Tidepool investigating, harbor swimming, and fort exploring are all possible within the city limits of the city of Boston. Among the museums, historical attractions, and other Boston activities, it can be nice to get outside and explore.
The Boston Harbor Islands, a national and state park comprised of 34 islands and peninsulas (4 of which can be accessed via a public ferry that runs seasonally) offer all of these fantastic, family-friendly activities. They are a bit of a hidden gem in Boston.
Disclosure: I received complimentary ferry tickets so I could visit the islands. All opinions are my own.
A Boston Hidden Gem: The Boston Harbor Islands
If you are looking for a unique, outdoor Boston activity with kids (in season), it’s definitely worth spending a day exploring one or more of the islands.
What are the Boston Harbor Islands?
The Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is the name of the 34 islands and peninsulas (4 publicly accessible through the ferry service) located off the coast of Boston. They are officially part of the city of Boston but feel like a completely different place.
In the summer, the Boston Harbor Islands offer loads of family activities, but even without a scheduled activity, the islands are so much fun to explore. During a hot summer day, we headed to Spectacle Island, which is best known for tide pools and sea glass, as well as for one of the few island beaches right in the city of Boston.
Start your adventure at the Ferry Center on Long Wharf, by Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in downtown Boston. If you don’t want to drive, you can take public transportation to a nearby station. Options include the orange line, blue line, and green line on the MBTA.
Ferries do sell out, but tickets are now sold online. You’ll choose the date and time that you want to leave Long Wharf, but don’t have to worry about your return to Long Wharf.
Be sure to arrive about 20 minutes in advance of your departure, even if you’ve purchased tickets online. Once on board, the trip to Spectacle Island is about 20 minutes or so, and the journey is fun and beautiful. I took loads of pictures as we sailed on the harbor.
Before you buy tickets, you’ll want to decide which island you are hoping to visit. Do some research to see what activities and events are offered at each public island. There are lots of different things on each island within the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, including hiking trails, beaches, and tide pool exploring.
The public ferry service operates seasonally. They typically start running for the season in May. There’s usually a free ferry day early in the season, which can be a great way to explore the islands without paying.
Tickets for that date are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis and go to Georges and Spectacle Islands. I recommend that you keep an eye out on the official website for the next free ferry day.
For younger kids, the Boston Harbor Islands offers the Junior Ranger program. You can find out more information on their website.
Visiting Spectacle Island
For our first trip to the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, we opted to go to Spectacle Island. Before leaving, I had looked at all of the events on the islands on that particular day, and we decided to visit Spectacle because of the tidepools guided tour that was offered that day.
Spectacle Island offers a seasonal cafe, running water, restrooms, a beach, hiking paths, and more. You can bring your own picnic too, just remember that whatever you bring on the island needs to come off the island.
During our day at Spectacle Island, we spent some time on the beach, went on a sea glass treasure hunt, and then attended a guided tour of the tide pools from a park ranger before heading home. The kids had a fabulous time – they really felt we’d gone on a big trip!
Other Boston Harbor Islands
In addition to Spectacle Island, there are other Boston Harbor Islands. Remember to bring along anything you’ll need, including beach towels and sunscreen. There aren’t really any shops on the islands to purchase these items.
Georges Island – Where you can explore Fort Warren and visit a museum dedicated to the history of the fort. Georges and Spectacle Islands seem to be the most popular with families. There is also a public ferry to this destination.
Peddocks Island – One of the larger islands offering camping and perfect for a family hike. Public ferries also travel to this destination.
Lovells Island – Great for camping and tidepool investigating.
Little Brewster Island – Home to the Boston Light, where you can take a Boston Light Climbing Tour. The ferry is only available if you are signed up for the tour.
Grape Island – Picnic areas and hiking are offered on this island.
Bumpkin Island – Camping and wildflower hikes
Thompson Island – Offering Thompson Island Outward Bound, this island is open to the public for exploring on weekends in season. I’ve been for corporate events for an old job, and always enjoyed my time on Thompson Island.
Shutter Island – Some people may wonder where Shutter Island, from the movie, is located. Unfortunately, this island doesn’t exist, however, some of the scenes from the movie were filmed on Peddocks Island.
A 2-hour, narrated lighthouse tour is also offered on select days for those interested in specifically seeing the lighthouses in the area.
Boston Harbor Islands Ferry
Currently four islands are accessible via ferry service (provided by Boston Harbor Cruises) in season. Check the ferry schedule before planning your visit, because the schedules can vary and in some cases, you’ll need to connect to another ferry at Georges Island. The ferry terminal in Boston is located at Long Wharf, near Christopher Columbus Park.
There is also an MBTA-operated ferry leaving from Hingham, MA and going to Georges Island.
Boston Harbor Islands Activities
In addition to the activities mentioned above, the parks offer a variety of programs, including ranger tours and tidepool exploring. Check out the events calendar for more information. Other programs include the junior ranger program and special kid-friendly tours.
For more information, check out their website.
Need a place to stay while you are visiting Boston? Here are some places to stay in Boston with kids.
Originally written in 2011, updated in 2023
