Image by Chris Klein

Summer Beckons on the Boston Harbor Islands

Even though summer is only days old, the word "staycation" has already earned the honor of being the season's most annoying buzzword. But if $4-a-gallon gas and the shaky economy does have you rethinking that trip to the Cape or "the islands" (a.k.a., Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket), you'll still be able to find plenty of island adventures close to home at the Boston Harbor Islands national park area--during Independence Day weekend or any other time this summer.

The 34 harbor islands offer an endless number of recreational opportunities, historical sites, and natural wonders just 15 minutes from downtown. So instead of spending your "staycation" sweltering in your backyard with your feet soaking in your inflatable pool, head out to Boston's island treasures for a refreshing, affordable summer getaway. Here are the top 10 experiences not to be missed this summer on the Boston Harbor Islands:

1. Take a dip. Grab your bathing suit, towel, and suntan lotion and head to the sand and surf at Spectacle Island's new lifeguarded beach. The harbor's clean, and the water's warmer than you'll find at ocean-fronting beaches.

2. Scale to the top of Boston Light. Take a guided tour of the oldest light station in the country and climb the seventy-six spiral steps and two short ladders to come face-to-face with the lighthouse's giant lens. The views of the city skyline and the harbor islands from the top of Boston Light are spectacular.

3. Wander Fort Warren's dark passages. Explore the spooky tunnels of this historic fort on Georges Island that once held Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. Grab lunch at the island's snack bar and eat under the shaded picnic pavilion.

4. Pitch a tent. Camp out on the islands and catch unforgettable sunrises and sunsets in the shadows of the city skyline. Camping is permitted by reservation on Lovells, Bumpkin, and Grape Islands. For the most bucolic setting, spend the night on Grape Island.

5. Grab a paddle. Beginning kayakers can spend the afternoon exploring the Hingham Harbor islands, while experienced kayakers can brave the outer harbor to visit the windswept Brewster islands. And this summer, kayaks will be available at Spectacle Island to paddle around the island's sheltered cove.

6. See Boston in a new light. The Boston skyline looks spectacular from the ferry and the islands, but there's no better view of the city and harbor than from Spectacle Island's north drumlin. It's 157 feet high, and all of metropolitan Boston unfolds before you in a magnificent, unobstructed panorama.

7. Scale Thompson Island's ropes and climbing walls. Participate in one of Outward Bound's programs on Thompson Island and challenge your limitations by conquering the ropes course and climbing towers.

8. Pack a lunch. There are a plethora of fantastic spots to picnic on the Boston Harbor Islands, but the picnic areas on Bumpkin and Great Brewster Islands offer unparalleled vistas.

9. Brush up on your fish tales. Fish populations are rebounding along with the harbor's water quality. Striped bass, bluefish, flounder, and cod are among the fish that are biting. Fishing poles and nets are available for rent at Spectacle Island's visitor center.

10. Follow your feathered friends. Grab a pair of binoculars and try to spot some of the more than 100 species of birds that frequent the Boston Harbor Islands.

Ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands leave from Long Wharf in Boston and locations on the South Shore. For ferry schedules, more information on the islands, and a listing of special programs held throughout the summer, visit www.harborislands.org.

Guest post from Christopher Klein, author of a new guidebook on the harbor islands: Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands. Klein will be giving talks about the islands and signing books at 1 pm and 3 pm on July 20 at the Spectacle Island visitor center. For more information about the book, visit the web site of Union Park Press.