Old fort and amazing nature trails to explore! A lot of history on a little island! The boat ride there is quite fun! Pack a picnic lunch for the day bit remember carry out what you carry in read more

Fort Warren at Georges Island is huuuge. It's free reign for you to explore. Located 7 miles from Boston, the island served as a watch ground in defending Boston's seaport. -Geese and their shi* are abound every patch of grass. The island is hilly. Plan your shoes accordingly. -Get a pamphlet about the island from the visitor's center. Either rely on that or the tour guide to figure out where you are and what the rooms served as. Otherwise every expansive, empty brick room can only be envisioned as storage rooms great for playing echo games. -Bring a flashlight or utilize a flashlight app. There are several pitch black passageways that divert off from the main path. The eery silence and cool air makes these side paths ultra creepy yet exciting for exploring. Yes, horror movies and ghost stories have probably left a mark on me. You do NOT want to roam this fort at night. -Beautiful distant view of Boston harbor and all around glistening view of water. -Maximum of 2 hours necessary in exploring the island. My honey was ready to leave after an hour lol. If we didn't miss the last tour, a tour guide would've surely helped with our imagination in bringing more life to this fort. -Is it really necessary to have Summer Shack on the island? I saw some litter here and there from this place. A national historic landmark and seafood shack don't mix. read more

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Pros: -Lots of old buildings to explore! -Large green areas for games The ferry that left from Rowe's Wharf was a large 3 decker with lots of outdoor and indoor seating and a cash bar. It took about 30-40 minutes to get to the island, which was beautiful! When you step off the ferry you're greeted with a visitor center, "Mess hall," outdoor bathrooms, and very friendly park rangers. Then you're left to explore the expansive grounds. I'm a sucker for old buildings/ruins so I loved exploring all of the buildings of Fort Warren. It was even more fun finding all of the art tucked inside along the way! Also, the views of the Boston skyline are phenomenal from some of the higher points. There are several warning signs posted, but if you're bringing young children beware that virtually none of the many staircases have railings, so you might want to hold onto them. Even if you don't like exploring the fort, there are massive green areas that are great for picnics/frisbee/soccer/football/etc. The Isles Arts Initiative also has jumbo-sized games (Connect-4, Jenga, Checkers) on one of the front lawns. This is an awesome day-trip idea for families/friends! read more

Georges Island - Boston skyline! - Parks Near Me

Love love love! Such a nice and convenient getaway right outside of Boston. Perfect for a little day trip with family or friends. There's a little bit of everything to do (explore the grounds, have a picnic, swim although I personally wouldn't advise, and just learn more about Boston's history). All the park rangers were all really helpful and what's great is that you can get a discount library code to use for travel on the ferry and pay half the price! The only drawback are the outdoor bathrooms were not the cleanest nor were the bathrooms in the visitor center working, but other than that, I would highly recommend!! read more

Georges Island - View of Boston from the ferry! - Parks Near Me

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Amazing! My favorite Harbor Island thus far. The ride from downtown Boston is approximately 45 min, just enough time to enjoy being on a boat without reaching the "are we there yet?" point. My partner and I spent 5 hours on the island, which felt like the perfect amount to take everything in. Though others have called Fort Warren "rundown", I personally LOVED this atmosphere as it made exploring all of its various nooks and crannies much more exciting. Unlike other refurbished forts that feel too much like pristine museums, Warren's raw authenticity transports you back in time. There also happened to be a game of vintage baseball taking place in the fort's courtyard. What I thought were paid actors reenacting the game in Civil War era costumes were actually real league players visiting from neighboring cities. I didn't even know this was a thing! The friendly rangers, live Berklee music, and reasonably-priced food were all icing on the cake. I highly recommend spending a summer day on the island! read more

such an awesome spot to checkout! i highly recommend reading the book by edward rowe snow before coming! must see outside of boston! ferry rides are so cool and the price is worth it! read more

