The North Shore on Massachusetts' coastal region is less than an hour from Boston, which makes it a popular popular tourist destination for families. While some vacations may find parents struggling to entertain their kids, the North Shore boasts educational and entertaining activities that the entire family can enjoy.
North Shore Children's Museum
The North Shore Family Room in Salem, Massachusetts, is part of Salem's YMCA. This museum mixes the fun with the educational. Tiny tykes can play dress up or learn how to cook. Older kids may be interested in the tide pools as they learn about the North Shore, oceans and resources.
Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., it's the perfect place for exploration. Exhibits are constantly changing. Admission is $4.50 per person as of 2010.
Joe's Playland
Joe's Playland, a 10,000-square-foot amusement center in Salisbury, Massachusetts, can keep kids of any age entertained. It has video games, racing games, bingo , kiddie rides and a snack bar with a variety of kid friendly snacks like ice cream, flavored slushes and popcorn.
Coco Key Water Resort
Water babies will love Coco Key Water Resort-Crowne Plaza on the North Shore. Only minutes from downtown Salem, this 65,000-square-foot water park is Massachusetts' largest indoor water park. Children can enjoy Parrot's Perch, an interactive water slide, Shark Slam, an exciting body slide, and a variety of other slides and pools. The resort also has an arcade as well as a variety of family friendly restaurants.
Richardson's Ice Cream
No child has ever turned down ice cream, so a visit to Richardson's Ice Cream in Middleton, Massachusetts, is the perfect place to cool off and enjoy some sweet treats. Established in 1695, Richardson's Ice Cream provides a Cow to Cone tour, showing how the ice cream is made as well as a tour of the grounds. Kids can see farm animals such as cows, ducks and chickens. After sampling a delicious array of flavors, families can hit the links on one of two miniature golf courses or visit the batting cages or the driving range.
Pirates and Witches and Dungeons
With Massachusetts' storied history, parents can provide an excellent history lesson and some excitement for their kids with a visit to any of three popular Salem museums. Kids can learn about New England pirates at the New England Pirates Museum or spend time in the Witch Dungeon Museum. If they manage to escape the gallows, they could also take a trip to the Witch History Museum and hear the fascinating tales of Salem's witch hunt.
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