It’s a small state, however my dwelling state of Massachusetts is crammed with family-friendly actions. From the historic points of interest 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 youngsters.
We’ve skilled just a few of this stuff for gratis for evaluation. This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on by means of one in all these hyperlinks might end in 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 discuss locations to go to in Massachusetts with out main off with the capital metropolis of Boston. Boston is crammed with household actions and is likely one of the finest locations to go to in case you hope to see historic websites. You may even select to remain in Boston and take numerous day journeys from Boston and discover town.
To get an outline of the websites of Boston, contemplate the favored Duck Boats (e-book upfront – they promote out!) in addition to the trolley excursions. This could be a good approach to see all the pieces rapidly and get a superb understanding of the historical past of Boston.
There are additionally a number of nice museums to go to in Boston. For youthful youngsters, the Boston Kids’s Museum provides so many fabulous hands-on reveals in addition to a big climbing function that’s good for burning off power. Go to early within the day for decrease crowd ranges, as a result of it will probably 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 Positive Artwork. All have components that youngsters would take pleasure in.
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 teenagers to do. Keep for an IMAX or planetarium present, and also you’ll be there for a lot of the day. The museum additionally options touring and interactive reveals. It’s an important place to find out about science and have enjoyable and there’s one thing for teenagers of all ages.
The New England Aquarium, situated on the Boston Waterfront, provides 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 Positive Artwork might be finest for older youngsters. Along with the artwork galleries, there’s additionally a well-liked mummy exhibit that youngsters take pleasure in. They do have some youngsters’ programming all year long, so examine their web site for particulars.
In case you are taken with historical past, you should definitely stroll the Freedom Path. You may e-book a strolling tour, or stroll it by yourself.
A strolling tour is a superb possibility for households trying to study extra in regards to the historical past of the Freedom Path. There’s additionally the Tea Get together Museum and the USS Structure together with different historic websites. Right here’s one strolling tour that may be booked upfront.
For theater and tradition, you possibly can 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, together with the Blue Man Group, are additionally out there. There’s additionally the A.R.T. in Cambridge which provides reveals (typically pre-Broadway) commonly. There are additionally a number of stay music venues.
In the summertime, you’ll need to spend a while on the water. There are a number of totally different boat excursions on the Boston Harbor you could take, together with whale watches and the thrilling Codzilla journey. Or make a journey to the Boston Harbor Islands, the place you’re going to get a nationwide park expertise proper close to town.
Sports activities followers will need to go to Fenway Park. In case you can’t get tickets to see a recreation, take a tour of the park. This behind-the-scenes expertise is ideal for followers of baseball.
You may additionally need to discover the extra iconic areas of Boston, together with Boston Widespread, the Boston Public Backyard, and Faneuil Corridor.
In case you are planning to go to a number of points of interest in Boston, it’s an important thought to buy a Boston CityPASS. With the CityPASS, you’ll pay for one ticket after which get entry to a number of points of interest. Right here’s what’s included:
- The New England Aquarium
- The Boston Museum of Science
- A alternative of two of both the Franklin Park Zoo, View Boston Commentary 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 youngsters right here.
Salem
Salem, which is legendary for the Salem witch trials from the 1600s, is situated about 40 minutes exterior of Boston on the North Shore and is likely one of the finest day journeys from Boston. This metropolis provides waterfront views, retailers, eating places, and historic buildings among the many Salem Witch points of interest. In case you’d wish to study 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 heart of city, the Home of the Seven Gables, the Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace, and extra, only a quick stroll from the middle.
As you’d think about, Salem comes alive throughout October for Halloween. Whereas it’s 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 listing. Public transportation is obtainable, or arrive early for the most effective shot at a superb parking spot. It will get extraordinarily busy throughout all the month of October. Listed below are some excursions in Salem to e-book.
Rockport
I 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 instances, in summer season and winter. It’s one in all my favourite small cities. The whole Cape Ann space is an attractive spot for a scenic drive, and it’s only a quick drive from Boston.
In case you go to the Rockport space, you’ll need to go to Bearskin Neck. This neighborhood options retailers and eating places (tons and plenty of seafood spots) in a quaint setting. You may park in one of many municipal tons or discover on-street parking.
If you are there, you’ll need to take an image of Motif #1, which is rumored to be probably the most painted constructing. This iconic constructing is a reproduction of an outdated fishing shack.
Need to be on the water? You may hire kayaks in Rockport, or drive to neighboring Gloucester to take a whale watch or 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 inns in Rockport right here.