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We took the Ferry out to the Island to see the historic Fort Warren! It was very interesting and had a great view of Boston. We saw a nearby Lighthouse and got some great pictures! There were 100 year old Chestnut trees on the grounds that were very nice. It's a 45 minute ride out to island but it was a nice experience! The only complaint I have is the lack for food or snacks. They have hotdogs for $5 a piece and water. read more

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One of those places most kids in the Boston area went to for a field trip during their school days at one time or another. Two things we learned then - watch out for the botomless pits, and watch out for the Lady in Black! Make sure to take the free guided tour, you'll learn a little about the Civil War & Fort Warren and its use then and afterward through WWII. Another thing to do, take the short ride over to Lovells Island which is about 1000' feet away further out in the harbor. You can camp there and you'll have a chance to check it out to see if you'll like to return for an overnighter. That will require a muli Island ticket, so check at the ferry ticket booth before you go out, if you do plan on visiting two islands make it an early start & always bring a poncho kit & sunscreen - the weather can turn quite quickly out there even in the summer. ~ Sorry no swimming on the island ~ read more

When my mom suggested we take the ferry to Spectacle and Georges Islands, I was all, "aw, man, no." But then I acquiesced when I realized we had 4 hours to kill and nothing else to do before our flight home. Since we didn't have enough time to see both islands, I wanted to go to Georges Island. The fort seemed more appealing than the hiking trail on Spectacle Island. When we docked at Georges Island, we went to the visitor center. The information, stories, and props were actually very interesting. I liked the little exhibit that showed the foods that the prisoners ate (which looked surprisingly tasty). After browsing the museum, we marched onward to the fort. I never expected fort-exploration to be so fun but twas. At one point, the trail forked into two paths. We walked to the right and entered the heart of the fort (the grassy area lined with trees). I wanted to walk up the creepy, dark stairway, but my mom said, "naw." I think my favorite part about this place was the fact that there were very few precautions and people telling you what to do/avoid. Of course, there were a few signs letting you know when something was particularly dangerous, but not many. You're pretty much on your own for the most part. When we saw 2 other people walking up the spooky, mysterious stairs, my mom finally agreed to go. We ended up on the roof of the fort. Awesome. At some point, my mom and I left the roof and wandered to another part of the island. There was this lonely little stone building with a heavy, somewhat spiked wooden door. Apparently the soldiers/fort people used to keep magazines/ammo in there. The place was SUPER dark and my cell phone and LED flashlight barely illuminated anything. My mom and I were too scared to go in. We wandered around the fort for a while and visited some of the dilapidated rooms. Sometimes we heard random screams, chattering, or laughter. I'm pretty sure these sounds came from live people and not ghosts, though (there's a legend about a ghost lady... and 13 or 14 people died on the island...). We encountered this couple that joined us for a few minutes to walk down a spiral staircase. They said they had visited the island many times and enjoyed exploring the tunnels (including one where they had to move around on their hands and knees). I hope to one day be a hardcore fort-explorer as well. I def wanna come back here if I revisit Boston. read more

This is a great place to pack a picnic, get away from the city, and spend the day at a park! The island isn't very large, but it's a beautiful place to spend a day when the weather is nice. We saw many children having a lot of fun exploring the old fort. There are also ample grills and picnic tables that you can cook your own lunch (if you're willing to cart a bag of charcoal onto the island and then all of your trash back off again). read more

