Boston City Experience: 1 if by Land, 2 if by Sea

Boston, known for its American Revolution history, professional sports teams, higher education institutions and extraordinary food scene, has more than enough to make choosing what to do and where to go a bit overwhelming.

Editor’s Note: The writer was hosted.

On my last visit, I discovered City Experiences, part of the Hornblower Corporation, which offers tours, experiences and services all over the world, including Boston. The company actually began with Boston Harbor cruises in 1926 so when it comes to land or water tours in Bean Town, City Experiences offers an unparalleled expertise.

My Tours Overview

One of the best ways to experience the Boston area is by water. The harbor, so much a part of the history (remember the Boston Tea Party?) overlooks Boston proper giving one an amazing view of the city.

These tours, described in more detail below, took me on a journey through the history, food and waterways of Boston. I recommend them all.

• New England Aquarium Whale Watch Cruise (Starting Price $70)
• Boston Signature Dinner Cruise on the Boston Harbor (Starting Price $129)
• Salem in a Day from Boston (Starting Price $123)
• Ultimate Boston Food Tour: North End & Boston Public Market   (Starting Price $109)
• CODZILLA Thrill-boat Ride in Boston (Starting Price $49)

Book a Holiday Cruise

This section is sponsored by City Cruises.

While I visited in the summer, City Cruises operates some special holiday-themed cruises in the winter. I haven’t tried them, but if my experience is representative of the holiday cruises, I wouldn’t hesitate to book one if I happen to be back in Boston this winter! (Don’t worry, there are cozy, warm indoor spaces on the boats.)

Here’s a taste of the cruises offered this year:

• Lunch with Santa Cruises Dec. 6 and 13: Expect a kid-friendly buffet, goodie bags and, of course, Santa photo ops.
• Thanksgiving Lunch Cruise: Skip the cooking and cleaning and just enjoy your family and friends while eating a sumptuous Thanksgiving meal and admiring Boston’s beautiful skyline.
• Christmas Eve Brunch Cruise: Enjoy holiday-themed drinks, food and entertainment.
• New Year’s Eve Cruises: Ring in the new year with brunch or a dinner and fireworks cruise.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Book your holiday cruise early – they sell out fast! Book your City Experiences holiday cruise by November 9 and use code HOLIDAY50 to get 50% off your second ticket for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve sailings!

New England Aquarium Whale Watch Cruise

• What is it: A 3-4 hour cruise to the Stellwagon Bank Marine Sanctuary and back. Much of the time is spent on the cruise out and back, with about 30-45 minutes dedicated to actively looking for whales. The tour does guarantee that you’ll see whales, but if you don’t, you can get tickets for another cruise for free.

• How is it experienced: The best time for whale watching in New England is May-October. The boat is a catamaran and has both indoor and outdoor seating and restrooms, plus a full bar and snacks you can buy on board. Each cruise has a naturalist on board.

• Who is it best for: Anyone who loves marine wildlife and does well on boats for several hours at a time. This is a great educational opportunity for kids.

• My experience: We saw whales and dolphins on my cruise. It is easiest to see from the upper deck but there is viewing from all sides of the boat on both decks. They tell you where to look using a clock system (front of the boat is twelve o’clock, rear is six o’clock, etc.) and the crew does a good job turning the boat to give everyone the best view. They also use the boat’s wake to tempt the whales to come close. The naturalist was able to recognize and knew the names of every whale we saw and told us stories about them.

• My Tips:
  • Whales and dolphins are a similar color to the water and can be hard to spot. Watch for the gust of air coming from their blowholes when they come up to breathe – they’ll usually breach afterward so you can see their back and dorsal fin.
  • Bring a sweatshirt or jacket! Even if it’s hot in the city, when you’re out on the water it gets cold, especially in the wind.
  • If you’re at all subject to motion sickness, bring something to help such as medication, wrist bands or whatever works best for you. If the sea is rough that day, see if you’re able to move to another day if possible. They’ll announce the likely ocean conditions before the cruise departs.
  • I recommend taking video over trying to take photos. Instead of having to try and point the camera/phone at the exact time and place a whale breaches to get your one shot, you can just let the video run and crop out any extraneous sections later.
  • Don’t forget sunscreen! A hat is helpful too, but make sure to secure it when the boat is up to speed so it doesn’t blow off.
  • Enjoy the cruise! Whether or not you see any whales, the views are beautiful and it’s an enjoyable way to spend your time.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you want to hear everything the naturalist says, I recommend you sit indoors. Once the boat gets up to speed, there’s a lot of wind noise that drowns out the speakers in the outside areas.

