture now located in front of the Floating Hospital for Children on Washington Street. 

Puopolo Park / Langone Park / Mirabella Pool / Steriti Memorial Rink, North End
The North End waterfront has the most extensive network of recreational facilities along Boston’s Harborwalk. Puopolo Park and Langone Park, designed in 1894 by Frederick Law Olmstead's firm, are popular open spaces along the waterfront. Puopolo Park has well used baseball diamonds and a basketball court. Recently restored, Langone Park has a playground, softball diamond, and three regulation bocce (Italian lawn bowling) courts, where you can watch bowlers of all ages enjoy the game. The Harborwalk along these parks has views of Charlestown and the Bunker Hill Monument, and remnants of the promenade pier foundation provide terrific fishing and viewing area. Mirabella Pool, open to the public during the summer months, has a shallow spray pool for toddlers in addition to the regular pool. Nearby, the newly renovated Steriti Memorial Ice Skating Rink is a popular indoor skating rink, with two additional indoor bocce courts. Public restrooms and a drinking fountain can be found on this section of the Harborwalk. 

Christopher Columbus Park, Downtown/North End
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park is the City of Boston's first waterfront park. This 4.5-acre park is an oasis in the North End and an excellent place to relax and enjoy the Harbor. The grassy park features a play lot, a statue of Christopher Columbus, fountains, and a rose garden. A wisteria-covered trellis provides shade and spray showers are perfect for cooling off on a hot day. Joe’s American Bar and Grill Restaurant next door has restrooms open for use by the general public. 

Fort Point Channel 
Visitors to Fort Point Channel will enjoy attractive open spaces built by the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. These spaces and walkways, including Vent Building 1 Open Space, Binford Park, Cabot Cove, and Channelwalk, have seating, lighting, and plantings, as well as a sculptural artifact consisting of a refurbished and painted arm of the Old Colony Railroad Bridge that formerly occupied the site. Special features at the Vent Building 1 Open Space will include a refurbished arm of the rolling bridge that formerly occupied the site. Also at this site, stones arranged in a seating pattern mimic a circular configuration of another bridge, which occupied a nearby site. Access to the open space at Cabot Cove is via a pedestrian bridge built into the Old Colony Railroad Bridge. New HarborWalk segments with benches and trees also opened along Dorchester Avenue across from the Federal Reserve Bank at Tufts Wharf immediately north of Congress Street. Other amenities by the Central Artery/Tunnel Project include the 6,000 square feet Wormwood Park and the design and construction of a new Fort Point Channel Water Transportation Facility at 500 Atlantic Avenue.

Eastport Park, Seaport Hotel, South Boston 
Eastport Park at the Seaport Hotel/ World Trade Center complex offers over an acre of one of the most attractive outdoor public spaces on the waterfront. Across from the World Trade Center, Eastport Park features unique benches and sculptures from renowned artists, including David Phillips’ whimsical sea creatures (Hermit Crab, Scallop Scuppers, Shrimp, and Frog Guardians); Judy Kensley McKie’s Bird Chair and Fish Benches; and abstract sculptures relating to astronomy, evolution and navigation. Eastport Park has beautifully landscaped areas and sitting areas for relaxing, and views of the Harbor and the Fish Pier. The Park is located adjacent to a two-story atrium open to the general public.

Make sure to visit Wendy Ross’ “Leviathan” sculpture suggestive of a fanciful sea serpent. The sculpture is located on the staircase between the Seaport Hotel and the West Office Building. 

South Boston Maritime Park, South Boston
South Boston Maritime Park, next to Eastport Park, is one of the newest park near the South Boston waterfront. Built by Massport, the park boasts a sizeable lawn, shaded sitting areas, extensive landscaping, a fountain, benches, public art focusing on the Working Port, public restrooms, and a seasonal cafe serving breakfast and lunch. The South Boston Maritime Park celebrates Boston's history as one of the oldest seaports in the Western Hemisphere and once the busiest trading post in North America. Maritime related elements and interpretive art adorn the park reminding visitors of Boston's proud maritime past as well as modern day activities within the Port of Boston. The park provides an inviting place to catch a glimpse of the city's working waterfront including the historic Fish Pier and other waterfront activities.

