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    Georges Island

    4.2 (59 reviews)

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    View of Boston from the ferry!
    Eunice I.

    Love love love! Such a nice and convenient getaway right outside of Boston. Perfect for a little day trip with family or friends. There's a little bit of everything to do (explore the grounds, have a picnic, swim although I personally wouldn't advise, and just learn more about Boston's history). All the park rangers were all really helpful and what's great is that you can get a discount library code to use for travel on the ferry and pay half the price! The only drawback are the outdoor bathrooms were not the cleanest nor were the bathrooms in the visitor center working, but other than that, I would highly recommend!!

    artifacts
    Karen 2.

    such an awesome spot to checkout! i highly recommend reading the book by edward rowe snow before coming! must see outside of boston! ferry rides are so cool and the price is worth it!

    Paved pathway to the entrance of Fort Warren
    Kristen P.

    I visited Georges Island after a friend had mentioned it. It was not what I expected from the moment I stepped off the ferry. I figured I would be walking alot, but I just packed a small bag with books to read and wore my flip flops. Next time, I will bring my hiking sneakers, a back pack, and most importantly a flashlight. This was more like an adventure back in time. The trip on the ferry was relaxing and only took about 30 minutes, but it was a great day for a ferry ride. I arrived on the island early (9:30am) since I usually like to beat the crowd and I am glad I did because there was barely a soul there until about 11:30am when everyone and their mother showed up. There was an information center with maps and plaques of historical data on the island. I like to explore, so I skipped the reading and went straight to the fort. I walked through a dark tunnel only to be veiled with sunlight and a massive wall that was structured much like a castle. The excitement stirred inside me as I strolled up the paved path and found a secret passage way to the left. There was an old wooden door and a plaque that informed you of the meaning of this doorway. I stepped onto the stone steps through the doorway and found a spiral staircase. At the bottom was what appeared to be several cells with bars. At this point it was inevitable...I was in love! I ran from one cell to the next pretending to be captured....lol! For the next hour I strolled through the fort creeping through rooms, peeking in doorways. It was kind of spooky, but that only excited me even more. I guess if you love history, castles, exploring, boats or anything of that nature check this place out. I can't wait to go back!

    Lighthouse on nearly island
    Lee A.

    We took the Ferry out to the Island to see the historic Fort Warren! It was very interesting and had a great view of Boston. We saw a nearby Lighthouse and got some great pictures! There were 100 year old Chestnut trees on the grounds that were very nice. It's a 45 minute ride out to island but it was a nice experience! The only complaint I have is the lack for food or snacks. They have hotdogs for $5 a piece and water.

    Brooke T.

    This is a great place to pack a picnic, get away from the city, and spend the day at a park! The island isn't very large, but it's a beautiful place to spend a day when the weather is nice. We saw many children having a lot of fun exploring the old fort. There are also ample grills and picnic tables that you can cook your own lunch (if you're willing to cart a bag of charcoal onto the island and then all of your trash back off again).

    Here is where you buy your tickets at the pier if you don't get them online.
    Christina M.

