Spectacle Island

Be sure to bring a Windbreaker or a cardigan! Part of the island is quite windy! Even in the full sun, we were a little chilly. The park itself is really quite well maintained. There are a couple of little picnic spots, and we had some sandwiches with us, so we were able to stop and eat, but many of the tables are in a windy area! Great views of the city, and there are two paths you can take; one is a Loop, and the other is up a hill. The hill is not massive or strenuous. I saw people doing it with toddlers. The history is really interesting as well, so be sure to stop into the Little visitor center that’s at the entrance. They have some information on the geology of the island. However, the reception at the Little center is why this is a four star review instead of Five. The person greeting us there was rather grumpy. It was in the middle of the government shut down, and so I totally get it. She said that this place was not affected, but she did not seem very Willing or excited to answer our questions. Normally when someone works in a national park or part of the Department of interior or any sort of historic site, they have a real passion for it and want to share it with visitors. Not so in this case. But she could’ve been having an off-day. We just explored on our own, like many other people. If you are out Exploring the Island and worried about missing the boat, they do send people around from the boat or from the park service to round you up; it’s a small place, so they make sure to tell everybody 10 to 15 minutes before boarding that it’s time to start heading down the hill. Overall, a lovely day, great views, and the only thing that would have made it better would’ve been a bit more cheer from the woman at the visitor center.

A good 👍 place for a relaxing walk, views of the Boston waterfront, Logan Airport, several bays and islands. You can walk to the top 🔝 of two summits. The North ⬆️ Drumlin Summit is the highest point of any of the islands surrounding Boston. The 🏝️ Island's history to me was fascinating! The indigenous people visited the island and used it in trading. Settlers gathered lumber 🪵🪚 from the island. As the area that would become Boston was increasingly settled, the Island was used for commerce at first 🥇. Later, the Island was used for the reprocessing of horse 🐴 carcasses. Then the Island was used for a trash 🗑️ dump ,disposal and reprocessing. A few families lived here and a lighthouse was established. The Island received its name 📛 from the the two drumlins and the space between them resembling a pair of spectacles. The landfill that was removed from the Big Dig in Boston was sent here and buried the trash on the Island. The height of the drumlins was raised and helped create the scenic views of today. You can watch the boat ⛵ traffic 🚦, see 🙈 airplanes land and take off at Logan, see different species of birds, walk along the coast and visit the ⛱️ beaches, have a picnic 🧺 at one of the numerous tables or benches and go on a guided tour. I observed people flying kites and kids having fun 😊. The visitor center is a good place to read history or relax. The bathroom was in good shape. I would bring an umbrella ☔ even it is sunny ☀️. There is very little shade and an umbrella or parasol would provide some relief. Have water 💦, bug 🪲 repellent for the occasional mosquito 🦟. Waterproof shoes 👟 if it is raining or has recently rained. I enjoyed my visit and I recommend a visit if you want to go somewhere and relax.

Beautiful island. Rehabilitated after quite a lot of industrial activities in the past. You can see few remnants. Only accessible by boat/ferry. They have a humble visitor's Center with restrooms. However, this is a carry on carry off island, so bring your own food and water and carry the garbage back with you.

Spectacle Island undoubtedly lives up to its name. The island 🏝️ is infamous for been built on the debris and trash of unaccounted factories running during the colonization. This island is perfect for relieving the history of America (which you would get to know once you have a visit to the island). This place is so good for hiking that you can easily make it one of the adventurous hiking trails to go to. Moreover the people managing this natural upsurge deserves an appreciation, the guide was too generous and thoughtful. It is indeed a place to sit back and relax amidst the tides. Points to ponder: 1. Be mindful of the ferries timings. 2. Make sure to bring snacks and water bottles and carry your own trash.

A great day out, 30 min ferry ride from the center of Boston. A really nice island, swimmable beach, lots of picnic tables with views of the city skyline or the ocean, islands and lighthouses. Great ranger station with history and wildlife information, restrooms and water bottles filling station.

Spectacular views from the Island to Boston shore and downtown! Highly recommended!! Hiking trails are easy and comfy, you only need sun protection and be hydrated! 🥾🏃🏿‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️⛅️😎Although cloudy day, the overall experience and relaxing in beach were fantastic!🐚 There are showers and fittingrooms next to the beach! 🚿🚻

It's absolutely terrible. On the way, i got radiation poisoning from the water, and when i finally got there, a bunch of huge crab things almost tore me to pieces. There was also a much bigger crab thing, and it kept spewing acid at me!! Do not recommend...

Spectacle Island sure is a spectacle to witness and experience! Took the Boston Harbor Cruise to Spectacle Island on a Wednesday afternoon and it was a very relaxing ride. Once you get off the boat, there’s a visitor center. There is a trail that loops all around the island and it takes you to the top as well. It was a super enjoyable hike that gives you views from all over the island. There is also a small beach but it’s a little rocky

Don't go here unless you have small children or love the noise of screaming kids. Not much to do on the "island" besides walking around or going to the small glass covered beach. 2 hours here felt like eternity. Editing to mention the asbestos signs at the beach. If you're asbestos sensitive, this might not be a place for you. They at least provide some images of what asbestos looks like.