Park at the Moakley Courthouse, South Boston
The open space on the waterside of the Moakley Courthouse provides stunning panoramic views of Boston Harbor from Downtown to East Boston. Along the HarborWalk, interpretive panels and ship silhouettes present the history of Fan Pier and Boston Harbor. A large medallion next to the HarborWalk shows the history of Boston Harbor and the Islands (popular with visitors for stone rubbings). The area includes sitting areas, picnic tables, public restrooms, and native plantings with informative plaques. For those who would like to purchase food, The Daily Catch, a popular seafood restaurant on the ground floor next to the Harborwalk, and the second-floor cafe looking out onto the Harbor, provide a variety of options. Be sure to visit the Island Alliance’s free “Virtual Tour of the Harbor Islands” monitors in the Daily Catch Restaurant. 

Interim HarborWalk at the Fan Pier, South Boston
Visitors can enjoy an interim HarborWalk, located between the Moakley Courthouse and the Institute of Contemporary Art, with four examples of interpretive art which describe the history of Fan Pier, and benches where visitors can enjoy the Harbor. The site offers one of the best panoramas of the city, with unobstructed views of downtown to East Boston. From this location, visitors can walk along the newest segment of the HarborWalk next to the ICA. This portion of the HarborWalk can be accessed from either the John Joseph Moakley United State Courthouse or from Northern Avenue next to Pier 4. A permanent HarborWalk will replace the interim HarborWalk upon completion of development on Fan Pier.

Castle Island / Pleasure Bay, South Boston
The jewels of the Boston Harbor beaches can be found on the South Boston waterfront. Pleasure Bay is a calm, enclosed lagoon with a sandy beach for swimming, and is one of Boston’s most popular swimming and sunning beaches. Foot showers and water fountains are located on-site. The causeway located behind the beach provides a great walkway for strolling around Pleasure Bay and offers stunning views of the harbor. Originally freestanding, Castle Island has been connected to the mainland since the 1930s. Fort Independence, located on Castle Island, is a five pointed granite structure. Constructed between 1834 and 1851, the fort is open during the summer months for visitors to explore independently or take a free tour. The fort and the island are on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and Fort Independence is a National Historic Landmark. There are views to Logan Airport and the Harbor Islands, and visitors can observe boating activity in the Harbor. The area is excellent for jogging, walking, picnicking, biking and hiking, and there is a fishing pier and swimming area. Food service and restrooms are open to the general public. 

Pope John Paul II Park, Dorchester
Pope John Paul Park II now re-connects area residents to the resources of their unique and delicate river estuary by offering picnic facilities, soccer fields, play areas, paths for walking, restored salt marsh, and extensive plantings of native trees and shrubs. Pope John Paul II Park, on the banks of the Neponset River, is a 65-acre park with walkways, scenic open areas, newly designed visitor’s center, playing fields, and native plantings. Formerly a landfill, the site has been restored to a place of natural splendor. The Pope John Paul II Park is part of the three-mile Neponset River Greenway walking and biking trail. During the summer, many events are held here, including family movie nights, guided canoe trips, and festivals.

For more information on these events, call the Boston Natural Areas Network at 617-542-7696 or visit www.bostonnatural.org.

John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Dorchester
The John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, designed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei, is poised on Columbia Point and features a glass pavilion that serves as the main lobby, soaring 115 ft., with a huge 26' X 45' American flag. The presidential library and museum, with its exhibits and programs honoring the nation’s 35th president, is set on a 9.5 acre park landscaped with pine trees, shrubs and wild roses reminiscent of the familiar landscape of Cape Cod. The HarborWalk offers a spectacular view of the downtown skyline and connects to the long stretch of HarborWalk along the UMass Boston campus. During the summer, President Kennedy's sailboat, Victura, is on display outside on the grounds of the Library.

Old Harbor Park, Dorchester
Old Harbor Park is part of the Harbor Point residential development, and is a welcoming, beautifully maintained portion of HarborWalk. Its many amenities -- benches, shelters, and lighting -- make this portion of HarborWalk one of the best along Boston Harbor. Old Harbor Park is well situated, with a stunning view of the downtown skyline as well as a view of the egg-shaped waste digesters on Deer Island. Interpretive signage on this portion of the HarborWalk conveys tales of fishermen and shipwrecks. A large medallion-map of Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands is very popular with children for stone rubbings.

UMass Boston / Arts on the Point, Dorchester
The University of Massachusetts Boston campus, located on Columbia Point, provides one of the city's longest uninterrupted portions of HarborWalk, perfect for walkers and joggers, as well as a great venue for photographing the Harbor and the City. Besides offering spectacular views of the Harbor and Islands, UMass Boston is home to Arts on the Point, the region's first collection of large-scale outdoor sculpture by some of the world's leading artists. Founded in 1997, Arts on the Point is conveniently located near the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum and The Commonwealth Museum on the Red Line at the JFK/UMass T stop.

