15 Best Things to do in Boston with Kids!

Boston is one of those cities where history, culture, and fun all come together. For families, it’s a city that mixes learning in a fun and engaging way that feels easy and welcoming. Whether your children love animals, science, art, or simply running around outdoors, Boston has something for them. In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through 15 best things to do in Boston with kids and give you ideas on how to make the most of your visit.

1. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum lets visitors step back into history with live reenactments and full-size ship models that recreate the famous night of December 16, 1773. The experience begins inside the Meeting House, where actors in colonial clothing lead a town gathering with Samuel Adams, teaching guests about the protest against British taxes. From there, families board replica ships — the Eleanor and Beaver — and even get the chance to throw tea crates into the harbor. Inside, visitors can see Robinson Tea Chest, which is known to be the only tea chest left from the original Boston Tea Party.

2. Boston Children’s Museum

Opened in 1913, Boston Children’s Museum was created by teachers who wanted kids to learn in a fun, hands-on way, and today it offers many exhibits that let children explore science, health, art, and world cultures through play. A big highlight is the New Balance Climb, a tall structure where kids can safely climb and explore. Another favorite is the Science Playground, where children play with bubbles and discover how motion works. The museum also has the Japanese House, an actual home from Kyoto that was moved to Boston and rebuilt to show what daily life in Japan is like.

3. Museum of Science

The Museum of Science has over 700 interactive exhibits covering space, engineering, human body and more, giving visitors a chance to learn while having fun. A major highlight is the Mugar Omni Theater, where a giant dome screen shows films about science and nature. At the Charles Hayden Planetarium, star displays and space shows spark the curiosity in the universe for families. In the Hall of Human Life, guests discover how the body works and can join small experiments. The Theater of Electricity is another favorite, with live demonstrations using a massive Van de Graaff generator to create indoor lightning.

4. New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium is best known for its Giant Ocean Tank, a massive centerpiece that holds close to 200,000 gallons of water. Visitors can walk up a spiral ramp around the tank while watching tropical fish, sea turtles, and rays swim through a coral reef. The aquarium also features jellyfish, African penguins, and sea lions, plus a free outdoor exhibit where anyone can see harbor seals without buying a ticket. Touch tanks let guests gently handle sea stars and other small marine animals, while exhibits teach about ocean life, conservation, and the impact of climate change.

5. Museum of Ice Cream

The Museum of Ice Cream features 14 playful themed rooms, such as a sprinkle pool, a cookie-themed living room, and Fun Way Park, which takes inspiration from Fenway Park. Visitors get to taste up to five kinds of ice cream during their trip, with classic flavors like vanilla and even a lobster-inspired scoop that’s special to Boston. Each room is interactive, offering slides, games, and plenty of photo spots for families to enjoy. The museum also shares easy-to-understand facts about the history and science of ice cream, with some exhibits created together with local shops like Friendly’s.

6. Stone Zoo

Opened in 1905, Stone Zoo is part of Zoo New England and spreads across 26 acres. It is home to nearly 800 animals from about 87 different species, including jaguars, cougars, snow leopards, and Mexican gray wolves. The zoo has themed sections such as Himalayan Highlands and Treasures of the Sierra Madre, built to resemble the animals’ natural environments. Visitors also get the chance to watch animals like reptiles, river otters, and flamingos, with daily talks from keepers, live animal cameras, and programs designed for schools and families.

7. Blue Hills Ski Area

Just outside Boston, Blue Hills Ski Area is one of the nearest places to enjoy skiing, set along the slope of Great Blue Hill in the Blue Hills Reservation. The site covers about 60 acres with 12 trails that range from beginner to advanced, along with a small terrain park for extra practice and fun. It operates one double chairlift and three surface lifts, including easy-to-use magic carpets that help beginners get started. Blue Hills is another favorite area, bringing families, race events, and even school groups, while also offering ski and snowboard lessons for both children and adults.