We reserved a city experiences ferry to get to the island. This is a small island and you an cover the full island on feet in 1-2 hours. There are some beach spots which you can use to take a dip. There are open showers near the beach. When it comes to food, there are not many food options hence bring your own food. Coke or pepsi is not available over here. You will get beer and water. Since the food options are limited hence they are expensive. It's a good idea to get your own food and drinks to avoid wasting time standing in line for food. The pebbles on the beach can be tricky to walk hence its a good idea to have a pair of slippers. Basically, your experience on the island depends on your planning. Get your food, drinks, extra pair of clothes, sunscreen and you should be good. Have fun.

A friend and I checked out Spectacle Island on a Sunday afternoon. We took the ferry from Long Wharf North near the Aquarium T stop. We got tickets online ahead of time since there's only a handful of departure times. I agreed with the Harbor Islands website in that the ferry ride is half the fun. It was a beautiful clear summer day. We got a great view of the passing boats along with the Seaport and Castle Island during the ride. As others have mentioned, Spectacle Island is not very big. We walked around the entire island in less than two hours. There's two main nature trails that loop around the two small hills called drumlins on the island. Depending on which side of the island you're standing on, there's great views of Winthrop, Long Island, the downtown skyline, and Deer Island. There's a small visitor center with bathrooms and an interesting history of the island exhibit. I wish there was more food and drink options at the visitor center. If you're looking to get out of the city and relax, it's a good choice just make sure to pack some sunscreen.

Totally worth a visit ona weekend if you live in boston. The ferry costs about 25 dollars round trip. First ferry into the island at 10:30 am in front of Columbus park and last ferry back to boston at 5:30pm. Beautiful views of boston and beach. No establishments to buy food and drinks so most people bring their drinks make sure to check out the view points. So kids flying kits with downtown boston view and there is 360 view of boston and islands. Beautiful. Forgot my sunscreen and mosquito spray so I was sunburned and got bitten by mosquitos so dont make the same mistake as I did. Also live music on the island in the afternoon. Just go and check it out and enjoy the nature and views.

There's not that much to do, but honestly that's part of the point I think! Spectacle Island is really only a short ferry ride away from Boston and yet feels far enough to be a ~ destination ~ with some nature and retreat-like vibes. You get a pretty nice view of the Boston skyline, a fun beach (stable shoes advised for the rockier parts) where you can hunt for seaglass, and some nice places to picnic (just bring something to sit on since the grass isn't too soft), hike/walk, and explore!

An easy walk around the island, however there is little shade. Be prepared (hats & sunblock are your friends!). In the main building there is a free sunblock dispenser for anyone who needs it. A great benefit to visitors. As a result of the island's history, the beach is littered with sea glass. You just can't take it with you. Bring your camera to document the stunning pieces you will see!

The ferry trip from Boston into Spectacle Island takes about 20 minutes. The island has quite the storied past - it is a newer park area, as the land had to be reclaimed from being a landfill and a glue factory. Spectacle has a great visitor's center, which includes restrooms, a small souvenir shop, and a little cafe. There is a display that gives a good overview of the history and make-up of the islands (flooded drumlin field from glacial times!) They also have some wonderful adirondack chairs located in the shade out front, which are wonderful and relaxing, and a perfect place to wait for the ferry. As far as activities, there is a great self-guided tour available that gives an overview of the history, nature, and what you can see from different points. It takes you over 2 1/2 miles of the island, and up on top of one of the drumlins, which is 155 feet above sea level and provides some great views of the city and of some of the other islands. The beaches at Spectacle are known for their sea glass, which you can look for, but not take. While we didn't swim, you are able to from one of the beaches. It is rocky, so I would bring water shoes or old sneakers you don't care about getting wet. We visited Spectacle as part of a two-island day trip, so we caught the ferry to Georges from here.

Take time to read the exhibit info. What was once a dump has been revitalized and reclaimed by nature. These islands are an unusual natural feature, and they've been home to a hotel, a rendering plant, a dump, and more. We brought a picnic lunch, walked the paths, and flew a kite at the island's highest point. Despite it's small size, there is a lot of pathway to walk, and you really can make a day of it. There are beach areas, too. Be sure to bring sunscreen, though--there's not much shade.

Catch the Ferry from Long Wharf on the Boston Waterfront, enjoy a fast beer while onboard & it will have to be fast because you'll arrive at Spectacle Island about 15 minutes later. Once there check out the visitor's center and learn about the Harbor's history, you can even rent fishing gear for the day while there. If it is a hot day just hang around the beach, the water will cool you down - fast! You can walk around the island on smooth, wide trails which gradually wind their way up to the summit which at 157' allows for an awesome panoramic view of the entire Harbor, and Boston itself. Up top there are a few pavillions for picnics, or just bring a blanket and Frisbee and stretch out on the grass, you'll be surprised at all the birds & crickets you'll hear while watching the ships pass by and planes overhead. The view of Boston itself is awesome! On my last visit I planned it for one of the USS Constitution's turn around cruises and a visit from a WWII Liberty Ship from Baltimore, quite an amazing site to see the Constituion pass the anchored John W Brown, each the sole survivor of their own time. Even more amazing was watching Constituiton fire a salute while passing by Castle Island, and its return volley - all from the summit. By now the beer has worn off, return to the Visitor's Center and have a nice burger or hotdog - they'll BBQ them outside on the patio while you enjoy a cold drink (sorry no beer here) or ice cream. Not hungry? Round the corner and if it is Sunday listen to the featured jazz band and if you like, enjoy a dance on the porch. When you are ready to return, wait on the pier for the shuttle to either Long Wharf or if you like Georges Island where you can hop to four more islands. One bit of advice, bring a pocket poncho - even though it was bright, sunny, and hot when I left, it turned ugly quick in the afternoon and got caught in an drenching downpour while waiting on the pier without cover. Don't forget your camera. Ferry to Spectacle & Georges Islands, or six island round trips: http://www.bostonislands.org/trip_getthere.html Spectacle Island Calendar: http://www.bostonislands.org/isle_spectacle.asp

