Where To Find Houseboats in Boston
A houseboat for sale in Charlestown has been getting a lot of local attention lately. It offers a roof patio, immaculate hardwood floors, and 700 square feet of unique waterfront living. This begs the question, are houseboats in demand in the greater Boston area?
The main difference between a regular traditional boat and a houseboat (by definition) is that houseboats are not motorized. They are intended for dwelling and stationed at a particular point. Often their docks are tethered to a main body of land in order to provide proper utilities. This is a key differentiator to a yacht. Aside from being more luxurious, a yacht is more of a vessel and does contain a motor. In contrast, a houseboat is often described simply as a “floating house.”
Though houseboats are particularly common in certain areas of Europe, there are only a few regions of the United States where you can find large communities of houseboats where residents are in place all year-round. Seattle, Portland, Northern Virginia, and along certain lakes in the Midwest are the most common houseboat spots.
Renting houseboats for a short term or for vacation is much more common, however. With summer vacation starting in New England, let’s take a look at a few areas where you can explore houseboats.
VRBO
Vacation rental marketplace VRBO has five options listed under the Boston houseboat section. They average about $330 per night. Each offers one bedroom and one bathroom. Furthermore, some of them can accommodate up to six people.
Bed and Breakfast
The Green Turtle calls themselves a “floating bed and breakfast.” This, too, is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Moreover, you can take a water taxi right to it. It offers two different luxury suites. Each has its own bathroom and sleeps two people. There is still limited availability for this summer, at about $342 per night.
In addition, there are other quaint areas right outside of Boston to check out houseboats. In fact, Woods Hole on Cape Cod (Falmouth) has been notorious for its old-fashioned collection of houseboats.
Finally, if you are still looking for a unique summer vacation option in the Boston area (or have $415k you’re looking to invest), there are houseboats that you can enjoy.
Massachusetts Lighthouse Named One Of The Most Beautiful In The World
What do Porto, Portugal, Crete, Greece, and Scituate, Massachusetts have in common? They all have historic lighthouses. In fact, in Trips To Discover’s recent guide, they named Old Scituate Light, along Massachusetts’ south shore one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.
The 1800’s
This landmark dates back to the year 1810. “Congress voted to build a lighthouse at the harbor, and the light made of split granite blocks with a house attached and was activated the following year (1811),” Trips To Discover explains. It was the 11th lighthouse in the United States upon completion. It cost $4,000. Shortly after, Captain Simeon Bates, his wife and nine children lived at the house. Bates was the first keep of this lighthouse.
“Because mariners complained that the light could not be seen from far enough away to make proper heading adjustments, the U.S. Government added fifteen feet in height to the tower in 1827, mortaring red brick on top of the granite blocks,” Scituate’s Historical Society explains.
The 1900’s
The town of Scituate acquired the lighthouse from the government in 1916 for $1,000. Fourteen years later, a new lantern room was built at the top. 1994 marked one of the most memorable events in Old Scituate Light’s history as it was relit, making it visible from the sea for the first time in 134 years. Three years prior, it had been relit to be seen on land only.
Present Day
Old Scituate Light is a very popular south shore attraction. Every day people can be seen taking pictures of this lighthouse. Select dates are released each year that detail when it will be open to the public. Walkways along the water’s edge surround it for guests to explore the area. One of this destination’s most notable elements is the attached cottage. That remains a private residence that is the lightkeeper’s cottage.
While many tourists travel to the south shore of Massachusetts for the beaches and boating, stopping by one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world is also a site worth seeing.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
