Boston Activities and Attractions to Explore with Kids

1. Boston Children’s Museum

Boston Children’s Museum offers an amazing list of fun activities and exhibits for children of all ages and their parents or care-givers. The museum is packed with educational interactive toys and exhibits for children of all ages to enjoy. As you make your way through the various exhibits your children will learn about race and ethnicity (Boston Black exhibit), enjoy digging, climbing and building (Construction Zone) and discover the wonderful world of bubbles (Bubbles exhibit). In addition they can learn about dance and theater at KidStage and have loads of fun at the three-storey New Balance Foundation Climb. The museum also hosts a full program of educational workshops including science and technology and even kindergarten readiness programs.

Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, Phone: 617-426-6500

2. Museum of Science, Boston

Boston’s amazing Museum of Science is certain to keep the entire family engaged and absorbed as you pass from one fascinating exhibit to the next. Your family will see amazing reconstructed life-size dinosaur models as well as examining a genuine 23-foot Triceratops fossil believed to be over 65 million years old.

There are many other wonderful permanent exhibits as well as regularly rotating temporary exhibitions to interest all ages. In the IMAX theatre children can experience the wonder of other worlds on the immense five-story tall domed screen, while the Planetarium offers regular Friday and Saturday evening immersive astronomy activities.

Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114, Phone: 617-723-2500, Map

3. The New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium is a must-see attraction for families visiting Boston. The multi-faceted facility is fun to explore at your own pace and will fascinate children of all ages.

There are so many wonderful marine exhibits for your family to explore that it is impossible to mention them all; however, some of the most popular highlights include the four-storey Giant Ocean Tank (which contains Caribbean coral teeming with over 1,000 marine animals), the Science of Sharks exhibit and the Atlantic Harbor Seals exhibit. Children can experience what sea creatures feel like at the Edge of the Sea Touch Tank and the Shark and Ray Touch Tank. The aquarium also offers fully immersive behind-the-scenes animal encounters – see their website for more details.

The New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, Phone: 617-973-5200, Map

4. Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market

Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market is a must-see attraction for all visitors to Boston. Not only is this it of the world’s most historic retail locations but it also offers a wide variety of shopping, eating and entertainment for all members of your family. Inside the marketplace you will find a unique mix of retailers both big and small with an emphasis on dealers selling locally produced crafts. You can shop for exotic foods at the Quincy Market, enjoy a snack or drink from one of the many bars and restaurants and spend some time watching a variety of street performers who will keep the children amused for hours.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market, 4 S Market Street, Boston, MA 02109, Phone: 716-523-1300

5. USS Constitution Museum

Paying a visit to the USS Constitution Museum (and the USS Constitution ship, which is operated separately from the museum) is a popular outing for families visiting Boston. Children will enjoy the many hands-on exhibits in the museum including trying their hands at firing a canon, constructing a miniature of the Constitution, dressing up in sailor’s clothes, trying out a hammock and scrubbing the deck. Parents and older children will enjoy exploring the very extensive collection of artifacts from the original ship which served in the War of 1812. After touring the museum you can take a free tour of the ship (provided visitors over 18 years can provide valid state or federal ID).

USS Constitution Museum and Ship, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA 02129, Phone: 617-426-1812

6. Boston’s Freedom Trail, Boston

Exploring Boston’s famous Freedom Trail is a must-do activity for any visitor to Boston, providing a memorable history experience for the whole family. You can explore the trail at your own pace on a self-guided tour with a guide book or audio guide or really bring the history of America’s fights for Independence to life for your family by joining one of the many guided tours available. Your tour will be conducted by a costumed docent and will include sixteen historically significant sites. The full trail covers about 2.5 miles and you will probably need a stroller for younger children. Tours start at the Boston Common Visitor’s Information Center.

Boston’s Freedom Trail, Boston Common Visitor’s Information Center, 139 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111

7. The Harvard Museum of Natural History

The Harvard Museum of Natural History offers a fascinating day out for children of all ages. Here you will see wonderful examples of wildlife from far-away continents as you pass through the Africa, South American and Asia exhibits, and a multitude of colorful birds in the Birds of the World gallery. Your children can learn about evolution, climate change, marine and microbial life and dinosaurs. In addition you can admire the wonderful Rockerfeller Beetle Collection and the beautiful collection of Blaschka Glass Flowers. The museum also offers regular children’s programs – you can check their website for details. If you have high-school children in the family you should consider a student-led tour of the Harvard Campus while you are in the area.

The Harvard Museum of Natural History , 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, Phone: 617-495-3045

8. Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

If you are wondering how to combine a history lesson with loads of fun you need look no further than the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum . An interactive tour of the ships and museum, led by an enthusiastic costumed guide, will bring the history of the famous Boston Tea Party to life for both adults and children. Tours take around an hour and you and the family will learn all about the momentous 1773 event which entirely changed the course of history in America. Your fun experience will include exploring the replica ships, dumping some “tea” and watching the award winning “Let it Begin Here” short film in the multi-sensory theater which explains the events which led to the start of the American Revolution in 1775.

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum , 306 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, Phone: 866-955-0667

9. Franklin Park Zoo

A family visit to the zoo is always a good idea. At Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo each and every member of the family will have a great outing as they meet and admire a huge selection of animals from all over the world.

The (seasonal) Aussie Aviary is a great hit with younger children who can hand-feed the colorful collection of budgies. Little visitors will also love exploring the Children’s Zoo where they can play alongside red pandas and other interesting animals and reptiles. A few of the zoo’s highlights include the Tiger Tales Exhibit, the Giraffe Savannah and the Tropical Rainforest where you can meet hippos, primates and more. The zoo also features an enormous playground for younger children.

Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd, Boston, MA 02121, Phone: 716-541-5466, Map

10. The Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships - Boston Harbor Tall Ship Sailing

For a unique and exciting family outing you can book a cruise of Boston Harbor on one of the Liberty Fleet Tall Ships. The Liberty Fleet ships are modern vessels which have been built to exactly resemble the working ships of the 18th and 19th centuries – children will have the time of their lives reliving historic swashbuckling days at sea. Your harbor cruise will take between 90 to 150 minutes, depending on the prevailing wind conditions on the day, which will also determine your course - you could visit the historic North End or Charlestown, or head out to view the picturesque Boston Harbor Islands and Fort Independence.

The Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships, 67 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, Phone: 617-742-0333, Map