Island sights in Boston
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A
Thompson Island
Thompson Island was settled as early as 1626 by a Scotsman, David Thompson, who set up a trading post to do business with the Neponset Indians. Today this island is privately owned and inhabited by Thompson Island Outward Bound, a nonprofit organization that develops fun and challenging physical adventures, especially for training and developing leadership skills. As such, the public can explore its 200-plus acres only on Sunday, when it’s wonderful for walking, fishing and birding. A dedicated ferry leaves from EDIC Pier in the Seaport District; see the website for details.
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Deer Island
Funny thing about Deer Island: it’s not actually an island. A hurricane in 1938 created the causeway that now connects the ‘island’ to the mainland, so the Harbor Express boats do not go here (it’s accessible only by car). The other funny thing about Deer Island is that it is dominated by a gigantic sewage treatment plant, which is one of the key factors in the clean-up of Boston Harbor. The facility is surrounded by 60 acres of parkland, with 5 miles of trails. Tours of the waste water treatment facility are also available, with advance arrangements.
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B
Grape Island
Grape Island is rich with fruity goodness – not grapes, but raspberries, bayberries and elderberries, all growing wild amid the scrubby wooded trails. The wild fruit attracts abundant bird life. Park rangers lead an interesting ‘wild edibles’ tour highlighting the fruits of the earth. Grape Island is also the starting point for twice-daily sea-kayak outings led by park rangers. Unlike many of the Harbor Islands, Grape Island has no remains of forts or military prisons; but during the Revolutionary War, it was the site of a skirmish over hay, known as the Battle of Grape Island.
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C
Spectacle Island
A Harbor Island hub, Spectacle Island has a large marina (admission $20 to $30 per day), a solar-powered visitors center, a healthy snack bar and supervised beaches. Five miles of walking trails provide access to a 157ft peak overlooking the harbor. Special events include live jazz and Dixie music on Sunday afternoons and occasional kite-flying festivals. Spectacle Island is relatively close to the city and a ferry runs here directly from Long Wharf (hourly 9am-5pm daily, to 6pm Saturday and Sunday early May to early September).
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D
Lovells Island
Two deadly shipwrecks may bode badly for seafarers, but that doesn’t seem to stop recreational boaters, swimmers and sunbathers from lounging on Lovells’ long rocky beach. Some of the former uses of Lovells are evident: European settlers used the island as a rabbit run, and descendent bunnies are still running this place; Fort Standish dates from WWI but has yet to be excavated. With facilities for camping and picnicking, Lovells is one of the most popular Harbor Island destinations.
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E
Bumpkin Island
This small island has served many purposes over the years, first farming then fish drying and smelting. In 1900 it was the site of a children’s hospital, but it was taken over for navy training during WWI. You can still explore the remains of a stone farmhouse and the hospital. The beaches are not the best for swimming, as they are slate and seashell. A network of trails leads through fields overgrown with wildflowers. It’s one of three islands with camping facilities.
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F
Peddocks Island
One of the largest Harbor Islands, Peddocks consists of four headlands connected by sandbars. Hiking trails wander through marsh, pond and coastal environs. But the dominant feature of Peddocks Island is the remains of Fort Andrews, a large facility with more than 20 buildings. Peddocks’ proximity to the mainland ensured its use as a military stronghold, from the Revolutionary War right through WWII.
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Boston Harbor Islands
Designated a National Recreation Area, Boston Harbor Islands consist of 34 islands with sandy beaches and hiking trails. Since the massive cleanup of Boston Harbor in the 1990s, these once-polluted islands, just a 45-minute boat ride from downtown Boston, have been transformed into sparkling natural assets.
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