Pint-size summer in the city: Fun things that kids will actually want to do
We recently revisited a sampling of local family-friendly attractions with a rotating posse of children under the age of 10. Here are some highlights. Of course, your results — with your kids, little buddies, or grandkids — may vary.
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Kids are often pretty entertained by the squirrel action in the Public Garden, and it's easy to see why.
John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Fun freebies
Attractions aren't cheap. Happily, Boston is full of fun freebies that score high with small fry, like the
splash fountains on the Rose Kennedy Greenway
(
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The chaos that is the
Haymarket?
The child in your party may well be entranced; ours was. But plan to carry that tot — this is not the place for a stroller. (For more tips, see
Cyclists, runners, and walkers don't have to worry about cars on a section of Memorial Drive on Sundays.
Vincent Alban For The Boston Globe
How much fun is it to ride your bike in the street when there are no cars around? It's a blast. Our tester kids — old enough to ride two-wheeler bicycles — enjoyed
Memorial Drive Recreation Sundays
(
A pool of sprinkles at the Museum of Ice Cream.
Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff
New and topped with sprinkles
We asked an 8-year-old if she wanted to go to a museum. 'Yes! The ice cream one!' she replied. We should have seen that coming. Boston has its own outpost of the
Museum of Ice Cream
(timed entry; weekday tickets from $25; weekend tickets from $33;
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View Boston, the observatory on top of the Prudential tower, is where Top of the Hub used to be.
Lane Turner/Globe Staff
Room with a view
We were eager to check out
View Boston
($34; ages 6-12, $15;
"Back Bay Bertha" splashes into the Charles in 2020.
Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
Duck, duck, boat
Hard to believe the duck boats, a.k.a.
Boston Duck Tours
(adult tickets, $55; 3-11, $40; under age 3, $11;
The jokes come fast and furiously, and will go right over the kids' heads. For them, the fun comes with that splash into the Charles River, and the chance to pilot the vessel for a minute or two. Our take: Out-of-town adult guests and older kids will enjoy this most, while little ones get antsy. (Tip: If your party includes two adults and two kids ages 3-11, ask about their Family 4 Pack; it's $165, good at the Museum of Science location only. Not valid on Saturdays.)
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Martin's Park was officially opened in June 2019 with a celebration of music and family-friendly programming.
John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Awesome twosome
Yep, the bubble exhibit is still there. And the Japanese House. The
Boston Children's Museum
($22; under 12 months free;
Visit on a nice day and make it a two-fer with a visit to
Martin's Park Boston
(
Legal Sea Foods gives little diners some options on their kids' menu. Of course, ours chose chicken fingers, along with rice pilaf and slaw.
Diane Bair
Best kids' menu
If we never saw another chicken finger, we'd be fine.
Legal Sea Foods
($10, for kids age 12 and under;
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Maelynn Munro, 8, watches a penguin feeding session at the New England Aquarium.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Sea creatures? Yes please
Harbor seals. Parading penguins. Seahorses. Sharks. Opened in 1969,
New England Aquarium
(adults, $39; ages 3-11, $30,
We're running out of space and didn't have a chance to share the details of the
Boston Public Library's
(
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
(
Sugar Factory Boston
(
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See you on the Greenway Carousel — and in line at Cookie Monstah.
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