Sailing 

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Boston Sailing Center at Lewis Wharf
From complete beginner to experienced sailor, this comprehensive facility in downtown Boston has lesson programs, memberships, day charters, racing programs and cruising itineraries to suit every need. Voted "Best Sailing Instruction in Boston" by Boston Magazine, the Center teaches beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons on Boston Harbor using boats ranging in size from 23 to 40 feet. Center members sail whenever and as often as they want, without the need for boat ownership. Relaxed sightseeing cruises aboard the Center's bigger boats are a popular way for visitors to Boston to experience the Harbor firsthand. For additional information, call 617-227-4198, or visit www.bostonsailingcenter.com.

Community Boating
Community Boating is the largest and oldest public sailing program of its kind in the United States. Located on the Charles River Basin, the Club offers a variety of memberships for adults and youths as well as race nights, classes, windsurfing, special outings, children's field trips, and a $1 summer sailing instruction program for Boston youths. Community Boating is also the largest single site for high school sailing in the U.S., serving more than fifteen teams from the Mass Bay League each season.

For more information on Community Boating, call 617-523-1038 or visit www.community-boating.org.

Courageous Sailing Center
Learn to sail in Boston Harbor! The Courageous Sailing Center at Pier 4 in the Charlestown Navy Yard offers on-water sailing instruction for youths and adults, recreational racing classes, and overnight sailing trips to the Boston Harbor Islands. Winner of past "Best of Boston" awards as the best sailing center in Boston, Courageous offers adult memberships and runs a free summer sailing instruction program for Boston youths.
The summer 2007 sailing season runs through October. 

For more information, call Courageous Sailing Center at 617-242-3821 or visit www.courageoussailing.org.

Piers Park Sailing Center 
Located in Massport’s award-winning Piers Park, the Piers Park Sailing Center is a non-profit, community sailing center that uses Boston Harbor and the seas beyond to provide year-round recreational, educational, and personal growth opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. There are free sailing courses for Boston youths, as well as sailing lessons, weekly racing, social sailing activities, regattas, and special events for the general public for a fee. Piers Park Sailing Center has the only fully wheelchair accessible dock in the Boston area. The summer 2009 season runs everyday from 9 a.m. – sunset through October. For further information, please visit www.piersparksailing.org or call 617-561-6677.

Beaches and Swimming

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You don't need to drive to Cape Cod to enjoy the pleasures of the ocean. With ongoing water quality improvements and extensive landside amenities upgrades by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Boston Harbor is fast becoming one of the cleanest harbors in the country. Thanks to the $30 million “Back to the Beaches” Program, a number of improvements have been underway to enhance Boston Harbor beaches for visitors. To learn about the many Boston Harbor Beaches available right in your own backyard, visit our extensive Beaches section. For water quality information at area beaches, visit the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s website at http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/harbor/html/bhbeaches.htm or visit Boston.com at http://www.boston.com/travel/newengland/beaches/summer/livereport/, which maintains a live report from Massachusetts’ Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) .

Views of the Harbor

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"Foster's Rotunda" at Rowes Wharf
"Foster's Rotunda" at Rowes Wharf provides some of the most beautiful and expansive views of Boston Harbor looking toward East Boston and out to the Boston Harbor Islands. The rotunda is open to the public 11:00 am to 3:00 pm weekdays, and can be reached by entering 50 Rowes Wharf and asking the building staff at the Concierge’s Desk to escort you up the express elevator to the rotunda.

470 Atlantic Avenue
Another great observatory is located at 470 Atlantic Avenue. The 14th floor deck offers dramatic views including the Fort Point Channel, East Boston, Deer Island and Blue Hills Reservation. The observatory is open to the public from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day, including weekends, and has restrooms, benches and free binoculars for viewing. Don’t miss the lobby audio exhibit about Independence Wharf, the site of the Boston Tea Party.

Other views around the Harbor
For equally stunning but contrasting views of the Inner Harbor and Boston's skyline, look through the two story windows in the lobby of the Hyatt Harborside Hotel, East Boston; Piers Park, East Boston; and the Cafe on the second floor of the Moakley Federal Courthouse on the Fan Pier, South Boston. For a more panoramic view of the Harbor and South Boston, visit the top floor Library in the Moakley Federal Courthouse.

