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    Spectacle Island

    4.0 (63 reviews)

    Spectacle Island Photos

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    Jacqui L.

    There's not that much to do, but honestly that's part of the point I think! Spectacle Island is really only a short ferry ride away from Boston and yet feels far enough to be a ~ destination ~ with some nature and retreat-like vibes. You get a pretty nice view of the Boston skyline, a fun beach (stable shoes advised for the rockier parts) where you can hunt for seaglass, and some nice places to picnic (just bring something to sit on since the grass isn't too soft), hike/walk, and explore!

    Information center
    Ravi K.

    We reserved a city experiences ferry to get to the island. This is a small island and you an cover the full island on feet in 1-2 hours. There are some beach spots which you can use to take a dip. There are open showers near the beach. When it comes to food, there are not many food options hence bring your own food. Coke or pepsi is not available over here. You will get beer and water. Since the food options are limited hence they are expensive. It's a good idea to get your own food and drinks to avoid wasting time standing in line for food. The pebbles on the beach can be tricky to walk hence its a good idea to have a pair of slippers. Basically, your experience on the island depends on your planning. Get your food, drinks, extra pair of clothes, sunscreen and you should be good. Have fun.

    Leave it where you found it.
    Jess J.

    An easy walk around the island, however there is little shade. Be prepared (hats & sunblock are your friends!). In the main building there is a free sunblock dispenser for anyone who needs it. A great benefit to visitors. As a result of the island's history, the beach is littered with sea glass. You just can't take it with you. Bring your camera to document the stunning pieces you will see!

    View from Spectacle Island - 2009
    Mindy L.

    For the 4th of July - my boyfriend and I decided to get out of the city for a day and I suggested that we head out to one of the Harbor Islands. I've been to Deer Island before, but never Spectacle, so we decided to head out here. We purchased our tickets from the kiosk right at the harbor and waited for about 15 minutes for the ferry to arrive. We were loaded onto the first ferry (yep, we had more than one) and as it was backing out of the harbor some horrible clanging noises started and I had a feeling we were going to turn back. Sure enough, we did, but everyone was in good spirits and thought little of it. They quickly transferred us onto a second ferry waiting at the wharf. Our trip out there was gorgeous - but dampened by two girls incessently yapping in an unrecognizable language (it would have been equally annoying in English - so technically the language is irrelevant). When we arrived on the island we decided to take the "hike" - term used loosely as it's not steep enough to cause heavy breathing - and we walked up and around the island following the marked trails. It was absolutely beautiful and the sea of wild flowers that grow in abundance make it so hard to believe that this was once a landfill full of Big Dig trash. After our hike, we relaxed on the big porch of the Visitors Center (there is also a little cafe) in some comfy Adirondack chairs and vegged out. There is a small beach for those looking to wade/tan as well. Beautiful spot to get away from the city.

    http://www.stephstevensphoto.com/
    Stephanie S.

    Went there this past weekend on a special "Snow Day" trip. Heard about it on boston.com and it couldn't have been a better day for it. No snow to speak of but what a great place to explore!! Trails to walk around and two "summits" to get a better view of the surrounding islands and the city skyline. Summits - because one of them is the highest point of any of the islands but not strenuous hiking by any means. Composting toilets in the visitors center and lots of little places to picnic. I'll definitely be back out there and to the other ones in the summer.

    Doing a headstand on the beach
    Lane B.

    Lovely! I quite enjoyed making a little day out of this. I'm a student so it was only $12 round trip for me. I love boats and the ferry ride was so fun! The island is adorable and the little hike is quite fun. Next time I'll pack a picnic. But the rules are that whatever trash you bring, you have to take off. There are no trash cans there! The only thing that sucks is that if you miss the ferry you have to wait! I missed one leaving very promptly but then on the next one we waited around for stragglers. Super minimal complaint, but I didn't dig the inconsistency of keeping a tight schedule.

    Astra G.

    Island with a long history as a former city dump, among others, that is now a national park. There is wildlife and plants, lots of birds and butterflies. Some very easy trails. Gorgeous views of Boston. Minimal shade... so bring sunscreen! Lots of sea glass and rocks on the beach. And a VERY small swimming area. Without looking hard I Found 3 pieces of garbage in the water.... - a blue latex glove - a cheese wrapper - a candy bar wrapper And no garbage cans to put said garbage in since it's a bring on bring off island. Theres also a food stand with sandwiches, salads, and sides in case you forgot your picnic.

