Summertime is the Best Time for a Massachusetts Whale Watch

With the weather getting warmer and the skies getting clearer, it's high time to hit the high seas for a Massachusetts whale watch.

If you grew up in the Commonwealth like I did, and you were a grade school kid in the suburbs like I was, chances are you went out on a whale watch for a field trip. I feel like whale watches and Sturbridge Village were the big field trip options in the '80s.

I'm pretty sure my Massachusetts whale watch field trip was in 6th grade. I remember we took a boat out of Gloucester. And I remember feeling a bit queasy. But I don't remember seeing any whales. There was Pac Man on the boat, so I was watching ghosts, not whales.

The New England Aquarium Whale Watch has once again partnered up with Boston Harbor City Cruises. They kicked off another season of whale watch cruises on May 16. The season runs through late August, so you've got a nice stretch to get out on the water.

Bob Lawler, BHCC’s General Manager and Regional Vice President, stated: “Together with the New England Aquarium, we're thrilled to continue to provide the unique opportunity...to see and learn about whales in their natural habitat. Each year, we welcome thousands of passengers aboard for an experience they'll never forget."

Whale watches depart from 1 Long Wharf in Boston, right by the New England Aquarium. You'll board a high-speed catamaran, destination Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary. It's a popular feeding ground for whales, dolphins, and other marine animals.

The boat has a full bar and light snacks available for purchase. This is good, as your trip will take around 3-4 hours. So plan accordingly. And head over here for more information and to purchase tickets.

I've been a rock DJ in Boston for over 25 years. So you can trust my cred when it comes to choosing the best Boston record stores.

I grew up in the suburbs: Greenwood, in Wakefield. North Shore, baby. So the first record stores I frequented were at Strawberries on Rt. 1 in Saugus and Coconuts at Redstone Plaza in Reading.

Wait, scratch that. I forgot. My first-ever record buying experience was at Lechemere. The one they named the Green Line stop after. My mom let me buy a Human League 7" there when I was 6.

Flash-forward to college. It's the mid-'90s. I'm an undergrad at Northeastern University, blocks away from Newbury St., where there are three of the best Boston records stores crammed into the first block alone.

The legendary Tower Records on the corner of Mass Ave. and Newbury St. The OG Newbury Comics just a few doors down. And used-music mecca CD Spins right before the corner of Hereford St.

I spent countless hours and untold dollars ping-ponging between those three. I bought CDs, used and new. 45s to fuel my radio show on WRBB. And all the Smashing Pumpkins imports I could find (and afford).

Two of those three go-to shops are now gone. And the last one standing is in a new space. Of course that one makes my list, as it continues to be a Boston mecca for record collectors.

Before we dive in, though, that quick definition. When I use the term "Boston," it means "Boston-area" with regards to this list. Boston, Allston, Cambridge, Somerville, Jamaica Plain. Represent.

Oh, and I can't believe I forgot to mention Looney Tunes at the corner of Mass Ave. and Boylston St.! Another '90s staple. Good news, though. They reopened! New location. It's on my list of best Boston record stores below.

I celebrate the entire Newbury Comics catalog. But the flagship shop on Newbury St. will always hold a special place in my heart. And now that they're in the old Converse store location, it's three floors of fun. Records in the basement. That's where you'll find me.

Kenmore Square has changed so much in the last two decades. But Nuggets is still there, a beacon to older, simpler days. Hey, you know if legendary Boston hardcore band SSD is posting about the shop and the 'hood it's the genuine article.

Once upon a time, Looney Tunes sat just outside the intersection of Mass Ave. and Boylston St. Their logo featured Howard the Duck from the '70s Marvel comics (and '80s movie). The shop was reborn in Allston in 2017. And Howard's still on the logo.

This is the one shop I haven't paid a visit to...yet. You see, they're big on The Dead. And that's so not my jam. If it's your jam, be sure to pay them a visit. Because their spot looks fun as hell, especially if you're of the psychedelic mind.

Right in the heart of Mental, er, Central Square, Cambridge. I was in Cheapo recently and I was floored by not just by their record collection, but of their deep stacks of CDs. Especially '90s alternative rock. If that's your scene, make Cheapo your destination.

Armageddon has two shops to their name: one near Harvard Square in Cambridge and another in Providence, RI. They specialize in heavy music: metal, hardcore, punk. Let's use a colon in this last sentence, too: records, tapes, merch. Get into it.

You'll find Vinyl Index in Somerville's Bow Market. And depending on the time of year and if the Market has a big event going on, they'll bring their crates of used records out for open-air shopping. It's a singular experience and always worth your time.

Much like Armageddon, Wanna Hear It is a bit of a specialty shop. If you're genres of choice are emo, punk, hardcore, and indie, they're selling what you want to buy. And they're super active on IG, constantly updating with new releases and new-to-the-bins used records.