It’s a small state, however my residence state of Massachusetts is full of family-friendly actions. From the historic sights in Boston and Plymouth to the seashores on Cape Cod and the Islands, there’s a lot to do. Whether or not you’re visiting Massachusetts by itself, or as part of a bigger New England trip, listed here are nice day journeys in Massachusetts with children.
We’ve skilled just a few of these items for gratis for evaluate. This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on by one among these hyperlinks could lead to a fee paid to us at no further price to you. All opinions are my very own.
Issues to Do in Massachusetts With Children
Boston
You may’t speak about locations to go to in Massachusetts with out main off with the capital metropolis of Boston. Boston is full of household actions and is among the finest locations to go to in the event you hope to see historic websites. You may even select to remain in Boston and take varied day journeys from Boston and discover the town.
To get an outline of the websites of Boston, take into account the favored Duck Boats (e-book upfront – they promote out!) in addition to the trolley excursions. This could be a good technique to see all the things shortly and get a great understanding of the historical past of Boston.
There are additionally a number of nice museums to go to in Boston. For youthful children, the Boston Youngsters’s Museum gives so many fabulous hands-on reveals in addition to a big climbing characteristic that is good for burning off vitality. Go to early within the day for decrease crowd ranges, as a result of it may well get busy.
There are different implausible museums in Boston. These embody the New England Aquarium, the Boston Museum of Science, and the Boston Museum of Fantastic Artwork. All have components that children would get pleasure from.
Our favourite of those is the Museum of Science as a result of there are such a lot of totally different hands-on issues for youths to do. Keep for an IMAX or planetarium present, and you will be there for a lot of the day. The museum additionally options touring and interactive reveals. It is an excellent place to study science and have enjoyable and there is one thing for youths of all ages.
The New England Aquarium, situated on the Boston Waterfront, gives each indoor and out of doors reveals centered on marine life. It additionally options an IMAX theater providing nature-themed motion pictures.
The Boston Museum of Fantastic Artwork might be finest for older children. Along with the artwork galleries, there’s additionally a well-liked mummy exhibit that children get pleasure from. They do have some children’ programming all year long, so verify their web site for particulars.
If you’re excited about historical past, be sure you stroll the Freedom Path. You may e-book a strolling tour, or stroll it by yourself.
A strolling tour is a superb choice for households seeking to be taught extra in regards to the historical past of the Freedom Path. There’s additionally the Tea Social gathering Museum and the USS Structure together with different historic websites. Here is one strolling tour that may be booked upfront.
For theater and tradition, you may see a present from the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Corridor or a play/musical within the theater district. A number of theaters rotate touring productions of nationwide reveals.
Native productions are additionally out there. There’s additionally the A.R.T. in Cambridge, which gives reveals (generally pre-Broadway) commonly. There are additionally a number of stay music venues.
In the summertime, you’ll wish to spend a while on the water. There are a number of totally different boat excursions on the Boston Harbor you can take, together with whale watches and the thrilling Codzilla experience. Or make a journey to the Boston Harbor Islands, the place you’re going to get a nationwide park expertise proper close to the town.
Sports activities followers will wish to go to Fenway Park. If you happen to can’t get tickets to see a recreation, take a tour of the park. This behind-the-scenes expertise is good for baseball lovers.
You might also wish to discover the extra iconic areas of Boston, together with Boston Frequent, the Boston Public Backyard, and Faneuil Corridor.
If you’re planning to go to a number of sights in Boston, it is an excellent concept to buy a Boston CityPASS. With the CityPASS, you will pay for one ticket after which get entry to a number of sights. Here is what’s included:
- The New England Aquarium
- The Boston Museum of Science
- A alternative of two of both the Franklin Park Zoo, the View Boston Statement Deck, Boston Harbor Metropolis Cruises, or the Harvard Museum of Pure Historical past
Go to the CityPASS web site to buy.
See the place to remain in Boston with children right here.
Salem
Salem, well-known for the Salem witch trials of the 1600s, is situated roughly 40 minutes exterior Boston on the North Shore and is among the finest day journeys from the town. This metropolis gives waterfront views, outlets, eating places, and historic buildings, all inside the Salem Witch sights. If you happen to’d wish to be taught extra in regards to the trials, the Salem Witch Museum has staged reveals.