Whale Watches

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Boston Harbor Cruises
Take a scenic whale watch with family or friends out to Stellwagen Bank in search of Humpback whales. Boston Harbor Cruises offers 3-hour whale watches departing from Boston Harbor on high-speed catamarans. You are guaranteed a whale sighting; if you do not see a whale, you will get a free ticket on another trip. The 2007 tour and whale watch season will start in April and run through October. 

For more information, call 617-227-4321 or 1- 877-SEE-WHALE or visit www.bostonharborcruises.com.

Massachusetts Bay Lines, Inc.
Beantown Whale Watch in association with Massachusetts Bay Lines and the Boston Steamship Company offer daily whale watch trips from Boston's downtown. The 4 or 5 hours journey provides a chance to see finbacks, humpbacks, and minkes. The Summer 2007 season begins on Memorial Day weekend in May and operates through the end of September. 

For more information, call Massachusetts Bay Lines at 617-542-8000 or visit www.massbaylines.com.

Boston Seaport Boat Charters
Boston Seaport Boat Charters offers private group whale watch trips out to Stellwagen Bank, one of the busiest feeding areas for whales. The Summer 2007 season runs from May through October. 

For more information, call Boston Seaport Boat Charters at 617-261-6633 or visit www.accruiseline.com.

New England Aquarium 
The New England Aquarium offers whale watch trips in conjunction with hands-on learning. Their special boat features interactive exhibits such as microscope stations and meteorological instruments.
Seasonal whale watching trips begin 7 April 2007 and generally last from 3.5 to 5 hours. On this fun family voyage, whale sightings are guaranteed. In the unlikely event that whales are not observed, passengers will receive a complimentary New England Aquarium Whale Watch ticket. 

For more information, call the New England Aquarium at 617-973-5200 or visit www.neaq.org

Wildlife Sightings

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The salt marshes, estuaries, and waters of Boston Harbor provide unique habitat and feeding areas for a variety of wildlife including shore birds, shellfish, harbor seals, and fish. Here are some common sightings:

  • Snowy egrets, black ducks, and a variety of shorebirds are often seen at Belle Isle Marsh in East Boston... 
  • Black-crowned night herons feeding along the Charles River at dusk...
  • For wildlife sightings by canoe, park at the Milton Landing on the Neponset River and canoe from Lower Mills out to the Harbor. You will see a variety of birds and maybe some small mammals along the shoreline...
  • Harbor porpoises can sometimes be spotted swimming in Chelsea Creek in the winter and spring
  • Keep an eye out throughout Boston Harbor for harbor seals; they have been making a strong comeback in recent years...

The Boston Harbor Association (TBHA) has recently published “Naturally Boston Harbor”, a brochure highlighting places to enjoy nature in Boston’s waterfront neighborhoods and the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. The colorful brochure, written in English and Spanish, provides information about birds, native plants, fish, mammals, and other natural features found in Boston Harbor. To request a free copy, contact TBHA at 617-482-1722 or mail@tbha.org or download it by clicking here.

For more information about wildlife in and around Boston Harbor contact the Boston Natural Areas Network at 617-542-7696 or www.bostonnatural.org; the Massachusetts Audubon Society at 781-259-9500 or www.massaudubon.org; the Neponset River Watershed Association at 781-575-0354 or www.neponset.org; or the Charles River Watershed Association at 781-788-0007 or www.crwa.org.  

Harbor Book List and Free Harbor Resources

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History
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Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston
Nancy Seasholes. 2003

Boston, one-sixth of which is from fill, probably has the most human made land of any coastal city in the US. Landmaking was spurred by the major economic and population events that were shaping Boston. From the burgeoning China trade in the late 19th century to the largest landmaking project of all, Logan Airport, the author gives us the first account of the when, why, and how Boston was created.

Walking Tours of Boston’s Made Land
Nancy Seasholes, 2006

This guidebook was created as an easy to carry travel size version of Seashole’s earlier book Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston. Seasholes guides the reader through a dozen walks in areas where land was created over water, including the neighborhoods of South Boston, the Back Bay and East Boston.

Mapping Boston
Edited by Alex Krieger and David Cobb, 1999

This exquisite book, based on Norman Leventhal's extensive collection of maps, includes historical maps of Boston, the Harbor, and Massachusetts Bay as well as seven essays that explore the intertwining of maps and history. Each map is accompanied by a description and short essay offering insights on local people, landmarks, and events that were significant in shaping the landscape or life of Boston.

