What to Do on Boston’s Waterfront
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What to do on Boston’s waterfront
Looking for adventure on Boston’s waterfront? Look no further than our list of 24 ways to dine, play, and eat your way through our fair city.
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Harborwalk
To see a whole lot of waterfront — and waterfront attractions — meander along Boston’s Harborwalk, which right now includes almost 40 miles of pedestrian- and bike-friendly public access at the water’s edge. (Remember, it’s not all continuous.) 617-482-1722, bostonharborwalk.com
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Rose Fitzgerald Greenway
The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway runs from Chinatown to the North End — about a 30-minute walk if you don’t stop to play in Rings Fountain or ride The Greenway Carousel. 617-292-0020, rosekennedygreenway.org
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Food trucks
Thanks to the Greenway Mobile Eats program, you’ll find high-quality trendy treats this summer from 15 food trucks, ranging from Chinese-American cuisine to vegetarian dishes, to homemade cookies, and more. For cheesy goodness, it’s hard to go wrong with a sammie from Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese (roxysgrilledcheese.com, @RoxysGrilledChz). And no, it’s not at all boring to order the Vermont cheddar “Rookie Melt.’’ Go to returning favorite Bon Me (bonmetruck.com, @bonme) for the best Vietnamese sandwich you’re likely to find in the city. The four new trucks this year are Bacon Truck (bostonbacontruck.com, @BaconTruckBOS), Benny’s Crepe Cafe, Evan’s New York Style Deli, @EvansFoodTruck)and Stoked Wood Fired Pizza Co, @StokedPizza).
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Boston Harbor Islands
Get away to the islands — the Boston Harbor Islands, that is. A quick ferry ride from Long Wharf takes you to Georges or Spectacle island. Georges is home to a Civil War-era fort and often hosts concerts and other events. From there, you can hop a smaller boat to Grape, Bumpkin, Lovell, or Peddocks. On Spectacle are hiking trails and a lifeguard-supervised beach. 617-223-8666, bostonharborislands.org
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Boston Harbor Cruises
Long Wharf is also the launching point for Boston Harbor Cruises, a family-owned business since 1926 offering whale watches, history tours, and all sorts of other themed rides. 617-227-4321, bostonharborcruises.com
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Urban AdvenTours
For an extended exploration, Urban AdvenTours offers daily bicycle rentals for adults and kids as young as 5. They also lead “Bikes at Night,’’ a sunset tour of the waterfront, and the “City View Tour, a classic tour of Boston. 103 Atlantic Ave., 617-670-0637, urbanadventours.com
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USS Constitution Museum
History buffs might begin with a visit to the USS Constitution (Charlestown Navy Yard, www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution), the hero of the War of 1812. Be sure to check out the USS Constitution Museum, which includes the “All Hands on Deck: A Sailor’s Life in 1812’’ exhibit, the “Old Ironsides in War and Peace’’ exhibit, the “Old Ironsides War of 1812 Discovery Center’’ exhibit, and the “Constitution vs HMS Java’’ exhibit. Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, 617-426-1812, ussconstitutionmuseum.org).
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Emack & Bolio’s
Nothing washes down a little history better than a little ice cream. The Charlestown outpost of Emack & Bolio’s, which got its start in Brookline in 1975, has some of the city’s best. 100 City Square, 617-337-3571, emackandbolios.com
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Fairmont Battery Wharf
Visit the Fairmont Battery Wharf for a yoga or core fusion class or a spa treatment at Exhale (617-603-3100, exhalespa.com). Then treat yourself to a meal at Aragosta Bar + Bistro (617-994-9001, aragostabistro.com), where you can dine on contemporary Italian in a chic space including a deck overlooking the water.
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Pastries
There are two types of Bostonians: Mike’s people and Modern people. For the record, the cannolis are better at Mike’s Pastry (300 Hanover St., 617-742-3050, mikespastry.com), where they come in more than a dozen varieties. But go to Modern Pastry (257 Hanover St., 617-523-3783, modernpastry.com) for a sfogliatella, a ricotta-custard filled delight. Can’t pronounce it? Just ask for a lobster tail.