    6/18/2011

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    2 months ago

    Beautiful Island, plenty of beautiful places and nice people. It's very clean with a few places to eat.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Spectacle Island

    Are dogs allowed?

    No. Only service animals are allowed on the islands. This sometimes leads to confusion because the boat company will allow pets onboard but not on the island.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Spectacle Island

    Spectacle is small and walkable and has gorgeous views across the harbor and Boston's somewhat distant skyline.

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

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    Cycleboat Boston - Pedal as much as you'd like, or sit back and relax and let the motor do the work. A Cycleboat cruise is about enjoying time on the water.

    Cycleboat Boston

    4.6(41 reviews)
    4.8 miCharlestown

    a BYOB Brews Cruise around Boston Harbor?! Yes, please!…read more Cycleboat Boston, based in Charlestown, is a family-owned company providing both public tours and private charters for up to 20-26 guests. Each boat has a central table with ice-filled coolers that is surrounded by 12 bike seats for passengers to pedal to power the boat but don't worry! You don't have to pedal, there is an outboard motor. And if pedaling isn't your thing at all or there's more than 12 of passengers, each boat has a comfy lounge area in the back that is set up for conversation, sipping on your drink and drinking in the views! All cruises are BYOB (cans only and no hard alcohol - a craft beer lovers dream) and you can also bring food/snacks on board! For our cruise, we enjoyed charcuterie cones from Kured.co and Scuba & I obviously had to bring along some on-theme beers including Cushnoc Brewing's 'Can't Buy Backbone' IPA, Wormtown Brewing's Summer Ale and a pounder of Montauk Brewing's Summer Ale (all purchased at Dion's in Waltham). As someone who is happiest in/on/near the water with a beer in hand and has so much pride in my city; this was a dream! I am actively looking for any excuse to get back out on a Cycleboat!

    What an AWESOME experience we had with Cycleboat Boston!!! We did an afternoon cruise on "Rosie the…read moreRiveter" and it was a blast! Our captain and his daughter were great hosts and tour guides for this group of 10 celebrating a bachelorette. BYOB and of course someone from your group gets to be DJ! Highly recommend for a large group outing on the harbor!

    Photos
    Cycleboat Boston - Bar area of the boat

    Bar area of the boat

    Cycleboat Boston - Cycleboat Boston owners Ed and Rosie Cardinali make every trip the best of Boston.

    Cycleboat Boston owners Ed and Rosie Cardinali make every trip the best of Boston.

    Cycleboat Boston - Whether with friends and family, or visiting the city, Cycleboat Boston is plenty of fun. All cruises BYOB - we provide ice & coolers.

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    Whether with friends and family, or visiting the city, Cycleboat Boston is plenty of fun. All cruises BYOB - we provide ice & coolers.

    Paddle Boston: Cambridge at Kendall Sq.

    Paddle Boston: Cambridge at Kendall Sq.

    4.3(144 reviews)
    5.6 miKendall Square/MIT, East Cambridge

    I booked a kayak at the Kendall Square location and landed here. I should have gone the other…read moredirection - the most difficult part was near this location, and I was paddling against the wind and current most of the way. Other than that, it was a great trip! It's a nice mix of peaceful trees and city views. I also paddled through a sailing team practice, which was cool. The boats were in great shape. The life jackets were showing their age, but I guess that's what you get with rentals. They estimated 1.5 - 2 hours for this trip, and it took me about an hour. I docked a star from this location, because the workers didn't really seem to know what was going on when I returned the boat. I needed to let them know I came from the other location and the responses were "that's cool" and "okay" and "I don't know what to do with that". Turns out you have to check out in a trailer at the end of the dock and tell them, but no one seemed to know. Still a great trip!

