How to Spend Springtime in the Seaport Jun 03, 2021
If winter in Boston is a time to cozy up by a historic restaurant’s fireplace, feast on Thanksgiving specialties, and shop for Christmas gifts, spring is a time to throw open your doors, and head outside. With its newly verdant parks, piers, and promenades—including the Seaport-area venues below—”America’s Walking City” lives up to its reputation as a pedestrian’s paradise during this season.
The Boston Harborwalk offers direct access to some of Beantown’s most famously scenic locales: the Charles River Esplanade; the Rose Kennedy Greenway; the Emerald Necklace, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted of New York’s Central Park. And as the name suggests, the 43-mile route runs along the harbor— affording views of swimmers, sailors, and sunbathers, not to mention seabirds returning to Boston from the south.
Just a short ferry ride from the heart of Boston, the Boston Harbor Islands boast rich history, as well as picturesque natural sights. Discover Boston Light, the oldest continually operating light station in America, first lit in 1716; Grape Island, where wild berries grow among willows and elms; and Thompson Island, home to herons and egrets.
The Lawn on D is best known for its glowing “circle swings,” which change color throughout the year, but there are so many other things to do in this playground for grown-ups— from dancing, to schmoozing with Boston locals, to playing larger-than-life chess, checkers, Connect Four, and even Jenga games.
Perched on one of Massachusetts’ most desirable stretches of waterfront, just steps from Boston’s Financial District, Fan Pier is home to shops, restaurants, residences, a sprawling marina, and the storied Institute of Contemporary Art— giving you a wide range of activities and experiences to choose from, both day and night.
The Seaport Ferry serves as a convenient form of transportation between Lovejoy Wharf and Fan Pier, but it’s also a destination unto itself, with spectacular panoramas of East Boston and downtown’s soaring skyscrapers.
A daytime or evening ride on one of City Cruises’ award-winning sightseeing boats will allow you to take in the Boston Harbor sights, while dining on brunch, lunch, or dinner; sipping cocktails; and dancing to live music.
