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18 things to do in Boston with kids

On my first visit to Boston, not long before my daughter was born, I was instantly won over by the mix of history, fun activities and relaxed atmosphere – and with so many things to do with kids in Boston, it’s somewhere that’s perfect for a family city break too.

Statue in the Public Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, with skyscapers in the background - the best things to do in Boston with kids on a US family city break
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Like most major US cities, you could easily fill a week’s stay (or longer) but if you’re visiting Boston with kids, perhaps alongside a family holiday in New York (although I’ve also twinned it with Philadelphia and a day trip to Provincetown), I’ve picked out some of the highlights to entertain during a shorter stay.

The Freedom Trail

One of my own favourite things to do in Boston, the Freedom Trail is a great way to explore the city, as well as helping to learn about history while you’re visiting Boston with kids.

The 2.5 mile trail is made up of 16 historical sites telling the story of the American Revolution and the birth of the country, with stops at various markers from churches and museums to burying grounds, parks and even a ship.

One of the signs for the Freedom Trail and red brick line that goes through Boston taking tourists to its historic landmarks - a great way to learn about US history and one of the best free things to do in Boston with kids

The bonus of visiting with kids is that you can choose whether to do it in small sections if you don’t want to walk the whole route in one go, stroll it from start to finish, or stop at all the sites on the way, depending on your energy levels.

Starting at Boston Common – keep an eye out for the quirky frog statues – it’s also completely free, although you can choose to take a tour as well or try this self-guided audio tour. Don’t miss the Massachusetts State House, the atmospheric Granary Burying Ground, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church, as well as the USS Constitution among others along the way.

Quincy Market is a great point to refuel as you walk too: you can often spot street performers, and it’s a perfect place to find fresh juice and snacks from the food stalls.

Take a tour of Boston with kids

As well as following the Freedom Trail, you’ll find a string of ways to explore Boston with kids whether you want to walk, eat, find art, history or ghosts.

This scavenger hunt has you solving a murder using clues found at 10 historic sites around Boston, plus there’s another scavenger hunt through Boston’s parks and art. Or the record breaker exploration game takes you to places in the city where Boston can boast of being the first in the US. All are self-guided, so it’s easy to follow at your own pace.

Can’t imagine your kids agreeing to a walking tour? What about a pizza-themed tour… The North End Pizza Tour visits five Freedom Trail sites – as well as Boston’s oldest pizzeria with its 19th century brick oven, and a chance to taste pizza there, plus a Sicilian and a Neapolitan slice so you can compare the difference, with cannoli to end.

And if pizza doesn’t appeal, there’s always the Underground Donut Tour, passing through the city’s Public Market, as well as North End and Union Square, with four donut stops along the way and a chance to learn more about Boston’s history.

Bright orange and green Boston trolley at Congress Street bridge - a trolley tour of Boston with kids is one easy way to explore the city

And older kids will love this Ghosts and Gravestones tour visiting the gravesites of John Hancock, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and others, along with discovering more of Boston’s most notorious characters. Not suitable for kids under six, recommended for teens and up.

Or the hop-on hop-off Boston trolley tour is an easy way to get between attractions as well as providing a guided tour of Boston and its history – ideal to stave off tired legs if you’re visiting with younger kids.

If you’re visiting Boston with teens, check out the Boston Segway tours for age 14+, which pass some of the Freedom Trail sights

Boston Children’s Museum

The Boston Children’s Museum is dedicated to education, the second oldest children’s museum in the US – but if you think that sounds dull, think again. For starters, there’s a 40ft milk bottle out front.

The exhibits here are fantastically hands-on, encouraging kids to be as creative as possible, with games, mazes, workshops, crafts, even obstacle challenges to inspire children to learn through play and experience.

Entrance to Boston Children's Museum on Children's Wharf - one of the unmissable things to do with kids in Boston

Some of the children’s galleries are themed around TV shows, but there’s also the chance to learn about New England’s indigenous people, play a steel drum in the Boston Black exhibit, and get a taste of Afro-Caribbean carnival while decorating a float.

