Task 06 & Task 09 - Spectacle Island

Task (06) Visit one of the Boston Harbor Islands.

Task (09) Visit 5 new beaches. (3/5)

Island: Spectacle Island
Ferry Cost:   $15.00

At less than 4 miles and only a 15 minute ride by boat from downtown Boston is an island with a varied history. Spectacle Island used to be two drumlins connected by a small spit of sand but over the many years of use. It was first used as a recreational island with two hotels until it was discovered to be used for illegal gambling. Then it was a horse rendering plant, then a city dump, and now a state park. It has nearly doubled from its original 49 acres to a total of 85 acres. Spectacle Island is home to excavated dirt and clay from the Big Dig which was used to resurface the island after its long history as the city dump.

I joined my brother, Sister-in-Law, kids and my sister-in-law's brother. When we arrived we found a Welcome Center directly of the pier with a small beach to the left. The amenities included two outdoor showers for rinsing the salt water off and 4 small changing rooms. There is a small clam shack with modest offerings in case you get hungry. We opted to walk along one of the many paths to find a beach suitable for a quick swim. What we discovered were beaches littered with beautiful sea glass and shells. The kids collected a few cool pieces.

We finally found a beach nice enough to go for a swim and the watch was cool and refreshing.  We didn’t stay in the water long but on a nice summer day with the sun beating strong it was a welcomed way to cool down. We then continued along the paths with the kids exploring the shoreline. Even though the signs said not to walk or explore the rock walls we couldn’t resist and explored finding all kinds of cool things. Aidan got to take home a lobster pot buoy that had found its way to the island.

The city views from the island are fantastic and as we made a full circle back to the Welcome Center we explored the history of the island by reading the Island timeline found in the gift shop before catching the ferry home.  It was a wonderful day exploring one of the many Boston Harbor Islands.