Apparently you have to be on board the ferry at 2:25 even though the departure time is listed as 2:30. We ended up at the wrong dock we made it with 1 minute to spare and they wouldn't let us on. Even though the boat crew was still chatting with the ticket scanner. They were rude and said too bad you will have to try again tomorrow. I got really angry and informed him my kids will be in school tomorrow. I think if we were 2 adults they would have let us on but they didn't want to deal with my handicap child. I'm not sure if it's discrimination or lazy people who don't want to do thier jobs. To make matters worse the boat didn't even depart until almost 2:40. If you need to board by 2:25 that should be clearly listed online and my children wouldn't have been upset when we clearly didn't miss the boat

Lovely! I quite enjoyed making a little day out of this. I'm a student so it was only $12 round trip for me. I love boats and the ferry ride was so fun! The island is adorable and the little hike is quite fun. Next time I'll pack a picnic. But the rules are that whatever trash you bring, you have to take off. There are no trash cans there! The only thing that sucks is that if you miss the ferry you have to wait! I missed one leaving very promptly but then on the next one we waited around for stragglers. Super minimal complaint, but I didn't dig the inconsistency of keeping a tight schedule.

For the 4th of July - my boyfriend and I decided to get out of the city for a day and I suggested that we head out to one of the Harbor Islands. I've been to Deer Island before, but never Spectacle, so we decided to head out here. We purchased our tickets from the kiosk right at the harbor and waited for about 15 minutes for the ferry to arrive. We were loaded onto the first ferry (yep, we had more than one) and as it was backing out of the harbor some horrible clanging noises started and I had a feeling we were going to turn back. Sure enough, we did, but everyone was in good spirits and thought little of it. They quickly transferred us onto a second ferry waiting at the wharf. Our trip out there was gorgeous - but dampened by two girls incessently yapping in an unrecognizable language (it would have been equally annoying in English - so technically the language is irrelevant). When we arrived on the island we decided to take the "hike" - term used loosely as it's not steep enough to cause heavy breathing - and we walked up and around the island following the marked trails. It was absolutely beautiful and the sea of wild flowers that grow in abundance make it so hard to believe that this was once a landfill full of Big Dig trash. After our hike, we relaxed on the big porch of the Visitors Center (there is also a little cafe) in some comfy Adirondack chairs and vegged out. There is a small beach for those looking to wade/tan as well. Beautiful spot to get away from the city.

Hot, boring, nothing to do Make sure to go on a day without hot direct sunlight. Also bring lots of water and food.

Went there this past weekend on a special "Snow Day" trip. Heard about it on boston.com and it couldn't have been a better day for it. No snow to speak of but what a great place to explore!! Trails to walk around and two "summits" to get a better view of the surrounding islands and the city skyline. Summits - because one of them is the highest point of any of the islands but not strenuous hiking by any means. Composting toilets in the visitors center and lots of little places to picnic. I'll definitely be back out there and to the other ones in the summer.

Tip: When you buy a ferry ticket to one of the islands, inter-island transfers are free, so go island hopping! The ferries are a smooth, relaxing, breezy ride Cutest place for a stroll/picnic. There's a gazebo. They have tours of the island which are super interesting and informational...and free. The park rangers that give out the tours are THE most enthusiastic people ever and they just radiate "I love my job/life". The island can also have cool programs, ie. summer yoga series Not for going to the beach, unless your a fan of painful rocks/pebbles Pretty sure there's only one food vendor on the small island. Had a meatball marinara sub which was pretty tasty (3 stars) and a decent price Would go back with a book to lounge and stroll

Island with a long history as a former city dump, among others, that is now a national park. There is wildlife and plants, lots of birds and butterflies. Some very easy trails. Gorgeous views of Boston. Minimal shade... so bring sunscreen! Lots of sea glass and rocks on the beach. And a VERY small swimming area. Without looking hard I Found 3 pieces of garbage in the water.... - a blue latex glove - a cheese wrapper - a candy bar wrapper And no garbage cans to put said garbage in since it's a bring on bring off island. Theres also a food stand with sandwiches, salads, and sides in case you forgot your picnic.

Just ran a 5k on the Island and it was great. the $25 dollar registration cost included the ferry ride to the island, a t-shirt (if registered by a certain date) and a BBQ lunch supplied by the summer shack. This was the first year the ran this race but you wouldn't have known because it was beautifully organized. The race course had some small hills and it was a loop you ran twice. I HATE when you have to run by where you started and do it all over again but I don't think it could be helped as the island isn't that big. I would do this one again next year if they hold it it was fun!

