My husband and I did the Boston Lighthouse Sunset Cruise in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area when we spent the weekend in Boston about two weeks ago. The cruises are offered in partnership with the National Park Service, so our guide (who walks you from the meeting point to the boat and narrates the tour) was a park ranger, which makes it a more special experience, in my opinion. They offer day time and sunset cruises, but we were lucky enough to be able to fit in a sunset cruise on a Friday evening. The 2-hour cruises are narrated, so you can learn about various islands and their histories, as well as see some lighthouses. You check in at the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Rose Kennedy Greenway and then walk a short distance (less than five minutes) to the boat. The boat has seating inside and outside, as well as bathrooms. I had never been out into Boston Harbor before, so this was a treat. I learned a lot and saw a few stunning sites before/during/after sunset. I enjoyed the experience. Seeing Boston Light and Graves Light on this cruise was a real treat. My only real complaint is that they tell you to arrive at least 3 minutes before departure to check in. This was absolutely not necessary. Our departure was at 5:30, and I don't think we even started to walk over to the boat until 5:30. We had arrived at 4:45 and so had to sit around for 45 minutes while others checked in much closer to the departure time. We had books so we were okay, but I really don't think they should be asking people to check in that early! A very cool experience if you're looking for a way to get out into the Harbor and on the water during a visit to Boston! read more

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This is a nice area to enter into the wharf area. Amer around and player area for the kids to start and then across the street is the Christopher Columbus Park and the wharf with the aquarium. Lots of things to do and great for just walking around and enjoying the day. read more

All my daughter wanted this year for her 22nd birthday was for the family to spend the day on the Islands, specifically George's and Lovell's and that's what we did. We haven't been in about 10 yrs and was so happy to see some amenity upgrades to keep people interested. They added a little playground/ slide for the kids, doesn't look Civil War ish but I'm sure is helpful for young ones lol a fantastic Welcome center with items they've found on Island or that era and a 9 minute movie introduction to the History of George's Island All Islands are carry out what you bring in so be aware of that. George's Island has Salty's food bar with really good prices considering everything has to be brought over on the ferry. We like to picnic and have a feast for dinner once back on the mainland. Bathrooms were clean and plentiful on George's and a composting loo on Lovell's. Free water taxi to Island hop to the other Islands to explore. I've been coming here since I was 12 and I'm SO happy that the BHI are growing with the times and there is still such an interest. The views of the cityscape are just awesome, it's like a world away even though you can see the skyline. LOVE IT ! Also, in all this time we've driven into the city to park but chose to go out of Hingham this time. We'll stick with that from Now on unless we need shopping downtown. Hingham offers free parking with the purchase of the Island ticket!! And Wahlburgers is just down the street with additional shopping if your not exhausted from a day of beach-combing read more

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Boston Harbor Islands is a very beautiful body of water that surrounds Boston and has many activities and fun things to do. My family and I stopped in here and visited a few they're walking past playgrounds and different things and we had a really good time this is a great place to visit on your way through Boston read more

I feel like I have been ever freaking where in Boston at this point but I hadn't been to the Harbor islands yet. I took advantage of free ferry day and enjoyed myself though next time I will choose a swimming island. EBT card holders pay under $5. It's a keep thrill especially when it's hot as hades in the summer months. read more

I know you're not visiting/living in Boston and not seeing some ships. But maybe you don't feel the desire to hunt down boats or deal with traffic. Well good news, there is a perfect place for ship seeing, seagull sighting, and selfie snapping. This Harbor is near the Quincy Market so it's a perfect 2-for-1 stop. The views are spectacular and in the evening the wind coming off the water will give you chills (even in the heart of summer). Treat yourself extra special and reserve a seat at one of the restaurants or on the party boat located there as well. It will be a evening to remember. read more

Little did I know, just on the east side of Boston, easily accessible by public transportation, there is a such a stunning destination. It is absolutely a must-see when you visit Boston! The ferries departing from Long Wharf are a wonderful experience and allows you to see some gorgeous scenery. I visited Georges and Spectacle Island, which I believe are the two most popular and accessible islands. Georges is a stunning historical site with an amazing civil war fort - I highly recommend walking around and climbing up top to get some awesome views of the surrounding water and islands! Spectacle Island has a small beach, and some short hiking trails. In my opinion, it wasn't as impressive as I had hoped, but still a wonderful experience. Overall, the entire park is very easy to navigate and all of the rangers are incredibly friendly. We got burgers ($11) for lunch at the Sea Glass Cafe on Spectacle Island, which was pricy but quite delicious! read more