Lost Boston
Jane Holtz Kay, 2006

Bringing history to life with more than 350 photographs and prints, Kay traces Boston's evolution brick by brick and block by block, creating an illustrated architectural history of Boston.

Fort Warren, New England’s Most Historic Civil War Site
Jay Schmidt. 2003

Built before the Civil War, this National Historic Landmark has defended Boston for more than 100 years. It achieved its notoriety mainly because of the many famous confederate prisoners held within its walls.

A Short History of Boston
Robert J. Allison. 2004

This is a great concise book that retells the history of Boston, from the founding of the settlement on Shawmut Peninsula to the Big Dig. Robert Allison’s book introduces you to the characters and events that shaped Boston and its people.

Shipwrecks and Nautical Lore of Boston Harbor
Robert F. Sullivan, 1990

The lore of Boston Harbor is captured in prints, maps, photographs, and details of wrecks in the Outer, Middle and Inner Harbor areas dating from colonial days to recent times. The book can also be purchased at the Hull Lifesaving Museum.

Official National Park Service Guide to Charlestown Navy Yard (Handbook 152)
Division of Publications, National Park Service, 1995

Learn about the maritime heritage of the U.S. Navy and the origins of the Charlestown Navy Yard, including tales of ship building, the advent of iron and steam, a description of the U.S.S. Constitution, the workforces employed in the Yard, and the role of the Yard from WWII to its role today. This compact, well-written book can be purchased at the Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston National Historic Park, and the National Park Service Bookstore on State Street.

Political Waters: The Long, Dirty, Contentious, Incredibly Expensive but Eventually Triumphant History of Boston Harbor
Eric Jay Dolin. 2004

At one time, Boston Harbor was known as the most polluted harbor in the country. Boston’s struggle to deal with its sewage problem is a dramatic story of failure and success, complete with legal, political, and bureaucratic upheavals, engineering marvels, and dedicated citizenry.

Inventing the Charles River
Karl Haglund, 2002

Insightful history of the Charles River in Boston, its uses as a transportation model, and as a central piece of public activity and recreation. Haglund skillfully illustrates the Charles’ industrial past and its transition over the years to an important emblem of Boston’s public space.

The Good City
Edited by Emily Hiestand and Ande Zellman, 2004

Featuring fifteen of Boston’s finest authors, this book is a rich collection of essays that celebrates Boston’s past, present, and future. An illuminating profile of the city that many people consider the birthplace of America.

Boston’s Fort Point District
Michael J. Tyrrell, 2004

This jewel of a book presents a collection of approximately 200 vintage photographs and drawings of the Fort Point Channel from circa 1845 to today’s vibrant neighborhood. From a landscape of mud and sea grass to a teeming hub of commercial activity, Fort Point Channel’s proximity to Boston Harbor allowed the development of a flourish of industries, from molasses distilling to the manufacture of razor blades.

Waterfront Development
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The Big Dig
Dan McNichol with photographs by Andy Ryan, 2000

Written by a former Big Dig staff member, this book is an insider’s look at the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, the largest and most complex highway construction project ever undertaken in the United States. Interviews with many of the Big Dig's key players and detailed photographs that capture the project's evolution make this a must read for Boston-area residents.

The Big Dig at Night
Dan McNichol with photographs by Stephen SetteDucati, 2002

A companion to The Big Dig book, this collection with its spectacular photographs taken from unique vantage points allows the reader to learn about the work done on the Central Artery/Tunnel Project day and night.

Waterfronts: Cities Reclaim their Edge
Ann Breen and Dick Rigby, 1994

This review of urban waterfronts showcases 75 award-winning waterfront design projects that have transformed previously neglected downtown areas in recent years. This book also includes discussions on the planning and design of waterfront parks, housing developments, cultural facilities, marinas, boathouses, and commercial mixed-use properties.

The New Waterfront: A Worldwide Urban Success Story
Ann Breen and Dick Rigby, 1996

This book analyzes seven themes of waterfront development over the last thirty years: commercial, cultural, educational, historic, recreational, residential, and working waterfronts. Complete with stunning photos and an illustrated gazetteer, this book is a must for urban planners, landscape designers, architects, and anyone with an interest in waterfront development.

Boston Harbor Islands
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Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands: A Guide to the City's Hidden Shores
Christopher Klein, 2008

From Fort Warren to the Boston Light, from bird-watching to a jazz concert, this comprehensive book is an indispensable guide to help you plan your island adventures. With activity guides, historical backgrounds, beautiful pictures, and up to date information, the book is a must for any Boston resident or visiting tourist. Don't forget to look up The Boston Harbor Association (TBHA)'s listing under resources and the special thanks to TBHA's Vivien Li.

