The sheer adorableness of the City Island Nautical Museum is not to be underestimated. On a recent misty Saturday afternoon, the entryway teemed with cheerful volunteers seemingly all named Barbara.

This 1.5-mile-long island, with “a beach on almost every block,” may feel like small-town New England, but it’s part of the city. 17 Photos View Slide Show › By Aileen Jacobson When Wendy Yang Clark ...