    TL;DR - Paddle Boston at Kendall Square is my go-to for kayaking on the Charles. The staff is…read morealways friendly, prices are fair, and the views of Boston and Cambridge are unbeatable. Their season passes and Fourth of July rentals make the experience even better--highly recommend! _______________________________ I love being outdoors, especially on the water, and Paddle Boston has become one of my favorite spots in the city. I discovered them shortly after moving to Boston and working in Cambridge, and it has been a go-to ever since. Their kayak rentals are fairly priced and offer an amazing way to enjoy the Charles River with unbeatable views of both the Boston and Cambridge skylines. The staff is always friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Their kayaks are perfect for the calm waters of the Charles, not overly advanced but not basic either, just right for a relaxing paddle. I also love that they offer season passes for frequent paddlers and special rentals for the Fourth of July Boston Pops Fireworks, which is truly the best way to experience the show. While I typically take the T to get there, parking nearby on Main Street has never been an issue. If you are looking for a fun and easy outdoor activity in the city, I highly recommend Paddle Boston at Kendall Square.

    Photos
    Paddle Boston: Cambridge at Kendall Sq.
    Paddle Boston: Cambridge at Kendall Sq.
    Paddle Boston: Cambridge at Kendall Sq.

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    Zoar Outdoor - Me and shoog post Zoar rafting

    Zoar Outdoor

    4.8(142 reviews)
    99.0 mi

    Whitewater rafting trip. The staff was great! They were all very friendly and helpful. Zoar Outdoor…read moreis located on route 2 in Western MA directly across the street from the Deerfield River. Very beautiful area. After a brief safety video and briefing, we were given our rafting kit, loaded on buses, and brought up river to the raft slip, this was about a 30 minute trip north west. The raft trip ended across the street from where we started. An easy exit, we got out of the boat, returned our kit, and walked across the road to watch the video, and purchase souvenir photographs. We had an excellent day on the river during our 10 mile trip. My 14 year old son and I did the Zoar Gap trip which took most of the day with an hour break for lunch at a nice riverside picnic ground in the mountains. You can bring your own food( appropriately packaged) if you would like. They store it in a water proof bag and stow it on the raft. If there is even a hint of rain or you just don't want to get completely soaked, bring a three season jacket or rain coat. Also, you will be out on a river dress accordingly. NO open toed shoes! This includes flip- flops. You can rent shoes and wetsuits. If you have any medical issues like allergic reactions etc. I would either bring your own Epi Pen kit and medications with you, and stow it in the water proof bag, or possibly think about finding a less isolated outdoor experience. Be warned, white water rafting can be physically strenuous. The only issue I had was the lunch that was provided. Not that it was bad, it was well packaged and pre-made( not to order). If you have food allergies or don't like mayonnaise bring your own food. Zoar Outdoor is not really able to accommodate food allergies or pickey eaters. Mayonnaise was on every sandwich. I don't know why. They could just have provided packets on the side but they there were none available. My son hates mayonnaise so he only ate the chips, pickle, and cookies provided which got him through the remainder of the trip but not exactly a great lunch. One man we were with had a dairy allergy. I'm pretty sure he was not able to eat any of the food. I'm not sure why he didn't make sure a head of time if he could eat the food.I wish I had known the sandwiches had mayonnaise on them a head of time. Not a huge deal, we got over it. The trip was super fun! I would love to go again and will definitely choose Zoar Outdoor again.

    Steve was our guide for white water rafting and he was awesome. Truly an expert on the route and…read moregave perfect instructions. All staff were very friendly. They even accommodated our dietary restrictions. 10/10 recommend!

    Photos
    Zoar Outdoor
    Zoar Outdoor - Ready to raft!!

    Ready to raft!!

    Zoar Outdoor - Our guide also showed us his gnome

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    Our guide also showed us his gnome

    Boston Yacht Charters - Schooner LANNON...49 Guests, Gloucester MA ~

    Boston Yacht Charters

    3.4(8 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    Planning a special event on the water? Don't look any further! Ann at Boston Yacht Charters was…read moreAMAZING in helping me plan a surprise private charter for my boyfriend's bday and our anniversary! Not only did she coordinate an amazing afternoon on the harbor with Captain Don on the Indiscretion, she became my Boston tour guide helping me plan the perfect trip and walked me step by step through transportation, restaurants, neighborhoods, live music venues, etc. She is a true Bostonian, LOVES her city and should be named Boston Ambassador Extraordinaire! Ann made sure we had our favorite snacks, champagne, glasses, etc. and Captain Don had a cooler full of beverages and even offered to cook on the grill for us while on our 3 hour trip around the harbor. We visited Boston over Halloween weekend 2021 which was late in the season to charter a yacht. Ann communicated with me almost daily leading up to the trip and worked with various captains to ensure I would be able to surprise my boyfriend with a special day on the water...we even worked together to move the timing of the charter during our trip ensure we had the best weather for our excursion. Ann met us at the dock, took photos and took care of all the details, making it a wonderful surprise, within our agreed budget and helpful in every way. Huge thanks to Ann for her OUTSTANDING customer service and genuine interest in helping me plan a day that my boyfriend (now fiance) and I will never forget, and a special trip that we will always cherish.

