OT: Family friendly Sights around Boston MA

[mitushib]

We are going to boston to be more precise to Woburn MA for the labor day weekend. Does anyone have any idea of family friendly sights nearby? We have had our fill of amusment parks for the summer so are looking for other sights. Any input will be appreciated.

 

[kelleigh1]

Oops! See next post.

 

[kelleigh1]

I don't know the Woburn area, but I do work in Boston.

Some options in the city:

Duck tour
Trolley tour
Aquarium
Tour of Fenway Park

Also a visit to Salem, where there are a number of museums, etc. concerning the Salem Witch Trials.

Are there any things in particular that you'd like to do? What are the ages of the kids?

 

[stephbillalec]

In Boston, my kids (ds6, dd3, ds1) love the Children's Museum, Quincy Market, and the Aquarium. On our last visit we did the Duck Tour and it was nice but very expensive.
Have Fun!

 

[mitushib]

My DS is 3, We will also have a 9 yr old girl and a 2 year old boy who are kids of the people we are visiting. Woburn is just outside Boston and a 20 min commute. Please keep your ideas cming. Any other day trips to nearby places. We have been to the Vineyard once.

 

[kelleigh1]

Weatherwise, I can tell you that so far they are forecasting nice weather although a bit on the cooler side of normal - in the low 70's.

Check out www.boston.com

This site has local news, etc. but there are also sections on things to do when visiting the area. You may find some helpful info.

 

[Patsfan7]

I live in the town next to Woburn. I agree with the poster who suggested Childrens museum, & Aquarium, also maybe the Museum of Science. I brought my daughter to the Isabella Stuart Garndner museum, definately DO NOT recomend. We don't do much around this immediate area, but if you want an ice cream one night, maybe take them to Jordan's Furniture in Reading, and is a couple of minutes from Woburn. They have a water show indoors that is cool, (it is constantly going, but the real show is about every 15minutes or so), and they have a trapeze school that you can watch people taking lessons while eating your ice cream. We have a Rainforest Cafe in Burlington. Other than that, I think Boston would be your best bet for entertaining them. There are some farms and zoos that we have never been to that would be about an hour or so away. One has a corn maze. www.davisfarmland.com I would not recomend the Stone Zoo. You would be done with it within an hour. Where are you staying? If I think of anything else, I will be sure to get back to you.

 

[MissMichelle]

This link will bring you to 25 free things to do in and around Boston : http://www.explorenewengland.com/tr...ston/galleries/25freethingstodoinBoston/&pg=9

There are also things you can fairly cheap...some posters have give great advice, museums, Quincy Marketplace (my kids love both) etc....We always stroll the streets---I found some quaint bistros and hidden shops...I love Boston... We always take the *T* into Boston for a full day (I am the furthest stop away and it is $12 RT) and just do a lot of walking and using the subways.

 

[diesel]

Woburn is also close by Historical Lexington and Concord. The Old North Bridge is always a favorite to visit in Concord.

 

[mishtb]

Also the children's musuem is open til 9 or 10pm on Fridays. If you go there any time after 5pm on Fridays it only cost $1.00 to get in. Its a great deal and compared to other children's musuem's that I have been to it is the best and largest around. How old are your children?
If your going around halloween time you may want to take a drive to Salem.... usually that time of year they have things going on plus there is the witch musuem.

 

[Fall1]

If you wanted to head about 30-40 minutes north, you could go to Rockport or Newburyport. Both are nice day trips and have lots of cute shops, restaurants, abililty to walk on the beach.
You could look into the North Shore Music Theater, it's about 25 minutes north in Beverly and has wonderful shows. Sometimes they have children's shows and the performances are very high quality. Have fun!

 

[LoveMickey]

Try walking the Freedom Trail in Boston. It's a very historic trail but you are in the Boston and will end up at quincy market area.

Love bosotn

 

[utahkennedys]

I grew up in Boston and I think the various harbor cruises are fun, they are at the pier next to the Aquarium and they have all kinds of cruises with different price ranges. The Children's Museum is also great, I'll take my 2 girls to that next time we are in town visiting my parents.

 

[crjack]

Another fun place to visit is the North End. Some of the best italian food and desserts you'll ever try. Very close to Quincy Market and the waterfront area. We love the Childrens Museum on Friday nights too.....great value. You can also have your friends check with their local library in Woburn for museum passes for that weekend. Every town library that I know of has passes available for check-out to the major Boston musuems like the Museum of Science, Fine Arts, Children Museum, etc. It's a popular weekend so it would be best to check soon if possible. They can save you a great deal of money. Have fun and enjoy Boston!

 

[stina]

Definitely Quincy Market/Fanueil Hall. It is the best. All different kinds of food in a long hallway. Something for everybody. Plus alot of little vendor carts with all kinds of things from jewelry to cookies. When I was 6, besides Disney, this was my favorite place to go!!! The New England Aquarium and IMAX theater are right near there as well...within walking distance. Aquarium is excellent.

Children's Museum is also excellent for children and "big" children. I like the Science Museum too. And the "T" (subway) is cheap and easy to use, all color coded with obvious stops like "Science Museum".

For free fun, take a walk over to the Public Gardens and check out the real ducklings from "Make Way for Ducklings", also the Swan Boats if they are still running.

Of course there's all the historical Boston stuff too, Freedom trail, etc. But to be honest you can really soak in the history of Boston just walking around and looking at stuff. It is a cool (and beloved) city.

Have fun and don't forget to Pahk Your Cah in Hahvahd Yahd.

stina

 

[jonestavern]

If you're up for a ride, try Sturbridge Village, a living history museum in Sturbridge, Mass. Here is their website:

http://www.osv.org/

there are lots of activities for all ages & a big, new children's play center, which is just excellent.

There is also Plimoth Plantation, which is a living history museum, too. The living history reenactors will speak to you & the children in 'character'. Ask where the TV is or where they plug in the computer
These 'characters' are persons who have been thoroughly researched--right down to the accents--persons who have been documented as having lived at the original Plimouth Plantation. Here is their website:

http://www.plimoth.org/

Yes, all of the above! the Museum of Science is excellent as is the Children's Museum!

Jean

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Not a lot of great options to do IN Woburn but I'm assuming that you have ways to get around. Boston is a very walkable city so once you get there, there are tons of fun things to do. If you go to the Common, there will be plenty of tour vendors. Plus there are the Museums, Franklin Park Zoo, The Aquarium (which will be very disappointing to your kids if they've been to any large Aquariums). Jordans Furniture is very fun. There is a water show, the IMAX theatre, Jelly Bean shop, Fuddruckers, etc, etc.

 

[poppinspal]

Patsfan7-Where do you live? I'm next to Woburn as well, I'm in Winchester.

OP-I have had a ball this summer at Kimballs Farm. They have some of the best ice cream around. (This is coming from an ice cream freak.) The portions are huge so you can get a kiddie and it will be more ice cream then a kiddie at a normal place. The one in Westford also has a driving range, pitch and putt, two different mini golf courses that are so much fun, bumper boats and a country store. Here's a link to their website. Kimballs website I've been going to this place for years and got my bf hooked on it this summer so I suggest it for anyone in the area. It's also a beautiful drive to take.

 

[Patsfan7]

Patsfan7-Where do you live? I'm next to Woburn as well, I'm in Winchester.

I am in Reading. So, the OP must be here! I wonder what they decided to do. Some of the historical things I am sure are not of interest to the two and three year olds. Looking forward to hearing how they kept them entertained. May have new ideas that I haven't thought of for my 4 and 1yo!

 

[Patsfan7]

OP- So how did it go? Where did you go?