Boston is chock full of things to do with kids! There are also tons of educational opportunities the kids have, all while having fun. From nature trails to playgrounds, historical sites, boat rides, kid-friendly restaurants, and museums, boredom will not be an option. Enjoy all that Boston has to offer with your family and make those precious memories!
Here is a list of the best things to do in Boston with kids, that parents of the Gowhee App recommend.
Boston’s Freedom Trail might be a little long for small kids, but they don’t have to miss out on the fun. The Boston By Little Feet walk is designed for young walkers ages 6-12 and their families.
Key Information: $8 per person – Takes 30 minutes to 1 hour – Stroller friendly.
Good To Know: Several of the stops on the tour, including the Old State House and Faneuil Hall, have public restrooms in case your kids need a break.
When visiting Boston, you will need to stop at least once in an Irish pub. The Green Dragon Tavern, located right off Boston Public Market, has it all. Spacious for large families, friendly staff, great food and beers on tap for the parents.
Key Information: Wheelchair accessible – High chair onsite – Stroller friendly.
Good To Know: There is no dedicated kids menu but the regular menu offers tons of options even for the pickiest eaters.
See Boston in a whole new way on a Duck Bus tour! These amphibious vehicles let you see the sights of Boston from the streets and from the water. It’s a new, fun way to see favorite sites like Fenway Park, the Bunker Hill Monument, Quincy Market, and more.
Key Information: $48.99 per adult, $33.99 per kid ages 3-11, $10.99 for kids under 3 – Stroller friendly – Wheelchair accessible
Good To Know: The Duck tours pick up and drop off at the Science Museum, New England Aquarium, and the Prudential Center, so plan accordingly and you can do activities before or after the tour!
Martin’s Park playground is located right across the bridge from downtown and is the perfect place to keep kids busy for hours! There are two large sections, completely fenced in with ground covered with soft material. The best part is this Boston playground offers a fantastic view of the skylines.
Key Information: FREE – Great for age 3-12 – Waldorf, Montessori inspired – Shade and splash pad on site.
Good To Know: It is a fully enclosed playground, but there are two entrances so you will want to stay in the section the kids are playing at.
Located not far from the Old North Church and the Paul Revere House, this cool building is hidden between two other houses and a great opportunity to chat about architecture with the whole family. Note that you do not enter the house since it is private property, but worth a little look nonetheless.
Key Information: FREE – Wheelchairs and strollers will have a hard time on the walkway since it narrows and gets bumpy.
Good To Know: Stretch that visit further and head over the local playground in the north end on Commercial Street.
Most kids love a good ghost story, but sometimes they can be a little too scary. That is why tours specially designed for kids are so great! Your kids can have a great time learning about Salem and getting a little scared– but not too scared.
Key Information: $17 for adults, $12 for kids – Plan for 1 hour of walking – Stroller friendly
Good To Know: These tours are best for kids ages 6 and up.
Cool off in the summer by playing in the Frog Pond splash pad. Even the littlest kids can enjoy splashing in the water. It’s only ankle-deep so kids don’t need to wear life jackets, although they do need to be supervised.
Key Information: FREE – Bathrooms in season – Wheelchair accessible
Good To Know: The splash pad is open April through October but in the winter the pond opens for ice skating.
Local treat shop JP Licks is a celebration of all things sweet and dairy. Settle in with an ice cream cone, frozen yogurt, or sundae– or enjoy a cup of coffee, roasted at the main JP Licks store in Jamaica Plains.
Key Information: Prices vary by location – Gluten-free and dairy-free options available at all locations – 17 locations in the greater Boston area
Good To Know: If you’re by the original store in Jamaica Plains, you’ll know it– just look for the giant cow head on the second story!
The Middlesex Fells Reservations, is a great state park a few minutes drive outside of Boston. The long pond nature trail is an easy 0.9 miles loop around the reservoir that offers the perfect opportunity for a family day in nature.
