By Guest Blogger Janine Halloran
Heading to Boston with the fam? Don’t miss out on these fun top 10 family activities in Boston, Massachusetts!
As a person born and raised in Boston, I have spent a lot of time doing activities around the city, both when I was growing up and now as a parent with young kids. Here are my top 10 family activities to do in the city of Boston. These activities are geared toward elementary school aged kids, but younger kids would enjoy most of these activities as well.
Swan Boats and Make Way for Ducklings Statue
Both of these famous attractions are located in the Boston Public Garden. This was one of my first field trips as a little girl. I remember sitting in the Garden and my teacher reading Make Way for Ducklings. Then we got to do the things that were in the book! We went and played on the statues of the ducklings and we took a ride on the Swan Boats. I’m always impressed when you get into a Swan Boat that it’s one person pedaling to keep the boat moving around. It’s such a relaxing and fun activity for kids to experience. This is a lovely place to walk, eat and enjoy a beautiful day outdoors.
This playground is located in the Boston Common, not far from the State House. When I was younger, this is the location of a playground my sister and I would often visit. Since then, it’s been updated with new equipment and several statues of tadpoles all around. This summer, they’re hosting weekly storytelling and other special guests from 10am – 1pm every Thursday. Check out their website for more details
Located right by the TADPole playground is Frog Pond. In the winter, you can go there to ice skate and enjoy a hot cocoa. In the summer, the pond turns into a spray pool. There’s also a carousel located nearby. Great fun in the heart of the city!
My daughter and I went to the Zoo for her Kindergarten Field Trip last year and we had a blast! The Zoo has had a significant update. There’s a ton of different animal exhibits. My kids really like the Aussie Aviary, where you can feed the birds. There’s a butterfly exhibit, another big hit with my kids. There’s also a gigantic playground there.
This one is on my list of things for the kids and me to do this summer. There are some really wide walking paths and a playground there. You can watch the planes fly in to Logan Airport, which I think my kids will love.
I can’t say enough good things about the Children’s Museum. So much interactive fun happens there! My kids have really enjoyed the KidStage, playing musical instruments and the climbing area. There’s so much to do, see and play with there! This is definitely a must see if you are in town with children.
One of the first places we ventured to as a family of four was the Aquarium. My kids love to watch fish, and they had a blast. There’s an exhibit of penguins, which are just fascinating to watch. There’s the giant tank in the middle with a circular ramp that takes you through the different layers and lets you see the different fish, sharks, turtles and other sea life. There’s also a touch tank with sharks and rays. I may or may not have shrieked when I touched one.
This is another great place we’ve taken our whole family. The museum has a ton of different interactive exhibits. There’s an IMAX theater and a Planetarium too. As you might expect, they also have tons of hands on fun for the kids. They have drop in activities like the investigation station and design challenges. Check the daily schedule online to get more details.
This place is technically in Brookline, but right over the border from Jamaica Plain. My family and I just went to see a puppet show there, and it was great! There’s a fun family atmosphere, and the shows offered are all interesting and creative. They offer a puppet playtime for the 0-3 crowd too. I can imagine that would be great fun for the little ones.
If you’re looking for a quieter day, you could take a walk around Jamaica Pond. One time around is just under 1.5 miles. They have a boating program that starts in the spring and lasts until October. Don’t forget to stop by JP Licks on Centre Street! It’s one of my favorite ice cream places 🙂
If you’re in Boston with the kids, stop by these fun and playful places for families!
Playfully Yours,
Janine
http://www.encourageplay.com
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