Georges Island - Parks Near Me

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I visited Georges Island after a friend had mentioned it. It was not what I expected from the moment I stepped off the ferry. I figured I would be walking alot, but I just packed a small bag with books to read and wore my flip flops. Next time, I will bring my hiking sneakers, a back pack, and most importantly a flashlight. This was more like an adventure back in time. The trip on the ferry was relaxing and only took about 30 minutes, but it was a great day for a ferry ride. I arrived on the island early (9:30am) since I usually like to beat the crowd and I am glad I did because there was barely a soul there until about 11:30am when everyone and their mother showed up. There was an information center with maps and plaques of historical data on the island. I like to explore, so I skipped the reading and went straight to the fort. I walked through a dark tunnel only to be veiled with sunlight and a massive wall that was structured much like a castle. The excitement stirred inside me as I strolled up the paved path and found a secret passage way to the left. There was an old wooden door and a plaque that informed you of the meaning of this doorway. I stepped onto the stone steps through the doorway and found a spiral staircase. At the bottom was what appeared to be several cells with bars. At this point it was inevitable...I was in love! I ran from one cell to the next pretending to be captured....lol! For the next hour I strolled through the fort creeping through rooms, peeking in doorways. It was kind of spooky, but that only excited me even more. I guess if you love history, castles, exploring, boats or anything of that nature check this place out. I can't wait to go back! read more

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It's pretty rare that one gets to review an entire island, so I'm going to savor writing this almost as much as I savored the trip itself. Georges Island, accessible via MBTA Harbor Ferry service from downtown or Quincy, is an absolutely wonderful place to explore. It takes about 20 minutes to get out there, and there's enough to do an explore to make it worth the trip. The centerpiece of the island is Fort Warren, a massive facility that dates back to the Civil War. Over the years the fort was repurposed again and again by the U.S. Military, and so there are nooks and crannies all over the place worth exploring. You can take a self-led walking or DCR guided tour to learn more about how the fort worked for defense, as a prison and as a training base. In addition to being a draw for amateur historians, it is also just an honest to goodness beautiful park. There is a massive picnic area with built-in grills that overlooks downtown Boston. There are hills, places to climb around in old battlements, and grassy expanses to throw around a frisbee. All this, seven miles from the middle of town. There's a big marketing pitch (perhaps you've seen the ads on the T) about the Boston Harbor Islands. I suggest you read about it a bit further and take a trip yourself. read more

Really enjoyed our first trip to the Harbor Islands together. My boyfriend and I stopped at Peddocks the first night to camp (Sean/Shawn was a great help and very personable!) and then hopped over to George's to check out Fort Warren. Love the abundance of picnic tables and grills, there were plenty available. If you forgo the packed lunch, Salt & Water by Barbara Lynch was tasty and not outrageously overpriced. My ONLY caveat with George's is the glaring lack of waste receptacles. I know the DCR doesn't want trash all over the beautiful islands (and I understand the carry on/carry out policy at Peddocks and other camping-centric islands) but two narrow bins, that technically belong to Salt & Water, are not a solution for all the waste people bring and produce every day (I hear it's around 1,000 on a weekend day!) We actually saw an employee walking around with grabbers and a bucket. Guess what.. you don't have to pay a trash can! Serious question: Does it not make more sense to collect it all once a day than pay someone to pick up each piece once every hour? read more

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I had always heard of the Boston Harbor Islands but always assumed they would be difficult and troublesome to get to. So, on a nice long weekend, my husband and I decided to give it a try, and were pleasantly surprised to see how easy it was instead. To get to the islands you have to take a ferry, and this being our first trip, we decided to stick to one island--Georges Island. This is a great spot to take your family and enjoy a whole day outdoors. You can easily purchase tickets for the ferry at the Ferry Center on the left back side of the Marriott Hotel by the Aquarium. It was a short 20 minute ride before we made it to Georges Island. Once you get off the ferry, everyone was filtered into a giant red barn house-like building that served as a museum telling the history of the Fort. I was definitely worth spending at least 20 minutes in there to check out some of the cool collection cases of military weapons and gear, etc., and watching the short video detailing the history of the fort. Afterwards, we chose to stop off for lunch. If you don't feel like bringing your own food, they do have a small selection of lunch items for sale. Or, you can bring a feast with you because there were plenty of pick nick tables and barbecue grills on the island for everyone. Make sure you stay fed and hydrated because touring the fort can involve a lot of walking and climbing! The fort itself is the main event of the island, and it was really awesome to explore. You could travel through dark rooms that used to be bunks for soldiers, explore watch towers, walk where giant cannons once stood, etc. They do offer free guided tours by park rangers, and the guy we joined later was funny and really knowledgeable. We enjoyed our exploring a lot more once we figured out what we were actually looking at! Plus, the park rangers tell the ghost story of the "lady in black" the best. Once you're tired of visiting the fort, there are plenty of spots to just take a leisurely stroll, go bird watching, or hang out by the small beach and water. Again, we had a really fun time, and I can't wait to check out some of the islands as well. One note to the wise--don't forget sunscreen! It was a really cloudy day when my husband and I went and I forgot to put extra SPF on. By the end of the trip I was terribly burned, since we did a lot of walking and there isn't a lot of sun coverage while touring the fort. Also, make sure to start lining up for the ferry 15 minutes before it arrives. The staff on the island do make an announcement when the ferry is approaching so that people can line up by the pier, but then it's a mad dash to the front, and some of the other visitors were just plain rude, line-cutting, patrons. If you prefer to wait for the announcement though, they do have some comfy Adirondack chairs overlooking the water that make for a great waiting spot. read more