The Boston Harbor Islands: A History of an Urban Wilderness
David Kales, 2007

From pirate havens to military fortifications, the Boston Harbor Islands have undergone innumerable transformations. Learn how advocates, business, and governmental agencies have worked together to make the harbor islands a National Park Area just a ferry ride from downtown Boston.

Boston Harbor Islands
Sherman Morss Jr., 2005

This book beautifully documents these extraordinary New England landmarks through photographs, and also provides a narrative history of the islands from their discoveries to the present day.

The Islands of Boston Harbor
Edward Rowe Snow, updated by Jeremy D’Entremont and Foreword by William M. Fowler, Jr. 2002

Learn about the history and legends of every island to be found in Boston Harbor, including dungeons, an under-the-harbor tunnel, the mysterious Lady in Black, and two famous lighthouses, Boston Light and Graves Light.

The Boston Harbor Islands National Park
Ken Mallory, 2003

With gorgeous color photographs, maps, and informative text, this book guides you to each of the islands in the park and describes what you can see and do on each one. Serving not only as an information resource but also as a souvenir, The Boston Harbor Islands National Park is sure to find a place on the bookshelf of everyone with an interest in the Boston area.

All About the Boston Harbor Islands
Emily and David Kales, 1993

Republished in 1993, this book provides a wealth of information about the recreation, natural history, geography, and amenities available on the Boston Harbor Islands. Descriptions of the Boston Harbor Islands include historical accounts as well as interesting tales about pirates, ghosts, and other nautical lore.

Cookbook
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The New Legal Sea Foods Cookbook
Roger Berkowitz and Jane Doerfer, 2003

The complete guide to buying, cooking, and enjoying seafood—with more than 200 fresh, simple, and delicious recipes from Legal Sea Foods’ kitchens. Much more than a cookbook, this is the ultimate sourcebook from America’s seafood specialists.

Guides
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The Boston Harbor Association’s publications are available by contacting us at 617-482-1722 or by email at mail@tbha.org.

Chelsea Creek Activity Guide
The Boston Harbor Association, 2003

This activity guide helps youth learn what makes Chelsea Creek special. The fun games, fact sheets, and pictures introduce concepts that help identify where the Creek is located and the importance it plays in the economy and ecology of Boston Harbor.

The Boston Harbor Curriculum Guide
The Boston Harbor Association, 2003

Designed for grades 6-8, this Curriculum Guide contains fourteen lesson plans based on The Boston Harbor Association’s "Adopt A Class" and "Harbor Mini-Camp" programs. This unique collection of educational material and hands-on activities focuses on aspects of Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands including marine life, geologic features, cultural history, current maritime activities, and advocacy efforts. The Guide has been designed in an easy-to-use format which outlines the objectives of each lesson, suggests contacts at local agencies and organizations, and presents fact sheets, supporting activities and background information. Each lesson contains links to the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework.

Boston Harbor Youth Activity Guide
The Boston Harbor Association, 2002

This activity guide provides an excellent introduction to the many resources and opportunities available throughout Boston Harbor and its Islands. The games, puzzles and other fun and educational activities focus on efforts to improve the conditions of the Harbor as well as the variety of marine life within the Harbor today.

Citizen's Guide to Protecting the Natural Resources of Boston Harbor
The Boston Harbor Association, 1998

This bilingual Citizen's Guide (English/Spanish) highlights ways that people can help make a difference in Boston Harbor by taking action at home, on the water and in their communities. Tools for effective citizen advocacy are highlighted.

Great Runs in Boston
Mark Lowenstein, 2009

Written by a local Brookline author, this 2009 book has the most comprehensive and up to date suggestions for runs along the HarborWalk, Deer Island, and Spectacle Island. Directions and maps are easy to follow. Also includes suggested runs along the Charles River and the Neponset River Greenway.

A Kid's Guide to the Neponset River
Boston Natural Areas Network, 2000

This activity guide is a lively introduction to the Neponset River for children in grades 3-5. It includes word searches, puzzles, and drawing exercises on the plants and animals found along the River, the history of the River's use, watersheds, tides, human impacts, and pollution. Contact the Boston Natural Areas Network at (617) 542-7696 or www.bostonnatural.org for a copy.
 

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