What to See and Do in Boston with Kids

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly city, Boston is definitely one of the best options. The Massachusetts capital is packed with family-friendly attractions, offering endless opportunities for kids to have fun. Many museums are designed with children in mind, or are even entirely dedicated to them.

We’ve selected the most interesting spots to answer the question: what to see and do in Boston with kids.

Fun Things to Do in Boston with Kids: Amusement Parks

• Kings Bowling Alley

16 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, stylish graphics, customized displays with your name, and automatic scoring—perfect for a family challenge.

• LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Somerville

Interactive scenarios plunge children into a world where imagination runs wild: from adventure rides like Kingdom Quest to workshops and recreations of Boston’s most famous buildings. Located in Somerville, right next to Cambridge and easily accessible via the Orange Line. It’s pure fun for all ages. Somerville is known as one of the best communities for young people: a lively area full of festivals, attractions, and history.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center at Assembly Row (a hotspot for entertainment, cinemas, shopping, and dining) is the world’s largest, and the sixth to open in the USA. In January 2014, LEGO launched a contest at the Boston Public Library to find Boston’s top LEGO builder. Ian Coffey won among a hundred contestants and is now the resident Master Model Builder at the Somerville shop. LEGOLAND has recreated a stunning Boston at the Discovery Center using 3 million LEGO bricks. Visit MINILAND to discover the city’s iconic sights, historic buildings, and Boston’s treasures—all brought to life with interactive displays, touch screens, and sound effects. Watch the LEGO characters explore the city! Spot Fenway Park, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, the Leonard Zakim Bridge, and the TD Bank North Garden stadium, home to the Celtics and Bruins, plus the Boston Waterfront.

LEGOLAND also offers plenty of other activities for families with kids aged 3 to 10: two LEGO rides, a 4D cinema, a large play area, and the Model Builder Academy, where experts share tips on building with LEGO. Open daily from 10 am. Plan for at least 2–3 hours to experience LEGOLAND—but keep in mind, adults must be accompanied by at least one child to enter!

• SKYWALK OBSERVATORY

Located atop the Prudential Tower, the Skywalk offers breathtaking 360° views over the city. With the Antenna Audio Tour, you can listen to fascinating historical and cultural facts about Boston.
Update from 2023: The Skywalk Observatory no longer exists. It’s now replaced by View Boston.

• 5 WITS, Foxboro

This attraction is all about adventure: sound effects, action, and fun. Live-action escapades put kids and adults in the heart of realistic and challenging missions—like battling giant octopuses or saving the world. 

• Rock Spot Climbing

Climbing is the perfect activity for energetic kids of all ages. Enjoyable climbing walls with guaranteed fun.

Must-See Museums in Boston with Kids

Discover how technology, science, and engineering become fascinating topics for kids and teens. There’s a planetarium and large-format films at the Mugar Omni Theater. Don’t miss the Science Behind Pixar exhibit for an insider’s look at the creativity and technology behind Pixar’s beloved animated movies. This interactive exhibit introduces key concepts in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), used by Pixar’s computer artists and scientists to make award-winning films. Experience Pixar favorites like Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode, and WALL•E up close! This unique exhibit is thanks to a partnership between the Museum of Science, Boston and Pixar Animation Studios.

See over 15,000 sea creatures and marine mammals. The giant tank contains 700,000 liters of water, from coral and sharks to dazzling fish. Get close to rays and sharks, enjoy a sea lion show, and watch 3D movies at the IMAX theater. Don’t miss the “Trainer-for-an-afternoon” program—meet Myrtle the sea turtle, Reggae the seal, and sea lions Guthrie and Ballou. The experience is suitable for every visitor aged six and up. Led by a professional trainer, you’ll learn animal facts and tricks, but the actual interaction with the animals is the highlight.

