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| | massachusetts | boston | |||
| Waterfront | |||
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New England Aquarium - The New England Aquarium is a “must do” with kids, and is a wonderful way to experience marine life. Once you step inside, you’ll be wowed by the four story Big Ocean Tank with Myrtle the Turtle (sea turtle), sand tiger sharks, stingrays and moray eels. The seadragon’s tank is simply beautiful, and be sure to see the exhibits with marine life of Boston Harbor, Atlantic harbor seals, and the American lobster (rare blue and white). At the Edge of the Sea touch tank, kids can feel sea urchins, sea stars and horseshoe crabs. Watch divers feed the creatures in the Big Ocean Tank, play with harbor seals and take a behind the scenes tour of the Aquarium. Little kids will enjoy the Curious George discovery area, and check out the splashy IMAX presentations. Tip: Admission is included in the Go BostonCard. |
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 Whale watching – April to October, there are whale watching tours (3 hours) from the New England Aquarium. You’re sure to spot whales, for example, you might see humpback whales and minke whales, plus lots of sea birds. Click here for the schedule. |
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Boats, boats, boats – Boston is one of the great seafaring cities, and you’ll want to get out on the water, feel the wind in your face, and set your sights to the east. | ||
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| Tall ships - June to September, take a two hour cruise around the harbor in a sailing ship. Kids can be any age, but 2 hours may be a bit long for little kids. Click here for the Liberty Clipper and Formidable schedules. |
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| Inner Harbor Ferry – The cheapest way to see Boston Harbor is to take the Inner Harbor Ferry from Long Wharf over to Charlestown Navy Yard (and the USS Constitution on the Freedom Trail). |
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| Salem Ferry - If you’re planning on visiting Salem, a fun way to get to Salem is to take the high speed catamaran, a 45 min. ride up the coast, and you’ll disembark at the Salem wharf. We took the ferry on a gloriously sunny day - it was a super trip up the coastline. |
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| Ferry to the Harbor Islands – Visiting the Harbor Islands is one of our favorite things to do, and part of the fun is the boat ride around the islands. If you don’t have time to get off and explore the islands, just ride the ferry around the loop. Pick up tickets at the booth across from Christopher Columbus Park. |
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Christopher Columbus Park – A charming park with grass, benches, and water play area in warm weather. Pick up a picnic at Quincy Market, sit out and watch the boats coming and going. | ||
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Faneuil Hall Marketplace - | ||
| Faneuil Hall – Faneuil Hall was built in 1742, with a market on a first floor and meeting hall on the second floor – here the Sons of Liberty held town meetings during the American Revolution. It’s still an active meeting hall today, so if you want to visit, call 617.242.5642 to hear the schedule when it’s open to the public. |
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Quincy Market – Here’s where you’ll find tons of places to eat, from casual eateries with clam chowder, hamburgers, sandwiches, ethnic foods, ice cream and desserts, to sit down restaurants, such as the busy Durgin Park, a Boston tradition, with Yankee pot roast and Indian pudding. In nice weather, there are always street performers, jugglers and musicians. |
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Boston Children’s Museum – This stellar museum is always a big hit with younger kids. Infants and toddlers can explore and crawl in the Playspace, for bigger kids there’s hands-on art activities, play with boats in the water, step into a real Japanese house (don’t forget to take off your shoes), go through a 3-D puzzle, and more. Next to the museum is a small park with benches and tables, and the Hood milk bottle out front has a snack bar. Tip: Admission is included in the Go BostonCard. |
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Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum – The Boston Tea Party ship is scheduled to re-open in summer 2009. | ||
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Parks – | ||
| Rose Kennedy Greenway parks - When the Big Dig was completed, the freeway goes underground, and now a 15 acre park is a new “emerald necklace,” extending from Haymarket around the waterfront to Chinatown, with green grass, fountains, and water play areas. When we were visting, kids were cooling off in jets of water spouting like geysers in the Wharf District Park at Milk Street. |
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| Post Office Square – This is one of the prettiest parks in downtown Boston, a fountain to wiggle your toes in warm weather, grass and benches, plus an outdoor café. |
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