Things to Do in Needham

Head instructor Francois Asselin has guided Boston Sailing Center's neophytes to seaworthiness for more than 15 years, with his programs reaching more than 400 students annually. Mr. Asselin and his cadre of nine other sailing instructors take small groups onto the water to provide hands-on experience with the ropes, sails, steering, and maintenance of sailboats. Together, they introduce the science of seamanship or sharpen the skills of experienced sailors so they can eventually set sail on their own with a complete mastery over wind, water, and doing jumping jacks with a peg leg.

Boston Sailing Center owns an armada of vessels, which, in addition to lessons, may be rented for on-the-water events or lent out to members for regular sailing. Skippers conduct tours of Boston Harbor's skyline, stopping at scenic islands for impromptu picnics or to let parents maroon angst-ridden teenagers.

Boston Duck Tours’ conductors helm a fleet of restored World War II–era DUKWs. Originally used to usher soldiers and supplies from sea to land, the vehicles now enjoy a cheerier, award-winning career rumbling down the streets of Boston and slapping speeding tickets on mallard ducks in the Charles River. The amphibious vehicles hold up to 36 guests in their open-air back decks for 360-degree views of the cityscape.

Boston's historical skyline sets the backdrop for aquatic adventures aboard Boston Harbor Mini Speed Boats' fleet of F-13 speedboats. The two-person vessels require no boating license, letting customers steer their own way across Boston Harbor and the Charles River. Kept on-course by a team of guides piloting the lead boat, excursions speed past well-known sights such as the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Fort Independence, and the USS Constitution, whose wooden masts stretch towards the sky like a ballerina who let go of her birthday balloon.

Ceramics a la Carte's more than 500 unfired bisque pieces invite amateur painters to decorate coffee mugs, serving dishes, and piggy banks with food-safe glazes in a rainbow of shiny colors. Blank ceramic canvases await the kiss of paint applied with the use of a variety of delicate brushes or indelicate trebuchets. Alternatively, patrons can confer with the store’s accomplished staff artists, who enrich ceramics with custom designs that center on children's handprints, wedding and teacher gifts, or paintings of family homes.

Three history buffs founded Boston Strolls with the goal of highlighting their city's fascinating and often hilarious forgotten tales. Launching in Beacon Hill, the tours have now expanded into the Back Bay and North End. Today, guides lead all tours past historic brick and stone facades, as well as the occasional Bruins shrine, and immerse participants in an interactive exploration of Boston's lesser-known history.

In addition to their sometimes dark and often humorous anecdotes, they also personalize the tour to each group by judging the knowledge base of their participants and accommodating anyone who is allergic to Boston. Even with their careful planning, the tours often take surprising turns. On one tour, a homeowner invited the group around a private wall to see the house's private garden that, in traditional Beacon Hill fashion, was completely hidden from all other passersby.

HipHost taps into the teeming river of local pride that runs through every city to power its huge range of sightseeing tours. Locals eager to unveil the true history and hotspots of their beloved home can contact the company to become tour hosts. Once new guides have set up their tour and peppered the website with pictures of the many sites to be seen, HipHost directs guests their way. Visitors might learn the history of an important historical figure such as Paul Revere on a Boston walk fueled by Little Italy's pizza and local craft brews, or they might skip the history lesson and, like a centipede in search of a stool, crawl from pub to pub in New Orleans. HipHost encourages guests to thank, review, and tip the local hosts for sharing their time and expertise.