I just came back from a day on Spectacle Island, and I agree with all the previous posters about the pros and cons of the experience. My two companions (my BFF and her twenty-something daughter) and I enjoyed ourselves and would go back again. Highlights: the ride over, the guided tour to the top of the island, the places to sit on the shaded porch, under the awning in back of the Summer Shack, and the various locations in the open sun. The vistas are awesome. The beach is serviceable in the way of rocky beaches. Mild low-lights: I was fine being on the small and rocky beach; sunning was my goal, not swimming. But I am of the age where sitting/lying on a towel for 3 hours is durned uncomfortable. Next time maybe I'll drag my beach chair, but as I'd be coming on the T to the harbor I'm not looking forward to that. Plus, what do I do with it if I want to go for a walk/take the tour? Could they maybe purchase a couple dozen beach chairs and rent them out? Let me add that as I did not bring a picnic, I generated no carry-off trash, so I can only say that I don't mind the idea of the trash policy. They do take anything that they have sold you, you just have to carry back anything that you bring on. Maybe they're trying to raise awareness about the amount of trash we generate. Maybe they're trying to keep costs low by limiting the amount of trash they have to pay to have transported off the island, costs that would likely be passed on to the visitors. Either way, not a problem for me, I can carry plastic bags in and bags-o-trash out, there are plenty of trash barrels on the Boston side of the harbor.

So I'm a pretty active couch potato. If someone said, wanna go mountain biking or watch this Law and Order SVU marathon I'd prob say, "Where are the potato chips?" But then a group of gays and lesbians told me about this place called Spectacle Island where they like to spend the day when the weather is nice. Sure, I'll join your cult... We met at the waterfront with coolers and bags full of food and drinks. We bought our Boston Harbor Islands Ferry tickets and were ready to set sail. Now, a word to the wise. You're not supposed to bring beer over to the islands so I'd avoid handing the cooler of Miller Lite over to the queer who is about as graceful as Nancy Kerrigan after being hit with a crowbar. Cut to me spilling a case of beer on the deck in front of a Park Ranger. Oh nothing to see here..*throws glitter and runs* Thankfully nothing was taken away. God bless you, sir. We arrived on the island and began our hike up the hill. I of course asked for the nearest escalator, but apparently that is ridiculous. Whatever. After about 4.6 "are we there yet" moans, we finally arrived to our spot. Holy cow. Nestled about 3/4 way up the island we plopped down our goodies and enjoyed the view of a gorgeous harbor filled with sailboats complimented by a picturesque background of the Boston city skyline. Jets were landing, boats were cruising, and people were smiling. Gorgeous. For the rest of the afternoon we spent our time eating an assortment of homemade goods, drinking booz--err--soda, and playing games on the soft green grass. Truly, a perfect way to enjoy a summer weekend day. Oh, if you have to use the bathroom. I suggest peeing in the shrubs. If you have to do "other" things, um. Shouldda done it before because it's a long walk down to the bathrooms near the docks. Although the return tickets on the ferry had a specific departure time, we decided to treat them much like a red light in Boston - a suggestion. With ferries running every half hour we enjoyed the day until we felt it was time to go. Toward the end of the afternoon we picked up our fun - give a hoot, don't pollute - and trickled our way down the hill. Where's the elevator? Finally back on board, the ferry sailed toward Boston where we snapped a few more shots of a beautiful sunset above a beautiful city. Can we DVR this?

Just got back from a trip to the island with my fiancèe and had an excellent time - had a delicious packed lunch of homemade pizza bread and a cold beer, went for a nice walk on the trails, and then went for a refreshing dip. I wanted to write this Yelp review as a PSA for all Spectacle rookies... - Bring water shoes or at least sneakers that you don't mind getting wet if you plan to swim. The beaches are extremely rocky and can make swimming a bit painful. - It's not that heavily patrolled so you can bring a bottle of wine or a six pack as long as your enjoying responsibly. This isn't a place for a 30 rack to pound with your bros. - There are two beaches but you can only swim at the one that is staffed by lifeguards. However, the water is a bit cleaner at the beach without lifeguards and people often swim there. Word to the wise, the unstaffed beach kind of has some funky currents so keep a look out for those when you swim. - The showers are out of order. Bogus. You might want to bring a Nalgene and fill it with some water from the bathroom to rinse off. I highly endorse the Spectacle Islands as a must do trip for every Bostonian. Highlights of past trips include: meeting a bartender who brought premixed Margaritas, walking past a group of European tourists sunbathing topless, seeing a 5 year old nearly run off the ferry dock. But for now: go take an adventure and head to the island.

A nearby 'beach' to Boston without having to worry about driving or parking. Spectacle Island is easy enough to get to without having a Boat, ferries leave from Boston Best Cruises near Tia's every hour. Tickets can cost about $15 r/t but The North Face has vouchers at their Newbury Location for a free ride! The ferries have beer and take credit card, but leave the booze on the boat, the islands dont allow alcohol, or just be discreet about it. Key thing about Spectacle Islands, the trash you bring, you need to carry with you. There are no trash rescepticles, not even in the bathrooms! As for it being a beach, make sure to bring sandles, the shore is very rocky.

