Seasons on the Charles
If you are visiting Boston for the first time or looking for summer activity without leaving the city, the Charles River and its shores provide a setting for several events and opportunities for recreation and rest. The continuous pathway on either the Boston or Cambridge side of the river can take you to a number of interesting sites along this urban river – often alive with sailboats, walkers, runners, and cyclists. Following is a list of organizations and businesses with activities and tours of this scenic river.
Charles River Conservancy
You may want to begin at the website of the Charles River Conservancy whose mission is to work with other organizations such as the Department of Conservation and Recreation in enhancing and maintaining Charles River parklands and encouraging active participation in the many activities that take place there. Their offerings are free and open to the public. Following is an example of a day of activities in August:
Morning Tai Chi, Architecture Cruise, Open Swimming at Magazine Beach Pool, Greenway Open Market.
Their activities are free and open to the public. Take a look at the Charles River Conservancy website where you will find a calendar of activities for the months ahead.
www.thecharles.org
Charles River Canoe and Kayak
Rent a canoe or kayak, learn the basics, and join in organized cruises, at any one of their four locations.
Kendall Square, Cambridge: a starting point for scenic views of Boston; Herter Park, Brighton/Allston: approach from Storrow Drive, parking. Other locations beyond Boston and Cambridge: Moody Street Dam, Waltham, and Nahanton Park in Newton.
Duck Tours
The amphibious duck boats, the first in the country, are located in front of the dinosaur statue outside the Museum of Science, at the Aquarium, and near Copley Square at The Shops at Prudential Center on Huntington Avenue. These colorful boats carry tourists over the Charles River and onto city streets, with narratives about Boston history and highlights.
http://www.bostonducktours.com
Charles Riverboat Company
This company offers a variety of tours with their fleet of five interesting styles of cruise vessels and includes sunset tours and the area’s only architecture tours. One of their three piers is located at the Cambridgeside Galleria Mall.
Those who want to spend a month or more in the Boston area may want to get involved in boating on the Charles in one of the following:
Community Boating
Community Boating located along Storrow Drive at the Longfellow Bridge has the longest public sailing program in the country since its founding in 1946. With “Sailing for all” as its mission, the organization offers lessons and various activities for people of all ages, regardless of financial or physical limitations. Open from April to November, CBI’s calendar is available online.
Community Rowing
“Rowing for all” is the motto of this program for all ages at the elegant, award-winning CRI boathouse just a short distance from Brighton and Watertown, on the Newton side of the river.
Exploring the Charles River my book recently published by Merrimack Media is also a great source of information about tours of Boston and Cambridge along the Charles. This publication provides history of the area and describes various activities and events, as well as transportation and amenities along the river, in a soft-covered book small enough to carry around as your personal guide.
You can find this publication at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, at the Trident Bookstore and Café on Newbury Street in Boston, and at the Xylem gift shop in Kendall Square, Cambridge, near the Charles River Canoe and Kayak dock. You can also find it on the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites.Following are some events listed in Exploring the Charles…
Revels RiverSing concert on the banks of the Charles celebrates the Equinox with music, poetry, and communal singing.
http://www.revels.org/calendar/riversing/
May Day Celebrations are held each year at the Weeks Footbridge in Cambridge.
http://www.newtowne.org.
Dragon Boat Festival in late May or early June honors China’s distinguished poet Qu Yuan.
http://www.bostondragonboatorg/
Cambridge River Festival in early June is a one-day celebration of the arts.
www.cambridgema.gov/arts/programs/riverfestival.aspx
Fourth of July Concert and fireworks at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade and other free outdoor concerts are available during the summer.
Summer Camping Festival takes place in late July at the North Point Park in Cambridge.
http://www.rei.com/event/42063/session/53879
Sunday Parkland Games are held every Sunday from June to September.
http://www.charlesriverconservancy.org/ParklandGames.
Tango by Moonlight is available with free demonstrations and mini-lessons on the Weeks Footbridge on evenings from May to October.
http://www.bostontango.org
Head of the Charles Regatta every year during the last full weekend in October Boston and Cambridge can be viewed along either side of the river from the Boston University DeWolfe Boathouse on Memorial Drive where it begins to the finish line upriver from the Eliot Bridge and Cambridge Yacht Club.
Whatever your interest there is plenty to do near or on the Charles River, a wonderful natural resource.
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