Activities

Whether it's taking advantage of being by the water with harbor strolls, riverfront Frisbee games, or logging in picturesque miles of jogging, active Bostonians love their extensive parks, paths, and waterways. Winter winds redirect that energy to white slopes, frozen rinks, and, for those who don't want to don down coats, sheltered gyms and pools.

Beaches

After more than 20 years of massive cleanup efforts, the water in Boston Harbor is safe for swimming, though many locals and visitors still prefer to head to more traditional beaches that are a short drive or train ride away. The rocky North Shore—about an hour away—is studded with New England beach towns, each with its favorite swimming spot. Alternatively, if the traffic isn’t too awful (and during the summer, that’s a big if), you can reach the southern base of Cape Cod in a little over an hour.