10 Things to Do with Your Family in Boston

The Museum of Science is an interactive museum dedicated to educating the public on the importance of science and technology in our everyday lives. This massive museum can easily make you lose track of time with its countless captivating exhibits and facilities.

For kids, the Discovery Center and the Live Animal Care Center are must-sees. For activities that the whole family will enjoy, visit the Planetarium, where kids and adults can marvel at the stars and planets in an immersive experience. Other noteworthy activities are the interactive playground in Science in the Park and the Soundstair, which allows visitors to play music with their feet.

The New England Aquarium is a fascinating exhibit of the world’s amazing sea animals. Its breathtaking centrepiece is the enormous 200,000-gallon (757,000-liter) salt-water tank, containing a replica of a Caribbean coral reef. It stands 4 stories tall and is alive with eels, barracuda, huge sea turtles and cownose rays. Children will be fascinated by the display of wildlife, often bringing their faces close to the tank to admire their beauty.

Other exhibits include the touch tank, where kids can get up close to cownose rays, Atlantic rays and epaulette sharks. The impressive Simons Theatre showcases thrilling films on the ocean.

The Rose Kennedy Greenway is considered a hidden treasure within the hustle and bustle of Boston. Sat atop a highway tunnel in Downtown Boston, this roof garden snakes its way through the heart of the city. The park is linear, with a carousel, lawns and rows of trees and flowers for you to nestle yourself among.

On Saturdays, it holds a sizeable craft fair. In summer, the Greenway turns into an urban amusement park as local families and tourists spread themselves out across the grounds. Make use of the shooting water fountains for a little relief from the summer heat.

The Swan Boats at the Boston Public Garden are a famed attraction for all tourists who visit the city. Lasting about 10 to 15 minutes, the boat ride takes you around the garden’s pond, swimming alongside swarms of swans and ducks, who appear undisturbed. The boat ride will especially appeal to children who have read Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings, as each boat circles the island mentioned in the book.

Parents can take in the relaxing atmosphere of the gardens as kids admire the animals on the pond. The attraction is particularly gorgeous during the spring and summer months, when the garden is blooming with colour and as idyllic as ever.

The Boston Children’s Museum is one of the oldest of its kind in the country. However, its age does not mean its quality has faltered. Impressively maintained, the museum remains a must-visit for both tourists and locals as it boasts an immersive hands-on experience for kids, who can learn about science in different interactive settings.

The main highlights include the Science Playground, which features a giant soap bubble-making tool and the New Balance Climb, where kids can learn about the laws of physics through navigating a 2-storey-high maze. As you make your way to the museum, get your kids to look out for the giant milk bottle looming in front of the museum, a good way to get them excited.

The Children’s Library at Boston Public Library is a haven for all young bookworms out there. The library holds an extensive collection of fiction and non-fiction books. Located in the Boylston Street Building, kids can grab a book and sit among the plush chairs and cushions alongside the bay windows.

The Library is adorned with whimsical decorations and brightly coloured walls, which have been carefully implemented to stimulate your kid’s senses and imagination. It makes a nice break for the family before or after touring the famous Public Library, though children must be supervised at all times.

The Boston Duck Tours take you and your family across the city on land and on the Charles River. The tour is an exciting and quick way to see the main sights of Boston and is especially pleasant on a hot summer day.

The 80-minute tour is led by a highly informed guide, often with a quirky, duck-themed name, who details the history, architecture and culture of Boston. Children will be kept entertained by the antics of the enthusiastic guides and parents can relax and enjoy the cool river breeze. Some lucky kids are even let into the captain’s cockpit.

Castle Island is a beloved destination in the spring and summer when tourists flock here to enjoy the sunshine and lie on the beach. This waterfront park is slightly off the beaten path in South Boston, but it’s definitely worth the visit, with plenty of open green space, the popular Pleasure Bay Beach, and free tours of Fort Independence.

Airplane-lovers can spend hours watching planes taking off from Logan Airport. The beach, which lies right on the shore of the harbour, is often frequented by windsurfers during the summer. A must-do is the 2-mile (3.2-km) loop from Castle Island to Head Island and around Pleasure Bay. Pop into Sullivan’s to try Boston’s famous fried clams. 

Franklin Park and Zoo both offer facilities that will keep the kids busy for days on end. Franklin Park boasts natural beauty and a plethora of playground options. Older kids can scale walls at the El Parquecito Playground, where there is rock climbing as well as zip lining and water play. Meanwhile, younger kids can spend their time at the Tiffany Moore playground area.

The Franklin Zoo is worth visiting at any time of year as staff maintain the facilities superbly throughout all seasons. An interactive exhibit named Nature’s Neighborhood immerses you and your family in a world of nature and adventure, letting your imaginations run wild.

Boston Seasons at City Hall Plaza is decked with a series of custom patios and pavilions adorned with quaint fairy lights and rows of green shrubbery. Upon these patios, you can find beer gardens, a mobile library, ice cream stalls, a miniature golf course and even stalls that allow you to play with puppies.

The Plaza is a lovely place to visit if parents want to relax while not worrying if their kids are having fun, because they almost certainly are. Food trucks offer delicious food and rotate every day. Boston Seasons is a seasonal marketplace that functions throughout the spring and summer months. Check the website for more details on dates, as well as food information.