Things to Do in Boston With Kids: Boston Children’s Museum, Science Museum Boston & More Fun Kids Activities

15 Ways to Have a Fun Vacation with the Kids in Boston

Boston may just be the perfect place to take the kids. Whether you come here for a long weekend or an extended stay (five to seven days are easy to fill), New England’s largest city and the heart of the American Revolution offers umpteen (that’s a lot) things to do, places to see, and unique opportunities for the entire family.

From kid-friendly museums to sporting events, boat rides to incredible foods like lobster (lobsta), chowder (chowda), and the best-ever fish and chips, plus historical sites galore, Boston is unlike any other American city. And that’s a good thing!

This is one of the best places in the country to bring your kids. Just check out our list below of the best that Boston has to offer for families with kids, or adults who are thrilled to be traveling without them!

With so many incredible kid-friendly things to do in Boston, the list is presented alphabetically.

Beacon Hill Books and Cafe

A family vacation to Boston offers a wide variety of things to do and walking in its historic and picturesque neighborhoods is one of our favorites. Beacon Hill lies close to Boston Common and the Massachusetts State House and, since 1795 has been where many famous Bostonians have resided in Victorian and brick townhouses that line the steep streets. It’s no wonder that Beacon Hill Books & Café is located here, as it fits perfectly into this wonderful neighborhood.

If you are planning a Beacon Hill stroll, be sure to allow time to visit this charming neighborhood mainstay. While mom and dad may be most interested in taking some time to relax with a bite to eat or a hot beverage, do not miss the warm and cozy Children’s Corner that will surely draw your kids in with its comfortable furnishings and magnificently displayed collection of books.

Boston Children's Museum

With three floors of interactive exhibits that everyone will enjoy this museum is ideal for families with youngsters who will especially appreciate the dozens of hands-on activities. Located on Children’s Wharf just across from downtown and adjacent to the Seaport neighborhood, this is an incredible opportunity for kids to continue learning while on vacation. Put this high on your list of the best things to do in Boston with kids, especially during late fall and through the winter when you may require more indoors time.

Boston Common

The starting point for the Freedom Trail is also the oldest public park in the U.S. With the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House towering over the park, any time of year offers things to enjoy at this special place. The 50-acre park, established in 1634, is bounded by five major streets: Tremont, Park, Beacon, Charles, and Boylston.

You’ll find the official Boston Visitor’s Center on the Tremont Street side of the park. Centrally located is the Frog Pond which offers a carousel ride and splash pool during the sizzling summer months, becomes a reflecting pond in the spring and fall, and during winter is home to an ice skating rink. Family fun can be had with skate rentals available from mid-November to March.

Boston Duck Tours

With departure points at the “Pru” (Prudential Center), the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium, it’s easy to include these fun land and sea tours a part of your family’s Boston vacation. The amphibious tour bus/sightseeing boat takes guests all around town by land and sea (Charles River) to the most famous sites, and there’s a “conDUCKtor” aboard who provides interesting insights into each one. Learn about Boston’s neighborhoods and the crucial part the city played in the American Revolution while relaxing aboard this unique World War II-style vehicle. Tours are available throughout each day from spring through Thanksgiving weekend.

Boston Harbor Cruises

With its prime location on the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S., boating and the City of Boston go hand-in-hand. From Boston Harbor to the Atlantic Ocean takes no time at all, so it’s no surprise that there are numerous water-based tours for sightseeing and seasonal whale watching. Depending on the time of day you choose there are also brunch, lunch, dinner, music, and sunset cruises on several types of vessels. Popular cruise lines include City Experiences, Classic Harbor Line which offers motorized and large sailboat excursions, Massachusetts Bay Lines, and Liberty Fleet which is known for their tall sailing ships.

Boston Public Garden

Established in 1837 as the first public botanical garden in the United States, this beautiful facility is located adjacent to Boston Common making several hours of outdoors activities a reality in the heart of the city. From lush gardens with more than 80 species of plants to monuments, fountains, and the famous Swan Boats that have operated here for more than 100 years, the Boston Public Garden is another free option for families with kids, especially during the warm weather months.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

When was the last time you visited a floating museum? If this is your first time, you’ve picked a good one right here in Boston Harbor. Step back in time to Colonial days through multimedia exhibits and live reenactments, including tossing tea crates overboard from the full-scale 18th century sailing vessels. Your timed admission ticket includes a guided tour through the museum that takes an hour or slightly longer. This is a fun and educational museum where your kids will learn about the Boston Tea Party that lit the fuse of the American Revolution. And yes, Abigail’s Tearoom is here for your enjoyment, too.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace & Quincy Market

Shopping, dining, and history are all combined here in the heart of historic Boston. Since 1742 Faneuil Hall has been known as the “The Cradle of Liberty”, the ideal central meeting place in the heart of Boston. Today, as it was nearly 300 years ago, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Marketplace is a vibrant and fun part of this great city all day long, and late into the evening. You’ll find every imaginable type of food here, and you get to choose whether you want something quick while on the go, or if you prefer to sit, relax, and take in the incredible people-watching, street performers, and the all-around vibe.

Home to more than 80 retailers, the 200,000-square-foot buildings that comprise the marketplace feature national and local brands that make for a fun shopping experience. As for food, if are looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a snack, the options are incredibly diverse. Seafood (of course), Italian, Asian, American, Irish, Mexican, coffee/tea, bakeries, candy, ice cream, popcorn, vegan/vegetarian, pizza, poke bowls, organic, smoothies, and…. well, you get it. It’s all here. Each family member can choose what they want, and everyone will be happy.