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What can you do with $15? -buy fifteen bags of those $1 candies at CVS -buy a large pizza with toppings and some soda -buy some cheap accessories at H&M -buy an IMAX movie ticket ...Or you can give it to me and I can spend the day exploring the Boston Harbor Islands! One ticket allows for you to get off at both Spectacle and Georges Islands, with ferries going between the islands and to and from Boston throughout the day. The scheduling can be a bit complicated so be sure to allow enough time to do both islands and get on the last ferry to Boston. The islands are gorgeous and home to a lot of history about Boston Harbor as well as some lovely greenery and wildlife. There are places to picnic and swim and walk about. The islands are handicapped accessible (I think) but the paths are overall well-paved and gently graded so I think people of all activity levels and ages could enjoy it. There are also opportunities to camp overnight or just have a cookout and clam bake and enjoy a different view of Boston. read more

I am so stoked about the improvements made around the Boston Harbor Islands. These Islands, although have been an accessible tourist location for years. have especially become so. There is a new museum on Georges Island, and online reservation system for ferry service. A good deal of money has been put into really creating a tourist spot and I love going there. I am also glad to see that Summer Shack has taken over food service on the islands. This is such a great addition. read more

We have camped on Peddock's, Bumpkin, and Lovell's. Lovell's is awful. The others are great. Lovell's is completely infested with biting flies that don't respond to DEET or other commonly available repellents. Yes, I know it's a nature site, but this isn't wilderness camping, the islands are otherwise maintained as national parks, and this seems like a public health hazard. We each got literally hundreds of bites while wearing long pants and using insect repellent. The composting toilet also smells horrible, which it should not. The smell carries 300+ feet away. Oh, and there's a booze cruise that comes through blasting music very close to the island after dark. No idea why this is permitted in a national park. It does have beaches that are appropriate for swimming, even though the park website doesn't list this. Peddock's is great. The composting toilets are properly maintained and very nice. It's a good beginner island, because there is no need to bring water. There is a nice visitor center and climbing trees. The beach is small and rocky, but accessible for swimming. Bumpkin is really nice. The toilets are also properly maintained. There are ruins of an old military hospital to explore, and beaches that allow campfires. At low tide you can walk across to Sunset Point in Hull. It seems theoretically possible to time it to do this rather than spend money on the ferry. read more

What a fun place to explore! The ferry fee, now $17 as of 2015, covers the trips to and from the islands, as well as the option to take the inter-island ferry. The schedule can vary, so be sure to check that to plan your visit. We took the recommendation to do two islands in one day, by beginning with Spectacle Island and then finishing up at Georges Island before heading back into the city. On the ferry ride into the islands, there was narration provided about the sights, along with the history of the islands, which have had quite the past! A great day trip. read more

There are many different companies to take you out to the harbor and you should do it at least once during your time in Boston. It's a great escape from the city and has great views (weather permitting). read more

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I visited George's Island years ago on a school field trip and today Spectacle Island. Both were enjoyable experiences. On George's we walked around and saw the fort. Spectacle Island has more amenities - decent restrooms, lots of picnic tables, chairs in the shade with views of the harbor, a lifeguarded beach, and even a dance/exercise class. It was a hot day so I didn't hike to the top of the island, but did walk along the promenade which was closer to the water and had a breeze. Spectacle has come a long ways since it used to be a garbage dump. You can buy refreshments but we did not, though we did refill our water bottles for free. The swimming area is rocky but I was able to go in without cutting my feet. The stones were more an annoyance. Be prepared to take out anything you take in. Staff were courteous and helpful. read more

Very relaxing area. Perfect for sight seeing. So many friendly people and a beautiful view of the water.

Took the Boston Light Tour, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was about 3 hours in total: an boat ride back, an hour on the island and an hour back. The guides are all knowledgeable and clearly have a passion for the history. The lighthouse itself is exceptional. I highly recommend taking some time to put this on your Boston Bucket list. read more