This is a weird and difficult thing to review. Three stars would suggest that the cruise out to this island isn't worth it: it is. And I want to improve the aggregate rating of the site. Five stars is definitely not how I feel about it, but that's not really the fault of the island itself. Spectacle Island is a lovely place to get a photo of the Boston skyline from a pretty and quiet place with your family or friends when they're in town. The $14-a-head fare for visiting Spectacle and Georges Island in one day is a great value. One part of understanding this place is that you have to temper a lot of really unsavory back-history on the place that the DCR presents to you in a really odd way. It's cool that it's now this functional wildlife sanctuary site when it was, in order, the site of a rendering plant (EW), a trash dump and then the dump for the Big Dig. But: 1) They haven't done enough with the place. I get that it's only supposed to be two nice thumbprint-shaped spirals of trails on two hills, but the space still feels oddly under-utilized. I don't have good advice on how it could have been different, only that I have that feeling. 2) They are marketing this island completely wrong. It is NOT, BY ANY MEANS, AT ALL, a logical, safe or inviting place to encourage children to swim. The swimming beach is right next to the site of the former rendering plant!? Are you kidding me!? I had nightmares of workers from 100 years ago hosing the deck off and using a pushbroom to shovel horse guts into Boston Harbor, feet away from where schoolchildren are now supposed to play. The other beach has clearly posted warnings that there are still asbestos-filled shingles and brake linings all over the beach! How about we just take the policy that the Charles River and Boston Harbor was one of the main reasons why the EPA was created, and that entering either at all is gross and a bad idea and always will be. 3) Haul-your-own-trash is BS. Why? People are GOING to at least bring bottled water with them, if not picnic materials for all the gazebos and benches the DCR has provided. Spectacle has a Summer Shack inside the info house! This place generates food waste! Why the eff would you have that policy when you are encouraged to generate garbage? Let not these complaints discourage you, though. This place is beautiful, the hiking is gentle and the views are worth it. Just make sure you stay on top of your departure times.

Now deemed a National Park thanks to this Island's rich history from origin through the Big Dig. (you can learn more on your ride to this island). Spectacle is the closest of the boat-accessed islands from Boston (20 min guided ferry ride). The boat leaves from the Columbus Park side of the Marriott Long Wharf (not the aquarium side). It's a $15 round trip fare for adults and the frequency of the boats coming and going is excellent for a short afternoon visit. Spectacle is small and walkable and has gorgeous views across the harbor and Boston's somewhat distant skyline. There are amenities at the dock, including snack foods, a small rocky swimmable (yes, clean enough) beach, changing rooms, and bathrooms (showers?? doubtful). When you plan to take a ride back to the city and you're ... say .. playing frisbee at the top of the north drumlin, I strongly suggest that you plan to leave post at least 1 hour before your desired ride home. Besides you might have to pee... walk on the beach ... tour the snack building ... etc. Most boats docking at Spectacle bring you straight back to Boston, but there are a handful that go to Georges and then back to Spectacle again. But like I said, the pick-ups are frequent (every half hour?). Frisbee and kite flying are great activities from the north drumlin and saddle. Not sure about the south... the paths are flat, but pretty hard on flip-flopped feet... Also the shade is few and far between unless you can snag a shade shelter, which are also few and far between... Bring sunscreen!! And have fun!

Previous reviewers have explained the island highlights well, so I'll concentrate on logistics that will help obsessive planners prepare for the trip. The ticket-buying experience turned out to be much more painful than I'd expected, but may have been due to a boom in visits because of a recent Boston Globe article. We actually waited in line longer than it took us to ferry over to Spectacle Island. Seriously. We arrived on a weekday via the T at 10:40 to buy tickets for the 11AM ferry. There were probably eight ticket purchases ahead of us, with two people working the booth. It was twenty minutes before we got to the window. That's right, 11:00. We'd already given up hopes of making the 11AM ferry, because a posted sign said the 10 and 11 were sold out. But, surprise surprise, the ticket agent said she could get us on the 11:00 if we were willing to run. Even more surprising, the ferry had plenty of seats. So, here are tips that fellow obsessive planners crave: 1. Even if you reserve tickets online, you still have to wait in the line to claim them. Ugh! 2. The island does a brisk business with summer camp kids, so don't be surprised if you are in line behind a young woman who gets to the ticket counter and requests tickets for herself and 35 kids! 3. There were a lot of camp kids on the ferry and island, but they were well-supervised and a positive addition to the island's atmosphere. 4. If you're running from the Aquarium T stop, don't go to the ticket booth in front of the Marriott that says "BHC" - go around the hotel and you'll find the Boston Harbor Islands Ferry booth. http://www.bostonislands.com/mainland-piers-long-wharf-north 5. You do have to book a return time when you buy your ticket, but nobody was checking the times on our return. They were, however, keeping count of how many people were on board! 6. Resist the urge to take the ferry straight to Spectacle Island. It's only a ten minute ride, but it's worth it to ride to George's Island first and then back to Spectacle. About 45 minutes total and totally worth it to see the harbor and islands up close. 7. The Summer Shack offerings were limited - it's a snack bar, with hotdogs, hamburgers, tuna salads, chicken sandwiches. There were no lobster rolls the day we were there, despite the menu http://www.summershackrestaurant.com/uploadDocs/Summer%20Shack%20Snack%20Shack%20Menu.pdf 8. It's worth repeating: water, sunscreen The island and ferry staff is helpful and friendly. The views are outstanding - Boston Harbor water looked almost like the Caribbean.

I have been visiting George's Island for years now, but this is my first visit to Spectacle Island. While it's missing some of the sights and history that George's has, I loved the walking trails and the small beach. You can't swim at George's, but you can here. My favorite part was the huge covered patio they had with the different styles of comfortable chairs - rocking, Adirondack, and dining chairs were available. It was really nice to just sit and enjoy the view after the hot walk around the island. I also love that there are outdoor showers so that after you go swimming you don't have to spend the rest of the day sticky and salty. While it's a little weird to be walking around a huge trash heap (it used to be a dumping grounds), I do have to say they've done a great job cleaning it up and making it a beautiful day trip from Boston. The boat ride out was only 15 minutes, and a great 15 minutes too. I love being able to see the Boston skyline from the water - it really shimmers.