Fenway Park

You don’t have to be a Red Sox or even a baseball fan to enjoy the one-hour tour of Fenway that is available year-round. The oldest Major League Baseball stadium opened in 1912 and is still an incredible venue to experience. Just watching a game with the imposing Green Monster in left field and Pesky’s Pole in right will ensure a fantastic family outing that you won’t ever forget.

Freedom Trail

Discover early American history as you walk this 2.5-mile path that is designated by a painted red line from start to finish. You won’t get lost, but you will get smarter as you visit 16 significant spots along the route that begins in Boston Common and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument in the Charlestown neighborhood.

Highlights include the Granary Burial Ground, King’s Chapel and Burial Ground, Boston Latin School – opened in 1635 and the oldest public school in America, Old South Meeting House, Boston Massacre Site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, and the USS Constitution.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Kids of all ages including Mom, Dad, and grandparents will be fascinated on this highly regarded museum located on the famed university’s Cambridge campus. Ride to Red Line of the “T” to Harvard Square and you’ll be here in no time. Popular exhibits include dinosaur skeletons, Climate Change, Asia, Africa, Birds of the World, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Evolution, Swimming with Sharks, Great Mammal Hall, and New England Forests. You can easily spend hours here without the kids getting bored or antsy.

Museum of Science

Established in 1830, more than 1.5 million visitors enter the doors of the “MoS” annually. With more than 100 animals calling the indoor zoological park home, this is a unique facility combination of a nature and science museum. Occupying a plot of land that is partially in Boston as well as Cambridge that also includes the Charles River, the Museum of Science offers more than 700 interactive exhibits, daily live presentations, and scheduled films at the Charles Hayden Planetarium (yes, the Hayden Planetarium in New York is also named for him.) and the Mugar Omni Theater, the only domed IMAX theater in New England.

Among the most popular exhibits are those focusing on the earth, math, cosmic light, artificial intelligence (AI), human life, the Arctic, fossils, and dinosaurs. There is plenty here for hours of fun and education for kids of any age, with the movie presentations being exceedingly popular.

New England Aquarium

Committed to protecting our planet’s waters which cover 71 percent of the globe, this amazing facility is home to creatures that your kids, and you, likely wouldn’t see any other way in your lifetime. From the African Penguin to the Dwarf Seahorse, the Epaulette Shark to the Giant Pacific Octopus and Red-bellied Piranha, the aquarium is another must-see for families traveling to Boston with the kids. The giant four-story ocean tank with 200,000 gallons of salt water is filled with eels, barracuda, sea turtles, and hundreds of spectacularly beautiful fish, and there’s even an outdoor area that the penguins and sea lions call home. Interactive displays include a shark and ray touch tank, and the Giant Grouper and Green Sea Turtles living here will no doubt amaze the entire family.

TD Garden

Sports fans visiting Boston during the October through April time period may want to consider attending a Boston Celtics (NBA) basketball game or a Boston Bruins (NHL) hockey game. Built atop North Station makes it easy to get here by train or the “T”, and the 19,580-seat arena really rocks when the home team is doing well. TD within walking distance of many downtown hotels, or a short ride from other areas of the city or Cambridge via Uber or Lyft.

This is also the place for concerts year-round, so maybe one of your kids’ big-name favorites will be performing when you’re in town. Taylor Swift, are you listening?

USS Constitution Museum

“Old Ironsides”, the oldest commissioned naval ship still afloat in the world maintains its residence at Boston’s historic Charlestown Navy Yard. The ship played an integral role in the War of 1812 and continues to fascinate visitors to this day. Kids in particular enjoy the firsthand opportunities offered to guests. Learn about the ship’s history as well as about the sailors who have served aboard the Constitution. The museum presents fascinating displays of historic artifacts, stimulating interactive displays, as well as exhibits that consistently captivate kids and their families.

Note: The USS Constitution does not have a physical street address, so enter the Nautica Parking Garage at 88 Constitution Road into your smartphone as your desired destination.

Family Fun in Boston is Easy to Find.

If just the thought of packing up the family for a week at Disney World gives you chills, you aren’t alone. The good news is there’s no need to spend a small fortune for flights, a rental car, over-the-top park admissions, and overpriced meals, when you can travel instead to Boston. While it doesn’t offer an amusement park, cartoon characters, expansive pools and nearby beaches, Boston can easily be just as much fun, or even more, for your entire family.

As you can see from the list above, there is so much family fun to have in Boston that you may want to plan a return trip before the kids move out. Or you may plan an adults-only escape to Bean Town to take in some of the attractions that aren’t of interest to the kids, such as spending a few hours at the Museum of Fine Arts, or savoring a romantic dinner in the North End at Mama Maria. But, for the time being, toddlers, pre-teens, teens, and their parents will all find plenty to enjoy in this amazing American city.

If Boston is sounding like the right place for your family to explore, and it should, let us assist you with deciding where to stay. Our go-to hotel website in recent years has been Travelated which we love because of its enormous selection of properties in all price categories. No matter where in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, or any other suburb you may choose to stay, Travelated will have the right property for you, at a price that works for your family. From major hotel brands including Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Westin, Hyatt, and others, to local or regional properties that are only in Boston or New England, Travelated has what you’re looking for.