Top Kid-Friendly Attractions in Boston 4 days

Our Local Expert Says:

This is a great way to get a quick tour of the city (it goes by fast). When the captain of your tour asks, don't hesitate to volunteer to drive the boat in the Charles!

Description:

A fleet of Ducks, brightly colored, vintage World War II amphibious vehicles provide 80-minute, narrated, half-land, half-water tours of Boston. Do not be alarmed when your Duck abandons its wheels and lowers itself onto the Charles River! Tours depart on the half-hour and cover many of Boston's downtown tourist attractions. Keep in mind: Tour guides encourage quacking! Tickets, which may be purchased two days in advance, often sell out quickly, especially on summer weekends.

Description:

This tour company has put together several 1.5-hour walks that focus on certain areas of Boston. One tour covers a portion of the Freedom Trail. You can also look at Boston's maritime history, explore of the Italian neighborhood or discover the influence of the Victorian era on the Back Bay. A "Boston By Little Feet" tour for children lasts an hour and explains history for the younger set. Tours meet in front of Faneuil Hall at the Sam Adams statue. No reservations are required, but advance booking is available.

Description:

Since opening in 1969, this waterfront landmark has become one of Boston's biggest tourist attractions. The most famous exhibit, the massive 200,000-gallon "Giant Ocean Tank," has a simulated Caribbean coral reef in which sharks, sea turtles, moray eels and tropical fish cruise by crowds of children pressed against the glass. Other marine galleries contain piranha, sea otters and three species of penguins. As if all that were not enough, the aquarium also offers whale watching cruises, seal shows, and its very own IMAX Theatre.

Description:

Faneuil Hall is of a greater historical interest than any other building in the United States. In September 1742, Peter Faneuil, a French merchant, decided to build it for the people of the town. Many famous orators of the country's history have addressed the public here. This area is a true reflection of the culture, history, and local ambience. Every year, performers audition to perform during tourist season but not many win a gig as a juggler, musician or artist. You can shop in the underground or get souvenirs like rare photo prints. Faneuil Hall is staffed by National Park Service Rangers from 9a-5p, except when used for public functions. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Park Rangers offer historical talks about Faneuil Hall every half hour on the second floor.

Description:

Even if you think contemporary art isn't for you, the ICA is a blast. The city's first new art museum in nearly a century is a work of art in its own right. The cantilevered building -- designed by the New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, whose work on this landmark project helped boost its growing reputation -- juts out above the harbor, affording dizzying views of the water, the waterfront, and the airport. Besides being an irresistible draw, the architecture reflects the institution's curatorial philosophy that art is inseparable from everyday life, rather than a singular experience reserved for special occasions and field trips. The ICA showcases 20th- and 21st-century art in every imaginable medium, including film and video, music, literature, and dance. Opened in 2006, the 65,000-square-foot museum gives the institution the space it needs to create a permanent collection for the first time since its founding (under a different name) in 1936. Visitors have already enjoyed works by Louise Bourgeois and Anish Kapoor that wouldn't have fit in (literally or figuratively) elsewhere in Boston, and the schedule of events, concerts, films, and other activities seemingly can't expand...

Description:

This a great place to entertain and educate your children and a fascinating museum for all ages. Interactive exhibits focus on four themes: art, culture, science and technology. Displays such as the science playground, hall of toys, playspace, weaving and climbing sculpture are exceptional in their ability to teach children about their environment and the world they live in. Validated parking is available at Farnsworth Garage.

Description:

Regina's looks almost like a movie set, but look a little closer -- this local legend is the place the movie sets are trying to re-create. It's been in business since 1926, and the only thing that's changed recently is the end of the cash-only policy in 2008. As it has for decades, the line stretches up the street on busy nights, but even at off hours, business is seldom slow. Locals often call for take-out; if you borrow that tactic, though, you'll miss the full experience. Busy waitresses who might call you "dear" weave through the boisterous dining room, shouting orders and questions as they deliver peerless pizza steaming hot from the brick oven. (You can also drop in for a slice, weekdays at lunch only.) Let it cool a little before you dig in. Nouveau ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes appear on the list of toppings, but that's not authentic. House-made sausage, maybe some pepperoni, and a couple of beers -- now, that's authentic.