    Recently booked a company outing with Ann at Boston Yacht Charters and everything worked out great…read more We booked a 2.5 hour harbor cruise on the Timeless through Ann who coordinated everything for us and worked within our budget. All we had to do was show up at the dock. There was plenty of food and drink (both of which exceeded expectations) and the staff of the Timeless were extremely friendly and accommodating. This was our 3rd time working with BYC and i foresee us returning again.

    Photos
    Boston Yacht Charters
    Boston Yacht Charters - TRILOGY...Elegance for 12 Guests!

    TRILOGY...Elegance for 12 Guests!

    Boston Yacht Charters - Atlas, Marina Bay...25 Guests ~

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    Atlas, Marina Bay...25 Guests ~

    Trinacria Fishing & Cruising Boston - Nice Fish

    Trinacria Fishing & Cruising Boston

    5.0(4 reviews)
    4.3 miNorth End

    Captain Riccardo and Judah did a great job with us. They worked hard, got us on fish and scored…read more Awesome job, looking forward to getting back on the water with Trinarcia again. Thanks for a great day on the water.

    I get nervous in the water whether it's on a boat or swimming...only because I can't swim and I…read morehave anxiety. My family and I had so much fun on Rick's boat. His boat is clean and steady. We went lobster fishing. The boat is so steady, it wasn't rocking around too much. Rick gave us each a job to do. One was to record how many lobsters in the trap, which were keepers and which we had to throw back because it was either female (breeder) or too small. I had the job of measuring the lobster for size. Rick taught us that if it's a breeder, you clip the tail to indicate that it's a breeder. My sister in law was recording the number caught in each trap. My brother in law helped with steering the boat (he has a boat too.) My husband helped with gathering the lobster trap with a pole. I didn't know pig skin is used as bait. Although I was nervous, Rick kept me busy with putting bands on the lobster claws. I became an expert at it. At the end of the day, Rick put our catch on the grill. Let me tell you, grilled lobsters are the best! Especially when it's fresh out of the ocean. There was also a small crab in the catch too. I had forgotten about being nervous in the boat. Definitely book a trip with Rick, he makes boating fun! Even for people with anxiety being in the water. I want to go boating again with Rick this summer! I'm not anxious with Rick. He's great! Maybe this time I'll learn to fish!

    Photos
    Trinacria Fishing & Cruising Boston
    Trinacria Fishing & Cruising Boston
    Trinacria Fishing & Cruising Boston

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    Paddle Boston - Condon Shell

    Paddle Boston - Condon Shell

    4.5(8 reviews)
    9.4 mi

    Always super easy to understand and be notified of any changes based on weather. You can always…read morebook ahead of time for the boats you want to rent. If you're going many times, look into getting a season pass

    I went to the location in Medford to kayak. While I was there I accidentally left my watch in a…read morewaterproof bag, which my mom gave to me with her initials engraved in it, it was priceless and extremely important to me. I called them 4 TIMES in the span of a week, even getting someone else to call them to ask about it, The first time being only an hour after i left. Every single time they said they had no updates and they DIDNT EVEN TRY to look for it. They even forgot my name, number and every time without fail they asked me what my watch looked like again but they never even searched or sent me a follow up email. If they had looked when I called the first time, they would have IMMEDIATELY found it because it' was at the top of the waterproof bag section. This watch means so much to me and I now have left the country so there is no opportunity for me to get it ever again. I really hope they can improve their customer service because this is extremely disappointing and hopefully others can see this and not leave anything there because you will NEVER get it back. I will never be using this company again and i suggest nobody to book anything with them for their lack of respect and care for any of their customers.

    Photos
    Paddle Boston - Condon Shell - Swam family

    Swam family

    Paddle Boston - Condon Shell
    Paddle Boston - Condon Shell

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    Spectacle Island - beaches - Updated May 2026

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