It’s a small state, however my residence 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 might be visiting Massachusetts by itself, or as part of a bigger New England trip, listed here are nice day journeys in Massachusetts with youngsters.
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Issues to Do in Massachusetts With Youngsters
Boston
You possibly can’t speak about locations to go to in Massachusetts with out main off with the capital metropolis of Boston. Boston is crammed with household actions and is without doubt one of the greatest locations to go to in the event you hope to see historic websites. You possibly can even select to remain in Boston and take varied day journeys from Boston and discover the town.
To get an summary of the websites of Boston, contemplate the favored Duck Boats (e-book prematurely – they promote out!) in addition to the trolley excursions. This could be a good solution to see every little thing rapidly and get a great 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 displays in addition to a big climbing characteristic that is excellent for burning off power. Go to early within the day for decrease crowd ranges, as a result of it may get busy.
There are different incredible museums in Boston. These embody the New England Aquarium, the Boston Museum of Science, and the Boston Museum of Fantastic Artwork. All have parts that children 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 youths to do. Keep for an IMAX or planetarium present, and you will be there for many of the day. The museum additionally options touring and interactive displays. It is a fantastic place to find out about science and have enjoyable and there is one thing for youths of all ages.
The New England Aquarium, situated on the Boston Waterfront, provides each indoor and out of doors displays centered on marine life. It additionally options an IMAX theater providing nature-themed motion pictures.
The Boston Museum of Fantastic Artwork might be greatest for older youngsters. Along with the artwork galleries, there’s additionally a preferred mummy exhibit that children take pleasure in. They do have some youngsters’ programming all year long, so examine their web site for particulars.
If you’re fascinated with historical past, make sure to stroll the Freedom Path. You possibly can e-book a strolling tour, or stroll it by yourself.
A strolling tour is a good choice for households trying to study extra concerning the historical past of the Freedom Path. There’s additionally the Tea Get together Museum and the USS Structure together with different historic websites. This is one strolling tour that may be booked prematurely.
For theater and tradition, you’ll be able to 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 exhibits.
Native productions are additionally obtainable. There’s additionally the A.R.T. in Cambridge, which provides exhibits (generally pre-Broadway) frequently. There are additionally a number of dwell 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 experience. Or make a journey to the Boston Harbor Islands, the place you’ll get a nationwide park expertise proper close to the town.
Sports activities followers will need to go to Fenway Park. For those who can’t get tickets to see a sport, take a tour of the park. This behind-the-scenes expertise is right for baseball fanatics.
You may additionally need to discover the extra iconic areas of Boston, together with Boston Widespread, the Boston Public Backyard, and Faneuil Corridor.
If you’re planning to go to a number of points of interest in Boston, it is a fantastic thought to buy a Boston CityPASS. With the CityPASS, you may pay for one ticket after which get entry to a number of points of interest. This is what’s included:
- The New England Aquarium
- The Boston Museum of Science
- A alternative of two of both the Franklin Park Zoo, the 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, well-known for the Salem witch trials of the 1600s, is situated roughly 40 minutes exterior Boston on the North Shore and is without doubt one of the greatest day journeys from the town. This metropolis provides waterfront views, outlets, eating places, and historic buildings, all throughout the Salem Witch points of interest. For those who’d prefer to study extra concerning the trials, the Salem Witch Museum has staged displays.
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 brief stroll from the middle.
As you’d think about, Salem comes alive throughout October for Halloween. Whereas it is 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 checklist. Public transportation is out there, or arrive early for the most effective likelihood at securing a great parking spot. It will get extraordinarily busy throughout the whole month of October. Listed below are some excursions in Salem to e-book.
See accommodations in Salem right here.
Rockport
I like Rockport, situated on Cape Ann. Though I grew up in New England, I solely began visiting Rockport a couple of years in the past.
Since then, we’ve been a number of occasions, in summer time and winter. It is certainly one of my favourite small cities. The complete Cape Ann space is a fantastic spot for a scenic drive, and it is only a brief drive from Boston.
For those who go to the Rockport space, you’ll need to go to Bearskin Neck. This neighborhood options outlets and eating places (heaps and plenty of seafood spots) in a quaint setting. You possibly can park in one of many municipal heaps or discover on-street parking.
While you’re 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 duplicate of an previous fishing shack.
Need to be on the water? You possibly can lease kayaks in Rockport or drive to neighboring Gloucester to take a whale watch or a schooner tour. There are additionally a number of sandy seashores within the space price visiting, together with Wingaersheek Seashore and Good Harbor Seashore.
You possibly can keep in Rockport or Gloucester, or make a day journey from one other spot in Massachusetts.
See accommodations in Rockport right here.
Plymouth
Often known as America’s Birthplace, Plymouth is a must-visit vacation spot for anybody fascinated with exploring US colonial historical past. Plymouth is situated roughly 75-90 minutes exterior of Boston, en path to Cape Cod. It is a fantastic place to cease for a day journey as a part of a highway journey right down to Cape Cod.
