The creation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area in 1996, which gathered together more than 30 islands dotting Boston Harbor, has helped the area reclaim a bit of its seafaring past; an island adventure is only a quick boat trip away. But you don't even need a boat to explore the islands. What with landfill and development, once and former islands have been connected to the mainland along Boston Harbor, Quincy Bay and Hingham Bay and are accessible by automobile.
–Stephanie Schorow, Globe Correspondent