Once a dumping ground for Boston’s waste, Spectacle Island has undergone a stunning transformation into a 5-mile-long green retreat in the heart of Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. Just a 20-minute ferry ride from downtown, the island now boasts the highest point in the harbor, offering panoramic views of the city skyline.

Visitors can hike five miles of scenic trails, relax on a lifeguarded sandy beach, or search for sea glass along the shore. Originally a 19th-century resort and later a landfill, Spectacle Island was capped and restored in the 1990s as part of the Big Dig, turning it into one of the most successful environmental reclamation projects in the U.S.

With ferry access from May to October, a visitor center, and plenty of space to picnic and explore, Spectacle Island is a must-visit for anyone looking to escape the city while staying close to it.