Key Information: FREE – Pet-friendly – Parking nearby – Not wheelchair accessible – Not recommended for strollers.
Good To Know: A local school funded the construction of the trail and made educational cards. The cards teach kids about the local animals and plants along the way.
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At the Franklin Park Zoo, kids can get up close and personal with some incredible animals, including adorable red pandas. Your little ones can play right next to them on the zoo’s Bamboo Climber.
Key Information: $19.95 for adults, $13.95 for kids under 12 – Plan for several hours to half a day – Food onsite.
Good To Know: Franklin Park Zoo is open year-round, and their tropical rainforest building is a great place to warm up!
Experience one of Boston’s oldest traditions at the Boston Public Garden and ride a swan boat with your kids. These swan-shaped boats have been owned by the Pagett family since the 1870s. You will enjoy taking in the sights and sounds of the Public Garden.
Key Information: $4.50 for adults, $3 for kids, FREE for kids under 2 – Limited stroller storage on boats – Wheelchair accessible.
Good To Know: Look for Romeo and Juliet, the real swans that live in the lagoon!
The Boston Children’s Museum is the perfect place to spend time indoors on a rainy day or hot summer day. They have 3 stories worth of exhibits for kids of all ages, and extremely clean and unique exhibits like a Japanese house to visit. But the kids will especially enjoy the gigantic jungle gym, where they can safely climb all the levels one by one.
Key Information: Tickets are $18 – There is room to store large items and strollers – Completely accessible.
Good To Know: You can enjoy the whole museum for $1 per person on Sunday Afternoons.
The public gardens in Boston commons are an amazing place to walk around with kids on a nice day. Take a self-guided tour with a fun tree bingo game around the park using the map provided on their site, or book a kid’s walking tour of the garden.
Key Information: FREE – Wheelchair accessible – Food nearby in season – Pet friendly (on leash.)
Good To Know: Kids will love the statue of the little ducklings, a must-stop.
At the Museum of Science, your kids can build, experiment, and explore with hands-on exhibits that teach them about science, technology, engineering, and math.
Key Information: $29 for adults, $24 for kids – Food onsite – Bathrooms with changing tables.
Good To Know: The Museum of Science is very accessible and will provide sighted guides for blind guests and ASL interpreters if you call about two weeks in advance.
Take a break from the city landscape and head over to Fort Independence. There you will find a great park to walk and enjoy the ocean breeze and water view. Kids will love to look and learn about the Fort as well as hit the big playground near the entrance.
Key Information: FREE – Path is stroller and wheelchair friendly – Food onsite – Shaded spots available.
Good To Know: There is a family-friendly beach right next to the fort to make a day out of it. The whole area is pet-friendly too.
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Salem isn’t just known for its witches– it has a much longer history of being a pirate stronghold! Take a tour through a pirate cave, the old Salem docks, and onto a reconstructed pirate ship! Reenactors bring the experience to life. They represent historical pirates who worked out of Salem.
Key Information: $13 for adults, $10 for kids – Tour lasts around 30 minutes – Wheelchair accessible (ramp at the rear entrance)
Good To Know: The pirate ship dock can be slippery when wet, so hang on to your little ones’ hands.
The House of Seven Gables has been telling stories for 350 years. Your kids can unlock those stories through exploration. Kids can learn 17th-century skills in the living history lab, play colonial-era games on the lawn, and even ring a ship’s bell.
Key Information: $20 for adults and $12 for children – Historic buildings are not entirely wheelchair accessible – No food onsite
Good To Know: If your kids aren’t up for a tour and you just want to spend time on the grounds without going in, a grounds pass is $5 per person
There’s lots to do for families on the Boston Harbor Islands. In addition to enjoying nature and the fun ferry rides, kids can fly kites and swim on Spectacle Island. On Georges Island, they can learn about the legend of the Lady in Black or explore the Revolutionary War era fort that became a Civil War prison!