The island is great!! Awesome date place or just for some friends to hang out. There aren't any good restaurants only the summer shack which has a very limited menu. So BRING food with you, and know that there are no trash receptacles. you will have to bring the trash back with you. Beautiful 30 minute hike, with some stunning city skyline views! The beach is pretty dirty...

I am hugely surprised at the beauty of this place. I can't believe I had been living in Boston for 7 years before getting on the ferry and seeing what the Harbor Islands were all about. This is an old trash pile from the 1500's-1900's that has been overhauled into an island oasis. There are hiking trails, awesome views of the city, picnic areas and sea glass! The sea glass is remnants of the garbage from 100 years ago (which is awesome...it's like picking up pieces of history). Also, the island is big enough that you can go on a hike and still feel like it's your own private island. I loved it. I'm really annoyed at the reviewer who gave it one star. You don't come here to swim! Why would you do that? No one said it's a good idea to swim there, especially since it's in the Harbor. Enjoy the beauty of the island for what it is.

If I were going for a fantastic day of swimming on the beach... I'd call this Skeptical Island. The swimming is NOT what you want to go for. The water is polluted, and because of the proximity to boat docks, there is a terrible smell of gasoline coming from the water. The beach is also VERY tiny, and the sand is riddled with broken shells and sharp rocks. That being said, Spectacle Island is the perfect destination for a day of hiking & picnicking. There are several trails winding around the small two-spired island, providing you and yours with a breath-taking view of Boston. The planes coming over the city into the airport are also a view that one cannot experience anywhere else. Throughout the trails are numerous semi-private picnic areas and open grassy fields on which you can plop it and enjoy a bright, beautiful, quiet sunny day. The fare is only $14 round trip, and ferries run on the hour.

UPDATE 2: NEW POLICY FOR VISITING ISLAND AFTER COLUMBUS DAY UNTIL EARLY MAY: ".... the period following Columbus Day through late May is a time when the public may visit Georges, Lovells, Peddocks, Bumpkin, Grape, or Spectacle Islands by first obtaining a free permit from the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR). This has not always been the case for individuals; however, increased use of the islands in the off-season has led to a more formal process to ensure appropriate use and public safety during a time of reduced staffing. Individuals and small groups on DCR islands must have a free recreational use permit. Groups of 25 or more are required to have a free group permit at all times of the year. Please contact Susan Kane, copied above, if you wish to pursue a recreational permit for next week. We regret that you had a negative experience while attempting to use the pier on Spectacle Island. We will redouble efforts to ensure all possible points of contact about the islands have the same information regarding off-season use to avoid confusion in the future. We hope to see you on the islands and would appreciate seeing some of your photos." UPDATE 1: I received this response (below) this morning and am very happy to get same. Just as I thought, WE the taxpaying PUBLIC own the Boston Harbor Islands, and they are a National Park and open all year. "I'm sorry you had that experience--that does sound very unpleasant! ....What that person said and how he acted makes me wonder if he were really an employee. My own experience of National Park Service employees has been exemplary. Spectacle Island is open to the public after Labor Day. It's part of a National Park--as a US citizen, you own the island as much as anyone else does. Although the ferries and staffing are limited in the fall, you are certainly more than welcome to visit, as () of the National Park Service confirmed. Thanks for letting folks know so that others--including yourself--do not have this same experience. Please don't let one person keep you from enjoying this wonderful place in the future!"

We decided to come here for the 4th of July to just hang out at the beach. All the lit on the island proudly boasted two beaches. Even the photos shot from a distance looked good. How could we go wrong, right? My first inkling of disappointment came as the ferry approached the south beach. All rocks! OK, but that's not the swimming beach. The other one must be better, right? Not much. As the ferry moved toward the pier, I could see a small patch of sand and mostly rocks. It was at least promising, because the other side of the pier is for swimming. Once onto the pier we could see the other beach in all its glory. There was barely any sand. More sand than the south beach, but mostly rocks. While this is New England which isn't known for its beaches, this particular man-made spot could have been much better. Sorry, but this is one of the uglier beaches in New England. It's a shame. The only good part about the beach was that it at least had a changing area and showers. I noticed we weren't alone in our disappointment. I saw at least two other parties sigh in disgust and wait for the next ferry out. We decided to make the most of it and grabbed one the picnic tables with an umbrella. From our perch, it became a game to watch the reaction of other visitors as they caught glimpse of the beach. Another issue we had was that there was dog poop all over the place. Sure, if you stayed on the path you were safe. But all along the edge were spots of dog crap. There was also dog crap around some of the picnic tables. Depending on how the wind shifted lunch time was a nasal adventure. The Boston Harbor Islands has a strict take-your-own-garbage policy. This policy should be extended to anyone bringing pets. To make it easier for people, the park should have designated poop compost areas. Of course pet owners should at least have the decency to not let their pets defecate in the areas where people picnic, sunbath and children play. Other than the lousy beaches and the dog poop, Spectacle Island is a wonderful place to spend the day. The hiking trails are easy and offer a 360 degree view of Boston Harbor. Scattered throughout the island are picnic tables and gazebos. It's also a great place to fly a kite. The rangers are all super-friendly, helpful and informative. They truly care about what they do. The transportation to and from the island is great. While I don't know how much of this is done by the MBTA, whatever it is, this is one thing the much maligned MBTA does get right, even if in name only. I believe the service is actually privatized, so that might explain how great it is. If the island had even a half decent beach, I'd easily give it five stars. But the beach and the poop is serious enough to only merit three stars.

