With the image of being a historical city with lots of museums and walking, Boston may not appear to be child-friendly. But dig further and you’ll find plenty of child-friendly activities right in this city! From satisfying your children’s taste buds and sporting events to whale watching and even berry picking, here are 15 fun-filled activities to do in Boston with your kids:
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1. Ride the Swan boats at Boston Common
What better way to explore Boston Common than riding the iconic swan boats? With their pretty appearance, the kids are sure to be amused by them! Not only are these swan boat rides affordable, but they are also an interesting way to take in all that Boston Common has to offer!
Boston Common is an amazing place for families to spend a relaxing weekend afternoon. You will see several families laying out their mats on the vast expanse of green, enjoying a hearty meal, and bonding with one another. When you’re done riding the swan boats, have a picnic! It’s a great and fun way to spend time with your children!
Swan Boats
Address: 4 Charles St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
Price: 2 USD for children; 3.50 USD for adults
Opening Hours: 10 am - 4 pm
Duration: around 15 minutes
Contact: +1 617-522-1966
Website: Swan Boats
2. Splash in the outdoor fountain at The Frog Pond on Boston Common
After filling your tummies and taking in the scenery of Boston Common, it’s time for some fun-filled activities! The Boston Common Frog Pond sits at the heart of Boston Common and is a perfect place for all families with kids to visit! In summer, a spray pool will be in operation, where you can take a seat by the benches nearby and watch your kids splash around in the water, making some new little friends along the way! There’s a lifeguard on duty so it’s safe for anyone! While you are free to join in the fun, we highly recommend otherwise … it’s better to stay by the side, watching the little ones go wild and having a great time.
Boston Common Frog Pond
Address: 38 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
Price: Free
Opening Hours: 10 am - 6 pm
Contact: +1 617-635-2120
Website: Boston Frog Pond
3. Tour Fenway Park
This iconic ball park is simply a must visit when you’re in Boston! Whether or not you are fans of The Red Sox, you should at least take the tour, where you and your kids will be entertained with fun facts and the history of the stadium and stories about the Boston Red Sox.
Of course, you should catch a game if an opportunity arises! Watching a ball game is the best way to bond with anyone, of all ages. Just cheering passionately among the masses, spurring on your favourite team with a mouthful of hot dog, a drink in your hand and the half eaten hot dog in the other, suddenly everyone becomes your friend. If your child isn’t already a baseball fan, welcome him / her to the baseball fanclub after the game.
Fenway Park Tour
Address: 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215, United States
Opening Hours: 9 am - 5 pm. *on non game days
Contact: 617-226-6666
Website: Fenway Park Tour
4. Cheer on the Celtics at the TD garden
Boston is not only home to The Red Sox, but also the Boston Celtics! It’s an absolute must to catch a Celtics game, especially if you’re a family of sports fanatics! Just being among the sea of green watching the Celtics play live is magical, the vibrant atmosphere and loud passionate cheers are just the icing on the cake!
TD Garden
Address: 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Contact: 617.624.1050
Website: TD Garden
Boston Tour Guide
Naim Benmayor
As a Boston tour guide, I have the added experience of being a world traveler. For many years, I frequently visited Europe, Asia, and Latin America on business. During this time, I also organized tours of the USA, Europe and Asia for my business clients. I now bring this passion, excitement and expertise to the Boston area.By exploring the globe, I was exposed to various cultures, and this uniq... Read more
5. Amuse the kids at the New England Aquarium’s penguin exhibits
Housing a great assortment of sea life, including seals and penguins, the New England Aquarium is the kind of place you can easily spend a whole afternoon. It’s a perfect place for a family outing. With so many amusing creatures and live shows, it will keep your kids entertained and they’ll love it! The penguin exhibits are bound to excite them the most (because, it’s penguins!). At the same time, the aquarium also reminds you about the tons of cool stuff under the sea, and provides a getaway from the usual busy life! It’s also super educational for both you and your child!
New England Aquarium
Address: 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, United States
Opening Hours: 9 am - 6 pm
Contact: +1 617-973-5200
Website: New England Aquarium
6. Look for whales on a Boston Harbor cruise
It’s almost every kid’s dream to whale-watch. Well, that dream can be made a reality when you hop on the Whale Watching cruise organised by Boston Harbor Cruises! Not only does the cruise enable you to whale-watch, but it also give you splendid views of the island. When the whales are spotted, the informative staff will tell you more about the large sea creatures, and the boat will pause momentarily to let you take pictures of the whales. This is surely something you’ll want to consider if you’re looking for a fresh and interesting, yet educational, outing for you and your child.
Boston Harbour Cruises
Address: 1 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, United States
Price: 49 USD for adults (aged 12 - 64); 33 USD for children (aged 3 - 11)
Opening Hours: 6.30 am - 10 pm
Duration: around 3 hours required
Contact: +1 617-227-4321
Website: Boston Harbour Cruises Whale Watch
7. Go fruit and berry picking at Belkin Family Lookout Farm
Want to add a twist to your family outings and running out of fun ideas? Try fruit and berry picking at Belkin Family Lookout Farm! It’s one of the oldest fruit and berry farms in the USA, and it’s a great farm to visit especially during harvest season. You will take a train ride into the field, which will bring you past several fruit trees and beautiful scenery. Then, you’ll bag up some sweet treats that you handpicked! Other than fruit and berry picking, they also have other kid-friendly activities like face painting, a farm maze, and more! Though not the most budget-friendly option, it’s certainly a fun outing for families. Tip: know your seasons so you get the best out of the trip!