The science playground is another stand-out too, with the chance to make soap bubbles big, small and even ones you can hold in your hand, although you’ll also get to try everything from operating cranes (safely!) to getting behind the wheel of a mini race car while you’re in the museum.

Entry to the museum is included in the Go Boston Explorer Pass with options to visit 3, 4 or 5 attractions from a list of 20, valid for a month, or the Go Boston Pass, valid for between one and seven days, with free entry to 40 different attractions and activities.

Boston Duck Tours

I don’t think you’re ever too old for a duck tour – there’s something far more fun about driving around in one of the brightly coloured amphibious vehicles before diving into the waters of the Charles River than any bus tour.

The Boston Duck Tour lasts around 80 minutes, taking you through some of the city’s neighbourhoods, including its historic sites, before cruising along for some unique views of Boston and Cambridge, all narrated by a guide.

Moving shot of a turquoise amphibious Boston Duck Tour vehicle - one of the most fun things to do with kids in Boston, Massachusetts

The perfect way to explore Boston for children, you can hop on board at the Museum of Science or Prudential Center (multilingual tours depart from the latter using GPS technology).

It’s a great way to get your bearings when you first arrive, saves smaller legs (especially if you’re factoring in jetlag) and if you’re lucky, kids can even get a quick chance to steer while you’re out in the harbour.

If you’re travelling with older kids and want more than a dip in the harbour, check out some of the best Boston harbor tours and cruises

Franklin Park Zoo

This 72-acre zoo is home to hundreds of exotic animals from around the world, from lions and tigers to fruit bats, not to mention a whole troop of monkeys, kangaroos, pygmy hippos and giraffe.

There are added seasonal attractions, both animal ones and special activities for kids during the summer, plus a chance to mimic the furry inhabitants – climb bamboo poles next to the red panda enclosure or go on an adventure through a grass maze while pretending to be a deer.

There’s also an impressive 10,000 square foot playground, with designs inspired by the zoo’s animals, along with amusement rides and the chance to watch the animals being fed, as well as special experiences to get closer to some of them

Buy tickets to Franklin Park Zoo with free cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand here – also included in a Boston CityPass

Brick wall painted with the words Fenway Park - home of the Boston Red Sox. Why a visit here is one of the best things to do with kids in Boston, USA, even if you're not a huge baseball fan

Fenway Park

Whether you’re a die-hard baseball fan or wouldn’t know one end of a pitcher’s mitt from the other, Boston is home to the oldest ballpark of them all, Fenway Park – the oldest active Major League Baseball ballpark to be very precise.

Home to the Boston Red Sox for over a century, you can join tours to discover some more of baseball’s historic moments, as well as imagining yourself as the hero of the field. Inside you’ll also see photos of some of the best players and biggest names with links to the park from over the years.

Or there’s still the chance to watch a live game too – book tickets early if you want any chance of snapping them up as they usually sell out quickly.

The USS Constitution in Boston Massachusetts - a visit is one of my top things to do in Boston with kids

USS Constitution

The world’s oldest warship still afloat (although HMS Victory is older, it’s now in dry dock in Hampshire, UK), the USS Constitution was built in 1797 – known as Old Ironsides and never defeated in battle, you can still go aboard as well as visiting the museum to learn more about the ship’s history.

It’s free to visit the ship itself, with active Navy sailors assigned as crew and to answer questions (you’ll need valid ID if you’re over 18), first come, first served.

The USS Constitution museum is one of several attractions in Charlestown Navy Yard, with interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and a fascinating collection of artefacts to look at, plus suggested admission fees.

Tickets are included in the Boston Go City all-inclusive pass and Boston Go City Explorer pass.

Boston Harbor tour

For another view of the USS Constitution and of the waterfront scenery, take to the water yourself on a Boston harbor boat tour.

This hour-long historical boat tour through the inner and outer harbor, includes tales of the War of Independence and local legends of the sea, before cruising past the Navy’s oldest commissioned ship and historic monuments – plus some fantastic views of Boston Harbor islands.

City Cruises Sightseeing has a string of other Boston Harbor cruises, including the New England Aquarium Whale Watching tour and a ferry to the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park.

