Our ship was the Frederick L. Nolan. It was a relatively small ship and it was certainly not luxurious. We hopped aboard and headed right up to the top of the ship. Many of the people chose to sit down inside of the boat. If you want to be able to experience the outdoor views you need to be able to climb stairs.

The tour leaves from Long Wharf and takes about 45 minutes. It makes one stop at the Charlestown Naval Yard where you can leave the boat and hop back onto another tour. The tour begins as soon as you pull out of the berth. You are given a running commentary for most of the rest of the tour.

Boston was settled in 1630 and it didn’t take them long to realize that the New England land was poor and that their prosperity was going to come from the harbor. The Pilgrims had no aversion to making a buck as a matter of fact financial prosperity was a sign of God’s favor. It was this wealth that got the attention of the British Parliament and they implemented new taxes to get their share of the money. Thus without representation the seeds of the American Revolution were sown.

Today the Lobster industry is thriving and brings in $200 million a year. There are traps to be seen in Boston Harbor itself.

As we were cruising around the harbor we could see planes landing at Boston’s Logan Airport which services over 24 million passengers a year.

The views of the Boston skyline from the harbor are unsurpassed. It is a new skyline with only one building over 40 years old. The oldest skyscraper is the Marriott Custom House Hotel and timeshares.

From the cruise you can see the steeple of the Old North Church in the North end.

You are able to walk around on the boat while it is cruising. There are folding chairs on the upper deck if you want to sit down. Inside there is a snack bar and you can have a nosh if you want or need to.

I enjoyed this tour and the fact that it was free was even better. The tour is offered along with the Beantown Trolley tour from May-October. If you buy the two day ticket you can choose either day for your tour. If you buy the Go Boston Card the Harbor Cruise is also included.

Since it was October it was quite chilly so be prepared with a sweater or a coat.

I love boat tours. Whenever I visit a new city, I try to take one. This was an excellent 90-minute tour. I highly recommend it.

Boston Harbor Cruises offer many different cruises and ferries. One of the budget options is to take a ferry to George's Island.

For $7, you get a two-way 45 minute ride through Boston's harbor, a narrated tour as you go, and a stop at George's Island.

George's Island features an old fort, lots of trails, and a dock where ferries depart to other Harbor Islands. How to Get There There is a booth at Long Wharf, near where the boats leave. Take the T to Government Center or Haymarket and walk through Fanueil Hall, following signs to the Aquarium. Long Wharf is right next to the Boston Aquarium.

"So Sid," I hear you say, "We like the city, but enough with the concrete and asphalt. My soul cries for more grass and trees while my feng shui advisor insists on more water. What can we do?"

Fear not. Sid comes through for you!

Walk down to the Boston Harbor Cruises ticket booth on Long Wharf and buy a ticket ($10, $7 for children under 12, $25 family rate for two adults and two children) to George's Island. Forty-five minutes after boarding you've watched the city recede behind you, cruised around ships and sailboats, threaded between islands and are disembarking at George's Island, the central point of the Boston Harbor Islands national park area. Stay here awhile and explore Fort Warren, an 1850 fort for the defense of Boston Harbor used as a prison for captured Confederates during the Civil War. Rangers give tours throughout the day, but you can walk around on your own, too. Bring a flashlight if you really plan to explore. There's a snack bar, but avoid it. Plan ahead and pack a lunch - buy only cold drinks here. Be aware: This is the only snack bar on any of the islands. Also - there is no fresh water on any island. Make sure you bring drinking water.

Next take a free shuttle to explore one of the other park area islands. All have rangers, trails and abandoned military structures being absorbed by nature. Take a look at the shuttle timetables and pick an island based on how well the shuttles fit your schedule. Each island has its own character. Most people simply visit George's; if your time is limited, that's fine, but you should hop to one of the quieter, less visited islands if possible.

Swimming is limited, and is restricted on some islands, but it's a non-issue. The water's clean but cold. Stick your feet in the water for more than two minutes and feel your ankles start to go numb. Visitors from Hudson's Bay may consider the water warm enough for swimming. The rest of us simply walk in a bit to cool off.

During the summer, boats leave Boston every hour on the hour from 10 am to 5 pm. One more warning: if you must do this on a Saturday or Sunday, get to the ticket booth well before the first boat leaves. By mid-day on a weekend your wait in line to buy a ticket may be longer than the cruise to George's Island!