Belkin Family Lookout Farm
Address: 89 Pleasant St S, Natick, MA 01760, United States
Opening Hours: 10 am - 4 pm
Contact: +1 508-651-1539
Website: Belkin Family Lookout Farm
8. Come face to face with a life sized dinosaur at the Museum of Science
Feel like a kid again yourself when you visit the Museum of Science! You’re killing two birds with one stone; not only do your kids get a fun-filled trip and a fantastic learning experiences, but it helps you to widen your horizons as well! There are plenty of interactive activities, hands on exhibitions, a butterfly garden, and you even get to come face to face with a life-sized dinosaur. It will make you realise there are so many interesting things you don’t know as an adult, and you may even discover another part of yourself here. There’s so much fun for both you and your child here, so don’t miss this attraction.
Museum of Science
Address: 1 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Price: from 25 USD for adults; from 20 USD for children (aged 3 - 11)
Opening Hours: 9 am - 7 pm
Contact: +1 617-723-2500
Website: Museum of Science
9. Knock down some pins at Kings Bowl
Not only is bowling is a fun activity for all ages, it’s a great way to bond with your kids too! While you’re at it, don’t forget to grab a lobster roll at Jasper White’s colourful Summer Shack! This eatery sells really good seafood in Boston, so have your fill of pan-roasted lobster, raw oysters that melt in your mouth, and top it all off with their glorious Boston Creme Pie.
Kings Bowl
Address: 50 Dalton St Boston, MA 02115
Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 12 noon - 1 am, Saturday 12 noon - 2 am, Sunday 12 noon - 11 pm
Contact: 617-266-2695
Website: Kings Bowl
10. Self-guided Freedom Trail
Boston has many important pieces of history. As you walk down the streets of Boston, you’re taking a step back through time, back to the days of the American Revolution. The Freedom Trail is something everyone should do when they visit Boston. The whole trail is 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long. Your kid(s) may not be too keen on all the walking, but you can always go on a self-guided walk, and you can take a break whenever you need. It’s great exercise and the sights are going to be worth the walk!
11. Hit all the best ice cream hot spots around town
No one can say no to ice cream, let alone kids! Gain some brownie points by spending an afternoon going ice cream hunting with them! They will love you ten times more! Boston has some really good, albeit sinful, ice cream; some must-visits in town are Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream, J.P. Licks, Emack & Bolio’s, and Herrell’s Ice Cream. Links and address are all below. You’re welcome!
Christina's Homemade Ice Cream
Address: 1255 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
Opening Hours: 11.30 am - 10.30 pm
Contact: +1 617-492-7021
Website: Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream
J.P. Licks
Address: 659 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, United States * There are other stores too, check the website for alternate addresses and opening time
Opening Hours: 6 am - 12 midnight
Contact: +1 617-524-6740
Website: J.P. Licks
Emack and Bolio's
Address: Trilogy - 140 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Opening Hours: 9 am - 6 pm. Closed on public holidays
Access: Right next to Fenway Park
Contact: (617) 262-1569
Website: Emack and Bolio’s
Herrell's Ice Cream
Address: 8 Old S St, Northampton, MA 01060, United States
Opening Hours: 12 noon - 12 midnight
Contact: +1 413-586-9700
Website: Herrell’s Ice Cream
12. Eat the PB & J sandwich while at Boston Children’s Museum
The Boston Children’s Museum is such an interesting place visit! A museum dedicated especially to educating children, they’re sure to gain plenty of insights after visiting! But the highlight of the trip may not be the museum itself, but the peanut butter and jam sandwiches at Flour Bakery, which is just minutes away from the museum. After an enriching day at the museum, head down to Farnsworth Street for a succulent tea time at Flour Bakery! In addition to the PB & J sandwich, they have other tantalising items like croissants and sticky buns! It’s always satisfying to end off the day with a sweet treat!
Flour Bakery
Address: 12 Farnsworth St, Boston, MA 02210, United States
Opening Hours: 7 am - 8 pm
Contact: +1 617-338-4333
Website: Flour Bakery
13. Try new food at Faneuil Hall Marketplace
One of the more prominent stops on the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall easily catches attention due to its amazingly magnificent architecture. But what makes people love this place is none other than its neighboring market, commonly known as Quincy Market, or Faneuil Hall Marketplace, as it is home to plenty of food stalls selling all kinds of cuisines and delicacies! Treat you and your kids, treating your taste buds to a range of fare from Japanese and Chinese to Italian and, of course local dishes. They have almost everything you could ever ask for! We suggest you eat till your hearts’ content and then continue on the Freedom Trail.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Address: 1 Faneuil Hall Sq, Boston, MA 02109, United States
Contact: +1 617-635-3105
Website: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
14. Ride over the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world
Zakim Bridge may be less famous when compared to the Brooklyn and Golden Gate Bridges, but it is no less magnificent. This beautiful piece of architecture is even prettier at night when it’s lit up by neon lights. As you travel across the bridge, tell your kids that they’re riding on the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world!
Zakim Bridge
Address: I-93, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Website: Zakim Bridge
15. Catch a movie under the stars
TGIF! What better way to spend your Friday with your kids than watching a movie together? This is no ordinary movie though; you’ll be watching it under the stars! And yes, you can bring your blankets to tuck yourselves in! Free Friday Flicks are part of Hatch Shell’s Movie event, and they screen both successful box office modern and classic films! The films change every Friday so be sure to check the schedule to know what you’re in for!
Unleash the inner kid within you
While these activities cater mainly to kids, that doesn’t mean adults can’t have fun too! These child-friendly activities are actually far more educational than you may realise. Through these activities, you can also rediscover the inner child within you that got lost when life got in the way on the road to being an adult. The idea of these kiddy activities may sound childish, but we promise you’ll have more fun in Boston than you may expect! We kid you not!
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