Or head out on a 90-minute sailing adventure, cruising Boston Harbor aboard an 80-foot schooner and heading out from Rowes Wharf past the Inner Harbor Islands, passing the New England Aquarium and learning a few tales of Boston’s maritime past along the way.

The Bunker Hill Monument at sunset, in Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts - one of the best things to do in Boston with kids who love history

Bunker Hill Monument

Not far from the USS Constitution, the 221-foot Bunker Hill Monument marks the site of the first major battle – and one of the deadliest – of the American Revolution, where New England soldiers faced the British army on June 17, 1775.

The monument, a huge granite obelisk which dates back to 1842, is designed to act as a memorial to the event and lives lost, as well as a reminder to continue to fight for freedom.

If you want to climb to the top of the monument, there are 294 steps up, so not one to try with younger kids. You can also visit the Bunker Hill Museum to learn more about the history of the site – not least the fact that most of the fighting actually took place at Breed’s Hill, which is where the monument itself stands.

Part of the Boston National Historical Park, it’s also free to visit.

Boston parks and playgrounds

As well as some great walks to try around the streets of Boston, kids can find plenty of places to burn off some energy in the city’s green spaces and some of the best Boston playgrounds. There are almost too many places to mention where you can get outdoors, but these are a few of the highlights.

Boston Common

Created in 1634 as America’s first public park, Boston Common has a long and often dramatic history – from military encampments to celebrations of independence, anti-slavery marches and Civil War recruitment, along with a civil rights rally led by Martin Luther King – to name just a few events from over the centuries.

Normally a lot more peaceful these days, it’s the starting point for the Freedom Trail and one of the nine parks that are part of the Emerald Necklace, a 1,100-acre chain of green space around the city.

Kids will love the Frog pond, with a splash pool in summer and ice skating in winter, plus a nearby carousel and the Tadpole playground.

View across the lake to the trees of the Boston Public Garden - one of the best places to get outdoors in Boston with kids

Boston Public Garden

The city can boast another green-fingered first too with the Boston Public Garden, the first public botanical garden in America, still home to 80 different species of plants.

Opened in 1837, it’s still faithful to the original Victorian traditions behind its planting but as well as strolling between the lovely flowers and plants, there are a few more highlights if you’re visiting Boston with kids.

Look out for the Make Way For Ducklings statues as you walk, along with statues of George Washington and the unusual Ether Monument, commemorating the first use of the anaesthetic in the nearby Massachusetts General Hospital.

save some time to head out on the lagoon for a Swan Boat ride, operated for over a century by the same family. The lake is home to some genuine birdlife, including swans, though the Parks Department asks you not to feed them.

Rose Kennedy Greenway

The lovely Rose Kennedy Greenway park has something to appeal to all ages, from the special Greenway carousel (where you ride New England characters inspired by the air, sea and land animals of Boston Harbor for little ones to the food trucks guaranteed to appeal to teens and their parents.

You’ll find seven fountains dotted around, including ones with splash zones and water jets to dodge, an unusual labyrinth fountain, the Chinatown stream, another with abstract art at its heart and an interactive sculpture where your movement activates a misty fog.

It’s also home to wildlife including hives of bees – and a pollinator ribbon to attract them – plus wildflowers and public art.

View of people walking along the paved section of the Rose Kennedy Greenway - with its string of fountains, carousel and events, it's a great place to visit in Boston for families

Charles River Esplanade

Home to three separate playgrounds, the 64 acres of the Esplanade overlooks the Charles River, with some of the best views of any park in Boston.

As well as a series of events throughout the year, it’s famous for its cherry blossoms in spring, but there are also plenty of places to get walking or biking

The Stoneman playground features an area for kids aged three and under if you’re looking for things to do in Boston with toddlers, plus there’s also a climbing structure for younger kids at the Charlesbank playground.

Thomas Menino Park

Created after the Boston marathon bombings, Menino Park is a great one to combine with a visit to the USS Constitution Museum.

A fully inclusive playground, it’s designed to be accessible for all ages and abilities with equipment including a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round and ramped play structure, and the play area in the park guarantees hours of fun for kids.