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A must see site when living in the Boston area. It's a very spacious area with lots to explore. Wandering around the fort was the highlight of my visit. You can walk along the top of the fort or explore some of the dark rooms and passageways inside. The views of Boston and the other islands from the top of the fort are quite impressive. I would suggest bringing lunch, a frisbee or soccer ball, and spending the afternoon here. Overall, it's a great place to explore, have fun, and relax. read more

Georges Island - George's Island Map - Parks Near Me

Wish I'd had more time to visit the Harbor Islands during my time in Boston. The fort is an interesting piece of history. We wished we'd brought a flashlight to explore the inside a bit more. The courtyard was pretty and green, and the picnic area looked like a good place to spend a day. The indoor exhibit was really informative. read more

Today we spent the day at Georges Island with family. We headed to the island on the first boat and enjoyed wandering the island before the masses showed up. Here are some of the pros and cons about the island. Pros: The island is large and even when there are a lot of people on the island is doesn't feel crowded. The Park Rangers here are great. The tour we took was incredibly informative and we loved the hour tour. The food from the "Mess Hall" was great and the prices were reasonable. Cons: The fort itself is falling apart and from that my wife tells me it seems as though they haven't been maintaining it as well as other historic sights in Boston. The "Mess Hall" restaurant on the ground is good and fairly inexpensive, but the wait time was horrible. We waited fifteen minutes to order our food and then waited another 30 or more to receive it. In the end we loved our day here and could see ourself grilling here in the future as a family outing. read more

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We arrived on Georges Island on the inter-island ferry from Spectacle Island. Georges is home to the historic Fort Warren, and has a wonderful Visitor Center, which contains a great small museum about how the fort was set up and its history, such as serving as a prison for captured Confederates during the Civil War. The fort itself can be toured with a guide, or they offer some good brochures that allow you to do a self tour. The signage at Georges can be a bit tricky to follow, in part because the fort is huge and has dark sections - the suggestion to bring flashlights is a good one! Georges offers restrooms, a snack shop, great picnic areas, and green space to enjoy, in addition to the fort. We headed back into the city from Georges, and the ferry ride was about 45 minutes. A nice way to relax at the end of a great day! read more

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 George's has a huge fort that you can walk around and on the walls. The fort creates this beautiful grassy quad in the middle that is nicely manicured and relaxing - at least during the summer. A great place to read in the sun for the day -- not too many activities to do, so bring your own. During the summer, they'll do Berklee concert summer series where student bands play and that was really nice! Don't come here for the "beach" because it's really just pebbles and rocks on shore and it hurts read more

Spent my two year anniversary with my girlfriend there over the summer. My parents used to bring me around the islands a lot throughout my childhood, so it was nice seeing this place again. Most of it's very pretty, and there's lots of history behind it. I wish less was closed off as I remember it being, I guess it's just from one more dumb person falling off a ledge. It's a bit hard to get information on how exactly to get between islands, as nobody could tell me how often the ferries would run (we went on a monday, it wasn't that crowded) so we only ended up visiting Georges. read more