As soon as you might be there, you’ll need to go to the Plimoth Patuxet Museum. This dwelling historical past museum options a number of sections, together with the Wampanoag Homesite and the Seventeenth-century English village. It’s price a go to, particularly with youngsters who’re simply studying concerning the colonization of America.
There are a number of ticket choices obtainable, which may be bought on-line or at Plimoth Patuxet. You possibly can 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 residence in Plymouth.
After all, if you’re fascinated with historical past, you most likely gained’t need to miss Plymouth Rock. In actuality, it’s a fairly small spot and isn’t very thrilling. If you’re already within the space, you might need to go to it. Nonetheless, there are different higher locations to go to in the event you’re brief on time.
See accommodations in Plymouth right here.
Cape Cod
I might dedicate total articles to the entire kid-friendly issues to do on Cape Cod. It’s actually a full trip expertise, particularly in the summertime.
Finest visited in the summertime (or early fall), Cape Cod is crammed with quaint outlets, clam shacks, and different eating places, household actions, seashores, and nice accommodations. 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 among the greatest seashores on the East Coast.
Once we go to Cape Cod for at the very least an in a single day keep, we like visiting the Sea Crest Seashore Resort, which is situated proper on Previous Silver Seashore in Falmouth. It’s excellent for that quintessential household seaside expertise.
One other nice resort choice is Ocean Edge Resort, situated in Brewster. Ocean Edge provides quite a lot of household actions, together with particular programming throughout faculty holidays and holidays. It provides a spread of lodging, together with rooms and villas.
Along with seashores, you may 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 time exercise, and be sure to get a well-known lobster roll sooner or later in your trip.
See accommodations in Cape Cod right here.
Nantucket
Take a ferry from the mainland (or fly in) for a getaway to Nantucket. This island, situated roughly 30 miles from the mainland in Hyannis, feels virtually like one other nation. It’s comparatively small, about 47 miles whole, however there’s rather a lot 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 extremely busy in the summertime, however late spring and early fall may also be a good time to go to.
Ferries do e-book up throughout the busy season, so it is advisable to make reservations prematurely. Automotive ferries can be found, however we favor 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 critiques right here.
Martha’s Winery
Situated about 4 miles from the coast of Cape Cod is Martha’s Winery. This island, bigger than Nantucket, options a number of distinct cities to discover.
It provides extra actions than Nantucket and is a shorter ferry experience away. While you’re there, you’ll be able to 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’ll be able to deliver your automotive to the island in the event you e-book a automotive ferry. As a result of Martha’s Winery is fairly massive, I might suggest bringing your automotive if you would like to discover the island.
See accommodations on Martha’s Winery right here.
Springfield
Nearer to Western Massachusetts is Springfield, Massachusetts. Whereas Springfield isn’t a serious vacationer metropolis in Massachusetts, it’s residence to some locations you might 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 without doubt one of the high ten festivals within the nation. Going down over 17 days within the late summer time/early fall, the Huge E (because it’s known as) provides agriculture occasions, concert events, amusement rides, enjoyable amusement park meals/snacks, and extra. It is enjoyable to go to at the very least as soon as with your loved ones.
Springfield can be residence to the Basketball Corridor of Fame and the Dr. Seuss Museum. Basketball lovers ought to go to the Corridor of Fame at the very least as soon as. It does not 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 accommodations in Springfield right here.
The Berkshires
The mountainous area in Western Massachusetts is a well-liked summer time trip vacation spot. You will discover tradition, farming, artwork, and out of doors actions. In the summertime, go to the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer time residence, Tanglewood.
See accommodations within the Berkshires right here.
Fitchburg
Fitchburg is residence to the Boston-area Nice Wolf Lodge resort. Company 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 will have to remain on the property to make use of the water park, so plan an in a single day keep.
Company 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 is New England’s largest out of doors dwelling historical past museum. You possibly can find out about life in Nineteenth-century New England from varied historians all through the displays. If you’re headed to New York, Sturbridge is on the best way.
Harmony
Need to study extra concerning the American Revolution? Journey west of Boston to Harmony, Massachusetts, the place you’ll be able to go to Minute Man Nationwide Historic Park. There are numerous occasions provided all year long, however you’ll be able to go to at any time to discover the park. Listed below are some excursions of Harmony you’ll be able to e-book.
Fall River
South of Boston, close to the Rhode Island border, is Fall River. This waterfront metropolis is residence to Battleship Cove, an attraction that provides 5 historic naval ships, together with the USS Massachusetts.
Exterior of Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a comparatively small state, and among the greatest day journeys can prolong past its borders. Choices embody Newport, Rhode Island, the place you’ll be able to discover the Newport Mansions and the gorgeous Cliff Stroll, in addition to Salem, New Hampshire, the place you’ll be able to go to the amusement park Canobie Lake Park.
