Boating

Canoeing

There are few better ways to spend an afternoon than canoeing the Charles River and taking in the waterside views of the State House and Back Bay [1] brownstones. Charles River Canoe & Kayak (1071 Soldiers Field Rd., Allston, 617/462-2513, www.ski-paddle.com [2], 12–8 p.m. Fri. and 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Sat.–Sun. May–early Oct.; 12–8 p.m. Mon.–Thurs. June–Aug., Rentals $7–24/hour, $28–96/day) rents a range of canoes and kayaks from its boathouse in Allston [3]. On Friday nights, the company also offers “BBQ Tours” ($63) that include kayak instruction and a post-paddling grill-out.

Sailing

The sailboats picturesquely dotting the Charles in all those postcards belong to Community Boating (21 Mugar Way, 617/523-1038, www.community-boating.org [4], 1 p.m.–sunset Mon.–Fri. and 9 a.m.–sunset Sat.–Sun. Apr.–Oct.), an institution on the Charles River Esplanade for 70 years. It offers unlimited sailing instruction and boat privileges for a $190 flat fee for the season, as well as two-day sailboat rentals for experienced mariners for $100.

To ply the waves of the harbor, Courageous Sailing Center (1 First Ave., Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, 617/268-7243, www.courageoussailing.org [5], noon–sunset Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–sunset Sat.–Sun. May–Oct.) offers a range of lessons (three beginner sessions $250, three advanced sessions $299, private lessons $95–150/hour).