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Photo: Chris Wood (User:chris_j_wood)., CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A star fort built around 1850 to provide defenses for Boston harbor. Today, the guns are long gone, and it's a great place to go exploring. Fantastic views are rewarded to those who scale its granite walls. Even if the fort is closed, the grounds are always open. It's a great place to see families picnicking, going for a stroll around Pleasure Bay, or out flying kites in the brisk wind blowing in from the water. Kids love seeing (and hearing!) the planes up close, as they make their final approach to Logan Airport.
Fort Independence is a granite bastion fort that provided harbor defenses for Boston, Massachusetts, located on Castle Island. Fort Independence is one of the oldest continuously fortified sites of English origin in the United States. The first primitive fortification was called "The Castle", placed on the site in 1634. It was rebuilt twice, then replaced around 1692 with a more substantial structure known as Castle William. It was abandoned by the British during the American Revolution, but the Americans renamed it Fort Adams and then Fort Independence. The existing granite fort was constructed between 1833 and 1851. Today it is preserved as a state park and fires occasional ceremonial salutes. Fort Independence was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
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L Street Bathouse/Curley Community Center
Take the "plunge" with the L Street Brownies and 1000 of your closest friends. Splash around in the freezing cold harbor around 8AM January 1st. You could also just jump in a block down the street if you don't feel like dealing with the news crews. It kind of goes without saying, but make sure you have a way to get warm after. A towel will not be sufficient.
The acoustics aren't perfect at this live event venue that seats 5000, but the location more than makes up for it. Feel the cool breeze rolling in off the ocean and smell the salt air while the band plays on. Speaking of cool breezes, avoid this place during the colder months, it's a big glorified tent after all.
One of the last remaining old school places for candlepin bowling in the city. Original wooden ball returns function through the magic of gravity. No fancy TV to display your scores, just write it down on the paper provided. No food either, but they do have what's important, beer.
A fun outdoor space with food trucks, adult beverages, musicians and other performances. It was dreamed up as a temporary event spot to "build community" while awaiting the necessary permitting to build another luxury condo. The Lawn on D has proven popular enough that it has become a permanent fixture in the neighborhood.
This is the spot from where George Washington and Henry Knox aimed their guns at the British ships occupying Boston harbor, forcing them to leave and breaking the siege. Today you will find a quiet park space with some signage, a little tower, and locals walking their dogs.
Fantastically enormous indoor space holding showcases, expos, and other conventions all year long. Hosts everything from mega productions like PAX East, Boston Tattoo Convention, and Anime Boston. To smaller, quirkier events like Berklee Jazz Festival and the Harvard Model UN opening ceremonies.