Georges Island - Parks Near Me

I enjoy nature, hiking, and history, so I figured coming out here would be great. Plus there was supposed to be a Native American Festival going on. I need to say something right off the bat. This island is covered in goose feces. Not like 'wow there's a lot of goose **** on this island'...more like "this might be the most goose feces that has ever been in one place at one time in recorded history". But hey geese are part of nature, and I figured maybe there'd be some other interesting birds around. Nope. Bunch of herring gulls and canada geese, hundreds of them. I enjoy any type of bird, but if you're going here hoping to see anything vaguely out of the ordinary that you couldn't see on mainland Boston you'll be disappointed by Georges Bird Dump Paradise. So when we arrive we find the festival is actually one small tent with a nice enough guy telling random stories, and some other people sitting around watching. Whatever, I'm not much of a Native American History buff, so I figure walk around the island a bit and explore. The fort itself is somewhat interesting, and it's easy to find your way around there. The signs at key points are helpful and interesting. But honestly, there's just not a whole lot to see here. Hiking around the entire island's circumference would probably take about a half hour at most, but a bunch of it is closed off. At one point we walked by what looked like a 6 bay commercial garage that was taped off and in complete disrepair. I think the Rangers may have started a meth lab that later caved in on itself but I'm not certain. I guess this place was worth one visit, but the 5 star review of this place baffle me. It's somewhat interesting from a historical perspective, but for any other reason it doesn't really hold much value as a destination. read more

This is a go to place for me to take guests and to enjoy a summer's day in Boston. I've decided that if a city has water, one of the best ways to see the city, is by water. The ferry ride to George's island (about 30 mins) does just that. Along the way you also get to see planes flying low over to land, castle island, and other harbor islands. The ferry ride over to George's, however, is just the first part of the fun. For so many years I kept telling myself that I would venture past George's island by boat to the other harbor islands, and while I still would like to do that someday, I've realized that George's on its own is more than enough for one day. Unlike most historic sites where you're corralled into certain paths and certain rooms, Fort Warren lets you roam free. While some rooms are off limits for safety reasons, there are lots of hallways and dark damp rooms to explore. As others have said, definitely make sure to bring a flashlight. Outside of the fort, George's island boasts a great view of Boston, some picnic areas, Jasper White's summer shack stand, and some rocky coasts. It pretty much has it all, and I never tire of going back year after year. read more

What an awesome place! I'm not big on historical sites as much anymore, but this was pretty damn cool. You're allowed to walk around the island at your leisure, explore the fort, go down dark and mysterious pathways, take epic photos (there are some fantastic view points from the fort that are to die for!), and if you'd like take a guided tour. Not sure how often this happens, but when I was there, there were a few old fashioned baseball games being played. They wore the old school uniforms and were out there in the field with no gloves. Awesome throwback. This is an ideal location for everyone. Group have friends? Awesome group photo opportunities. Bring the family and let the kids run rampant. Just keep in mind that the ferry leaves every hour on the hour and it's about a 45 minute ride both ways. However on the way over you get a tour guide. Our tour guide Alex was phenomenal. Funny, smart, and really good knowledgeable about the history of the islands and of Boston itself. I'd take the tour again just on his performance alone! On the way back however no tour guide, but it did let you take in the beautiful scenery. And for your information, the ferry serves alcohol as well as other assorted beverages and snacks. Also the island has some kickass chicken fingers! And Seagulls that fight for your food! read more

This island was awesome. Great exploring the old fort. My kids 10 and 3 loved it. Lots of unique places on the fort, great open spaces for them to run around and wonderful views of Boston. The park rangers are always helpful and informative too. We had so much fun here and the extra long boat ride is great for relaxing and watching the planes overhead. One caution: do NOT try and eat here. Oh my the food is bad. Even for institutional snack bar food it's bad! The turkey sandwich was dry and inedible and the grilled cheese was sprayed with a weird tasting non-stick chemical. Also the line for food is always 20 people deep. Anyway, I realize you don't go here to eat but though I would pass along. read more

