Just 15 minutes from downtown Boston, Spectacle Island is for hiking, swimming, boating, and learning. Stop in at a “green” visitor center with exhibits about the history and evolution of the island. Go swimming on a sandy beach (one of the few on the islands) supervised by trained lifeguards. Take in panoramic views of the harbor and city from the tallest hill on the Boston Harbor Islands.

Spectacle Island has toilet facilities and drinking water. Its marina makes it a popular destination for boaters, who use the island as a starting place for other island exploration. And groups use Spectacle Island as a great place to host events.