Boston Signature Dinner Cruise on the Boston Harbor

• What is it: Beautiful city skyline views along with wonderful food? Yes, please. This evening cruise includes a buffet dinner, full bar, a DJ and dancing, and lovely views of the Boston shoreline as you cruise along. Vegan and gluten-free options are available. The menu is posted on their website.

• How is it experienced:
  • The tour website calls for casual attire but our group took the opportunity to dress up a bit and most everyone did the same. We were given cards before boarding that specified which deck we were seated at. A server brought us drinks and refills but the food is on a buffet located near the stern (rear) of the boat. Coffee, tea and water are included but any other drinks cost extra.
  • The dining and seating area is fully enclosed and climate-controlled. You can head outside to the open deck area to view the shoreline, but there are also many tables with window views. The boat keeps a steady pace that’s easy for walking around with full plates and I knew I’d have no trouble with motion sickness.

• Who is it best for: This cruise is best for adults but they do have discounted child tickets available for some cruises.

• My experience:
  • There’s a wide variety on the buffet with several salads, entrees and sides to choose from. I am a somewhat picky eater but was able to find plenty of options I liked. My favorite was the Baked Orecchiette Pasta, which is also vegetarian.
  • The dinner buffet closes down an hour before you dock, but they do offer dessert at that time. The dance floor also opens and the DJ plays classic dance music. They also set out board games for people to grab and play. Our group had an impromptu Connect-Four tournament and then we played Uno with giant cards.
  • The weather was beautiful for most of our cruise, but it began to rain during the last half hour. Unfortunately this meant there was no sunset to view, but we were glad for the indoor seating!

• My tips:
  • Spend some time out in the fresh air where you can see the shoreline better and take in the beautiful view.
  • Check out the menu ahead of time online to make sure there will be options that everyone in your group can enjoy.
  • Relax, enjoy the ride – and don’t forget to play games, dance and have fun!

Salem, Massachusetts: a Day Trip from Boston

• What is it: Day-long cruise to Salem and back with a walking tour of Salem included. The ferry is available to ride even if you don’t wish to take the tour in Salem. See the details and schedule here. All tour guides are experts on the area and its history.

• How is it experienced: The tour begins at the Boston Harbor, where you board the Salem Ferry. There are two options for this tour. The 9:30am tour visits the Salem Witch Museum whereas the 9:25am tour visits the Salem Pirate Museum. There is free time at the end of each tour so you can visit the other museum if you wish.

• Who is it best for: People of all ages, especially those who love history and/or witchcraft. There is a lot of walking, but the streets and sidewalks are paved and accessible.

• My experience:
  • The ferry is modern and comfortable with both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a full bar and snacks. The journey to Salem takes just over 45 minutes and offers some amazing views of the Boston shoreline. I had no motion sickness issues on the cruise. Our tour guide was a Salem resident and provided detailed descriptions of every site and building we visited. She was engaging and funny and made sure that we were all together and in the right place as we explored the town.
  • The Witch Museum is a guided and timed experience in two parts. It includes a show that explores the history of the witch trials and a guided tour which looks at the history of witches and how they’ve changed over time in pop culture.  Both parts were fascinating and I learned so many things on this tour.
  • We visited the Witch Memorial, which contains stone benches for each of the nineteen women executed and six locust trees (chosen because they represent the injustice of the trials). It’s a sobering reminder of what being intolerant can cause.
  • Salem is known for more than just the witch trials – it also has a rich maritime history. And it’s also the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who was inspired to write his novel, The House of the Seven Gables, there. The actual house still exists, although some of the gables have been removed. We also visited the house where Nathaniel courted his bride, and the Custom House where he once worked. We learned about many of the historic buildings in Salem, who owned them and even where a few ghosts might be lurking (not to take away from the Salem ghost tours you can take!).

