A park that covers 34 islands and peninsulas just off the coast of Boston, Boston Harbor Islands offers a variety of activities to discover. From walking around a Civil War-era fort and touring historic lighthouses to exploring tide pools and hiking lush green trails, or just enjoying a picnic or a leisurely swim – this park is a true retreat! Make sure to plan your transportation in advance, as you will need to take a ferry or boat out to these islands.

About 25 miles north of Boston, explore Salem’s history as a significant port in the late 18th century. Visit historic buildings like the Custom House, where taxes were collected on imported cargo, or walk the four historic wharfs in the park. Step aboard the Friendship of Salem, a replica of a 1797 tall ship, and learn about life and work at sea, all of its risks and rewards. Pro tip: some historic buildings require reservations in advance!

Boston is often known as the Cradle of Liberty, but it also saw a second revolution – the African American community of 19th century Boston led the city and the nation in the fight against slavery and injustice. Walk the Black Heritage Trail, which links sites around this history like the African Meeting House, where Frederick Douglass, Sarah Grimke, and other abolitionists spoke. Learn about the Underground Railroad, the abolition movement, and the early struggles for civil rights in Boston.

Just a short trip from Boston to neighboring Cambridge, discover a house that has stood witness to many significant events and visitors throughout American history. It was here George Washington took command of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and famous literary figures like Charles Dickens and Nathaniel Hawthorne have walked its halls, guests of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who made Cambridge his home for more than 45 years.

Escape a couple hours out of Boston to Cape Cod National Seashore – 40 miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and more. From the striking heights of coastal bluffs to the serenity of a forested pond, there’s a lot of nature to explore. Go swimming, enjoy a leisurely stroll, take a bike ride, paddle in a canoe, or tour lighthouses and wild cranberry bogs that offer a glimpse of the Cape’s past and its legacy in the modern age.

In the Brookline neighborhood, you’ll find the world’s first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape design. Frederick Law Olmstead is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture. The Olmstead firm worked on some 6,000 commissions across the country, including many public parks, college campuses, residential communities and civic buildings. Take a tour through the Olmstead office, then explore the Fairsted grounds, open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Encompassing 43-acres in and around Boston, this park preserves many places that tell the story of the events leading to the American Revolution. Spots like Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, the Old South Meeting House, and more bring to life the American ideas of freedom of speech, religion, government, and self-determination. Walk the Freedom Trail to see these locations and make sure to step aboard the USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat.

About 12 miles north of Boston, discover the birthplace of the American iron and steel industry. This park preserves the site of the first integrated iron works in North America, dating back to the 1640s. Saugus Iron Works created advanced iron making technology and its workers and their descendants were critical in the development of industry and technology in America’s early years. Explore working waterwheels, forges, mills, a historic home, and a lush river basin.

About 60 miles south of Boston you can find the “city that lit the world” – New Bedford. A whaling port in the mid-1700s, the town saw the likes of Frederick Douglass and author Herman Melville. A popular spot along the Underground Railroad, the successful whaling industry in the town created job opportunities for people of all backgrounds, both at sea and on land. Begin at the park’s visitor center and view the exhibits before heading out to walk around this historic city.

About five miles outside of Boston in Brookline, explore the childhood home of John F. Kennedy, America’s 35th president. Walk around the historic streetcar suburb of Boston in an outdoor walking tour or learn about the early years of John F. Kennedy with a ranger-led tour of the house. Travel back in time to 1917 to discover the values and expectations that shaped the future president’s character. Note: this park is open seasonally, so check the park’s website before you make your visit!