Cruising Boston Harbor for a mere $10, or to the Islands for $15.

On more than one occasion whilst walking past a water taxi stop in the Seaport I've said to myself, or whoever was in earshot, I’m going to jump on one of these rickety boats some day and cruise around the Harbor like I’m captain of the seas.

And that’s exactly what my girlfriend and I did one splendid summer evening. Our cruise director / captain couldn't have been more accommodating – when we were asked "where to?", we shrugged and pointed out to sea. So we floated around the bay for 45 minutes or so, harassing other passengers and offering up advice to tourists and businessmen – the captain put up with us graciously, and might have even enjoyed the company. But alas, the pleasure cruise could not last all night, so we jumped off in Charlestown and headed to the Warren Tavern for a beer. It was well worth the $10.

For something a bit more extravagant, there are plenty of other boating options that venture farther out into the bay. When I had some family in town recently we opted for a classic Gatsby-era yacht named the Beacon - operated by the Classic Harbor Line. It’s not a giant behemoth, and more importantly it was built with a beautiful mahogany bar to complete the feeling of a 1920s style vessel.

Enjoying a leisurely cruise out past the scenic Harbor Islands as strangers on other boats wave to you as if this is your farewell voyage.

The captain will spit out just enough bits and pieces of history and trivia to his passengers without the trip becoming too much like a cheesy Duck Boat tour.

Boston’s Harbor Islands have a long history – I could go on and on about forts and prisons and Native Americans, but I’ll just post some pretty pictures instead.

Many of the Boston Harbor Islands are accessible via a brief ferry ride from Long Wharf. The most popular being Spectacle and George’s Island – where facilities such as bathrooms and a snack bar can be found. Connections can be made from these Islands to explore Peddocks, Lovells or Bumpkin Islands. These pictures are from Spectacle Island in September of 2014...

If there's nothing available at the snack bar that pleases your palette you can forage for your lunch or maybe chase a down a turkey and make a sandwich.

The Ferry is a great bargain – it’s only $15 to get out to George’s or Spectacle and you won’t find a better view of the Boston skyline for a picnic.

A somewhat newer addition to the Boston Harbor is the very visible Nantucket Light Ship.

It’s docked in Eastie and it's in the midst of a complete renovation. Tours are available, but they are sporadic – look into availability before you head over.