    I had always heard of the Boston Harbor Islands but always assumed they would be difficult and troublesome to get to. So, on a nice long weekend, my husband and I decided to give it a try, and were pleasantly surprised to see how easy it was instead. To get to the islands you have to take a ferry, and this being our first trip, we decided to stick to one island--Georges Island. This is a great spot to take your family and enjoy a whole day outdoors. You can easily purchase tickets for the ferry at the Ferry Center on the left back side of the Marriott Hotel by the Aquarium. It was a short 20 minute ride before we made it to Georges Island. Once you get off the ferry, everyone was filtered into a giant red barn house-like building that served as a museum telling the history of the Fort. I was definitely worth spending at least 20 minutes in there to check out some of the cool collection cases of military weapons and gear, etc., and watching the short video detailing the history of the fort. Afterwards, we chose to stop off for lunch. If you don't feel like bringing your own food, they do have a small selection of lunch items for sale. Or, you can bring a feast with you because there were plenty of pick nick tables and barbecue grills on the island for everyone. Make sure you stay fed and hydrated because touring the fort can involve a lot of walking and climbing! The fort itself is the main event of the island, and it was really awesome to explore. You could travel through dark rooms that used to be bunks for soldiers, explore watch towers, walk where giant cannons once stood, etc. They do offer free guided tours by park rangers, and the guy we joined later was funny and really knowledgeable. We enjoyed our exploring a lot more once we figured out what we were actually looking at! Plus, the park rangers tell the ghost story of the "lady in black" the best. Once you're tired of visiting the fort, there are plenty of spots to just take a leisurely stroll, go bird watching, or hang out by the small beach and water. Again, we had a really fun time, and I can't wait to check out some of the islands as well. One note to the wise--don't forget sunscreen! It was a really cloudy day when my husband and I went and I forgot to put extra SPF on. By the end of the trip I was terribly burned, since we did a lot of walking and there isn't a lot of sun coverage while touring the fort. Also, make sure to start lining up for the ferry 15 minutes before it arrives. The staff on the island do make an announcement when the ferry is approaching so that people can line up by the pier, but then it's a mad dash to the front, and some of the other visitors were just plain rude, line-cutting, patrons. If you prefer to wait for the announcement though, they do have some comfy Adirondack chairs overlooking the water that make for a great waiting spot.

    George's Island Map
    Ben K.

    A must see site when living in the Boston area. It's a very spacious area with lots to explore. Wandering around the fort was the highlight of my visit. You can walk along the top of the fort or explore some of the dark rooms and passageways inside. The views of Boston and the other islands from the top of the fort are quite impressive. I would suggest bringing lunch, a frisbee or soccer ball, and spending the afternoon here. Overall, it's a great place to explore, have fun, and relax.

    Tables on tables on tables!
    Alison B.

    Really enjoyed our first trip to the Harbor Islands together. My boyfriend and I stopped at Peddocks the first night to camp (Sean/Shawn was a great help and very personable!) and then hopped over to George's to check out Fort Warren. Love the abundance of picnic tables and grills, there were plenty available. If you forgo the packed lunch, Salt & Water by Barbara Lynch was tasty and not outrageously overpriced. My ONLY caveat with George's is the glaring lack of waste receptacles. I know the DCR doesn't want trash all over the beautiful islands (and I understand the carry on/carry out policy at Peddocks and other camping-centric islands) but two narrow bins, that technically belong to Salt & Water, are not a solution for all the waste people bring and produce every day (I hear it's around 1,000 on a weekend day!) We actually saw an employee walking around with grabbers and a bucket. Guess what.. you don't have to pay a trash can! Serious question: Does it not make more sense to collect it all once a day than pay someone to pick up each piece once every hour?

    Dan R.

    Today we spent the day at Georges Island with family. We headed to the island on the first boat and enjoyed wandering the island before the masses showed up. Here are some of the pros and cons about the island. Pros: The island is large and even when there are a lot of people on the island is doesn't feel crowded. The Park Rangers here are great. The tour we took was incredibly informative and we loved the hour tour. The food from the "Mess Hall" was great and the prices were reasonable. Cons: The fort itself is falling apart and from that my wife tells me it seems as though they haven't been maintaining it as well as other historic sights in Boston. The "Mess Hall" restaurant on the ground is good and fairly inexpensive, but the wait time was horrible. We waited fifteen minutes to order our food and then waited another 30 or more to receive it. In the end we loved our day here and could see ourself grilling here in the future as a family outing.

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    Very interesting, nice place. We went during one of the festivals there.

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    Review Highlights - Georges Island

    You can walk along the top of the fort or explore some of the dark rooms and passageways inside.

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    The Esplanade

    The Esplanade

    4.8
    (101 reviews)
    1.4 km

    The Esplanade is always beautiful, it doesn't matter the season. This is the perfect time of year -…read morewell now thru Fall to visit. Winter is nice too but they lock up the bathrooms which can be annoying if you're taking a super long walk and trying to stay hydrated! If you're looking for something to do on the weekend, look no further. The park is so big - you can listen to music or maybe even see a movie at the Hatch Shell, have a picnic, hangout on the dock, or even have a beer at Night Shift. Oh and if you have kids, there are a few different playgrounds. Let's not forget, it's super dog friendly. Oh and get your cameras ready for various birds and sometimes turtles in the lagoon.

