Exploring a Garden Grown on Trash in Boston, Massachusetts
Wasn't Spectacle Island once a garbage heap? Didn't there used to be an old grease reclamation plant there back in the 1920s? Well, yeah, Spectacle Island was once, literally, a dump. But if you unplug your nose and trust in the island's environmental reclamation process, you'll be rewarded with a pristine and inexplicably uncrowded beach in the heart of Boston's historic harbor. Wind your way around hilltops that offer spectacular views of Massachusetts Bay. The beach is closed in winter, but snowshoeing trips run occasionally throughout the coldest months. Splurge on Jasper John's seafood near the pier, or bring your own snacks, but be warned: "pack-in, pack-out" camping rules apply to help keep Spectacle clean once and for all.
As the $15 ferry from Long Wharf approaches the dock, you are greeted with chatter of sunbathers, picnickers, hikers, and loungers filling the plots of grass, sand, and multitudes of Adirondack chairs along the shore of Spectacle Island. Take a walk on one of the several trails, either along the shore or over the hills. Enjoy a lobster roll and potato salad from the Summer Shack. Take a dip in the gently lapping harbor waters. Watch children navigate kites in the breeze. Allow yourself to feel the island's tranquillity and respite from the bustle of the city. Ferries depart hourly during the summer, and visit www.bostonharborislands.org for event info, like yoga, concerts, camping, tours, and more.
Wasn't Spectacle Island once a garbage heap? Didn't there used to be an old grease reclamation plant there back in the 1920s? Well, yeah, Spectacle Island was once, literally, a dump. But if you unplug your nose and trust in the island's environmental reclamation process, you'll be rewarded with a pristine and inexplicably uncrowded beach in the heart of Boston's historic harbor. Wind your way around hilltops that offer spectacular views of Massachusetts Bay. The beach is closed in winter, but snowshoeing trips run occasionally throughout the coldest months. Splurge on Jasper John's seafood near the pier, or bring your own snacks, but be warned: "pack-in, pack-out" camping rules apply to help keep Spectacle clean once and for all.
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