Boston offers endless children's activities that adults can enjoy too. In Boston you will find museums, parks, historical monuments, swimming, camping, and theater. Boston's parks and children's museum provide activities that allow children to run around while expelling excess energy and learning. The Freedom Trail takes you on a walking tour of Boston's most famous historical sites, complete with guides in character from times past.
Museums
The Boston metro area offers 21 museums for families to explore. The most enticing museums for children include the Boston Children's Museum, Boston Museum of Science, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. The Boston Children's Museum has hands-on exhibits that not only entertain but teach children about health and fitness, science, art, and culture. Exhibits include a play area where children can crawl, climb, and observe objects, an area where kids can use blocks and trucks to build what their imaginations desire, and an art studio with a choice of materials for children to explore their creative sides. The Harvard Museum of Natural History has a section dedicated to dinosaurs, and the Museum of Science has a planetarium.
Zoo
You will find Boston's Zoo New England in Franklin Park. The zoo covers 72 acres and first opened in 1913. Children and adults will enjoy getting up close to the gorillas, giraffes, lions, wildebeests, tigers, zebras, and birds at the zoo, which also has a petting area, where children can pet goats, ponies, and sheep.
Aquarium
Located in central Boston, a short walk from Quincy Market, The New England Aquarium provides children with something to do during the cold New England winter or a rainy day. Animals on display include penguins, seals, turtles, and dozens of types of fish. The central feature of the aquarium is the Giant Ocean Tank. The tank contains 200,000 gallons of water and is home to Myrtle the sea turtle, who has lived in the tank since 1970. A walkway wraps around the tank from the bottom to the top, so you can explore every section of it.
Ice Skating
The Boston metro area includes six ice skating rinks. Frog Pond Ice Skating Rink, in Boston Common, opens from mid-November until mid-March. You can buy season passes and rent skates at the site. The rink stays open until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and until 5 p.m. on Monday. Bay State Skating School offers ice skating lessons for all levels, and the Charles Hotel has an outdoor rink that opens from mid-December until the end of February.
Parks
Boston has 10 major parks, providing open spaces for children to run and play. The city's oldest park, Boston Common, dates back to 1634. The park, which hosts concerts, has a wading pool and plenty of space to relax. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park includes a playground, rose garden, and picnic areas with views of the water. If you take a ferry, you can visit Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, which consists of 34 islands with tide pools, a lighthouse, hiking trails, and a Civil War fort to explore. The park opens from May until October.
Member Comments