There are so many fun things to do with kids in Boston, whether you are looking to explore the area’s history along the Freedom Trail or heading to a game at Fenway Park. When I visit Boston with my family, I like staying in Cambridge near Harvard University and MIT. This area has a vibrant cultural scene, with museums and theaters to keep you busy. I recently stayed at The Charles Hotel with my son, and we found this Cambridge hotel was in the perfect location to walk to Harvard Square and the Charles River and just a short T ride from Faneuil Hall and Little Italy.
We arrived at Logan Airport and took a 20-minute Uber to The Charles Hotel. The hotel is tucked into a tree-lined street between Harvard Square and the Charles River. We enjoyed walking to the river to check out the sailboats and the crew teams rowing down the river. When you are ready to head into Harvard Square, it’s just a two-block walk in the other direction, and that’s where you’ll find the closest T stop as well.
As soon as you walk into the bright lobby at The Charles Hotel, you’ll see all the books that line the walls—guests are encouraged to borrow books to read during their stay, and there’s even a Kids Corner filled with childhood favorites.
Our room had a lovely view of the river and the city beyond, and we appreciated how much space there was to spread out. If you need even more room, the property has suites with a kitchenette and a toaster oven, microwave, and fridge—perfect for those staying a little longer.
On-site parking is available, and they even have a Budget and Avis rental car counter just off the lobby. We took advantage of this when booking a car to road trip north to Maine—super convenient!
The property had several activities available during our stay, including outdoor yoga in the courtyard and live music at the Garden Bar. We spent one of our evenings playing cornhole and enjoying tacos and drinks from the Garden Bar. The property has a number of other dining options, both indoors and outdoors (when the weather behaves), including Henrietta’s Table (great for brunch!) and the jazz club Regattabar.
Special Packages
The Charles Hotel offers many special packages that vary based on the time of year. Those who want to lean into the property’s collegiate vibes should go for the Storybook stay package, which includes a $50 credit for in-room dining service and a bedside reading amenity with a selection of eBooks, audiobooks, podcasts, and meditation.
We took advantage of the Cultural Comforts package, which included four complimentary tickets to the renowned Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. When the rain doused our initial afternoon plans, we headed to the museums to check out their massive gallery of glass flowers and the taxidermied animals in the Great Mammal Hall. The museums are all in one building and just a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
There are lots of kid-friendly dining options nearby, including our favorite—Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage. This retro spot has been serving Harvard students since 1960. The burgers were massive and juicy, just the way we like them. Be sure to get a lime rickey to quench your thirst on a hot day.
Just a block from the hotel is Wusong Tiki Bar, where we indulged in the pupu platter that was laden with firecracker shrimp, teriyaki skewers, pork dumplings, and more. The cocktail menu was massive, and we enjoyed the fun tiki glassware that our piña coladas (one virgin) came in. This spot has quite a fun vibe; we’d definitely recommend it!
The Charles Hotel
Online: charleshotel.com
Editor’s note: This trip was paid for by The Charles Hotel but all opinions belong to the writer.