    The Esplanade was a revelation, one of the highlights of my trip to Boston!…read more We took the T-red, got off Charles/MGH and it was a short walk to the Esplanade, a few miles alongside Charles Rivers with beautiful views of the river, wild life, the bridge and the city! We went on a Saturday morning, locals were walking, jogging, sitting on a bench drinking their coffee. Teams were out in the water roving, a nice visual Boston cliche that you see in movies, but I got to see for real. You can walk for miles here, till you get to the BU Bridge in parallel with the beautiful houses of Beacon Hill. Nice nature, cute bridges, birds, peaceful spots to stop by and look at the water, enjoy a book or a coffee. Nice locals offered to take our photos and we enjoyed chatted with. Beautiful sculptures, clean restrooms, lots of greenery. Great spot for a picnic also. I am sure it's pretty here at sunset. I am sure they have events here as well. My husband regrets not knowing about it. He went to Boston University and walked the BU Beach and the Bridge, but wasn't aware of this part. He would have loved to come here for peaceful walks and some reading. We didn't want to leave. A must see place in Boston!

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    The Esplanade
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    Boston Common

    Boston Common

    4.4
    (559 reviews)
    0.8 km

    I love well planned green spaces in the central areas of big cities, some of the most famous of…read morewhich are Central Park in NYC and of course, Boston Commons. Tonight after our dinner we enjoyed walking through here and Boston Public Gardens for a good 1.5 hrs catching up with our daughter. There was a growing crowd of happy people (families and children too) cheering the Iraq World Cup team who will play their first match tomorrow against Norway here in Boston. About a dozen Boston police were watching from the sidelines on their motorbikes and I prayed all would stay peaceful. Meanwhile, pedestrians, dog walkers, families were enjoying the fresh cool evening amidst the grandiose trees, lawns, ducks, fountains, and historic statues. If you're in the area, definitely stop by, and also check out the Boston Public Gardens, which are even more landscaped and welcoming!

    Boston Common, which opened in 1634, is the oldest city park in the United States. It is 50 acres,…read moreand is bounded by Beacon Street, Park Street, Tremont Street, Boylston Street, and Charles Street. The nearest subway stations are Park Street Station and Boylston Station. To the west is Boston Public Garden, and to the North, on Beacon Street, is the Massachusetts State House and the start of the Freedom Trail. We walked through Boston Common a couple of times on our trip and saw The Embrace sculpture; Central Burying Ground; Parkman Plaza with the three bronze statues representing Learning, Industry, and Religion; and many, many grey squirrels. Boston Common is one of the top tourist attractions in Boston, and it's clear why! [Yelp collections: Boston, MA 2025; Parks and Gardens]

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    At Boston Commons
    At Boston Commons
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    Boston Public Garden

    Boston Public Garden

    4.8
    (477 reviews)
    1.1 km

    One of the best city gardens I've ever been! If you're a tourist in Boston, this is a must-go…read more It's free; it's near a lot of other great sites (eg Boston Common, which is right next to it) and it's free. Full of photo opportunities! Great for kids and family too. Very easy to walk around and enjoy! For children's books lovers, this is THE place to visit as it is the home of the duck family in " Make Way for Ducklings" - a classic 1941 children's picture book by Robert McCloskey about the Mallard Duck family's search for a home in Boston's Public Garden. The beautiful charcoal illustrations won the Caldecott Medal. In the garden there is a statue of Mrs. Mallard as she raises her eight ducklings (Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack)!

    Yelp Review 2026 #215:…read more Across the street from Four Seasons Hotel is Boston Public Garden which also happens to be right next to Boston Common. Here you'll find picnics areas, walk/ play with your dogs, a quiet place to read a book or just relax or see little sculptures, monuments/ statues, and Good Will Hunting bench. On the opposite end of the garden is Cheers - the bar made famous by an old show. They have ducks swimming in the lake where you can also be on a paddle boat shaped like a duck. At night, there's some lighting but the trees kind of mask the light. But it's nice to watch the reflection of the buildings on the water. I went here in the summer. There's a lot of bugs! Some clung on to my clothes and I brought them to my hotel. Ugh!