I had been to Georges Island a few years back before the visitor center and summer shack opened. They have done a nice job adding new conveniences and showcasing the history of the fort. There is a lot of room for exploring and relaxing. You are free to wander around the island and explore the fort on your own. When I visited this past weekend there was a band playing. There are picnic tables spread out by the water looking towards the harbor and some grills. The harbor islands operate on a carry in/carry out policy so make sure you keep this in mind when planning a trip. Overall, it is a great day trip if you are looking to do something a little different. Bring a book, pack a lunch, and enjoy the views. read more

After asking these "rangers" if the island was open until sunset as posted they confirmed it indeed was. After making us wait 45 minutes to dock we finally were hurried to do so at 5pm, just as their worker boat arrived to scurry them away for the night. The word useless comes to mind when recalling their help. Just a classic government drone collecting a paycheck then running away at the end of the night. Mass Parks you should be ashamed. 0/10 would not recommend. read more

Decaying and decrepit, which makes for a cool atmosphere. According to the tour guide, they used to do Halloween events out here (they would have people coming out of the huge ovens in the bakery). Do they still do it? If they do I'm totally there it would be awesome. Surprising how much free reign you have over the facility, not much stuff blocked off considering how many completely dark, wet and crumbling spaces there are. I'd go on the ranger led tour, otherwise it's just a huge old rubble. Plenty of green space also for the usual park like activities. However if I had a bajillion tollars, this place would totally go the way of Liberty Hotel and would be converted into a luxury hotel/casino. Is that not a million dollar idea or is it not?? :) I mean the old bakery would obviously become the restaurant, then there was that part of the fort they used as a theater which would be...wait for it...the theater. You could kayak to the little islands nearby. The hospital could be the...infirmary. The parade grounds would be where the cocktail hours and stuff are...then there that little amphitheater thing where I think they used to have cannons, which when I went was full of disgusting rain water that hadn't drained probably for weeks...that could be the jacuzzi. Who wants to enter into this venture with me?!?! read more

A hidden treasure! I am a lifetime Massachusetts resident, and I had never even heard about the Harbor Islands until I moved into Boston and someone mentioned it. This is a great alternative to the sometimes repetitive activities in Boston. A great spot for a date, providing you with a lot of options such as a picnic or a tour. The tour is the perfect amount of time and stays interesting throughout. This is a little gem that more Boston residents need to know about. read more

Very interesting, nice place. We went during one of the festivals there.

You know how when you're little and you move, the best thing ever about the move is that you make giant forts out of cardboard boxes and play all day long until your mom or dad gets rid of those boxes and you cry, dreaming about how awesome your fort was? Las Vegas is adult Disney; Georges Island is adult fort. Going down a tiny hallway with my iPhone flashlight App, I turn into a room filled with fog. Light filters through a crack in the middle of a low ceiling. I step into the room. My foot is wet, and I jump back into the hallway. I'm convinced the room is flooded, and I will drown if I step back in. My husband dares me to reach the other side of the room and touch the brick wall. The wall I can't see; the fog is reflecting light. I can't ignore a dare, but I am whining the entire time we line up to do this thing. I scream all the way there and all the way back. My fingertips are still cold when I return to the hallway. We're laughing louder than I screamed. read more

Great trip if you enjoy historical sightseeing! We needed plenty of time to go through all of the areas of the fort and the items in the new visitors center. We spent about two hours but easily could have spent about two or three more! Very interesting stuff, and the only thing that disappointed was that there weren't more placards throughout the fort indicating what areas/rooms were what. All in all it was a great time and I would definitely suggest it to anyone who enjoys exploring historical sites. read more

This Boston Harbor Island is the one they recommend everyone go to, and is the most developed, busiest, and has the most tours and masses-friendly events. read more