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 family for a fun filled day on the island. 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 to take home (Don't tell anyone .. the signs say leave it all behind. Take only what you bring back to the mainland). We 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. Again 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. 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 time line found in the gift shop before catching the ferry home. It was a wonderful day exploring one of the many Boston Harbor Islands.

A trip here can be a cool 1/2 day activity or you can pack you swimjims and favorite book and make a day out of it. It's pretty and peaceful, with an interesting history. It took us under two hours to hike end to end, read all the historical markers, and eat lunch at the top of the north drumlin. The park rangers were very friendly and helpful, and the services on the island were excellent. There are outdoor showers and changing rooms for those using the beach. Inside the large service area (with lots of charming rocking chairs on their giant porch) there are very clean composting toilets, an information desk, and food and beverages for sale. There are only three shady spots on the whole island, which are pointed out on the map, so be sure to have a hat handy--as well as a poncho or umbrella if there's any chance of rain. Most people hang out around the beach, so you will probably have the trails and the shady gazebos to yourself. It's a very chill and pleasant day trip from Boston.

Sailed out here on my friend's but with a bunch of guys from work for an cookout and party on the island. We arrived after the last ferry so we were literally the only people on the island other than the caretaker. It was very cool. The views of the city are stunning especially at sunset. The hiking trails are all very well kept and are relatively easy to get around on. The only weird thing was after dark the number of raccoons running around the island was insane. They clearly rule the place when people aren't around.

This is a pretty nice island, and really good for short hikes. It's really close to Boston (15 min ferry ride), it has beautiful views, lots of open space and fresh air, along with a good history of the island. However, outside of great locations for picnics and relaxing in the sun, there wasn't much to do there other than walk/hike around the island because the vast majority of the historical landmarks have long since been buried by sand from the Big Dig, so you pretty much end up with a nice island turned into a large park with great views. The swimming area was disappointing because the sand on the tiny piece of beach that they have was very course and located right next to the dock where the ferry comes and goes. Also, I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to get Verizon 3g connectivity on the island since I was expecting an important email and I wasn't sure if I would be able to get any data connection.

Fun place, great views of the city. "Hiking" is more like walking up a sanded hill. There is a small beach where you can swim and many picnic tables to sit and eat and enjoy amazing views of the city Good place to go on a run or just escape from the busy city life to enjoy some quiet time with nature. They have a snack bar open until 3. The food is surprisingly good and very reasonably priced, 5 dollars for a salad 7-9 for sandwiches and 2 dollars for side items like chocolate ice cream and chips. No trash cans on site except for one by snack bar. You're asked to take your trash off with you which is ironic since beneath you is a land fill containing mountains of trash Overall very relaxing beautiful views but a little boring and the ferry does not run frequently enough

Spectacle island is a great place to walk because of the trails. Good views. The beach is a bit of a joke and not really my idea of a nice place to go swimming. very small beach area too. Jasper Whites was ok. Overpriced as expected

The island is beautiful. We came on a Saturday afternoon, and there was a band playing, giving it an old time feel. The beach is filled with whole shells and cool rocks, and anyone who loves to wander will find tons to do on this island. There's a trail around the entire island, at multiple heights. I didn't have enough time to get to the east side of the island, but the next time I'm in Boston I'll be sure to make it there. This is a perfect place to pack your own lunch, a nice bottle of white, some cards and have a great relaxed afternoon. If only Chicago had an island like this!

We just went to a free yoga class on Spectacle Island. It was fantastic!! You need to preregister and pay for the boat trip but the yoga class was free! Great instructor, beautiful day. You could make a day out of it, bring your sneaks and swim suit and take advantage of what the islanders to offer. The only complaint I had about this trip was the food. Barbara Lynch should be ashamed to have this food associated with her name. For starters, a BLT should NEVER be a panini! The lettuce was sparse and old. The bacon was not done. My friend had the lobster roll, same old tired lettuce and the lobster was not sweet. Pack a lunch and enjoy the island!

I went to one of the Summer Shack clambakes on Spectacle Island recently for a corporate summer outing. The island is a quick 15 minute boat ride away, the food was good (and you get a ton of it) and the atmosphere was great. Nice views of the city, especially at sunset. It does get buggy! I would recommend bug-spray (though the Summer Shack bartender had some out she was freely letting people use, very cool). It would have been nice to have a little time to explore when we first got there since it was still light out, rather then sitting down to eat right away. I would recommend this for small company gatherings, or out-of-towners. It's a good way to get some quintessential Boston experiences (the harbor, clambake, boat ride, etc) in a short time frame.

We enjoyed our walk around Spectacle after getting here via Georges via Peddocks.

Who needs Nantucket, the Vineyard, or the Cape when you can go to swimming or kayaking at the beach, surround yourself in abundant foliage, and take a hike where you get a 360 view of the close-up Boston skyline, the Harbor, and the other islands? This island has a special place in Boston history as well - 100 years ago it was a local weekend getaway and 50 years ago it was the city dump. Yes, you're hiking on top of a landfill! The government packed down all the waste with the leftover soil form the Big Dig and recreated a New England ecosystem on top. TOTALLY RAD!! In addition to the natural magnificence and historical intrigue the park provides, there's tons of stuff to do!! The Park Service puts on tons of free events all season. My first trip there, a volunteer lead a birdwatching hike. All the rangers went on it and also told us all about the local plant life (of course, I was especially interested in the edible plant life - I will make Sumac tea next summer, I swear) and the invasive species they spar with on a regular basis (including the dreaded pepperweed). [The hike also took us to Thompson Island, where we saw both natural and artificially-created salt marshes.] Once the hike was over, our group sat down in rocking chairs outside the Spectacle Island Tourist Center. A live jazz band played a free show while we rocked and gazed out onto the marina (with the city skyline in the distance). It's $14 for a round-trip ferry ride - such a deal. Also, if you volunteer to pull weeds for 4 hours, you get to go for free!! Spectacle Island: the best part of the Big Dig!

