Families can have fun in Boston year-round. (Photo: Boston image by Alessandro Lai from Fotolia.com )
Boston is known for its rich sense of history and famous tea party, but it is also a city that offers plenty of opportunities for families to have fun together. And the fun doesn’t stop just because it’s cold and snowy outside. There are many attractions that will let you stay warm and cozy inside while entertaining the kids. Other options let you get some exercise and fight off cabin fever.
The Boston Children’s Museum is open every day, with the exception of a few holidays. The museum’s focus is on hands-on learning and has exhibits on culture, arts, science, environmental awareness, health and fitness. The general admission for adults is around $12 and $9 for children ages 1-15. Check the museum website for current prices and discount times. For the price of admission, you get “all activities, KidStage performances, special events, hands-on exhibits and non-stop fun.”
Take a break from Boston’s winter cold by watching tropical fish and visiting coral reefs from the Bahamas at the New England Aquarium. Exhibits include a Pacific Reef Community, Amazon Rainforest and Gulf of Maine. See penguins, jellyfish, sea dragons, sea turtles and harbor seals. Admission prices start at $20.95 for adults and $12.95 for children ages 3-11. Kids under 3 are admitted free. There are additional charges for the IMAX Theatre and Whale Watch programs.
New England Aquarium
1 Central Wharf
Boston, MA 02110
Consider a ride aboard the Old Town Trolley if you want to give the family a sampling of the key tourist attractions in Boston. The trolley makes stops at 17 locations, and passengers can get on and off whenever they choose to do some sight-seeing. See historic Faneuil Hall, the New England Aquarium, the Paul Revere House and Old North Church, the U.S.S. Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument. There are more than 100 points of interest along the tour route. Adult tickets are $36. Children ages 3-12 ride for $13. Kids under 3 are free. There are discounts for online purchases.
Old Town Trolley
Historic Tours of America
Front Street, Key West, FL 33040
If you don’t mind the weather and want the kids to get a dose of history, walk Boston’s famed Freedom Trail. The red-brick trail winds for two-and-a-half miles through Boston past landmarks such as the Benjamin Franklin statue, Faneuil House, the Paul Revere House, the Old North Church and the Bunker Hill Monument. There are 16 official sites. You can take a public tour with a costumed guide or pick up a trail map and follow the trail on your own. The Freedom Trail website is loaded with information about the sights, and you can download a map so you can begin and end the trail wherever you like.