Plymouth
Referred to as America’s Birthplace, Plymouth is a must-visit for anybody who needs to discover US colonial historical past. Plymouth is situated about 75-90 minutes exterior of Boston, in the direction of Cape Cod. It’s an important 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 need to go to the Plimoth Patuxet Museum. This residing 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 youngsters who’re simply studying in regards to the colonization of America.
There are a number of totally different ticket choices, which you’ll both buy 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 dwelling in Plymouth.
After all, in case you are taken with historical past, you most likely gained’t need to miss Plymouth Rock. In actuality, it’s a reasonably small spot and isn’t very thrilling. In case you are already within the space, chances are you’ll need to go to simply to see it. However there are different higher locations to go to in case you are quick on time.
See inns in Plymouth right here.
Cape Cod
I may dedicate total 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 crammed with quaint retailers, clam shacks, and different eating places, household actions, seashores, and nice inns. One well-liked 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 not 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 possibility is Ocean Edge Resort, situated in Brewster. Ocean Edge provides so many household actions, together with particular programming throughout faculty holidays and holidays. It has many several types of lodging, from rooms to villas.
Along with seashores, you’ll additionally discover museums such because the Whydah Whaling Museum and the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich. Mini golf is one other well-liked summer season exercise, and be sure to get a well-known lobster roll sooner or later in your trip.
See inns in Cape Cod right here.
Nantucket
Take a ferry from the mainland (or fly in) for a getaway to Nantucket. This island is situated about 30 miles from the mainland in Hyannis however feels nearly like one other nation. It’s comparatively small, about 47 miles complete, however there’s tons to do.
Actions embody nature walks, biking, seashores, and purchasing. We love the Nantucket Whaling Museum, which provides a view of Nantucket’s historical past as a whaling metropolis. It’s very busy in the summertime, however late spring and early fall may also be a good time to go to.
Ferries do e-book up through the busy season, so make reservations upfront. Automobile ferries can be found, however we choose to remain proper on the town and stroll round.
There are a number of totally different resort/resort choices on Nantucket, together with the White Elephant proper on the town. See extra resort 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, has a number of totally different cities to go to.
It has extra actions than Nantucket and is a shorter ferry journey. If you are there, you possibly can 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 possibly can deliver your automobile on the island in case you e-book a automobile ferry. As a result of Martha’s Winery is fairly large, I’d advocate bringing your automobile in case you’d wish to discover the island.
See inns on Martha’s Winery right here.
Springfield
Nearer to Western Massachusetts is Springfield, Massachusetts. Whereas Springfield isn’t a significant vacationer metropolis in Massachusetts, it’s dwelling to a couple locations chances are you’ll need to try, both for a day journey or in your drive out of Massachusetts.
Within the fall, it hosts the Jap States Exposition, which is likely one of the prime ten festivals within the nation. Going down over 17 days within the late summer season/early fall, the Huge E (because it’s known as) provides agriculture occasions, live shows, amusement rides, enjoyable amusement park meals/snacks, and extra. It’s enjoyable to go to not less than as soon as with your loved ones.
Springfield can be dwelling to the Basketball Corridor of Fame and the Dr. Seuss Museum. Basketball lovers ought to go to the Corridor of Fame not less than as soon as. It doesn’t 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 inns in Springfield right here.
The Berkshires
The mountainous area in Western Massachusetts is a well-liked summer season trip vacation spot. You’ll discover tradition, farming, artwork, and out of doors actions. In the summertime, go to the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer season dwelling, Tanglewood.
See inns within the Berkshires right here.
Fitchburg
Fitchburg is dwelling to the Boston-area Nice Wolf Lodge resort. Visitors of the resort can take pleasure in a number of enjoyable youngsters’ actions together with an enormous indoor water park, an arcade, and a ropes course, amongst different actions. You’ll 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’s New England’s largest out of doors residing historical past museum. You may study all about life within the nineteenth century in New England from numerous historians all through the reveals. In case you are headed to New York, Sturbridge is on the way in which.
Harmony
Need to study extra in regards to the American Revolution? Journey west of Boston to Harmony Massachusetts, the place you possibly can go to Minute Man Nationwide Historic Park. There are numerous occasions provided all year long, however you possibly can go to at any time to discover the park. Listed below are some excursions of Harmony you possibly can e-book.
Fall River
South of Boston, close to the Rhode Island border, is Fall River. This waterfront metropolis is dwelling to Battleship Cove, an attraction that provides 5 historic naval ships, together with the USS Massachusetts.
Outdoors of Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a comparatively small state, and a number of the finest day journeys can increase past Massachusetts. Choices embody Newport, Rhode Island, the place you possibly can discover the Newport Mansions and the attractive Cliff Stroll, in addition to Salem New Hampshire, the place you possibly can go to the amusement park Canobie Lake Park.
