Fun Things to Do in Boston in the Summer

Ginger DeShaney, Leaf Group Faneuil Hall is along the Freedom Trail. (Photo: Boston image by Alessandro Lai from Fotolia.com )

Boston must have a lot of fun things to do ... more than 19.3 million annual visitors can’t be wrong. While activities abound year-round, summer is an especially big draw. Boston’s population decreases quite a bit when the college kids head back home (more than 20 colleges and universities sit in Boston proper) but grows again when schoolchildren and their families take their summer vacations to Beantown.

Boston is one of the most walkable cities in America, so pack good walking shoes. Summer is hot--averaging in the mid-80s but occasionally hitting the 90s--and humid, so opt for moisture-wicking fabrics. Pack a nice outfit or two if you plan to hit the restaurant scene. And don’t forget the swimsuits, a camera and a good guidebook; many streets aren't marked and some change names without warning.

If you like American history, you'll want to follow the Freedom Trail, which is easier and more enjoyable in the summer when you're not dodging snow piles, puddles and icy patches. You’ll see where the Boston Tea Party was planned, where Samuel Adams and Mother Goose are buried, Old Ironsides and Paul Revere’s house. Follow the red brick line to experience 16 historic sites. For a little more history, head to Brookline to visit President John F. Kennedy’s birthplace or stop by the JFK Presidential Library and Museum near UMass-Boston.

Water Time

When it gets too hot, head to the city’s water sources. Sprinkler parks dot the city, allowing the kids to run wild. The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway boasts two sprinkler parks: one near the North End (the Italian section of town) and the other near the New England Aquarium, which stops and starts unexpectedly, tempting kids to run through in a dare to stay dry. Castle Island in South Boston has a beach for swimming, playing or searching for crabs (and the occasional jellyfish). It also boasts an almost 2-mile loop that juts into a big playground, Fort Independence and Pleasure Bay, where you can walk, run, bike or inline skate. If you prefer to be on the water without getting wet, whale-watching, Harbor Island and dinner cruises provide fun for visitors. Take the Harbor Island Express ferry to Spectacle Island for a rotating schedule of summer fun, from kite flying and face painting to fishing clinics and concerts. Duck Tours take passengers along a route of city streets and the Charles River while a humorous narrator tells stories of the city.

Outdoor Entertainment

In the summer, Bostonians head outside for concerts and movies. The Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf and the Hatch Shell offer free Friday movies. Bring your blanket, picnic fixings and pajama-clad kids for under-the-stars screenings of such flicks as “Moonstruck,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Star Trek.” Venues throughout the city, including The Prudential Center, City Hall Plaza, Christopher Columbus Park and little Titus Sparrow Park, offer free outdoor musical entertainment, with genres including swing, country, Baroque, rock, jazz and more. Dancing is sure to ensure.

The biggest party in Boston occurs on July 4. More than 500,000 patriotic souls converge on the Esplanade along the Charles River to celebrate the country’s independence. People mark their spots early in the morning to have a good view of the Boston Pops concert and the amazing fireworks. The North End boasts summer weekend festivals celebrating the Catholic Feast Days of the Italian Saints. Parades, processions, food and music permeate the streets in this tiny neighborhood. Cambridge’s River Fest along the Charles River features performers and artists, and North America’s longest-running Dragon Boat Festival, also on the Charles, features boat races, arts and crafts and food.

DeShaney, Ginger. "Fun Things to Do in Boston in the Summer." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/fun-things-boston-summer-15294.html. Accessed 15 October 2018.
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