You’ll additionally discover the acclaimed Peabody Essex Museum artwork museum proper within the middle of city, the Home of the Seven Gables, the Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace, and extra, only a brief stroll from the middle.
As you’d think about, Salem comes alive throughout October for Halloween. Whereas it is a busy place to go to, there’s a lot exercise and so many nice issues to do.
Halloween lovers ought to embody a visit to Salem on their bucket record. Public transportation is obtainable, or arrive early for the perfect probability at securing a great parking spot. It will get extraordinarily busy throughout the whole month of October. Listed below are some excursions in Salem to e-book.
See accommodations in Salem right here.
Rockport
I really like Rockport, situated on Cape Ann. Though I grew up in New England, I solely began visiting Rockport just a few years in the past.
Since then, we’ve been a number of occasions, in summer season and winter. It is one among my favourite small cities. The whole Cape Ann space is a ravishing spot for a scenic drive, and it is only a brief drive from Boston.
If you happen to go to the Rockport space, you’ll wish to go to Bearskin Neck. This neighborhood options outlets and eating places (heaps and plenty of seafood spots) in a quaint setting. You may park in one of many municipal heaps or discover on-street parking.
While you’re there, you’ll wish to take an image of Motif #1, which is rumored to be essentially the most painted constructing. This iconic constructing is a reproduction of an previous fishing shack.
Need to be on the water? You may lease kayaks in Rockport or drive to neighboring Gloucester to take a whale watch or a schooner tour. There are additionally a number of sandy seashores within the space value visiting, together with Wingaersheek Seaside and Good Harbor Seaside.
You may keep in Rockport or Gloucester, or make a day journey from one other spot in Massachusetts.
See accommodations in Rockport right here.
Plymouth
Referred to as America’s Birthplace, Plymouth is a must-visit vacation spot for anybody excited about exploring US colonial historical past. Plymouth is situated roughly 75-90 minutes exterior of Boston, en path to Cape Cod. It is an excellent place to cease for a day journey as a part of a highway journey all the way down to Cape Cod.
As soon as you’re there, you’ll wish to go to the Plimoth Patuxet Museum. This dwelling historical past museum options a number of sections, together with the Wampanoag Homesite and the Seventeenth-century English village. It’s value a go to, particularly with children who’re simply studying in regards to the colonization of America.
There are a number of ticket choices out there, which may be bought on-line or at Plimoth Patuxet. You may select to go to simply the plantation or add on visits to the Grist Mill and/or the waterfront exhibit. The Mayflower II was being restored in Mystic, CT, however is now again residence in Plymouth.
After all, in case you are excited about historical past, you in all probability gained’t wish to miss Plymouth Rock. In actuality, it’s a fairly small spot and isn’t very thrilling. If you’re already within the space, you could wish to go to it. Nevertheless, there are different higher locations to go to in the event you’re brief on time.
See accommodations in Plymouth right here.
Cape Cod
I may dedicate whole articles to all the kid-friendly issues to do on Cape Cod. It’s really a full trip expertise, particularly in the summertime.
Greatest visited in the summertime (or early fall), Cape Cod is full of quaint outlets, clam shacks, and different eating places, household actions, seashores, and nice accommodations. One in style attraction is the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore, which is a part of the Nationwide Park Service.
The Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore consists of seashores to the tip of Cape Cod in Provincetown. The seashores in Cape Cod, are a number of the finest seashores on the East Coast.
Once we go to Cape Cod for no less than an in a single day keep, we like visiting the Sea Crest Seaside Resort, which is situated proper on Previous Silver Seaside in Falmouth. It’s good for that quintessential household seaside expertise.
One other nice resort choice is Ocean Edge Resort, situated in Brewster. Ocean Edge gives a wide range of household actions, together with particular programming throughout college holidays and holidays. It gives a variety of lodging, together with rooms and villas.
Along with seashores, you will additionally discover museums such because the Whydah Whaling Museum and the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich. Mini golf is one other in style summer season exercise, and ensure you get a well-known lobster roll sooner or later in your trip.
See accommodations in Cape Cod right here.
