Things to do at Boston Harbour

Boston is a world-class city with luxurious hotels, great restaurants and a wonderful history all around. It is also a jumping-off point for cruises around Boston Harbour. The offshore waters abound with fish and whales. The harbour (pronounced locally 'haa-bah') is ever-present in Boston, whether you travel under it by car through one of the tunnels, cross it by ferry after arriving at the airport or stay at one of the harbour hotels.

On the waterfront

A stroll along the waterfront brings you to an aquarium, a fish pier and the home of the Tea Party that spawned the United States. Aquarium Boston's aquarium is one of the largest in the country. With an outdoor seal tank and an indoor, glass-enclosed, 4-story ocean tank of 200,000 gallons, the aquarium is home to some unusual creatures like blue and albino lobsters. Whale watching trips depart from the aquarium as well as other nearby wharves. Fish pier The fishing fleet is not what it once was, but a trip to the fish pier to watch the unloading of the local catch is still rewarding. For an authentic meal, stop at The No Name Restaurant on the pier where the fishermen will be chowing down on the famous fish chowder. Hotels Hotels on the harbour include some of Boston's luxurious hotels. Downtown Boston hotels are within walking distance. Search "Boston hotels" for a complete list, and "Boston hotel packages" for some of the best bargains.

Activities on the water

Whale watching For whale watching, Boston is a fine place to start with. A trip of about 45 minutes puts you on the best whale-viewing grounds on the Atlantic coast. Stellwagen Bank, a fish sanctuary, attracts billions of squid, sand eels, herring, mackerel and other small fish. These in turn attract tunas, sharks, dolphins and many kinds of whales, including the acrobatic humpback and the huge fin whale. Fishing You can charter a fishing trip that might not even have to leave the harbour. Striped bass up to 50 pounds inhabit the local waters from May to October. In addition, there are flounders, bluefish and many other species within easy reach. For cod, haddock, and tuna, longer-range boats will head for Stellwagen Bank. Sightseeing Boston Harbour cruises ply the waters going to George's Island and other locations that were important military outposts during the revolutionary war. Much of the island has been developed for recreation. A picnic is in order on a nice day and swimming is good if you don't mind water temperatures in the 60s.