Boston is my home away from home and I never ever tire of traveling to Beantown. I love that its an easy city to see by foot and that there are so many fun attractions for visitor of all ages.
Boston with Kids: Top 10 Family Friendly Attractions
If you’re planning a trip to to New England, here are my Top 10 Things to do in Boston with Kids.
Boston Children’s Museum offers hours of fun.
1) Visit the Boston Children’s Museum
Children’s museums are always a big hit and the sprawling Boston Children’s Museum does not disappoint. There are three floors with dozens of interactive exhibits and I am pretty sure my daughter would have been happy to spend the entire day here. From blowing gigantic bubbles, conducting science experiments and creating arts and crafts projects to climbing in an enclosed sculpture, building towers and playing musical instruments, kids of all ages will be happily entertained for hours. I especially love the various cultural programs that teach children about different holidays, customs and and traditions. There are some great family friendly restaurants nearby which is handy because it will probably be dinnertime by the time you leave.
The New England Aquarium is a great spot for families.
2) Check out the New England Aquarium
Boston’s waterfront aquarium offers some amazing attractions like a towering four-story tank filled with colorful fish, sea turtles and sting rays but for my daughter, the penguins stole the show. Kids will love watching the divers swim around at feeding time (including an interactive Q&A session) and seals doing tricks while more adventurous tots will enjoy interactive petting exhibits in the largest touch tank on the East Coast. If you have time, sign up for one of their famous Whale Watch cruises or take in a 3D movie in the IMAX theater.
The Swan Boats in Boston Common are a must for families.
3) Ride the Boston Swan Boats
Boston Common and Boston Public Garden are a great place to visit with young children who want to run around. You’ll find miles of grassy fields, playgrounds, a merry-go-round, balloon artists, the famed Make Way for Ducklings sculpture (great for photo ops!), the Frog Pond fountain and the iconic Boston Swan Boats. Pedaled by foot, these giant swan boats are a one-of-a-kind scenic ride that the whole family will enjoy. The line moves quickly and the ride is approximately 15 minutes so there is no time for kids to get restless. Families can leave strollers on land, next to the ticket booth. Tickets start at just $2.50 making it a very affordable pitstop.
Boston’s Faneuil Hall is a must for foodie families.
4) Stop at Faneuil Hall Marketplace
For shoppers, snackers, or history buffs, Faneuil Hall Marketplace (aka Quincy Market) is a must-visit. There are dozens of shops and souvenir stands selling everything from sports memorabilia and home accessories to sunglasses and clothing. For dining, you’ll find sit-down restaurants like historical Durgin-Park, outdoor cafes, juice bars and a gigantic food colonnade featuring everything from sushi and lobster rolls to ice cream and pastries. Kids will enjoy the famed street performances so be sure to wander around till you spot one.
5) Follow the Freedom Trail
For school-aged children, Boston’s Freedom Trail offers a great opportunity to make learning history fun. The 2.5 mile red-lined route, leads you to 16 historically significant Boston sites related to the American Revolution like museums, meetinghouses, churches and burying grounds. Give your kids a map and let them try their hands at navigating or just let them lead the way (follow the red line)! Older children will last for the whole trail but for younger kids, I recommend going from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall.
Check out Boston by land and sea with a Boston Duck Tour.
6) Take a Boston Duck Tour
This touristy option is on the pricy side (kids 3-11 are $29) but if you haven’t taken your kids on a water/land vehicle, I do recommend it. The interactive (you will be quacking…) sightseeing tour starts on land and drives past 30-something tourist spots but the excitement really begins when the bus turns into a duck and drives into the Charles River! The skyline water views are stunning but for my daughter, the highlight was getting a turn to steer. Kids (and grown ups) get a chance to navigate at sea so be sure to bring your cameras. If you’ve been running around on foot, this is a nice chance to rest and take in the scenery.
Check out Newbury Street and Copley Square’s shops and restaurants.
7) Check out Copley Square and Newbury Street
Walking is the best way to take it all in and Copley Place and Newbury Street are great neighborhoods for families to explore, have a meal and people watch. Upscale Newbury Street is filled with cafes and boutiques (think toys, clothes, music and home goods) while Copley Square features a large mall (hello teenagers!), park and is nearby to the Prudential Center (Skywalk observatory has amazing views) and Boston’s enormous Central Library.
Kids of all ages will love exploring the Boston Museum of Science.
8) Scope out the Boston Museum of Science
My daughter adores science museums and the Boston Museum of Science was one of the highlights from our summer visit. We visited the Planetarium first to see Big Bird’s Adventure: One World, One Sky which is great for children five and under. From there, we spent a half-day visiting dozens of exhibits where my daughter examined a pig’s heart and sheep eyes, played astronaut, built animal skeletons, solved engineering puzzles, created tunes on a musical staircase and learned about a proportions in gigantic math exhibit. The museum is huge with a nice kids Discovery Center (for kids eight and under) and an impressive cafeteria with water views.
9) Spend an afternoon at Harvard Square
Cambridge is a fun neighborhood to explore with kids. You’ll find cafes, shopping galore, street performances and parks to explore. This is a great spot to take in a movie, walking tour or comedy show depending on the ages of your kids. Don’t forget a visit to the famed university while you’re there.
10) Ride the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority aka The T
Boston’s subway system, knicknamed the T, is a very kid-friendly experience and easy way to get around when little feet tire out. The trains are color coded and you are either traveling in-bound or out-bound so its pretty hard to get lost. There are stops at several tourist friendly locales including Logan International Airport, South Station and North Station as well attractions like the aquarium, Faneuil Hall, Museum of Science and Harvard Square. Children 11 and younger ride free with a parent and the turnstiles are stroller friendly.
What are your favorite kid-friendly places to visit in Boston?
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and water bottles for everyone in the family.
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