A short drive down Eastbay Drive takes you past Squaxin Parks playgrounds and trails before turning into Boston Harbor Road. Meandering through beautiful rural farmland quickly makes you forget you were just in the city. Your destination, Boston Harbor, is a spectacular seaside collection of large and small houses that covers decades of historical architecture and craftsmanship. Visitors are treated to a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains and Squaxin Island, and a much slower pace than the city.
Boston Harbor was an early settlement of Olympia, dating back to 1860, and still features the Dofflemyer lighthouse, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Nestled between Budd and Henderson inlets, the area had several names early on, but Boston Harbor has endured. The cornerstones of the small-town charm feel include the Boston Harbor Elementary School, the marina, and the Gull Harbor Mercantile, also known as the Merc. “We have people wanting to move to Boston Harbor just for the elementary school,” shares Deborah Dunham, a lifelong Boston Harbor resident and real estate broker at Olympic Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s the jewel of the community.
The Boston Harbor Marina was constructed in the 1920s, when the area remained primarily a destination for summer cabins and seasonal resorts. It wasn’t until the 1960s and 1970s, with the arrival of modern infrastructure, that the small cabins were replaced by larger, year-round homes. Despite many of the tiny 50-foot lots being consolidated over the years, the sense of community has endured. The mix of more modern larger homes mixes well with some of the older cabins.
In Boston Harbor, Recreational Opportunities Abound
Today, Boston Harbor is a vibrant area, especially in the summer months when the harbor is teeming with sailboats, powerboats, kayaks and paddle boards. Visitors and locals alike can rent kayaks and paddleboards at the public boat launch adjacent to the marina or enjoy a meal and a drink on the marina bar deck, soaking up the sunshine and watching for local sea life.
Boston Harbor is also home to some of Olympia’s most beautiful recreational sites. Burfoot Park, with its 65 acres featuring barbecues, covered shelters, a large children’s play area and trails leading to 1,100 feet of saltwater beach front on Budd Inlet, offers visitors stunning views of the state Capitol and the Olympic Mountains. The beach at Burfoot is a great place to spot water-dwelling mammals including orcas, gray, and humpback, seals, sea lions and sea otters.
Nearby, the Woodard Bay Conservation Area provides a sanctuary for wildlife, just minutes from downtown Olympia. This 922-acre site protects habitats along five miles of South Puget Sound shoreline and includes a protected second-growth forest. Visitors can often see bats, seals, otters, double crested cormorants, hawks and great blue herons along the scenic shoreline trails. There’s even a kayak launch to view the area from the water.
A Close-Knit Community Awaits at Boston Harbor
“It’s often called ‘Little Santa Cruz’ because of its diverse style of homes from small cabins to modern buildings, many offering amazing water and mountain views, the sandy beach and bustling marina and its close-knit community,” shares Dunham. “The Boston Harbor Marina is the center for gathering, socializing and entertainment, and there’s a strong sense of community here, with local events like Friday Night at the Marina, where we enjoy live music from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the Boston Harbor Association’s sponsorship of the historic ‘Third of July’ fireworks show, a beloved summer tradition that started back in 1922, as well as the ever popular Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale, car shows, and more.”
“And being so close to downtown, it’s the perfect drive through the old farmlands to unwind on your way home from work,” she adds.
Ready to move to Boston Harbor? Call Deborah Dunham 360.790.1409 or visit the Olympic Sotheby’s International Realty website. Dunham would welcome the opportunity to answer your questions and show you around the area she loves to call home.
Sponsored
