Things to Do in Westwood

The Clubs at Charles River Park has been Boston's oasis of relaxation, fitness and wellness for nearly 50 years. Our health club boasts a full-size outdoor pool and children's outdoor wading pool, where unwinders can relish warm-weather relaxation in the summer, plus an indoor pool and fitness center open year-round.

Boarding begins at 3 p.m., with the cruise departing at 3:30 p.m. and returning at 6 p.m. Beach attire is optional for the cruise.

Licensed 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 Liberty Wharf and Fairmont Battery Wharf. When disembarking, they may stop at waterside eateries such as Legal Seafood 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 or White Pearl, captains also conduct mini cruises aboard unique vessels such as Sadie, a turn-of-the-century fantail launch boat.

From the hallowed field at Fenway Park to the educational havens of Harvard and M.I.T, Boston's history is written across its skyline. The area's nearby waterways allow for mostly unencumbered views of these sights, and guided boat tours let sightseers experience the city in a relaxing way. To this end, Charles Riverboat Company's vessels embark on journeys across the Charles River and Boston Harbor. Captains and crews point out historic sights such as famous architecture or the 100-story kettle used during the Boston Tea Party. Under the warm glow of a sunset, evening tours wind through the river as music plays. Charles Riverboat Company also charters their boats for groups of up to 150.

Docked adjacent to the New England Aquarium, the Liberty Star and the Liberty Clipper might look a bit obscure. The Liberty Star measures 67 feet long and can hold up to 39 passengers, and the Liberty Clipper measures 125 feet long with a capacity for up to 100 passengers. The massive schooner is an authentic replica of an 18th-century Baltimore clipper ship, thoroughly modernized to transport passengers on Boston Harbor sails and longer private charters. They sail daily throughout the harbor for public and group outings, along with private charters for special events, such as weddings or corporate proms. For a longer respite, they hoist the sails of the Liberty Clipper and steer her southward, cruising through the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands on all-inclusive luxury sailing vacations.

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.