Find more upcoming events in Boston for families here

Penguins on the rocks in Boston Aquarium - the New England Aquarium is one of the best things to do with kids in Boston

New England Aquarium

Down on the waterfront, the New England Aquarium is unmissable if you’re travelling with kids who love animals – there are over 800 different marine creatures from tiny sea dragons to seals, stingrays and sharks, not to mention 80 African penguins, bred as part of a conservation program.

The spectacular four-storey Giant Ocean tank is home to a coral reef, with Caribbean reef life: a spiral walkway takes you past sea turtles, tropical fish and eels as well as jellyfish.

But you can also transport yourself to the Amazon Rainforest, with its piranhas and anacondas, as well as watching Atlantic Harbor Seals play, among other marine habitat areas, before learning more about the challenges facing the world’s oceans,

Don’t miss the seadragons, with both of the world’s two seadragon species on display in this exhibit – as long as you can spot these masters of camouflage!

You need a timed entry slot to visit – buy free cancellation tickets for the New England Aquarium here, which also let you skip the queue, plus it’s also included in the Boston CityPass. You can also buy combo tickets which include a New England Aquarium Whale Watch tour.

Boston Tea Party ships and museum tour

One of the most fun family-friendly activities to do in Boston has to be this interactive Boston Tea Party tour, whisking you back in time to 1773, with both actors and 3D holograms helping you to relive the battle.

You explore replicas of two Tea Party Ships by Fort Point Channel as you learn about the events leading up to the War of Independence, and the people involved. Plus you get your own part to play, sketched out on a handbill from one of the colonists.

With a disguise to wear, you can rejoin the march to Griffin’s Wharf, before throwing a crate of tea into the sea. Within the museum, you can watch virtual soldiers argue the British side, and (virtually) experience the battle itself.

Buy tickets with free cancellation for the Boston Tea Party tour here.

View of the Tea party ships and Boston Harbor at sunset - an interactive tour is one of the fun things to do in Boston with kids

Boston Museum of Science

Another great hands-on museum for kids who love science, children will have so much fun here, they don’t even realise they’re learning. Sneaky.

With a huge generator to create indoor thunder and lightning, as well as a 20ft T-Rex model among the 550 exhibits, Boston’s Museum of Science is the kind of science museum I wish had existed when I was a kid!

Covering everything from astronomy and astrophysics to anthropology, earth sciences, medicine and a lot more, kids can experiment with colour and light, examine dinosaur bones and fossils, and learn about gravity and physics by balancing objects and swinging around.

This is definitely somewhere to stay and play rather than for a quick visit – great too if you’re visiting Boston in winter or looking for options for a rainy day in Boston with kids.

There’s also a planetarium: the shows here are best for kids over five.

You can sometimes buy discounted skip-the-line tickets to the Museum of Science in Boston on the tiqets website, plus it’s included in the Boston CityPass as well as the Boston Go City all-inclusive pass and Boston Go City Explorer pass.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

The Harvard Museum of Natural History might not be Boston’s biggest museum, but it’s a great option with younger kids in particular, home to a 42ft Kronosaurus, plus Komodo dragons and rare creatures from Madagascar.

There are also downloadable family activities, aimed at different ages, to help kids explore the collection of natural exhibits – everything from prehistoric creatures to minerals and gems, along with plant life, birds, insects and mammals.

Along the way, there are plenty of chances to get hands on too. It’s worth pointing out that this is a little way from many of the other things to do in Boston with kids, so if you’re planning to visit, factor in the time to get there as well.

Entry to the museum is included in the Boston CityPass as well as the Boston Go City all-inclusive pass and Boston Go City Explorer pass.

Entrance to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts - one of the best things to do with kids in Boston

Museum of Fine Arts

You might think that somewhere dedicated to the fine arts won’t be family friendly, but this Boston Museum has some clever touches to help make the collection accessible to young visitors – well worth keeping on your list of places to visit in Boston with kids.

Some areas have special family labels on the exhibits, to help younger visitors relate to the works, as well as tips on exploring the Museum of Fine Arts with kids – everything from choosing a theme for your visit, such as animals or crowns, as well as games to play, from I Spy to copying sculpture poses.