8. Boston Duck Tours

The Boston Duck Tours is a fun way to see the city, using a special vehicle called a DUCK that can move on both land and water. The ride lasts about 80 minutes, beginning with a drive through Boston’s streets and ending with a cruise along the Charles River. During the city part of the tour, a guide known as the ConDUCKtor shares easy-to-follow stories and facts about landmarks like Boston Common, Quincy Market, and the State House. Toward the end, the DUCK rolls into the river, giving guests a relaxing boat ride with wide views of the skyline.

9. Fenway Park

The Fenway Park has been the home field of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, making it the oldest stadium still used in Major League Baseball. Over the years, it has hosted World Series games, concerts, and even football and hockey matches. The ballpark seats just under 38,000 people, and its layout creates a close, personal atmosphere for fans. During the day, visitors can join guided tours to learn about Fenway’s history, walk onto the field, and step into places like the dugout and press box. Today, it stands as one of Boston’s most iconic landmarks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

10. Public Garden and Swan Boats

The Boston’s Public Garden is the most beloved park in downtown, where families can walk along the paths, see flowers, and relax beside a small lagoon that gives calm to the busy surroundings. The Swan Boats are the highlight here, giving short rides around the water in boats shaped like swans that are powered by pedals. Kids love the gentle ride, and parents enjoy the chance to sit back and enjoy the views. The boats usually run during the warmer months, making them a seasonal tradition for many local families. A ride lasts only about fifteen minutes, but it feels special and memorable.

11. Blue Hills Trailside Museum

The Blue Hills Trailside Museum is the primary visitor center for Blue Hills Reservation, offering an easy way for people to learn about local wildlife and natural areas. It has both indoor and outdoor exhibits that focus on animals and plants found in Massachusetts. Outside, guests can walk along a short trail with enclosures where river otters, red foxes, and birds live because they cannot return to the wild. Inside, there are displays that explain the area’s geology, wetlands, and forests in easy language. Families often join guided walks or guided programs that help kids connect with nature.

12. Franklin Park Zoo

Covers around 72 acres, Franklin Park Zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals from over 200 species. Since opening in 1912, it has grown into a place with different themed areas, including the Tropical Forest where visitors can see gorillas, and the Giraffe Savannah that features giraffes along with other African wildlife. The Kalahari Kingdom is where lions live, Bird’s World is filled with many bird species, and the Outback Trail lets guests watch kangaroos. There is also a butterfly garden and bird-feeding section that give visitors more hands-on experiences with nature.

13. TreeTop Adventures

In Canton, TreeTop Adventures lets families and groups spend time outdoors with ziplining and climbing courses, offering both fun and challenge in the wooded areas. The park features 10 different trails with more than 25 ziplines and plenty of rope challenges, each marked with colors to show how easy or hard they are. Along the way, guests move through bridges, ladders, tightropes, and swinging logs that make the course fun and active. At night, special events like “Glow in the Park” turn the trails into a bright space with lights and music.

14. Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary

The Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary stretches across 67 acres of wetlands, woods, and open meadows. It’s a calm spot where visitors can walk two miles of trails and discover more than 150 bird species, around 40 kinds of butterflies, and hundreds of plants. It has a preschool focused on nature classes, outdoor classrooms, and programs designed for families and schools. Guests can join guided walks, enjoy birdwatching, or take part in events held throughout the year. Children can spend time at the Nature Nook, a play area created to let kids explore and learn through outdoor activities.

15. Boston Convention and Exhibition Center

The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center stands as one of the largest event venues in the region, with nearly 2.1 million square feet overall, with 516,000 square feet reserved just for exhibits. Since opening in 2004, it has been run by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and now offers more than 80 meeting rooms along with a 40,000 square‑foot ballroom, making it a good spot for expos, trade shows, and large gatherings. Right outside, The Lawn On D serves as a public space where seasonal activities, live music, and games take place.

---

FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)

---

Related Articles