Mass Housing Investment Corporation

Head to Spectacle Island for some fun and recreation in the sun. From hiking and biking to swimming and boating, there's a variety of things you can do here that will get your blood pumping. Before or after your workout, stop by the visitor center to explore exhibits about the island's history and development. You can also get a great look at the city from the hilltop.

Take a look back in time at the Nichols House Museum, one of the oldest homes in Beacon Hill. The house was built in 1804 and purchased by Dr. Arthur Nichols in 1885; the house stayed in the family until the death of the doctor's daughter, Rose Standish Nichols, in 1960. As can be imagined, the family accumulated many things throughout the years from art works to furniture, oriental rugs, and other furnishings and antiquities. You're invited to experience early American life inside the walls of this historic home.

Explore the historic neighborhood of Beacon Hill. This area of town is beautiful, with narrow streets, brick sidewalks lit by gas lights, row houses with beautiful doors and brass knockers, hidden gardens, decorative ironwork throughout, colonial revival homes from the early 20th century and other elements that harken from neighborhoods of the past. Beacon Hill draws plenty of attention for its looks but the neighborhood also offers unique shops and some of the city's best restaurants, along with other businesses and attractions.

Head to the Back Bay Fens and hang out next to a beautiful freshwater marsh. Along with the marsh, this link in the Emerald Necklace park system is home to ball fields, a wartime “Victory Garden” that was established in 1941, and the popular Kelleher Rose Garden, among other outdoor attractions. While you're exploring the park, be sure to pay respects at the World War II, Vietnam, and Korean War memorials that reside in the park.