The Dorchester Bay shores

Walk in Boston # 7, the Dorchester Bay shores, is a 3 miles self-guided tour to walk along the sea, visit 3 historical museums and enjoy Carson Beach at the end. You’ll also see Downtown Boston from afar.

This walk is now only available on Payhip in pdf format with a clickable map and updated descriptions.

In this pdf you will also find:

  • the list of Highlights.
  • the Metro stops to get there and back and infos for Cars.
  • tips about restrooms, places to sit and eat.
  • details about a particular place you will find on your route.

You can download it (or just the map of the walk) to your phone to help you in your discoveries.

This will allow you to live a unique experience of the city far from what you might find elsewhere.

If you purchased the Boston NYC book, this download will be free for you, just send me a note for an access code for this walk if you don’t have it already.

The description below, incomplete and with cropped photos, gives you an idea of this walk before you decide to buy it.


A: Your walk starts at …p: go left when you exit the station, and either walk through …

In any case, be patient and careful, there is a lot of traffic here.

Once you are on th.., leave the .. on your right and find a pathway to the …. From there, you won’t see a car for a while.

B: The…st has an unappealing name; yet it’s a pretty round structure and a good spot to see the expense of t.. on your left, and South Boston behind it.

There is also a jetty where fishing is possible, but for now, keep walking along the shore. You’ll see the city skyscrapers in the distance, yet you’ll be in an oasis of greenery: protected and taken care of by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, it offers you benches and rest areas; it welcomes walkers, joggers, fishermen and love birds sitting on benches!

C: A concrete boardwalk lined with panels telling you the history of the place will follow; then another round and pretty structure.

In the 1930’s, all this area was a very popular destination to go walking and bathing;…was at the time one of the finest beach facility around Boston. It is now and again a good place to go after a revitalization made in the 1990’s.

In the distance, the Boston Harbor Islands, cargos passing, and t..Plan: it allowed the harbor to be clean again after years of pollution.

There isn’t any waves along the shore, the islands making a natural barrier. It surely explains why the first settlers decided this was a good place to stop.

D: Your pathway turns right, goes around a little pebbles beach, and finally reaches …

It’s the white and modern structure you see at the end of  this peninsula. It has been designed …, the architect of the John Hancock tower in Boston, and the Louvres’ pyramids in Paris.

Next to it, you’ll find…, another modern and minimalist structure; then the …. Of the three museums, only this one is free.

If it appeals to you, you’ll be there able to learn a lot about…; the role .. in the government (you can even “be a senator for a day” …); and the history of… (with interactive displays and a Treasures gallery).

You’ll then see that in the 1970’s, black residents living in Dorchester and around fought for equal access to….

Once you’ve visited all or some of these museums, go back to the Harborwalk … you’ll see …, a 26′ sloop that JFK used to sail around Martha’s Vineyard island; further on your right, the impossible to miss …, a Pop Art artist famous in the 1970s.

E: It’s now time to go back and the map isn’t exactly accurate. You have the choice to turn left once you reach the little pebbles beach: you’ll find a parking lot behind fences and a pathway …e. You’ll then be in …, a residential area with plenty of trees.

Otherwise, go back …in front of the museums, and follow the street downward. You’ll pass along a strange building from another era, a pumping station facility that was a model for treating sewage in the 1880s.

Once at a sign for … turn slightly right, and you’ll join the option 1 trail.

A little further, there are some tennis courts and a swimming pool that unfortunately seems to be restricted to residents (but you can always try to enter it, you’ll see).

F: At the end of…, you’ll reach the…; from there, you know the way.

G: A few more words about …: it houses restrooms, changing rooms, places to sit in the shade, and an ice-cream and sandwiches stand.

The beach is 3 miles long, the sand is ok, the  water is safe and monitored everyday. It doesn’t mean you won’t see plastic bags here and there, though, but you’ll find plenty of space to enjoy the sun or play ball. If you want to go swimming, don’t do it when it’s low tide, you’ll have to walk on muddy ground for a long time.

In short, it’s not Florida but a beach accessible by the T. and all in all, a good option if you don’t have a car and want to enjoy the seaside.

Convinced that this walk will be exceptional? Find it on Payhip.

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