A short, pleasant ferry ride to one of the Boston Harbor Islands. Spectacle has a nice dock/wharf with picnic tables and umbrellas, a lodge-like building with bathrooms and a snack bar, and separate changing room and open showers by the beach, and a couple gazebos on each Drumlin. We didn't take the guided tour around the island (ranger guided, 40 min), but we did summit the North Drumlin. A nice little hike, not strenuous at all, on wide gravel trails with lots of picnic tables to stop at. There's not a lot of shade though, only at the gazebos. The beach is small, with lots of shells, and swimming is allowed. Overall, a nice half day destination with some cool views.

Spectacle Island is great for a day trip if you live in Boston - you have to go at least once! As a big beach bum with no car who was living in the North End last summer, I needed an escape. I missed the waves and the ocean and being able to lay out in my bathing suit and get a tan. I wanted to get away from all of the tourists and loud festivals that were infiltrating my neighborhood and get some peace and quiet. Luckily, I paid attention to an ad I saw on the T for the Harbor Islands and decided to hop on a ferry one Saturday morning in June and see what they were like. Spectacle Island is a simple, yes, but it's a great place to go if you want to spend the day outside away from, but technically in, the city of Boston. There are hiking trails with great views of the city. You can spread out a blanket on a grassy knoll, eat the lunch you brought with you and watch planes take off from Logan. You can sit out on the beach, get some sun and read a book if you don't mind the rockiness of shore. I definitely wouldn't recommend swimming here even though there is a small designated swimming area....I personally like to walk around towards the back right side of the island where it's quiet and grab a spot there. Many days, I was the only one sitting there, so it was like I had my own private island! There are public bathrooms that have some sort of odd, eco friendly flushing system, but hey, you don't have to pee outside, so I consider that a win. There is also a Summer Shack with very summer-y food options like burgers, grill cheese, etc. Yes - Specatacle Island is built on top of loads and loads of trash, but who cares? It's a pretty cool place with lots of history - it used to be home to glue factories, whore houses and casinos! Neat-o!! In short - take a day trip here if you want to get away from the city and feel nature once in a while. You'll enjoy it :)

Visiting spectacle island is like an out of body experience or something. You climb to the top of the drumlin and get a great perspective on the city, and you get that totally weird/neat experience of seeing the crazy mess of Boston and the harbor all the while it's pretty much all quiet around you. Totally was not expecting this to exist! Loved it. I think it's just right how it is, just nice wide open spaces and simple walking paths, east for anyone to climb and impossible to get lost on. And of course, very interesting the number of transformations the island has gone through. Can we convert more dumps to parks like this????

A lovely place to spend the day when the weather is nice. Just a few notes before you go: (1) you can't take any of the sea glass or other "cultural artifacts" that you find on the beach, (2) there isn't a great deal of shade, so bring an umbrella or wait for a cool day, (3) the beach is mostly rocks rather than sand, (4) you have to pack out all your garbage -- there are no trashcans available for public use on the island, and (5) the Summer Shack cafe is terrible and expensive, so bring your own snacks!

Dear Yelpers of the future: I know that the crumbling economy, skyrocketing gas prices, and warming climate trend has likely made the world of 2010 a bleak Mad Maxian landscape. If the grocery stores are even open anymore, the selection is likely poor -- jicama and tomatillos being among the very few surviving produce. But I have good news for you. I know of a place where, ideally in August, you can pick and eat delicious ripe blackberries until you explode. I will leave the task of fashioning a boat out of household materials to you -- I'm certain that as the world spun towards chaos, the last issue of Make Magazine was particularly helpful. You'll need to boat straight out from the end of South Boston to Spectacle Island. Once there, hope that the trails have not yet been completely overgrown, and follow them to the north drumlin. Along the path, you'll see the plants, but the mother lode is just before you get to the hilltop, on the left. Bring a few containers. And good luck.

first time here but im impressed with what they have done with the trash heap. I was a huge fan of the boat ride out there, it doesn't feel like 94 on the top deck on the ocean, nice visitor center, little like outhouse style changing areas, the beach area is smaller than I expected but really wasn't crowded, the water was nice and clean, but take other reviewers advice, get some beach shoes or water friendly sandals its so rocky. I think ill return in the fall and tryout the hiking paths

Beautiful place to go to on a warm sunny day. The Ferry ride was pleasant. The DCR staff helpful and informative. A perfect way to have a stay-cation.

Spent about 2 hours walking around the island. There are over 5 miles of hiking trails that loop around this very small island. We did the 2.5 mile round trip hike up to the top gazebo and picnic area. Ate our salads from quincy market atop the hill where we could see views of Boston, the harbor and surrounding islands in a 360 view! The hiking trails were very well maintained, and the overall vegetation and landscaping was great. There is a beach there as well, which I am sure is popular in the summer months. There is a small info center with information about the history of the island (which is pretty interesting, go check it out!), and a small snack shack. The island has NO trash cans, it is a pack in pack out island. There is a nice place to sit in rocking chairs on the front deck of the info center to wait for the ferry.