What to see and do in Boston with children

If you are looking for a child-friendly city, Boston is certainly one of them. The capital of Massachusetts, in the United States, offers many places of attractions for families and children. Fun is guaranteed at various points of interest, and even the museums are often kids-friendly or even designed for the little ones.

We went in search of the most interesting places that answer the question: what to see in Boston with children and what to do.

What to do in Boston with children: amusement parks

• Kings Bowling Alley

16 state-of-the-art lanes, cool graphics, customization with the name for each lane, and automatic scoring.

• LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Somerville

Interactive scenarios to immerse children in a world where imagination runs wild; activities, playground, and workshops: from the Kingdom Quest race to the recreation of the most famous buildings of Boston. In Somerville, a neighborhood near Cambridge and well connected by the Orange Line subway. It’s pure fun for everyone. Somerville is one of the best communities for young people, with a healthy quality of life; full of festivals, diverse and historic attractions.

LegoLand Discovery Center at Assembly Row (a paradise of entertainment, cinema, shopping, restaurants) is the largest in the world, the sixth to open in the USA. It all started with a competition that Lego launched at the Boston Public Library in January 2014 with the aim of identifying the best Lego builder. Among the hundred participants, Ian Coffey ranked first and was immediately hired as Master Model Builder at the Somerville shop. Legoland built an impeccable Boston at the Discovery Center with 3 million Lego bricks. At MINILAND, in fact, you discover the iconic city attractions, the historic buildings treasured by the city: everything comes to life with interactive systems, touch screens, and sound effects. You admire the LEGO population exploring the city! There is the famous baseball stadium Fenway Park; there is Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market; The Leonard Zakim Bridge with the TD Bank North Garden stadium of the Celtics and the Bruins; there is the Boston Waterfront.

Legoland also has other attractions ideal for families with children aged 3 to 10: 2 LEGO rides, 4D cinema, a large play area, a Model Builder Academy to learn from experts every tip for building buildings with LEGO. Open every day from 10 in the morning. To visit Legoland you need at least 2/3 hours, but adults must be accompanied by at least 1 child to enter!

• SKYWALK OBSERVATORY

On the Prudential skyscraper, the Skywalk dominates the spectacular 360° view of the city. With Antenna Audio Tour, hearing is sharpened to listen to descriptive explanations of some aspects of the city, historical and cultural.
Update from 2023: Skywalk Observatory no longer exists. In its place, View Boston.

• 5 WIITS, Foxboro

This attraction is adventure: sounds and action with lots of fun. Live-action for children and adults in a realistic adventure full of challenges, against giant octopuses or to save the world.

• Rock Spot Climbing

Climbing is the perfect activity for energetic children of all ages. Guaranteed fun on the climbing walls.

Что посмотреть в Бостоне с детьми: музеи

Он делает технологию, науку и инженерию интересными и способными привлечь внимание детей и подростков; также доступен планетарий или фильмы на большом экране в Mugar Omni Theater. Интересна выставкаScience Behind Pixar, первый взгляд на процесс Pixar, связанный с наукой и технологией, которые поддерживают один из самых любимых анимационных фильмов и персонажей в мире. Интерактивная выставка представляет концепции науки, технологий, инженерии и математики (STEM), используемые художниками и учеными-компьютерщиками, которые помогают воплотить на экране отмеченные наградами фильмы Pixar. Опыт личного знакомства с любимыми персонажами Pixar: Базз Лайтер, Дори, Майк и Салли, Эдна Мод и ВАЛЛ•И! Выставка создана благодаря сотрудничеству Музея науки в Бостоне и Pixar Animation Studios.

Более 15 000 рыб и морских млекопитающих. Гигантский резервуар с 700 000 литров воды с кораллами, скатами и другими существами. Аквариум с скатами и акулами, шоу с морскими львами, театр IMAX с 3D фильмами. Также программа «Trainer-for-an-afternoon»: встреча с морской черепахой Myrtle, тюленем Reggae, морскими львами Guthrie и Ballou. Опыт для посетителей всех возрастов, начиная с 6 лет. Тренер сопровождает небольшие группы, рассказывая трюки и любопытные факты, но взаимодействие с животными — самая захватывающая часть.

