Reading, MA Outdoor Activities

Summertime breezes sneak through fork prongs and rustle across napkins at the 16th annual Taste of Allston, where community foodies unite under a banner splattered with international ingredients. More than 20 restaurants introduce taste buds to some of the city's best eats, from the Far East fare of Korean Garden to the smoky brick-oven flavor of Pizzeria Regina's pies. In between bites, live music, beer samples, and raffle prizes plate up entertainment for adults, and kid-friendly attractions, such as face-painting stations, keep young'uns from trying to sneak away between oversize hoagie buns. All profits raised by the festival go straight to the Allston Village Main Streets, a nonprofit revitalization effort working to keep the community safe.

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.

The guides at RIB Adventure Tours conduct informative history tours and scavenger hunts around Boston Harbor, even when the horizon becomes a blur; all tours take place aboard 26-foot-long rigid, inflatable speedboats. Built to Navy SEAL specifications by a local Massachusetts boat manufacturer, the boats keep riders secure aboard jockey seats. On guided history tours, passengers snag high-speed glimpses of harbor island landmarks and during scavenger hunts, guides prompt passengers to look for environmental clues and give individual scores. Winners get bragging rights, boat tour prizes from partner Hestia Cruises, and a trophy jar of salty sea air. Captains and tour guides brief passengers on safety before all excursions and supply them with high-grade waterproof cameras to take pictures of passing scenery.

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.