On this cold, gray New England day, I thought it would be nice to warm things up with this photo of a Swan Boat ride at the Boston Public Garden in Boston, Mass.

When thinking of great summer memories, the Swan Boat rides always come up on my “A” list. This foot-pedal powered 15-minute boat ride around this Boston oasis has been a fun activity to locals like us and travelers looking for a unique, inexpensive attraction. There’s something about those large plastic swans that is so traditionally pleasing, not to mention to the surrounding green scenery. It has been this way for more than 130 years, making the Boston Swan Boat rides a household name in the New England region.

It’s all part of a nice summer day visiting Boston — it was as a kid growing up in the area and just as much fun as an adult!

Book a Boston hotel at the lowest rate