Интерактивные выставки, благодаря которым дети могут посетить японский дом, играть в театре или попробовать построить здание. Бутылка молока (Hood’s Milk Bottle) высотой 12 метров напоминает типично англосаксонскую традицию свежего молока каждое утро у двери дома. Она величественно стоит рядом с Детским музеем Бостона и представляет собой полностью деревянную конструкцию, построенную Hood Dairy в 1930 году. Сейчас здесь работает киоск с мороженым и снек-бар, открытые летом. На улице есть столики и стулья для отдыха посетителей. Любопытный факт: чтобы наполнить бутылку, потребуется целых 189 500 литров молока.

• Музей автомобилей Ларза Андерсона, Бруклайн

Недалеко от Бостона, на территории в 25 гектаров парка Ларза Андерсона, музей предлагает индивидуальные туры по постоянным выставкам и развлечения с 27 мероприятиями на открытом воздухе на лужайках, исследование парка и отличный пикник. Охота за сокровищами для детей. Зимой можно кататься на коньках или на санках.

• Национальный исторический парк Бостона

История событий и Флота, которые привели к Американской революции. Исторические места с пешеходным туром длительностью 60 минут под руководством Рейнджера каждый день от Charlestown Navy Yard, Bunker Hill Monument, с центра для посетителей в центре города и Faneuil Hall. Детям выдаётся книжка Junior Ranger, и после её заполнения ребёнок получает диплом Master Junior Ranger!

Билеты на все семейные достопримечательности Бостона доступны также онлайн.

What to do in Boston with kids: city tour

Let’s start with the city’s entertainment spots. There are several points of interest and things to do with children in Boston. Here are some.

• Public Gardens

Pose with the statue of Mrs. Mallard and her 8 ducklings, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack. Take a Swan Boat ride on the pond; then buy Robert McCloskey’s book “Make Way for Ducklings,” to read to children before they fall asleep!

• Boston Duck Tour

City tour with the Duck, an amphibious vehicle that goes on both land and water. The “ConDUCKtors” allow children to drive the vehicle on the river. The Duck is an amphibious vehicle that takes passengers on a tour with a total ride of 60 minutes on land and 20 minutes in water. It’s a great way to get an initial look at Boston and children especially love it. You can board at three locations: Museum of Science (1 Science Park, Boston, MA); Prudential Center (53 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA); New England Aquarium (Central Wharf, Boston, MA). Tip: arrive early at the departure point to spend some time before boarding.

• Codzilla

Adrenaline, laughter, and speed, zigzagging in the ocean at over 60 km/h. Don’t be scared: it’s exhilarating, kissed by breezes and music, with waves crashing during the 40-minute sensational and fun ride.

• Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Food court with over 50 food stalls, from pizza to clam chowder, from hot dogs to lobster rolls. Sit at the indoor tables or outside on a bench. In the warm months, the square is filled with street artists, magicians, jugglers, and clowns.

What to do in Boston with children: the parks

• Boston Public Garden

Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings. In 1987 the Boston Public Garden commissioned the sculptor Nancy Schon to create the work “Mallard, and her eight ducklings.” The sculpture depicts a duck and her eight ducklings – Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack – and recalls a true Boston story evoked every year in the festive and colorful event Make Way for Ducklings. Once upon a time, one might say, there was a family of ducks living on an island in the middle of the Charles River. One fine day, eight lovely ducklings were born and Mr. and Mrs. Mallard decided to find a better place to raise their ducklings. So, with the help of some policemen who stopped traffic to let them cross, the Mallard family crossed Charles Street and arrived at their new home in the Public Garden. Schon’s sculpture is one of the favorite spots for children in Boston, who often find themselves climbing, or better said clinging onto the friendly ducks.

• Whale Watching from the pier on the Waterfront

4 hours of trip to admire the largest whales in the world. Unmissable!

• Captain Bille and Sons Whale Watch

In the region north of Boston, North of Boston, the sea adventure on board the ships of Captain Bille and Sons Whale Watch is unmissable: 3 hours of pure adventure to admire the whales.

• Boston Harbor Islands National Park

Trip to more than thirty islands in the city bay, a green lung with relics from colonial history and the oldest lighthouse in America. Six islands are visitable with seasonal ferry service from Long Wharf North, the city pier: the largest outdoor recreational area of eastern Massachusetts with various programs for children. Every day, from late June to early September.

Tickets for all Boston family attractions are also available for purchase online.