Boston, Massachusetts is a perfect destination for families any time of the year. When we lived in RI, we often spent a day in Boston, but usually in the warmer months. My family and I were able to spend a couple days in Boston over the holidays and enjoyed some favorites, plus explored some new places.
Over 12 million visitors head to Boston each year to enjoy theatre, sports, dining, museums, boating, music, shopping and more. No matter what your interests, Boston offers it. Boston is an ideal city to explore by foot, and public transportation is the way to go when you visit. Boston’s layout makes no sense even to residents, and traffic can be nightmare and parking expensive. You can easily and cheaply take the subway system (“the T”) or public busses, and if you prefer a guide tour companies will help you explore this city on foot, trolley, bus, bike, Segway, horse, boat and private car, many with the option of hopping on and off all day.
I suggest you begin with a self-guided rooftop tour from the Skywalk Observatory located in the Prudential Building. From the 50th floor you’ll take in 360 degree panoramic views of Boston while listing to audio phones (available in child and adult versions in multiple languages) and get a bird’s eye view and learn about this city. From tales of famous Bostonians to fascinating stories such as the Great Molasses Flood of you’ll gain an appreciation of the city. Plan to spend about 90 minutes here, more if you want to explore that the many shops in the building. Consider moving one floor up to the Top of the Hub for a fine dining experience, or just to stop in and enjoy the menu’s most requested item: a basket of freshly baked cookies!
From there you might visit one of Boston’s many museums. The Museum of Science easily occupy a full day or more, and I suggest you rent a locker so you can enjoy it hands-free. The Museum of Science boasts an impressive collection of hands on learning activities plus rotating exhibit. A mammoth exhibit was in place while were where there, and we were happy to find one of our favorite permanent exhibits: eggs and baby chicks which are always just being born! The Museum of Science also is home to the Mugar Omni Theater, a 3D theatre with an impressive lineup of choices. We enjoyed a film about how the changing climate is affecting the Arctic.You’ll also find a museum café with a good variety of family friendly offerings, a gift shop, children’s museum area and more.
If you are traveling with children 12 or under the Boston Children’s Museum is one of the nation's finest. Located walking distance from the city’s new Tea Party Ships and Museum, the Boston Children’s Museum boasts 3 Floors of active fun. This includes walls and tubes to climb, an art studio, water play and much more. This was our first visit, and the children espeically enjoyed a building area where they used real saws and tools, and our family contributed to a collective collage which will be on display at some point. Plan to allocate at least 3 hours or more here, and expect to drag your children out no matter how long you play! Check the schedule for free Fridays.
Although we did not make it this trip, the Museum of Fine Arts is another museum I recommend, and animal and geography buffs will not want to miss the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge.
You’ll want to be hungry when you visit Faneuil Hall, and this is a great way to feed a group with multiple tastes. Dozens of restaurant offer you quick take out, and my family shared a meal including Indian, Greek, fish & chips and pizza. There are tables in the building center, or if weather permits you can take your meal outside and enjoy Quincy market. The brick market place offers great people watching and an array of street performers. During December elaborately decorated holiday trees will perform for you each evening in a free program called Blink! which we enjoyed. Gift shops ranging from the well known to obscure and quirky offer some seriously fun shopping.
Faneuil Hall is very close to the New England Aquarium, a huge aquarium housing over 800 species so animals even though it is currently renovating. You can also pick up The Freedom Trail at Faneuil Hall, a 2.5 mile walking trail that will take you to 16 historic sites. Even if you choose not to walk the entire trail, it’s fun way to learn about this fascinating city.
A highlight of our trip was a visit to the TD Garden where were enjoyed seeing the Celtics play (and win!). The Garden is host to top tier sports, music and entertainment and you can see the schedule here.
Baseball fans can tour Fenway Park, and maybe even see the Red Sox play in warm months. Nearby Fenway you’ll see the famous CITGO sign, and can visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum which houses works including Rembrandt, Matisse and Botticelli and offers impressive Jazz and classical music concerts throughout the year.
Foodies need to visit Boston’s North End , and will find a range of well known chains plus locally owned establishments all over the city. Seafood lovers can expect to be satisfied at any one of a number of Legal Seafoods locations, and if you’ve never experienced and trational new England Clam Chowder, Legal makes a great one! One of my favorite casual places is a old tavern called Jacob Wirth’s located in the theater district. Expect good sandwiches and German fare with fun sing along to live piano.
No matter whatyour tastes, the city of Boston is a gem and offers something for every families’ interest.Boston’s central location make it an easy option to tie in with a trip toCape Cod, Plymouth Plantation, RI and other fun family destinations.Keep Boston in mind for family fun!
Note: I was the guest of the Boston Skywalk, the Museum of Science, and the Children's Museum. These opinions are my own, and I was not compenasted by any of the organizations I have listed.