Explore interactive exhibits where kids can visit a Japanese house, act in a theater, or build models. The 12-meter-tall Hood’s Milk Bottle next to the Boston Children’s Museum is a classic local landmark recalling the British tradition of fresh milk delivered daily. Built by Hood Dairy in 1930 entirely of wood, today it hosts an ice cream stand and snack bar open during summer months. Tables and chairs are set up outdoors for relaxing breaks. Fun fact: you’d need 189,500 liters of milk to fill the bottle!

• Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Brookline

Just outside Boston, the museum sits in the 25-hectare Larz Anderson Park and offers self-guided tours of permanent exhibits as well as fun during 27 outdoor events on the lawns—perfect for a picnic or a treasure hunt for kids. In winter, there’s ice skating and sledding.

• Boston National Historical Park

Discover the stories and the Navy history that led to the American Revolution. Take a 60-minute walking tour (led by a Ranger) from Charlestown Navy Yard, Bunker Hill Monument, the downtown visitor center, and Faneuil Hall. Kids can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet—and once they’ve completed it, they’ll receive a Master Junior Ranger certificate!

Tickets for all Boston family attractions can also be purchased online.

Things to Do in Boston with Kids: Getting Around the City

Let’s begin with some of Boston’s best spots for family fun. Here are a few great things to do in Boston with children:

• Public Gardens

Take a picture with Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack. Enjoy a ride on the Swan Boats across the pond, then pick up a copy of Robert McCloskey’s “Make Way for Ducklings” to read to your kids at bedtime!

• Boston Duck Tour

See the city aboard a “Duck”—an amphibious vehicle that travels on both land and water. Kids can drive the Duck along the river, guided by the “ConDUCKtors.” The tour lasts around 60 minutes on land and 20 minutes on the water, making it a fantastic way to get an overview of Boston—with kids loving every minute. You can board at the Museum of Science (1 Science Park, Boston, MA), Prudential Center (53 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA), or New England Aquarium (Central Wharf, Boston, MA). Tip: Arrive early at your chosen departure point so you have some time to explore before boarding.

• Codzilla

Adrenaline, laughter, and speed racing across the ocean at over 60 km/h. Hold on tight and enjoy 40 minutes of high-energy fun, cool breezes, waves, and music—it’s a unique and unforgettable ride!

• Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Food court with more than 50 food vendors, offering everything from pizza and clam chowder to hot dogs and lobster rolls. Grab a meal at the indoor tables or relax outside on a bench. In the warm months, the square comes alive with street artists, magicians, jugglers, and clowns.

Things to Do in Boston with Kids: Parks

• Boston Public Garden

Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings. In 1987, Boston Public Garden commissioned sculptor Nancy Schon to create the “Mallard and her eight ducklings” sculpture. The artwork depicts a duck and her eight ducklings—Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack Ouack, Pack, and Quack—honoring a true Boston tale celebrated annually at the vibrant festival Make Way for Ducklings. The story goes: once upon a time, a family of ducks lived on an island in the Charles River. One day, eight ducklings hatched and Mr. and Mrs. Mallard set out to find a better home for them. With help from local police who stopped traffic, the Mallard family crossed Charles Street to their new home in the Public Garden. Schon’s sculpture remains a favorite for Boston’s children, who love to climb and play with the charming ducks.

• Whale Watching from the Waterfront pier 

Set off on a 4-hour cruise to see the world’s largest whales in their natural habitat—a must-do for families! 

• Captain Bille and Sons Whale Watch

North of Boston, enjoy a marine adventure aboard Captain Bille and Sons Whale Watch ships—a 3-hour cruise perfect for spotting whales up close.

• Boston Harbor Islands National Park

Take a trip to the more than thirty islands in the city’s bay—a green escape with historic colonial sites and the oldest lighthouse in America. Six islands can be reached via seasonal ferries from Long Wharf North, Boston’s main jetty, offering the largest outdoor recreation area in eastern Massachusetts. There are lots of programs for kids, run daily from late June through early September. 

Tickets for all Boston family attractions can also be purchased online.