July 2, 2025
Summer on the Esplanade: Outdoor Adventures Steps from The Liberty
When Boston warms up, the Charles River Esplanade turns into the city’s sun-splashed playground-miles of leafy paths, docks that kiss the water, and postcard views of the skyline. Stay at The Liberty Hotel and you’re perfectly placed to live it all day to night: the hotel sits at 215 Charles Street at the foot of Beacon Hill, a short stroll from the riverfront and its summertime rhythm.
Morning miles by the river
Start early and watch the basin wake up. From The Liberty, it’s an easy walk to the Esplanade, where paved paths weave along the shoreline with footbridges to cross, docks to pause on, and plenty of room for a jog, brisk walk, or casual ride. The park is part of a broader river reservation designed for outdoor recreation, so you can set your own pace-training run, recovery stroll, or a camera-in-hand wander for those glassy-water reflections. For event days and community programming, the Esplanade Association’s calendar is the best way to see what’s happening along the paths while you’re in town.
Paddleboards, kayaks, and sails on the Charles
If you’d rather trade sneakers for a paddle, Community Boating, Inc. (CBI)-the nation’s oldest public sailing program on the Boston side of the Esplanade-offers walk-up rentals for kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, typically priced by the two-hour session. Summer rental hours shift with the season, and all boats must be off the water before sunset; during the height of summer, weekday rentals open later in the afternoon and start earlier on weekends. Check CBI’s current hours before you head out; they also post holiday blackouts and weather advisories so you can plan around closures and breezy afternoons.
Evenings at the Hatch Shell
As the sun drops, the Esplanade’s Hatch Memorial Shell becomes Boston’s open-air living room. Expect a rotating lineup that can include movie nights on the Oval lawn, classical concerts, and community celebrations-all with the river as a backdrop and the city lighting up behind it. Schedules change each year, so peek at the official Hatch Shell listings or the Esplanade calendar to confirm dates and showtimes during your stay.
Unwind back at The Liberty
Post-adventure, return to The Liberty’s dining and social scene. CLINK. serves seasonal New England dishes from breakfast through dinner, with late-night kitchen hours on weekends if you’re coming back after a concert. Scampo, by Boston legend Lydia Shire, delivers a bold, Italian-inspired menu that keeps its buzz long after sunset. If you want to keep the night going, plant yourself beneath the 90-foot rotunda at the Liberty Bar; on Fridays and Saturdays the lobby soundtrack shifts into Beat Weekends, a DJ series that starts at 9 p.m. and draws both guests and locals. In warm weather, the hotel’s courtyard-The Yard-opens as a chic hideaway; on Wednesdays it hosts Yappier Hour, a dog-friendly early-evening hangout that pairs cocktails with plenty of tail wags.
Make the most of a summer stay
A few small moves go a long way. Go car-free for river days-the walk from The Liberty to the Esplanade is part of the fun, and you’ll skip Storrow Drive traffic. For paddling, scan CBI’s site the morning you plan to go so you catch the day’s rental window and any wind or weather flags. And if your visit lines up with a Hatch Shell screening or concert, arrive early enough to claim a comfortable patch of lawn and linger as the Charles reflects the last light.
With history at your back and the river at your feet, The Liberty Hotel makes summer in Boston feel wonderfully effortless: sunrise miles, afternoons on the water, and evenings under the stars-all just steps from your room.