And you’re encouraged to bring your own art materials to sketch and draw as you go (you need advance permission if you’re planning to bring paints and an easel though).

Check here for the latest exhibitions, as well as permanent collections such as the art of the Americas and Egyptian sculpture. There are often additional family activities and workshops too.

Entry to the museum is included in the Go Boston Explorer Pass, with options to visit 3, 4 or 5 attractions from a list of 20, valid for a month, or the Go Boston Pass, valid for between one and seven days, with free entry to 40 different attractions and activities.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

For another unexpectedly child-friendly art gallery in Boston, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is almost a work of art itself.

The building was inspired by architecture in Venice, where Isabella Gardner herself spent time, and there’s a gorgeous courtyard filled with plants, fountains and sculptures at the heart.

The museum also runs a string of kid-friendly programmes, as well as activities for children to try: kids aged 7+ can get hands on at the Saturday Drop-in Art Activities, plus there are free family guides with suggestions on ways to explore whenever you visit.

Budding artists can also pick up free sketching materials near the courtyard, for when inspiration strikes. With stained glass in the chapel and colourful tiles elsewhere, there’s plenty to catch the eye as you visit too.

Older kids will be fascinated by the story of the notorious heist in 1990 which deprived the museum of 13 works by artists including Rembrandt, Vermeer and Degas, when two thieves (disguised as police) stole millions of dollars of art in just 81 minutes. The empty frames still hand on the walls and the mystery remains unsolved, with a reward offered for their recovery.

Free for under-18s – and anyone called Isabella! Adult tickets are included in the Boston Go City all-inclusive pass and Boston Go City Explorer pass.

Marble lion on the stairs of the Boston public library - the Boston library is an unexpectedly fun free thing to do in the city with kids

Boston Public Library

The third largest public library in the United States, it was the first to have a children’s room as well – and it’s not just somewhere to visit if you’re looking for a good book.

The pale pink building overlooking Copley Square dates from 1895, was designed in the Renaissance Revival style and it’s as spectacular inside as well as out, with some impressive art inside if you’re looking for things to do in Boston with teens.

Free to enter, look out for the lions by the staircase, as well as fossil shells embedded in the marble as you climb the steps, for a mini treasure hunt for younger kids. Or find the murals painted here, as well as the John Singer Sargent murals in another room on the third floor.

There’s also a lovely Italian-style courtyard inside if the weather’s kind, although the library itself is a great option for Boston in the rain with kids.

The less ornate building next door on Boylston Street is where the main library is housed now, including the children’s library. There are also regular family events for kids of different ages.

You can also find family events on at the Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston, at the Christian Science Plaza, which is also home to the Mapparium – a collection of 608 multicoloured glass panels creating a three-storey globe showing the world as it was in 1935. Timed ticket required.

Legoland Discovery Center

This fantastic indoor playground is heaven for kids – and the perfect place to embrace your own inner child. Along with lots of Boston landmarks recreated in Lego bricks in Miniland, there are 12 rides, including a quest to rescue a princess.

Best of all – of course – is the chance to build your own. The littlest builders can get hands on with Duplo, and for older ones, you can add your own Lego Friends creations to Olivia’s House, or build and test a race car.

If you’re looking to take your Lego skills to the next level, check out which workshops are running to get some insider tips from the Master Model Builder experts. There’s also a 4D cinema and play area.

A short drive from Boston itself (with free parking), it’s easily one of the most fun things to do with kids if you’re visiting the city.

Buy tickets to Legoland Discovery Center Boston with free cancellation here, plus it’s included in the Boston Go City all-inclusive pass and Boston Go City Explorer pass.

*First published 2021, last updated 2022*

PIN FOR LATER: THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN BOSTON WITH KIDS

The best things to do with kids in Boston - from museums to animal attractions, as well as US history galore, including family-friendly tours and free days out in Boston with kids

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Images courtesy Depositphotos

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2 Comments

  1. Thanks for the great list of things to do with kids in Boston! We recently visited the city and had a great time exploring the Freedom Trail and visiting the New England Aquarium. We also had a lot of fun at the Children’s Museum. It was a great way to spend a day with the kids!

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