Fun Activities For Kids In Massachusetts

Active kids will find lots to do in Massachusetts. Cape Cod offers miles of beaches. Boston pulses with energy from all its college students. Central Massachusetts' pristine landscape make it perfect for long biking trips. Western Massachusetts has the Berkshire Mountains and popular skiing areas. Each region of the Bay State offers fun activities for kids.

Beaches

Kids who love swimming, surfing and shell collecting will find lots to do at the Bay State's beaches. Near Boston, you'll find the country's first public beach, Revere Beach. On Cape Cod, you can surf in Nauset Beach's pounding waves. If you'd prefer something more tranquil, you can go to family oriented Horseneck Beach, a 2-mile long stretch of beach on Buzzards Bay. Many of Massachusetts' beaches are accessible via public transportation.

Biking

Massachusetts' many rail trails provide kids with a fun place to bike ride. Once used for railroads, the trails are now paved over and equipped with restrooms and food stops.

One of the best is the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a paved, flat 22-mile path that runs through Dennis, Harwich, Orleans and Wellfleet. A beach is never far away, so kids can relax in the water after having fun cycling.

On the other side of the state, kids will enjoy the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in the Berkshires. Kids will be able to see valleys, mountains, wetlands, wildlife and the Hoosic River.

Education

A lot of history happened in Massachusetts, and you'll find many interesting sites designed to interest kids. At Plimoth Plantation kids can visit a 1627 English village, taste colonial food and learn about how the Wampanoag people lived. In Salem, they can tour a witch house.

Winter Sports

Skiing in Massachusetts tends to be casual, reasonably priced and not too crowded, all of which makes it the perfect fun activity for kids. You'll find lots of mid-sized mountains with wandering trails and bunny slopes. If your kids are looking for a more exciting run, you can go to Bousquet ski area in Pittsfield and try out the "Icicles" trail.

Whale Watching

Going on a whale watch is an activity that's fun and memorable for kids. Several companies run tours out of Boston, Cape Cod and surrounding areas. The New England Aquarium Whale Watch takes kids on a catamaran to a whale feeding area 30 miles east of Boston. Marine biologists travel on the tour, teaching about marine life, pointing out whales, dolphins and sea birds. Tours run from April to October.