Description:

The Scene
Open since 1943, Mike and Annette Mercogliano's dessert institution has hosted presidents, celebrities and tourists from all corners of the globe. On weekends, this shop and cafe is nothing short of chaotic, and lines often stretch out the door. A cramped front area seats 50 and offers fantastic people-watching views of Hanover Street.

The Food
From cookies and marzipan to gelato and hard-to-find Italian specialties like pasticiotto and torrone, the options can be dizzying. Visitors have been known to risk $50 tickets for leaving their cars idling in the street to taste Mike's world-famous cannolis, and with good reason--handmade throughout the day, the sweet cheese pastries come in several delicious varieties. Just as tempting are the cakes, most of which are sold by the slice; the most popular offerings are the tiramisu and rum cakes. Liquid treats include large cups of excellent cappuccino.

Description:

For the ultimate pain-free educational experience, head to the Museum of Science. The demonstrations, experiments, and interactive displays introduce facts and concepts so effortlessly that everyone winds up learning something. Take a couple of hours or a whole day to explore the permanent and temporary exhibits, most of them hands-on and all of them great fun.

Among the 500-plus exhibits, you might meet a dinosaur or a live butterfly, find out how much you'd weigh on the moon, battle urban traffic (in a computer model), or climb into a space module. Activity centers and exhibits focus on fields of interest -- natural history (with live animals), computers, the human body -- while others take an interdisciplinary approach. Investigate! teaches visitors to think like scientists, formulating questions, finding evidence, and drawing conclusions through activities such as strapping on a skin sensor to measure reactions to stimuli or sifting through an archaeological site. Beyond the X-Ray explores medical-imaging techniques and allows would-be diagnosticians to try to figure out what's ailing their "patients." The Science in the Park exhibit introduces the concepts of Newtonian physics...

Description:

This nine-story brick hotel, just a block from Harvard Square, has been the place for business and leisure travelers to Cambridge since it opened in 1985. Much of its fame derives from its excellent restaurants, jazz bar, and day spa; the service is equally impeccable. In the guest rooms, the style is contemporary country, with custom adaptations of early American Shaker furniture. The already-posh rooms underwent a complete renovation in early 2006. Their austere design contrasts with the swanky amenities, which include down quilts and Bose Wave radios; bathrooms contain telephones and TVs (in the mirrors -- cool!). And it wouldn't be Cambridge if your intellectual needs went unfulfilled -- there's a library in the lobby.

Facilities: 2 restaurants (Rialto, one of Cambridge's best, and Henrietta's Table, w/a lavish Sun brunch); 2 bars; Regattabar jazz club; free access to adjacent health club w/glass-enclosed pool, Jacuzzi, and exercise room; adjacent spa and salon; concierge; car-rental desk; business center; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; rooms for those w/limited mobility.

Our Local Expert Says:

Go to the Skywalk to get a 360 view of Boston. If you'd like a special dinner, eat at the Top of the Hub on the 52nd floor and enjoy the view throughout your meal.

Description:

For a breathtaking view of the city and surrounding area, take a trip to this skywalk observatory. The windows here present a vista of Boston in all directions. On a clear day, visitors can see the mountains of New Hampshire. Museum-like displays offer detailed information on the history of Boston's geography. See their website for information on prices and further details.

Description:

America's oldest park is the heart of Boston, offering recreation opportunities and a glimpse into history through numerous monuments to the past. Designated as public space in 1640, British soldiers later camped here during the Revolutionary War. Part of the Freedom Trail, the park adjoins the Massachusetts State House and Beacon Hill. A favorite spot is the Frog Pond, which doubles as an ice skating rink. The park is the beginning of the "Emerald Necklace," a seven-mile string of local parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

Description:

Stepping into this stadium is like walking back in time. With its signature feature, the Green Monster as the 37-foot high left field wall and a manually-operated score board, this is a unique piece of civic history. The building opened in 1912 and is now America's oldest baseball park and is the home to the Red Sox team. Although, the structure has survived several fires over the years, it still stands strong. For those who cannot attend a Red Sox game, take one of the guided tours, available from May through September.