Boston on a budget! It is hard but it is possible with these fabulous tips!

Here are the best Boston attractions for families and all but the first one are completely free! You can enjoy the historic city of Boston without blowing your budget.

If your kids are interested in history in the area you can also visit the Freedom Trail in Boston or nearby Concord, Massachusetts.

Related post: 16 Day trips from Boston

7 Things to do in Boston with Kids

Sometimes, vacation time should be all about family time. The perfect place to focus on both fun and family is Boston, Massachusetts. This city is loaded with tons of opportunities for the kiddos to both learn, and straight-up have some fun. Here are a few exciting activities for not just the kids, but the whole family to enjoy. 

Boston Children’s Museum

Who said learning can’t be fun? You can take your kids to different areas within the city to learn exciting and new discoveries. Head to the Boston Children’s Museum to find one of the biggest children’s museums in the world. You’ll experience several different activities like race cars and interactive exhibits. There is also a playspace and three-story maze for your kids to have a ball on and enjoy themselves. Head into the museum on Friday between 5pm and 9pm to only pay a dollar to get in. 

 

Martin’s Park 

This brand-new park is an exciting place for you and your kiddos to explore- while also tugging on your heartstrings a tiny bit. This park recently opened in June 2019 and was made to honor Martin Richard, the youngest victim in the Boston bombings. 

 

This park was built to both honor his memory and to provide a unique playground experience for all kids everywhere. It contains numerous spaces for everyone to play, explore and discover new activities. While the kids are playing, you’ll also be able to gawk at the gorgeous landscape with the abundance of trees, flowers and plants scattered all around the park. 

 

Not only can your kids play on the park’s equipment, but they will get a chance to take in all the different kinds of nature offered to them here. Once they’re ready for a break from playing, go for a walk down the park’s hiking path to find beautiful views of the city and its skyline. 

 

The Rose Kennedy Greenway

If you and the kids are looking to spend your day playing and exploring gorgeous views, the Rose Kennedy Greenway is a great place to do that. This destination stretches out to be over a mile long and contains a set of parks inside of it. All of these parks have been created to represent various Boston neighborhoods nearby. 

 

You and the kids will enjoy a creative carousel made to represent different sights and creatures you’ll find in Boston like turtles, lobsters, harbor seals and more. Once they’ve gotten as much as they can from the carousel, take your kids over to the PlayCubes. Here they can run and jump around to let off some steam. You can then head over to the Rings Fountain in the summertime to enjoy the nice, cooling jets. 

 

If you check before heading off to Boston for vacation, you may be able to arrive on a day they’re hosting certain events. The park regularly offers various activies such as concerts, food markets and activities for kids. Parents may even get to enjoy themselves while relaxing with a nice, cold beer at the park’s beer garden. It’ll be a day of nonstop fun.

 

The Esplanade 

Once you’re ready for more playgrounds, we have another ready for you. This one is also newer and can be found near the Charles River. If your kids love to climb, they can do tons of that on the structure built to look just like a spider web. Once they’re done climbing and playing, they can find plenty of other activities to enjoy like swings, a merry-go-round and even zip lines! 

 

Sorry parents, but your kids may never want to leave all the fun activities happening at this park. You could be here a while. Luckily, you’ll have a gorgeous view of the Charles River and other surrounding scenery. 

 

The Lawn on D 

Right near the Boston Children’s Museum, you’ll find a lawn that is way more than just a lawn. The Lawn on D is a spot with giant swings, interactive games and more. Many people love to hang out at this spot with kids near the late evening or nighttime. This is when the swings will light up as they’re played on. 

 

There may even be showings of movies happening one of the nights you’re there. This will be a nice spot to relax and watch movies with your family as you curl up on a blanket after a long day of playing in Boston. You can even head over to their outdoor bar to grab a drink to enjoy after the exciting day you just had in the city. 

 

Frog Pond in The Boston Common

Tired from a hot day of walking around the city? Cool off by visiting the Frog Pond inside of the Boston Common. It provides a nice spray park and wading pool for those extra heated, summer days.

 

Once the kids have gotten their fill on-water activities, they can just head over to the Tadpole Playground right next to the spray parks. It’s a perfect spot for you to rest while the kids play. You can also take in the beautiful scenery at the same time. 

 

The USS Constitution Museum 

If you’re looking for a spot for kids to have fun while learning about Massachusetts, bring them over to the USS Constitution Museum. This museum is free (with donations requested) and offers tours of Old Ironsides. 

 

This is known to be the oldest warship ever as it was ordered to be built by George Washington himself to protect the country’s ports. You and the kids have the exciting opportunity to tour it. 

 

You and the family can also explore different exhibits and activities that are both hands-on and educational. Head into the interactive museum as well to learn more about what life was like deep at sea hundreds of years ago.  

Take your kids on a cruise on the way to the USS Constitution and let them feel like they are having their own Boston Tea Party. For tickets, click this link.

Menino Playground 

Playgrounds with gorgeous views and scenery are becoming a common trend in Boston- and we’re not complaining. If you head over to Menino Park, you’ll discover a uniquely designed playground. This was respectfully created after the occurrence of the Boston Marathon bombings. 

 

Here you’ll find an interactive and inclusive spot with different play structures along with a merry-go-round that is wheelchair accessible. 

 

Kids Activities in Boston

Boston has always been known as a vacation destination spot with a rich history. It’s now becoming a bustling place with different playgrounds and opportunities for all kids to play and feel included.

You can find many more things to do in Boston with kids both indoors and out from our friends at BostonCentral.  Spending a few days in Boston with the family can be exactly what you need for a fun, adventurous and unique vacation. 

For more posts on New England Travel visit this page.

Where to eat in Boston

There are so many amazing restaurants in Boston. My favorites are the historical ones and the oldest Boston restaurants are a treat for singles or families.

Our favorite is S and S restaurant in Cambridge. It’s not too fancy to take your kids and is a special night out on the town.

If you prefer a grab and go option here are some fabulous places.

Boston Chowda company 

Tasty Burger

Cava

Clover Food Lab

Or just pick up one of dozens of treats at Faneuil hall’s food market!

Best hotels in Boston for Families

Residence Inn Back Bay

My favorite pick for where to stay in Boston with kids is the Residence Inn in Back Bay/Fenway. Prices are high on hotels downtown but this one if much more reasonably priced and is in a lovely area of town near Fenway Park. It is close to public transportation as well. Not only is it a nice hotel, they have rooms that can fit families of 5 to 6 people. A big plus!

For booking information click here.

Kimpton Marlowe

If you don’t mind staying a little farther out of the city I highly recommend the Kimpton Marlowe hotel in Cambridge. It is closer to Harvard and MIT than downtown Boston but it is a really nice hotel for a much better price. It feels like a luxury hotel at half the price of one downtown. The suites are family friendly and beautifully decorated. You will feel like a fancy family if you stay here!

For booking information, click here.

 

 

By Stacey from www.bostoncentral.com to collab on Boston Attractions for families. She blogs about family travel in Boston. If you enjoy her post make sure to go check out her blog!

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