Page 166 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Boston

164  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

SPORTS AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES

Bostonians have a wealth of recreational to one of the extensive cycle paths, or
opportunities, thanks largely to the playing a round at a public golf course. In
city’s many spacious parks, its long, well- the winter there is also outdoor ice-skating,
maintained riverfront, sizeable harbor, and and farther afield, skiing. For those who
excellent sports facilities. Visitors can enjoy watch sports rather than participate, major-
many outdoor activities, whether it is league base ball, football, soccer, basketball,
going for an early morning jog on Boston and ice hockey are played at different
Common, sailing on the Charles River, taking times through the year.

Water Sports Bicycling, Jogging, In­line skating and jogging
During all but the winter and Skating are also popular activities
months, dozens of small plea­ The gentle Boston topogra phy in Boston, with riverside
sure craft can be seen navigating makes sightseeing by bicycle esplanades and Boston
the Charles River between ideal. A number of good trails Common being the favorite
Cambridge and Boston. At long­ and bicycle paths crisscross the areas. If you are looking to buy
established Community Boating, city, the most popular of which some gear, try City Sports.
only experienced sailors are is the Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike
able to rent sailboats, while Path. This links central Boston
farther upriver at the Charles with outlying Watertown via a
River Canoe & Kayak Center, circular 17­mile (27­km) trail that
canoes, row boats, and adult and runs along both sides of the
children’s kayaks can be rented. Charles River. The South west
For those who enjoy swim­ Corridor cycle route links the
ming or sunbathing, there are Back Bay with Roxbury along
several good beaches near a section of the Emerald
Boston, and one supervised Necklace (see p105), and the
beach on the Boston Harbor Boston harborfront pathways
Islands, reached by ferry from also attract many cyclists.
Long Wharf. Carson Beach and Farther afield, an old railroad
the beach at Castle Island in line has been transformed into
South Boston are two of the the Minuteman Bikeway, which
closest, while Revere Beach to runs between Cambridge and
the north is larger and busier Bedford via historic Lexington. Cyclist riding through historic Concord,
and served by the subway. From Urban AdvenTours offers northwest of Boston
June to September swim mers cycle tours along with rental Golf and Tennis
can use the Department of bikes, while other rental stores
Conservation and Recreation include Back Bay Bicycles and Along with its many
outdoor swimming pools. Community Bicycle Supply. excellent private golf clubs,
the Boston area also boasts
a number of public golf courses,
including some municipal links.
The William J. Devine Golf
Course in Franklin Park is the
city’s public golf course and
there is also the nine­hole Fresh
Pond Golf Course in Cambridge.
The Department of
Conservation and Recreation
maintains a dozen public tennis
courts in Boston. Those in North
End Park on Commercial Street
and Charlesbank Park on the
Charles River Esplanade are the
most central. Court time can
not usually be reserved, so
availability is on a first­come­
Sailboats on the Charles River with the Back Bay in the distance first­served basis.

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