Georges Island - Parks Near Me

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Georges Island is a beautiful place to get away from the city for an atypical tourist destination. You really shouldn't swim there due to the waters being slightly more polluted and the not knowing exactly what's under the surface (think old metal piping, rusted rebar, etc). But what Georges Island is great for: + BBQ (but pack light since you have to bring off what you bring on; and arrive early to snag a coveted shaded grill spot). + Great field for frisbee, soccer, etc. inside the Fort where it's flat and nearly windless -- and you can flip your flops off and not be concerned of glass here (picnicing is not allowed in these parts). + Very nicely in tact fort + Great views of the surrounding islands and coastal Towns, including Hull and Boston Headlight. + Only $15 for a round trip ticket. You can get to the other islands by taking the inner island ferry as well, though I'm not sure if you have to pay extra or what the schedule is. Also, note that your ticket is good for a specific time. I highly recommend trying to get a late ticket. If you want to leave early, you can try your luck by standing by. If you get an early ticket back to Boston, I recommend that you take it... Those boats get crowded as the day slows; and last boat leaves at 6. read more

Getting to the island is a breeze. Ferry was very fast and the crew give you some history on the way there. The fort is very cool and you can see from the photos very open and fun to explore. Some of the building/caverns would be fun to explore if they didn't have the "you are gonna go missing" if you keep going vibe. We went on the 10am ferry and left on the 1130 and that was plenty of time with the sun at its highest point with little breeze to cool you off. The ferry also sells beer, but you can't walk off the boat with it, helpful tip. Tons of geese droppings, don't wear the nice shoes. Will visit again I'm sure. read more

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definitely worth a visit at some point if you're limited within the city limits. I personally would avoid it during the free ferry days since it gets way too packed on those days. The fort is a really fun place to wander around for a few hours. My favorite part is the ferry ride and the watch tower. Pack some snacks, a camera and a blanket and the day will be complete. read more

Cute island for picnics and to enjoy the day outside. Take a ferry to and from boston harbor. They have a food court on the island but it can be a long wait. read more

If you want to get away from the city for a day all you need is a 45 minute ferry ride that costs $14 round trip and the city skyline will slowly get farther and farther away. Georges Island is definitely worth a visit for the Bostonians who have never been and it easily kills a few hours if the inlaws or other guests are in town. Ferries leave roughly every hour from Long Wharf right near the Aquarium and the last ferry leaves Georges Island at 4:30pm. The Island itself is a pretty cool fortress turned prison turned fortress turned recreation area. The DCR rangers show a movie about the island every hour and they offer walking tours every two hours - both of which are free. I prefer to just wander around and explore the cool structure. It's basically the ultimate place to play hide and seek - if you can fit a flashlight into your bag then you can really go to town exploring the various nooks and crannies of the structure. Other than the fortress there is a Summer Shack serving up surprisingly decent food as well as many picnic tables and barbecues if you want to DIY. There isn't really a beach for swimming (take the same ferry to Spectacle Island for that), but if you bring a blanket you can lay out and get lots of good sun without many distractions. read more

Dogs are banned, which means the island is covered with Canada Geese and goose poop. They should really let anyone with a Labrador, Golden, or Border Collie come here and the dogs make the island a little less welcoming to these airborne visitors. read more

Out of all the islands, George's is my favourite... Besdides the historic aspect of Fort Warren, the shore is sandy (no swimming apparently?... poor signage) but the rangers were very friendly despite us breaking all the rules... A lot to explore but bring a flashlight read more

I had the luck of getting to Georges Island during the free harbor cruise day. Although it was kinda of chaotic during this free weekend, I absolutely loved Georges Island. The ride on the ferry provides a great view of Boston and the planes taking off over head. The island itself is pretty bare but that is the best part. It is just trees, beach, and ruins. You can wander in and out of old fort and prison. It was creepy but amazing. The view from the top of the fort gives you a 360 view of all the Boston Harbor islands. My words of advice are to remember to pack a lunch/dinner/snack and that all trash you bring on must be taken off. read more