Family Things to Do in Boston
When it comes to incredible history, top cultural attractions, art, eats and even outdoor fun, Boston has more than its fair share. And if you’re traveling to this historic city with the kids, there’s plenty to do and see that will make their experience (and yours) unforgettable.
Walk Like a Penguin
Head over to the New England Aquarium for an underwater adventure without getting wet. Your kids will enjoy meeting the penguins, holding sea critters in their hands and discovering tons of fascinating facts about the many sea animals they’ll encounter at this top Boston attraction.
Visit Kyoto, Japan
At the Boston Children’s Museum, you and your children can engage in a wide array of fun, educational and enlightening exhibits and programs, including the Japanese House, an authentic two-story silk merchant’s home from Kyoto, Japan. There’s also the Bubbles exhibit, the Art Studio (where kids and families can make art together) and the construction zone (where they’ll ride a Bobcat, operate a jackhammer and use ramps, bridges and tunnels to build a world). Hours of adventure and engaging activities await you at the long-loved Boston museum.
Pet a Sheep
Everyone loves adorable sheep and at the Franklin Park Zoo your kids will get a chance to pet them along with the goats that live in the petting zoo. They’ll also get a kick out of seeing lions, gorillas, giraffes, zebras, tigers and the hundreds of other species that call the zoo their home. The kids can also get wild and crazy at the zoo’s 10,000 square foot playground and feel the exhilaration of the Rhino Rescue Ride, an interactive experience that includes a 3D film, motion simulator seats and awesome special effects.
Ride a Swan
If it’s spring or summer, take the kids to the Boston Public Garden for a ride on the world-famous Swan Boats. These beautiful bird-shaped boats have been delighting people of all ages for centuries and offer a fun way to enjoy all the beauty of the botanical gardens.
See a T-Rex
The Museum of Science in Boston offers visitors of all ages a chance to see a T-Rex and other colossal fossils up close and to learn about many fascinating scientific discoveries. There are dozens of interactive exhibits, a planetarium and an IMAX Theater as well. Check out the Catching the Wind (learn about how turbines turn wind into energy), the Cosmic Light (discover amazing things about our galaxy) and Energized (Learn about how wind, moving water and other resources generate energy) and much more.
Throw Tea Overboard Like the Sons of Liberty
At the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, you and the family will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the Boston Tea Party because you’ll be thrown into the action. This multi-sensory museum offers you all a chance to march alongside the patriots and throw tea overboard just as they did centuries ago. You’ll walk through an authentically restored tea ship, see one of the only two tea chests left in existence and experience holographic technology that will transport you back to colonial Boston. Be sure to stop in for a spot of tea and a scone in Abigail’s Tea Room.