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New Balance Hubway
To cover ground quickly for a specific errand — say, gathering provisions for a picnic — borrow a bike from New Balance Hubway, with waterfront-adjacent locations that include Lewis Wharf, the New England Aquarium, Rowes Wharf, and Fan Pier. Sign up for an annual membership for $85, a monthly membership for $20, a 72-hour pass for $12 or a 24-hour pass for $6. 855-448-2929, thehubway.com
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Christopher Columbus Park
Christopher Columbus Park was Boston’s first waterfront park when it opened in 1976. It remains a great place to picnic under the wisteria-covered trellis, let kids splash in a spray fountain and scramble at the playground, or catch a Sunday night movie from July 13 to Aug. 17. foccp.org
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New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium has been around since 1969, and is one of the best aquariums in the country. And this Mother’s Day moms who have brunch at the Hard Rock Cafe get free admission on Mother’s Day. Don’t forget to spend time at the harbor seal exhibit just outside the front doors! Central Wharf, 617-973-5200, neaq.org
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Lucky’s Lounge
If you want to pick a cool late-night destination and find out where the staffers from foodie hot spots go when they get off work, look no further than Lucky’s Lounge. In the Fort Point area, Lucky’s is a subterranean oasis of retro hip that has live music on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights and Sinatra tributes on Saturday and Sunday nights. Bonus: It’s open till 2 a.m. 355 Congress St., 617-357-5825, luckyslounge.com
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Louis Boston
Anyone with an interest in fashion must visit Louis Boston (60 Northern Ave., 617-262-6100, louisboston.com). It’s big, bold, and arguably the style-savviest spot in town. It’s also home to Sam’s (617-295-0191, samsatlouis.com), which serves up top-notch water views, elevated comfort food, and live music every Friday night.
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Flour Bakery + Cafe
If you missed the desserts in the North End, you can still satisfy your sweet tooth at this location of Flour Bakery + Cafe, where chef Joanne Chang serves her famous sticky buns and banana bread, as well as a selection of cookies (try the tcho chocolate chip). 12 Farnsworth St., 617-338-4333, flourbakery.com
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John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse
The public green behind the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse (One Courthouse Way) is one of the most picturesque and relaxing addresses in all of Boston — unless, of course, you happen to be on trial. Check out the Tall Ships June 30 through July 6 at the Boston Harbor. www.opsailboston.com
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The Boston Children’s Museum
The Boston Children’s Museum is one of the best places anywhere for hands-on fun. A three-story climbing structure greets kids in the lobby. The museum offers a Japanese house, KidStage, Bubbles exhibit, and more. 308 Congress St., 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org
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Barbara Lynch
At the high end of the dining spectrum, Barbara Lynch’s Menton (354 Congress St., 617-737-0099, mentonboston.com) became Boston’s first Relais & Chateaux property — and introduced a new chef’s tasting menu for $155. At the lower end, Lynch’s ode to the lunch counter, Sportello (348 Congress St., 617-737-1234, sportelloboston.com), offers an array of paninis, salads, pastas, and desserts.
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Got lobster?
It almost goes without saying that there is a wealth of seafood around here. Among the favorites are the “naked’’ lobster roll and “barking’’ crab cake sandwich at The Barking Crab (Fort Point Landing, 88 Sleeper St., 617-426-2722, barkingcrab.com). If you want to pick up fresh seafood or a prepared lobster dinner to go, there’s James Hook & Co. (15-17 Northern Ave., 617-423-5501, jameshooklobster.com).
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Legal Harborside
Legal Harborside (270 Northern Ave., 617-477-2900, legalseafoods.com) is a 20,000-square-foot seafood emporium with a casual fish shack on the first floor, fine dining on the second, and a popular roof deck for drinks and small bites on the third.
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The Institute of Contemporary Art
The Institute of Contemporary Art showcases a rotating permanent collection of works by some of the world’s foremost artists. Check out “A World of Glass,’’ a multimedia installation with 193 polyurethane crystal sculptures and 4 digital videos by Swedish artist Nathalie Djurberg and Swedish composer Hans Berg. The art, which explores the complexities of the human condition, is on display through July 6. 100 Northern Ave., 617-478-3100, icaboston.org
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Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum offers interactive exhibits, a Tavern and Tea Room, and (best of all) three traditional ships modeled after those that were overrun during the Boston Tea Party. 306 Congress St., 855-832-1773, bostonteapartyship.com
