Lush island wilderness just a ferry ride from downtown

The park – which consists of 1,600 acres along 35 miles of undeveloped shoreline – includes more than 30 islands and peninsulas, most of them left in their natural state.

When you tire of the city and the manicured parks, hoping for more wild terrain, take a ferry over to the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. You can hike, swim, fish, and view wildlife, leaving your urbanite self behind for a day-trip. You may also camp overnight if not ready to return to civilization.

Georges, the big island, boasts a Civil War-era prison called Fort Warren, which features granite archways and its very own ghost, the Lady in Black. Historic lighthouses can be found on some of the islands, with Little Brewster offering the nation's oldest. For a true adventure, skip the guided tour and go island-hopping on your own.

A short ferry trip takes you from Long Wharf-North in Boston to the main islands. Another system ferries visitors between the smaller ones. If you have your own boat or kayak, you can try to claim an island for yourself.