Key Information: Ferry tickets are $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for kids – Some islands have snack carts and concessions – Georges, Spectacle, and Peddocks Islands have bathrooms.
Good To Know: Kids can complete free activity booklets and earn a Junior Ranger badge by turning in the book to any ranger!
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There’s lots to do for families on the Boston Harbor Islands. In addition to enjoying nature and the fun ferry rides, kids can fly kites and swim on Spectacle Island. On Georges Island, they can learn about the legend of the Lady in Black or explore the Revolutionary War era fort that became a Civil War prison!
Key Information: Ferry tickets are $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for kids – Some islands have snack carts and concessions – Georges, Spectacle, and Peddocks Islands have bathrooms.
Good To Know: Kids can complete free activity booklets and earn a Junior Ranger badge by turning in the book to any ranger!
Boston has an amazing “little Italy” neighborhood known as North End. Don’t be nervous when you walk into Ristorante Saraceno! You will see white table cloths and glassware, but the owners will treat the kids like family.
The food is delicious and authentic, and to make the dining experience extra special, the staff is always super friendly.
Key Information: Wheelchair Accessible – High chair available- Quiet, so great for little ones taking naps.
Good To Know: Although there is no dedicated kids’ menu, the chef is happy to make any variation you need for the kids.
Living history is a fun way for kids to learn about their country. At the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, you can participate in a town meeting, sneak aboard British sailing ships, and throw real tea into Boston Harbor.
Key Information: $29.95 for adults, $21.95 for kids – Food onsite – Strollers must be parked in designated stroller areas.
Good To Know: You can actually taste the same kind of tea thrown into the harbor at the onsite tea room!
The Plimoth Patuxet Museum is more than a museum– it’s living history! Kids can talk to “pilgrims” (played by reenactors) at the 17th century English Village, explore the Mayflower II, and much more,
Key Information: Tickets start at $32 for adults and $19 for kids – Free parking – Food onsite
Good To Know: The café serves modern favorites and 17th-century classics, and is not to be missed.
Gaze into space at Boston University’s Coit Observatory. Every Wednesday night, starting at 7:30 in the fall and winter and 8:30 in the spring and summer, you and your family can observe the cosmos and see stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies.
Key Information: FREE – Best for kids ages 6 and up – Highly weather dependent
Good To Know: Stargazing is free, but you do need to reserve a spot.
Kids can get creative and build to their hearts’ content at the LEGO Discovery Center. There are rides, incredible sculptures and figures, and lots of interactive fun for kids!
Key Information: Tickets start at $19.99 per person – Food onsite – Wheelchair accessible.
Good To Know: Adults must be accompanied by at least one kid under 17 to enjoy the LEGO Discovery Center – the experience is catered to children.
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Over 600 species live at the New England Aquarium, and one of them is the beloved American “Lobstah.” You can see rare white and blue-colored lobsters, as well as the typical brown lobsters. You can even take a whale watching tour from the aquarium!
Key Information: Adults $32, Kids $23, Kids under 3 FREE – Food On-Site – Fully Accessible & Sensory Inclusive.
Good To Know: Food at the cafe is affordable, and comes with a fabulous view of the harbor!
The Greenway Carousel is inspired by Boston’s wildlife and children’s creativity. Kids and adults can all enjoy a whimsical, enchanting ride together.
Key Information: Tickets $4 – Wheelchair Accessible – Food Nearby – Dogs On-Leash Welcome.
Good To Know: The Greenway Carousel is known as Boston’s most accessible carousel, and features wheelchair accessibility.
Discover the history of the oldest boat commissioned by the U.S Navy. Kids can learn about the life of a typical 1812 sail man, try their hand on knots and even check out the impressive Lego structure on board.
Key information: Free – Bathroom onsite – Security screening is mandatory to go in
Good to know: The tour leaves every half hour and is self guided once you get on board of the boat.
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