Nantucket
Take a ferry from the mainland (or fly in) for a getaway to Nantucket. This island, situated roughly 30 miles from the mainland in Hyannis, feels nearly like one other nation. It’s comparatively small, about 47 miles whole, however there’s quite a bit to do.
Actions embody nature walks, biking, seashores, and buying. We love the Nantucket Whaling Museum, which gives a view of Nantucket’s historical past as a whaling metropolis. It’s extremely busy in the summertime, however late spring and early fall can be a good time to go to.
Ferries do e-book up in the course of the busy season, so it is beneficial to make reservations upfront. Automotive ferries can be found, however we desire to remain proper on the town and stroll round.
There are a number of totally different resort/lodge choices on Nantucket, together with the White Elephant proper on the town. See extra lodge evaluations right here.
Martha’s Winery
Situated about 4 miles from the coast of Cape Cod is Martha’s Winery. This island, bigger than Nantucket, options a number of distinct cities to discover.
It gives extra actions than Nantucket and is a shorter ferry experience away. While you’re there, you may go to seashores, store, eat scrumptious meals, bike, take nature walks, and extra.
There are a number of cities on the island, all with various things to supply. These embody Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. Like Nantucket, you may deliver your automotive to the island in the event you e-book a automotive ferry. As a result of Martha’s Winery is fairly massive, I would suggest bringing your automotive if you would like to discover the island.
See accommodations on Martha’s Winery right here.
Springfield
Nearer to Western Massachusetts is Springfield, Massachusetts. Whereas Springfield isn’t a serious vacationer metropolis in Massachusetts, it’s residence to a couple locations you could wish to take a look at, both for a day journey or in your drive out of Massachusetts.
Within the fall, it hosts the Jap States Exposition, which is among the high ten festivals within the nation. Happening over 17 days within the late summer season/early fall, the Huge E (because it’s known as) gives agriculture occasions, concert events, amusement rides, enjoyable amusement park meals/snacks, and extra. It is enjoyable to go to no less than as soon as with your loved ones.
Springfield can also be residence to the Basketball Corridor of Fame and the Dr. Seuss Museum. Basketball lovers ought to go to the Corridor of Fame no less than as soon as. It does not take too lengthy to tour, though some occasions and actions additionally happen there.
Six Flags Over New England is situated in close by Agawam and is open in season. Springfield is situated about 2 hours from Boston and three hours and fifteen minutes from New York Metropolis.
See accommodations in Springfield right here.
The Berkshires
The mountainous area in Western Massachusetts is a well-liked summer season trip vacation spot. You may discover tradition, farming, artwork, and out of doors actions. In the summertime, go to the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer season residence, Tanglewood.
See accommodations within the Berkshires right here.
Fitchburg
Fitchburg is residence to the Boston-area Nice Wolf Lodge resort. Visitors of the resort can get pleasure from a number of enjoyable children’ actions, together with an enormous indoor water park, an arcade, and a ropes course, amongst different actions. You may have to remain on the property to make use of the water park, so plan an in a single day keep.
Visitors can use the water park on each check-in day and check-out day. See our full Nice Wolf Lodge New England Resort right here.
Sturbridge
Sturbridge MA, situated west of Boston, options Previous Sturbridge Village. It is New England’s largest out of doors dwelling historical past museum. You may study life in Nineteenth-century New England from varied historians all through the reveals. If you’re headed to New York, Sturbridge is on the way in which.
Harmony
Need to be taught extra in regards to the American Revolution? Journey west of Boston to Harmony, Massachusetts, the place you may go to Minute Man Nationwide Historic Park. There are numerous occasions provided all year long, however you may go to at any time to discover the park. Listed below are some excursions of Harmony you may e-book.
Fall River
South of Boston, close to the Rhode Island border, is Fall River. This waterfront metropolis is residence to Battleship Cove, an attraction that provides 5 historic naval ships, together with the USS Massachusetts.
Exterior of Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a comparatively small state, and a number of the finest day journeys can lengthen past its borders. Choices embody Newport, Rhode Island, the place you may discover the Newport Mansions and the gorgeous Cliff Stroll, in addition to Salem, New Hampshire, the place you may go to the amusement park Canobie Lake Park.
