Castle Island: Where am I?

A photo taken of a passing sailboat amid vibrant yellow wildflowers.
Photo taken by Charlotte Pierce

"Am I in the city, the park, at the airport, or the beach?"

Located in South Boston, Castle Island offers a miscellany of settings, thinning the line between commercial industry and nature. It is the perfect place to take a walk, fly a kite, have a picnic, lounge in the sun, or simply contemplate life. Smack dab in the center is a large pentagon-shaped structure, known as Fort Independence. Overhead, one will continuously see the arriving airplanes, beginning their descent on Logan Airport. They are so close that one can easily see, without squinting, where the aircraft originated from. 

If you're looking for a nautical adventure, look no further than the Harry McDonough Sailing Program on the adjacent pier. When hunger sets in, Sullivan's is a quick and great place to order a "lobstah" roll or some fish n' chips! If you feel like catching your own food, bring along your fishing poles and head to the Lt. John J. McCorkle, Boston Fire Dept. Memorial Fish Pier. The seagulls will join you as they catch crabs off the seaweed-covered rocks. 

A perfect place to spend time with your "main squeeze," this place can bring back nostalgia for some. If you classify yourself as a "beachcomber," why not scavenge the beach for something of value or interest? The next big photographer or lacking in creativity? Castle Island's varied landscape lets you experiment with different camera angles, perspectives, and lighting. 

If nothing I hinted at seemed to "float your boat," then at least come to 'people watch.' You might even come across two elderly women, matching in their white sweatshirts and blue pants, taking in the sights through their binoculars!!! 

North Shore Outings

Opening Day Celebration, Ipswich Historical Society, Ipswich - May 23

• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - What better way to launch the summer season and check out this favorite North Shore destination? View the Student Clothesline Art Show, timber frame construction demonstration, new colonial house display, maypole dance, antique carriages, crafts, food, and more. Visit the new and improved gift store or take a tour of the houses. The event is co-sponsored by Mercury Brewing Company, makers of Ipswich Ale, who will present the history of beer making. Admission: free. Address: Ipswich Historical Society, 54 South Main Street, Ipswich, MA 01938. Information: 978-356-2811.

Also around the North Shore this weekend and in the coming week:


Stevens-Coolidge Place House Tours, Stevens-Coolidge Place, North Andover - May 23- 24

• 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Discover how the Coolidge family transformed an early 19th-century farm into a bucolic summer estate in the early 1900s. The house features murals, a tavern ballroom, and original collections of furniture, glass, porcelain, textiles and personal belongings. Recommended for children 8 years and older. Fees: Members: Free and Nonmembers: Adult (18 and older): $8 and Children: $5. The spectacular gardens are free and open to all, sunrise to sunset. Address: Stevens-Coolidge Estate, 137 Andover Street, North Andover, MA 01845. Tel: 978-921-1944 x4009.

Newburyport Spring Fest, Downtown Newburyport - May 24 - 25

• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Enjoy spring and merchant hospitality in Newburyport as art, crafts, food & music fill downtown for Newburyport Spring Fest 2009. Downtown Newburyport, Market Square, Newburyport, MA 01950. Tel: 978-462-6680.

Young Farmers, Appleton Farms, Ipswich- May 26

• 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Become a first-hand farmhand as you dig in the dirt, compare compost, plant seeds, grow crops, churn butter, spin wool, care for cows, and more! Fees: Members: $72 per session and Nonmembers: $90 per session. Please pre-register. Address: Appleton Farms, 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938. Tel: 978-356-5728 x15.

Traditional Quilting, Ipswich Museum & Historical Society, Ipswich - May 26

• 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Classes to adults and middle school students in the traditional quilting by teacher and quilter, Rhonda Galpern, of the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell. Times: Adults: 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and Students: 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Fees: Adults: $65, students: $55. Address: Ipswich Museum & Historical Society, 54 South Main Street, Ipswich, MA 01938. Tel: 978-356-2811.
  

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Go Colonial - Make it Real

It's the beginning of the school year, and we all know what that means - our kids have cracked open their history books and started reading all about Jamestown, Plymouth, and the American Revolution.This fall, take history out of the classroom and make it real with a visit to one of The Trustees' colonial homes. Located in some of the state's most picturesque towns - and with beautiful grounds to explore - these homes are a terrific way to enjoy the season's foliage outside while uncovering Massachusetts' extraordinary history inside.

The Colonel John Ashley House, Sheffield
Built in 1735, the Ashley House has ties to the American Revolution and the anti-slavery movement.

The Old Manse, Concord
Overlooking the Old North Bridge, The Old Manse is the site of the famous "shot heard 'round the world" on April 19, 1775.

The Paine House at Greenwood Farm, Ipswich
Discover the unique charm of this 1694 house on its original saltwater farm location.

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Fall Events Near You