Best Boston Tours For Your Next Family Vacation

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Considered to be one of the hottest museums in Boston, this immersive, interactive attraction is a great family-friendly spot for a front-row seat to American history. Become one of the rebellious colonials and throw boxes of British tea into Boston Harbor as you take part in the reenactment of the Boston Tea Party itself! You’ll even be able to see a rare, original tea chest salvaged from the event that birthed the American Revolution. Enjoy 3D films and other fine exhibits then take a respite from all that rabble-rousing and enjoy the view of the Fort Point channel from Abigail’s Tea House.

Old Town Trolley Tours

The longest running, fully-narrated trolley tour of Boston keeps steadily rolling along as the most comprehensive and entertaining way to experience the city. Its unique ‘Hop-on, Hop-off’ feature allows riders to exit and board the trolley at any of its 19 scheduled pick-up/drop-off points distributed around the city. This makes it possible for a more in-depth exploration of favorite points of interest without having to worry about keeping up with a group on a fixed itinerary. With a city so rife with iconic landmarks, museums and attractions, this tour does a superlative job of including a good many of them making it a perfect option for those looking to maximize their time while they’re in town.

Ghosts & Gravestones Tour

For those looking to uncover Boston’s more sinister, creepy past, this tour screams fun! Getting underway by the light of the moon, the Trolley of the Doomed embarks upon a world very seldom seen of restless spirits and wandering souls looking for the doorway to the Other Side. Learn of the legend of the Boston Strangler, the paranormal activity that emanates from the Omni Parker House and the secret past of the Boston Common. This tour is a favorite of “ghost hunters” and aficionados of the supernatural but it’s a scary good time for everyone including families with teen-aged children and older.

Segway Tour of Boston

Putting one leg in front of the other is not the only way to take a stroll around Boston anymore. Ever since the invention of this visionary self-balancing human transporter, the whole walking game has been turned on its head and now everyone can enjoy these technological marvels. At Segway Tours of Boston, you choose between one or two hour tours that will put you in the thick of things with the very best Boston has to offer! Segway your way to the Boston Common and the many historical landmarks in the vicinity! Ride by noteworthy buildings spanning every important architectural era and learn what makes them so special. You’ll even have the opportunity to stride down to the harbor for the most breathtaking vistas of one of America’s most enduring cities.

Legoland Discovery Center

Legos have delighted and stoked the imaginations of generations of children and have earned their spot as one of America’s most recognizable toys. These plastic, multi-colored building blocks certainly have come a long way, enjoying a popular resurgence among today’s kids and their kid-at-heart parents. Imagine a world made entirely of Legos and you’ll get just a hint of what Legoland is all about. Miniature replicas of famous Boston landmarks like Fenway Park and the Bunker Hill Bridge are on display along with interactive rides and exhibits that encourage curiosity and discovery for people of all ages.

New England Aquarium

The oceans come to life at this captivating homage to marine biology and conservation. Since it first opened its doors 50 years ago, the New England Aquarium has been delighting and educating its visitors by putting them in close contact with animal species from all over the world. Come and explore the biggest touch tank on the East Coast and a four-story recreation of a coral reef with a diverse array of marine life from the Caribbean.

Salem Witch Museum

A dark chapter of early American colonial life during the 17th century is examined through exhibits and reenactments at the Salem Witch Museum. Self-righteousness and hysteria overtook Salem and many neighboring towns and cities during the notorious witch trials of 1692 when innocent citizens were accused of witchcraft without the benefit of a fair trial. You can tour different grave sights where the main players of this drama were buried and learn about witch hunting, a cruel practice undertaken usually by members of the clergy or by the religiously fervent that sought to eradicate evil from the world at any and all costs.

Boston City View Bike Tour

With a bike-friendly city like Boston, it’s only fitting one should discover its ins and outs from the backseat of a bicycle. Before you embark on your two-wheeled adventure, all riders are properly equipped with safety helmet, an individually fitted bicycle and ample water for a safe and comfortable experience. Peddle down by the Charles River, bike through many of Boston’s iconic neighborhoods like the North End and follow your guide through busy downtown streets.

Boston Freedom Trail

In the 1950s, the people of Boston wanted to designate a two and a half mile path to their storied history. This path was to show many historically relevant landmarks that featured prominently in the American Revolutionary War, and the Freedom Trail was born. Denoted by contrasting red brick, the trail will take you to 16 different places where some of the most significant events in Colonial Boston occured like The Boston Common, The State House, Park Street Church and Paul Revere’s House to name just a few.

New England Aquarium Whale Watching Tour

638-square-nautical-miles off the Boston coast is the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This is your final destination when you board a whale watching tour from the New England Aquarium. An expert naturalist accompanies you on your three-hour voyage aboard a high-speed catamaran that whisks you away to the prime feeding grounds of varying species of whale. Here, depending on the season, you’ll be able to observe humpback, beluga, pilot and Northern Atlantic Right whales in their natural habitat along with the ocean’s most fearsome predator, the Great White Shark. You’ll also find puffins, dolphins and sea turtles to marvel at on an unforgettable cruise to discover some of the largest species of marine life found in the wild.