Home Road Trips 10 Totally Awesome Things to Do in Boston with Kids By Sara OlsherJuly 31, 2020 Search more like this librarydiscovery-centerhot-dogice-skatingkite-flyingmusicnatural-historyoutdoor-adventuresscavenger-huntthings-to-dofrog-pondarboretumcastleaquarium Read next Road Trips The Best Organic Clothes for Babies & Toddlers Road Trips 45 Pumpkin Carving Designs That’ll Wow the Neighborhood Road Trips Target’s Best Holiday Deals Start Sooner Than You Think Road Trips This Larger Than Life Mister Rogers Monument is Exactly What the World Needs Road Trips Want a Free Donut on Halloween? Here’s How to Get One from Krispy Kreme While plenty of cities are home to famous museums and attractions, Boston’s walkable neighborhoods and historic sites make it more unique and easy to explore for families. And then there are the things you can only find in Boston: historic swan boats, a stroll through one of Harvard’s museums, or the Frog Pond at the Boston Common, to name a few. Read on to discover our top picks for fun things to do as a family in Boston. photo: skeeze via Pixabay Harvard Museum of Natural History 26 Oxford St Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 495-3045 hmnh.harvard.edu Located on Harvard’s campus, this museum is a favorite of local families and tourists alike. Families love the glass flowers, and there is a great collection of rocks, minerals, and meteorites. It’s easy to spend a good 2-3 hours here, and kids of all ages will be entertained by the museum, which is jam-packed with exhibits. Tip: The museum can be a little hard to find if you’re just looking around the campus, so find Oxford Street. Rose Kennedy Greenway High Street &, Atlantic Ave Boston, MA 02110 (617) 292-0020 rosekennedygreenway.org Built on top of the “Big Dig” and stretching a mile and a half, this park is a great outdoor destination for families. The Greenway features seven water features, public art and play structures, walking paths perfect for biking, and an incredible carousel. There are also a variety of organized activities on the Greenway; check their website for details. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston 598 Assembly Row Somerville, MA 02145 (617) 702-5593 legolanddiscoverycenter.com/boston/ If your kids love LEGO (and really, who doesn’t?!) visiting LEGOLAND is a no-brainer. Kids will be in their element, building structures from the plethora of LEGO blocks all throughout the building. If your kids are looking for inspiration, don’t miss the Master Builder, who you can see building drool-worthy structures, or the super-detailed, interactive miniature village. In addition to ample opportunities for creative play, there are two rides (a seated medieval knight ride, and a flying “Merlin’s Apprentice” ride), and a separate Star Wars experience. Tip: bring your own mini figure to trade with the staff! Swan Boats at Boston’s Public Garden 4 Charles St S Boston, MA 02116 (617) 522-1966 swanboats.com/ Uniquely Boston, the Swan Boats at Boston’s Public Garden are an unforgettable adventure your family will get a kick out of. Inexpensive ($4 for adults and $2.50 for kids), the 10-15 minute ride around the pond is beautiful and peaceful. The paddle boats are original from the 1800s and are completely human-powered. The Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library 200 Massachusetts Ave Boston, MA 02115 (617) 450-7000 mbelibrary.org This gorgeous, three-story globe is one of the main attractions at The Mary Baker Eddy Library. Featuring brilliant colors, LED lights, inspiring quotes and music, the Mapparium shows how ideas have changed the world. New England Aquarium 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110 (617) 973-5200 neaq.org The unique New England Aquarium is Boston’s most-visited attraction, which is no surprise. The aquarium’s main feature is a huge, vertical coral reef teeming with sea life. Kids will be fascinated by the aquarium, which can be viewed from a spiral walkway which stretches from the bottom to the top of the building. At the top, you can see the staff feeding sharks and turtles. Kids will also love the seals and penguins. Arnold Arboretum 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130 (617) 524-1718 arboretum.harvard.edu If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure, look no further than the Arnold Arboretum. One of Boston’s most beautiful green spaces, the Arboretum is perfect for a quiet stroll, a scavenger hunt, kite-flying and duck-feeding. Castle Island Park & Fort Independence 2010 Day Blvd, Boston, MA 02127 (857) 250-7755 boston.gov/calendar/castle-island-and-fort-independence-tours Another great outdoor space for young kids, Castle Island Park is the spot for little airplane-lovers ,as many airplanes land and take off above the beach. Kids will love the playground, “castle”, boats, and beach. Make it a lunch date with a tour of the Castle and a visit the hot dog stand. Boston Common Frog Pond 38 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108 (617) 635-2120 bostonfrogpond.com No matter the time of year, your kids will find something fun at the Boston Common Frog Pond. In the Summer the pond is a splash pad with a wading pool and giant 70 foot spray plume, open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from July through Labor Day. In the winter, it’s converted to an ice skating rink with skate rentals, lockers, and a warm kiosk with a snack bar. Minuteman Bikeway minutemanbikeway.org Chock full of history and gorgeous views, the Minuteman Bikeway passes through the historic area where the American Revolution began. The paved path is built on a former rail line and extends 11 miles, running through Cambridge, Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford. The path passes playing fields, ponds, neighborhoods, bakeries, bike shops, and more. —Sara Olsher RELATED STORIES History Comes Alive: Road Tripping from NYC to Boston The Hottest Places in the US for Skip-Gen Travel Totally Unique Parks in Every State