• My Tips:
  • Be prepared – there is a lot of ‘walking’ on this walking tour. The guide kept a comfortable pace and there are enough stops that you’re not getting winded. It was sunny and hot on our tour – even though the guide stopped in shady areas wherever possible, you’re still going to be in the sun a lot
  • Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers so you can keep yourself either warm or cool.
  • Wear sunscreen and remember to re-apply during the tour.
  • An umbrella is helpful in case of rain, or to help keep you in the shade.
  • Hydrate! Water is not provided on the tour so make sure to bring your own, especially if it’s hot out.
  • Snacks are great to have on-hand since the tour encompasses lunchtime. You can enjoy local restaurants for lunch during the free time at the end of the tour, but that also takes you past noon.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The ferry leaves for the return trip back to Boston at 4pm (there are some later ferries on some days), so if you want to take it, you need to make sure to board on time. I suggest planning to be at the dock by 3:30pm just in case. If you’d rather spend more time in Salem, you can choose to take the commuter rail back into Boston instead. A one-way ticket is $8 and the last trip back to the city leaves Salem at 11:06pm.

Ultimate Boston Food Tour: North End & Boston Public Market

• What is it: Walking tour by Devour Tours. While it focuses on food, you can’t help but take in some of the history too. The tour includes stops in the Boston Public Market, a portion of the Freedom Trail, and the historic North End. Tasting stops vary but include some of Boston’s classic food items such as oysters, lobster rolls and cannoli.

• How is it experienced: This is a mostly outdoor walking tour over paved, brick and cobblestone surfaces. Some streets are narrow and there are some gentle hills involved. Stops are made at several locations to taste various food and drinks.

• Who is it best for: Anyone interested in Boston’s culinary history who enjoys walking. The tour is accessible, although some surfaces are uneven.

• My experience:
  • Our tour guide was thoroughly helpful and fun to listen to. She did a great job of leading us through some pretty narrow streets and making sure we all stayed on the right path.
  • We began at the Boston Public Market, and had a chance to explore this indoor space that houses around 30 food and artisan items. Here we learned about Red Apple Farm and enjoyed a taste of their hand-pressed apple cider and apple cinnamon donuts. We also visited The Popover Lady, learned about this small business and had a choice from several of her savory popovers.
  • Our next stop, The Union Oyster House, is the oldest continuously running restaurant in the US. It was also a favorite of JFK’s – you can check out his ‘special’ booth on the second floor. Here we got to taste oysters, clam chowder, Boston baked beans and cornbread. We then headed into Boston’s historic North End, where the streets are narrow and you can just breathe in the history. Here we walked past The Old North Church and tasted lobster rolls, lemon slush and cannoli. As we walked, we continued to learn about the history of the area, including the famous “Cannoli Wars”. We chatted with Bobby from Polcari’s Coffee and loved his classic Boston accent and the unique story of this historic local coffee shop.

• My tips:
  • The tour is a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes, dress in layers, and don’t forget to bring water and sunscreen.
  • Start out hungry! The tour encompasses lunchtime, but you’ll be trying many different foods and want to make sure you’ve got room for everything.
  • You do get a few minutes to wander the public market so bring cash or a card with you.
  • I like to walk up front near the guide so I can make sure to hear everything they have to share.
  • Keep an open mind – this can be a good opportunity to try something new.

CODZILLA Thrill-boat Ride in Boston

• What is it: If you’re an adrenaline junkie, then this is the boat ride for you. The Codzilla is a 70-foot speedboat that can hit speeds up to 40mph and turn on a dime to splash water aboard. Yes, you will get wet on this ride!

• How is it experienced: The Codzilla holds up to 135 passengers and plays loud music with a scripted storyline as you race through the water. There are no ‘dry’ seats and you can expect to get wet wherever you sit.

• Who is it best for: Anyone who feels the need for speed! Children must be at least 4 year old and 42 inches tall to ride. If you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, back or neck problems or any other condition that would be aggravated by sudden sharp movements, you should avoid this ride. Also, if you have issues with motion sickness, you should also probably stay on dry land.

• My experience:
  • I grew up with speedboats and my inner 20-year-old totally misses the speed and the splashes. However, my middle-aged body isn’t as cooperative and given the warnings, I knew the best option was to skip this, as much as I didn’t want to. So I sat this one out, but many others in our group did go. The consensus afterward was that the loud music, fun and excitement far outweighed any minor discomfort from motion. They only got wet once, but it was a big splash.
  • Zoe says, “Codzilla was a fantastic group activity that I would happily do again and again!! The onboard staff set the scene for the experience with their fun-loving energy, while the ride itself offered a refreshing escape from Boston’s summer heat along with spectacular views of the city.”

• My Tips: Zoe says, “Hot tip, for those who want the most splash, sit in the back! The company also provides ponchos for those who prefer not to get completely soaked.”