Fodor's Expert Review Castle Island

Although it once was, Castle Island is no longer, well, an island. Today, this tip of South Boston is accessible by car and by foot from Day Boulevard. Castle Island's centerpiece is Fort Independence, built in 1801, although, there have been battlements onsite since 1644; it's open for free tours on summer weekends. Castle Island is a popular spot for South Boston residents to walk their dogs, jog or cycle, whether just around the island itself or the water-set Pleasure Bay Loop. There's also a nice playground for kids. If you get peckish, stop by Sullivan's (open February through November), a Castle Island institution for more than 60 years, for a hot dog and fries. Views of the harbor and its outlaying islands are expansive.