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The sun is shining, the heat is rising, and the Park is bustling with visitors and programs. One of our more popular offerings are our Lighthouse Cruises. These cruises serve as a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the sea breeze, sail through the calming blue waters to the outer harbor, and learn more about the individual islands within the Boston Harbor. Although we don’t set foot on any island during the cruise, we still get up close and personal views of Boston Light and Graves Light.  

Many of our rangers, both new and returning, are eager and ready to sail along with you on these tours and tell you all about these lighthouses! A few have shared with us some of their favorite experiences and stories from Lighthouse Cruises. 

Maddy, a new seasonal ranger with the National Park Service, reflects on her first time on the Lighthouse Cruises by stating that it gave her a different perspective of the Boston Harbor: “Seeing the bedrock in the outer harbor by Boston Light was so picturesque. Looking east when reaching Boston Light, there was nothing but water, and I really felt like I was on the edge. It was an awing experience being that far out in the harbor.” 

Thomas, a returning seasonal ranger, started facilitating Lighthouse Cruises last season. His favorite part of the Cruises is working with Sally Snowman and her husband James Thompson whenever they are on board. Recently retired, Sally Snowman was the 70th Lighthouse Keeper of Boston Light and the first woman to serve in that position. A few times every season, Sally Snowman attends these cruises and offers a unique perspective of Boston Light to visitors, giving stories from her personal experiences as a lighthouse keeper of Boston Light. 

Emily is another returning seasonal ranger who has been facilitating the Lighthouse Cruises for the past four seasons. She reflects on her favorite moment of the Lighthouse Cruise from her second season: “I was staffing the final lighthouse cruise of the season and we were heading back to Boston after passing Graves Light. I heard a visitor yell, ‘look, a whale!’ and I looked towards the stern and saw a juvenile humpback whale breaching in the harbor. It’s rare to see a whale that close to the Boston Harbor and it was the perfect way to close out our lighthouse cruise for the season.” 

Lighthouse Cruises run until September. If this article has convinced you to come out and look at the lighthouses the Boston Harbor has to offer, then you can buy tickets online at Lighthouse Tours – Boston Harbor Islands. There’s still time to make your own unforgettable memories of the islands by joining us on an upcoming Lighthouse Cruise!