So - The islands themselves are a hidden treasure and fantastic, My problem is the cost of taking the ferries frequently if you are a resident here. There are so many great activities and things going on on all the islands - maybe if you are here for a few days as a tourist and take a ferry or 2 it's no big deal, but as a resident and someone who would be inclined to visit the island almost WEEKLY with my family, it is extraordinarily cost prohibitive. For 2 adults and 2 children it is $54 round trip. Not exactly something most people will be able to pay every week - which is a shame because, for example, I was excited to see they have a Toddler Tuesday with nature talks and arts and crafts, etc. but there's obviously no way we're paying $54 to get there every week! (ALSO - when we went last month the woman charged us $72 even though there is apparently a deal for 4 people and it's only $54 (I learned after the fact, once home and on the web site). I called and they were nice enough to refund me the difference but, it's so expensive as it is, they should make the effort to remember to charge you the least expensive amount, not the MOST expensive. I don't recall there even being a sign there with the prices, so it's not like I didn't see it even though it was obvious!) BOSTON HARBOR CRUISES AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICE! HELLO! CAN YOU HEAR ME?! Suggestion: PLEASE put your collective heads together and consider individual and family/group season/annual passes - at least for Boston residents? It would enable people who live in Boston to actually visit more than once or twice a year! Everyone other institution has memberships to encourage repeat visitation - why not you? Thanks! PS: Oh, yeah! One more thing... This really bothers me so as long as I'm writing... :) If you're a beach person: definitely start your Island experience by going to Spectacle, especially if you have little ones. It's only a 15 minute ferry ride and there is a visitor center, shady big porch w/ rocking chairs to relax on, snack bar, bathrooms, awesome outdoor showers and changing areas, etc. It's great! And the beach is literally directly off the ferry. The beach however, is not the 'sandy' beach they describe on the web or in brochures. YOU NEED TO BEING WATER SHOES OR OLD SNEAKERS. It's sandy up top but all the way to and IN the water you can BARELY walk - it is VERY VERY rocky. For some reason they like to keep this a secret AND only sell children's water shoes at the gift shop on the island (why?). You will BARELY be able to walk to the water if you don't bring shoes to go in with - keep it in mind! PS: If you have kids in a stroller - there is room on the ferry for it, and you can easily walk off the boat and across the dock to the beach with it, as well as take it on the trails/road all around the island! read more

we went to the Boston Light on Little Brewster Island and absolutely loved it. The Park Rangers and US Coast Guard guys are super friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and made this trip a wonderful experience. An absolute must if you like lighthouses (where else can you climb all the way up the tower to the lense?) and a scenic boat ride in Boston Harbor. We have done this trip twice within the last 6 years and I would go again tomorrow read more

The Boston Harbor Islands are definitely a hidden treasure. My family has camped on Peddock Island a number of times and loved it. If you book wayyy in advance you can stay in a yurt instead of needing to bring a tent. There is running water (which I am told is not available on all of the islands). Georges Island is also fantastic. Be sure to learn about the history of each island. Really interesting! read more

This is such a great way to spend an afternoon. 25 minute boat ride from downtown boston. Spectacular views, nice beaches, and great Hikes. They even have bloody Mary's on the boat! read more

George's island is a great place for a couple or a family for a day. It's very fun to explore the huge fort and the ocean is really great to walk around. It was all very well kept and the park rangers were very nice and informative. The tour is free and is very interesting as well. read more

We took the ferry to George's Island because we were told we could get pictures of the lighthouse. Well, you can't. Even with a 300mm lens you can barely see it. The boat leaves at 12:00, you arrive at 1:00. It doesn't return until 3:00 so for two hours you have really nothing to see and absolutely nothing to do. Now, you have a long boat ride back to Boston. This is a total waste of four hours. read more

A peaceful day in the harbor with the Boston skyline as your backdrop. Make sure you get there early in the morning to catch the first Ferry to the main island. Then you can take the inter-island ferry to go explore the other islands. I spent the day sunning and swimming on Spectacle when I went and absolutely loved it! read more

A wonderful day excursion. For $15 too, what a deal. Tour at the Fort on George's was outstanding with Ranger Mike. Very knowledgable. Walk Spectacle and the beach on the south side for unique sea glass read more

We went camping on the Boston Harbor Islands and it was absolutely great. Don't expect rugged nature, these islands have been used by pirates and pilgrims for centuries. We stayed on Lovell's Island (20 min ferry from Long Wharf to George's Island, then 5' ferry to Lovell's). The island is small, had 6-7 camp sites of varying sizes and one compost toilet. The toilet is nicer than you'd think, there was never any line for it. Even though you are on the island with other campers, it's still secluded enough. We watched the sun set over the Boston sky line, roasted marshallows on the beach, and ventured into the ruins of the 1920s military installations. You feel like you're in the TV show Lost, I swear some of the gun batteries look like the Hatch. Swimming was quite cold and bracing and the beach is often rocky at the water line. We loved that it was such a short and cheap getaway from the city. read more