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You are about to embark on a travel adventure to Boston with your family, including your kids. Don’t panic. Boston is full of wonderful attractions that cater to adults and kids alike. Boston is considered one of the most historical cities in the United States, so why not let your kids get a little history lesson while they enjoy themselves at the following attractions?
Things to do in Boston
Boston officially the City of Boston, is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States and the 24th-most populous city in the country. The city proper covers about 48.4 sq mi (125 km2) with a population of 675,647 in 2020, also making it the most populous city in New England. It is the seat of Suffolk County (although the county government was disbanded on July 1, 1999).
The city is the economic and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area known as Greater Boston, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) home to a census-estimated 4.8 million people in 2016 and ranking as the tenth-largest MSA in the country. A broader combined statistical area (CSA), generally corresponding to the commuting area and including Providence, Rhode Island, is home to some 8.2 million people, making it the sixth-most populous in the United States.
Boston Museum of Science
It’s a toss-up as to who will have more fun at the Museum of Science in Boston: you or the kids. If you visit the museum website, there is a resource that shows parents how to make the most of their visit, depending on the age and grade of the child. You can visit interactive exhibits and labs that will teach kids about earth science, life science, technology, engineering, design and physical science.
Charles Hayden Planetarium
If your kids love to stargaze, visit the Charles Hayden Planetarium to open their minds to the tremendous and unimaginably enormous universe we live in. If your children love movies, you can take them to the IMAX Dome where they can view larger-than-life movies on the different forces of nature, gravity or wildlife.
New England Aquarium
If your children dream of becoming marine biologists are have an affinity for the water and sea, take a walk to the New England Aquarium for a thrilling underwater experience. You can take a guided boat tour to go whale and dolphin watching or catch an IMAX movie about the bottom of the ocean!
Boston Children’s Museum
If you are looking for an attraction that caters to kids, visit the Boston Children’s Museum. This museum has always taken a hands-on approach for youngsters since its inception in 1913. Their philosophy is to take objects out from behind a glass and place them into the hands of children so they can explore and investigate on their own. Together, adults and children can climb rock walls, work their way through life-sized mazes, make sculptures in an art lab or work on a mock construction site.
Boston Duck Tours
Want to give your kids a little bit of a history lesson, but don’t want to walk the three miles of the famous Freedom Trail? Just ride a Duck then. Boston Duck Tours will begin your tour by driving past the historical sites like Copley Square, Boston Common, the Prudential Tower, Bunker Hill, Quincy Market and others. Then, before you know it, your Duck bus will turn into a Duck boat and you will be entering the Charles River for spectacular views of Boston.
Faneuil Hall
Why not take your children to the happening Faneuil Hall, which is considered to be Boston’s premier meeting place. With restaurants, shops and outdoor entertainment, there is sure to be something to please everybody in your family. Pick up souvenirs and t-shirts for your friends and family at one of the outdoor kiosks. Pose with one of the street performers or one of the patriotic Mickey Mouse statues. Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market are excellent places to dine and a perfect midway point if you decide to conquer the three-mile Freedom Trail.
Freedom Trail
Chances are, if you are considering going to Boston, you have heard mention of the famous Freedom Trail. Fortunately, for visitors wanting to explore the sixteen historic sites on this trail, there is quite literally a “trail” to follow. So, put your tour books aside, because a red painted line on the ground will lead you throughout the city to the different sites to visit. The trail winds through almost three miles of historic Boston from Beacon Hill to Charlestown across the Charles River. Along the Freedom Trail, you will visit locations like Boston Common, the Boston Massacre site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere’s House, the USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument.
JFK Library & Museum
Whether or not you consider yourself a Democrat or Republican, the John F. Kennedy Library is not a site to be missed. Like the John Hancock Tower in Copley Square, the JFK Library was designed by famed architect I.M. Pei. Inside you will enter a time warp as you listen and watch Kennedy’s powerful inaugural speech and his debates with Richard Nixon You will be astounded at the intimate details the museum provides as it showcases personal belongings of JFK, including the Kennedy family bible and personal letters.
The museum also pays tribute to Jacqueline Kennedy with video images of her personal tour through the White House where she resided as First Lady, dresses she wore to important events and personal gifts she received through her travels across the world.
Fenway Park
You don’t have to be a baseball fanatic to appreciate the history of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox and the Green Monster. One of the oldest stadiums in the U.S., Fenway Park is abundant with history and legend. Many Red Sox fans believe there is a curse that began when Babe Ruth, in 1920, was sold to the New York Yankees. Since then, the Red Sox have yet to win a World Series title, but this does not stop Boston’s committed fans from attending games in droves. Some of the best seats in the park are located on the green left-field fence appropriately called The Green Monster.
Union Oyster House
When you have walked the city and are in need for some fine dining, stroll on over to the Union Oyster House, considered to be the oldest continuous running restaurant in the United States. Sit in the booth that was considered JFK’s favourite and that has since been dedicated to him. You can either sit at the famous Union Oyster Bar and have fresh oysters on the half shell or clam chowder or you can sit in the restaurant itself. Since the Union Oyster House is usually very busy, make reservations at least one week in advance.
Whether you are a historian, a hopeless romantic, a political junky, a baseball fanatic or a culinary connoisseur, you will find that Boston is rich with attractions for everybody to enjoy. Both youngsters and grandparents alike will enjoy trekking through the best walking city in the United States.
Image Credit: Depositphotos
