Things to Do in Melrose

For Annissa Essaibi George, sewing has not just been a lifelong passion, but also a means of getting what she wants. At age 6, her mother taught her to sew so that she could make her Barbie a new outfit. In college, she and her roommate stitched together scrunchies, selling them to fund take-out and nights out. She even designed her own wedding dress. Today, sewing is the fuel behind her business, through which she furnishes sewers and knitters with the supplies to craft their projects and the skills they need to clothe every statue in the park. Annissa's pink-walled shop houses patterns, fabrics, knitting kits, and cubbies overflowing with polychromatic spools of yarn. Classes run on a five-day schedule and cover such stitching styles as knitting, crocheting, and pattern sewing for crafters of all levels.

In the year of America’s bicentennial, the fervor for American history was at an all-time high, and few cities are as full of patriotic landmarks as Boston. As floods of citizens came to see and experience America’s roots, Polly Flansburgh decided to gather together experienced locals to educate visitors and newcomers on the stories in which the city is steeped. Nearly four decades later, her non-profit, Boston By Foot, Inc., still pairs curious patrons with enthusiastic volunteers schooled by the company in the city’s lore and architecture.

This diverse selection of tours allows patrons to learn more about the aspects of Boston that interest them most. Specialized excursions might visit the scenes of the city's most infamous crimes and diseases, the buildings important in the revolution, the homes of Boston’s greatest literary heroes, and places where somebody found an onion that looked sort of like Robert De Niro. The staff even lead one tour specifically designed for children, which helps illustrate lessons from history class without too much walking for little legs.

Bobby Martin grew up with a sail line in his hand, touring the Delaware River and the waters surrounding Kent Island and St. Michael's in Maryland. He always knew sailing was in his blood, as he was raised in a family of boat builders and America's Cup competitors. He followed this passion throughout school and into a racing team at Boston University and earned a position as captain by his senior year. Now, as the executive director at the nonprofit Piers Park Sailing Center, he combines his passion for sailing with a love for community outreach, helping to train sailors of all ages and ability levels including underserved youth and disabled students.

Experienced captains guide passengers through the city's wide harbor avenues and more intimate waterways on a range of tours and themed cruises. Passengers can hop on or off each excursion at six designated docks such as Atlantic Wharf and Fairmont Battery Wharf. When disembarking, they may stop at waterside eateries such as the Barking Crab and Tavern on the Water to sip, dine, and heed Paul Revere's legendary warning about eating too many burgers. While most cruises beckon customers to board the Precious Time, Sadie, or White Pearl, captains also conduct mini cruises aboard unique vessels such as a turn-of-the-century fantail launch boat.

Seacoast Sailing presents sweeping skyline views to guests on New York Harbor tours aboard the spacious New Horizons, a 60-foot custom-designed and Coast Guard–certified Tortola motorsailer. During public voyages, the ocean craft ferries groups of up to 47 toward some of New York's most iconic landmarks. Passengers ogle at Manhattan's lively waterfront, and take in the twin grandeur of Governors and Ellis Islands.

Guests also sip on complimentary soft drinks and nibble on snacks as they marvel at the Statue of Liberty's majestic torch, and read the fine print on the "For Sale" sign hung atop the Brooklyn Bridge. Passengers aboard nighttime sails witness the dazzling lights of the New York skyline or fading amber glow of the sun as it sets or burns out.

As the sun makes its retreat into the horizon, the whales of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary come out to play. Their elephantine fins slap the waters with such zeal that the pod seems to be putting on a performance for the catamaran of whale watchers in their midst. This end-of-day nature show experienced by passengers aboard Boston's Best Cruises’ New England Aquarium Whale Watch is hardly a rarity, as the ship’s crews guarantee sightings of these gentle giants with each excursion.

Champions of the natural beauty of Boston Harbor and the area’s rich maritime history, Boston's Best Cruises’ expert crew sets sail on cruises to suit all manner of interest. Along with their whale watches, Boston’s Best Cruises whisks passengers away on Harbor Cruises that grant unimpeded views of the Boston skyline and the King Kongs pumping fists within its skyscrapers. The Salem Ferry facilitates leisurely cruises between Boston and the historic city, and aquatic outings to the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area enable activities such as sunset clambakes, hiking, and fishing.