Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Visiting the Sanctuary Whalewatching allows humans a close encounter with large marine mammals. Most visitors to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary arrive via whalewatching or fishing vessels that depart from a number of coastal communities from north of Cape Ann to Cape Cod. Whalewatch vessel ports are Newburyport, Gloucester, Rockport, Salem, Boston, Quincy, Plymouth, Barnstable, and Provincetown. Sanctuary boundaries begin three miles offshore from either cape. From Boston the measured distance is 25 miles.
Nearby attractions are plentiful.
Nearby Boston is a city of museums, ranging from the Children's Museum, the Museum of Science, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, all of which rate international recognition for quality. The interactive show allows audience members to take pop quizzes and guide the outcome of the performance, which focuses on the difficult issues facing management of the marine environment, particularly the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Mass. One of the Navy's most historic relics, the 19th century frigate USS Constitution , is berthed at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The Boston Harbor Islands, a National Recreation Area, consists of 30 islands. Accessible by ferry, the islands provide opportunities for picnicking, exploration, hiking, and birdwatching.