|
|
|
|
|
|
 Recreation Ready for some fun? Hiking, swimming, fishing, sailing, seasonal beauty - all this and more is on the menu of year-round fun in the Harbor Area. Outdoor recreation abounds here, amid landscapes and environments so delicate and rare as to be found nowhere else. Ever conscious of the region's popularity with families, the residents of the Harbor Area have also built plenty of kid-friendly attractions like playgrounds, sports facilities, picnic areas and parks. A year-round calendar of events in the area highlights the region's history, heritage and great people with fun events, great food, music and more. Come out and play! Belle Isle Marsh Reservation - East Boston Belle Isle Marsh Reservation preserves 152 acres of the 241-acre Belle Isle Marsh, Boston's last remaining salt marsh. A unique place for exploring, the reservation exemplifies the type of wetlands that once lined the Massachusetts Bay shore. Centuries of flourishing plant life have made the marsh more fertile than the richest farm land. Its protected waters are nurseries to fish and shellfish and are critical habitat to many salt marsh plants and wildlife rare to the metropolitan area. A favorite get-away for nature walks and birdwatching, the marsh is the summer home of snowy egrets, great egrets, great blue heron and many species of ducks and geese. Belle Isle Reservation includes 28 acres of landscaped park with an easy hiking path, a boardwalk, trails, benches, picnic tables and an observation tower. There is free parking at the entrance on Bennington Street in East Boston. The reservation is accessible by taking the MBTA Blue Line to the Suffolk Downs station and walking north (left) on Bennington Street about a quarter mile across the street. Open year-round from dawn to dusk. 617-727-5350. Breakheart Reservation - Saugus Open all year, Breakheart Reservation is a 640-acre hardwood forest with jagged, rocky outcroppings; two fresh-water lakes; and a rambling section of the Saugus River. Seven rocky hills, each over 200 feet high, provide vistas of Boston, southern New Hampshire and central Massachusetts. An extensive trail system through the woodlands guides visitors to various areas of the reservation. Fishing in Silver and Pearce lakes, hiking the trails, and birdwatching by the Saugus River are popular year-round activities. The supervised swimming area at Pearce Lake, one of the few freshwater swimming spots north of Boston, draws crowds in the summer. In addition to its natural resources, the reservation has a rich cultural history. By car, take Route 1 to the Lynn Fells Parkway, and enter right on Forest Street, Saugus. 781-233-0834. Constitution Beach - East Boston Sitting across the bay from Logan Airport, this sandy beach is a popular swimming destination and a great spot for watching planes land. Offering many forms of play such as baseball diamonds, a playground, basketball, racquetball and tennis courts, Constitution Beach also has a bandstand that is home to summer concerts. Amenities include a bathhouse, restrooms and picnic tables. The beach is open year-round, and lifeguards are on duty July through early September. The beach is located at Bennington and Coleridge Streets and offers free parking. Just take a short walk east from the MBTA Blue Line Orient Heights station, then cross over the blue pedestrian bridge. 617-727-5114. Ingleside Park Š Winthrop This large, family-friendly park near Winthrop Center features a playground, baseball diamond, tennis courts, a gazebo, picnic tables, roller-hockey and an outdoor skating rink. A family concert series takes place in the summer. Located along Walden Street between Main Street and Pauline Street. 617-846-8243. Mary O'Malley Park - Chelsea Acquired from the federal government after the closing of the historic Chelsea Naval Hospital, the park has striking views of the harbor and the Tobin Bridge over the Mystic River. A boat landing and shelter are located on an historic granite pier, and a wind sculpture by William Wainwright enlivens the waterfront. Tennis courts and a large open lawn area for concerts and picnics are also available. The park is open year-round, dawn to dusk. From Route 1 northbound, take the first Chelsea exit and turn east for one block, then south onto Broadway to CommandantÕs Way. 617-727-4708. Piers Park Š East Boston Piers Park is a $17 million, 6.5-acre parcel located along East BostonÕs scenic waterfront. Two strategically located pavilions provide a place for visitors to observe the Boston skyline across the water. The park features a 600-foot pedestrian promenade and spacious strolling walkways lined with many species of trees, ornamental shrubs and seasonal flowers. Piers Park is entirely handicapped-accessible and includes a community sailing center, two children's playgrounds, an adult exercise area, picnic areas and passive pathways. The motif on the structure reflects East Boston's history. At the end of the pier sits a lighthouse-shaped pavilion, which is dedicated to the memory of Master Ship Builder Donald McKay. Since being built in 1995, Piers Park has received several design awards from prestigious institutions, including the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Brick Industry Association. Take the MBTA Blue Line to the Maverick station, turn around at the exit and walk east (left) on Sumner Street two blocks, turn right onto Orleans Street for two blocks, then turn left onto Marginal Street. Limited free parking is available at the entrance at 95 Marginal Street. 617-561-6677. Revere Beach - Revere America's first public beach, Revere Beach faces Massachusetts Bay, 5 miles north of Boston. Its hard sand shore forms a great crescent along the blue ocean for 3 miles and attracts throngs of visitors every summer. With the Nahant and Winthrop peninsulas framing the horizon, the distant lighthouses, and the steamers passing far out to sea, the scenic panorama viewed from the beach by day or night is unsurpassed. Open year-round, lifeguards are on duty from July to early September. Along the paved promenade you will find bikers, walkers, runners, roller bladers and sun bathers. There is an historic bandstand for summer concerts, a bathhouse and many shade shelters. Take the MBTA Blue Line to the Revere Beach station. There is free parking along Revere Beach Boulevard. 617-727-8856. Winthrop Beach - Winthrop This is the largest of many beaches in Winthrop, yet it is also very quaint. It is a lengthy, sandy beach great for swimming, long walks and people watching. Lifeguards are on duty July through early September. The beach is located along Winthrop Shore Drive, with plenty of free parking, and is accessible by the MBTA Blue Line to Orient Heights, then any Winthrop bus (routes 712 & 713). 617-727-5250.
|
||||||||||||||||