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    Boston Public Garden
    Boston Public Garden
    George Washington statue - my first time seeing tulips IRL!! Stunning! (April 2025)

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    The Lawn On D

    The Lawn On D

    4.0
    (173 reviews)
    1.6 km

    First time here and all I can say is WOW!! Beautiful space! They've done a really amazing job with…read morethe renovations to this space! From the green 'grass' to the swings to the greenery and the lighting and the huge stage with an awesome sound system - really great! We went here for live band karaoke with our favorite band called Five Minutes of Fame - they're playing every Thursday night from 7-10 pm. So if you're into singing with a live band go on over and live out your rockstar dreams! They had the food truck called The Grove which I think has a very limiting menu - in terms of healthy and tasty - which is my requirement. I got the grove salad with chicken and it was just ok - nothing to write home about. The hubs had the BLT sandwich which he liked but also found it quite greasy. There are restrooms which are these portable ones in these trailers and they're very nice and clean but the individual ones on the opposite end of the stage was very smelly. The ones behind the stage were better. Running water, flush everything- like a proper restroom. So that is good. We got parking through SpotHero at a nearby parking lot - it was $26 but we didn't want to take chance looking around for parking that is why. But our friends said they found street parking so it's possible to find free parking too. Overall we had a great time, the weather was perfect beautiful summer evening - and great music! We'll be back for more live band karaoke!

    Went to Lawn on D for the World Cup watch party, it was an unspectacular experience. It was very…read morecrowded which made watching the game great, there was a security checkpoint at the front. We attempted to book a table/cabana when we arrived through open table, it was a $50 deposit and $250 minimum for drinks, so great if you have a group that needs a communal place to sit. There are a few bars all serve different items, so depending on what you typically order you'll be going to different areas, which isn't that big of a problem because walking through lawn on D is absolutely beautiful. I would have liked a bigger beer for the price, but when going out you expect to pay more, I additionally saw other customers with Sun cruiser bucket mixed drinks. The seating here is minimal if you're coming on a crowded night, there's plenty if you arrive early or go at a calmer time, but during the World Cup seating was sparse. Food options are similar to a food truck/fast food vibe. If you are not kid friendly this is not the place for you.

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    Hanging out on the swings
    Hanging out on the swings
    The Lawn On D
    The Lawn On D

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    Arnold Arboretum

    Arnold Arboretum

    4.8
    (418 reviews)
    7.5 km

    My daughter recommended us to visit this fantastic arboretum. It was super worthwhile! Just to get…read moreout of the city first a bit into a well-preserved and landscaped beautiful lush green space with evergreens and oaks and gardens. It's free every day! There's a visitor center, where they have clippings of flowers that are labeled for easy identification and appreciation. Also throughout the arboretum are little plaques identifying flora. We went up to see the view of Boston from Peter's Hill and walked alongside the blooming mountain laurel bushes. Walkable paths are asphalt or wood chips. We saw a wild turkey, several robins, and occasional people. Super glad we explored this wondrous place!

    It's been quite some time since i stopped by the arboretum. As a kid my grandma and mother used to…read moretake us there and take photos in the summer. I have some very good child memories here. They used to have hedge? Carvings of animals and stuff which was super cool. Didn't see that today but not sure, we didn't have time to check the whole arboretum. I think this place is so cool, there's families walking, roller blading, skating, biking etc dog walking you name it. It's clean in there so please keep it that way if visiting. There are ample signs of the types of trees, plants, and different zones. Porta potty available on the paths, resting chairs, benches and even spreads for a picnic. Friend had his wedding there not long ago. Easy commute from Forrest Hills train station on the orange line and walk up the street. Multiple gates to go in from, but main gate closed to cars at 4pm i think. The arboretum is closed at dusk. Beautiful walk on a beautiful day.

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    Fall time
    Fall time
    Arnold Arboretum
    Arnold Arboretum

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    Georges Island - parks - Updated August 2026

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