Top 10 Fun Children's Activities in Boston

1. Museum of Science, Boston

What kid wouldn’t love a museum with an enormous T-rex out front? The Boston Science Museum is a great place for kids to learn about the world around them in a fun, hands-on way. In addition to interactive stations, they’ll enjoy films on the Omni Theater’s huge IMAX screen, and get to know the stars in the museum’s planetarium. Special exhibits come and go, so check the museum’s website ahead of time to see what’s new.

See website for exhibit hours and schedule
$16 adults / $14 seniors / $13 children 11 and under
Museum of Science, Science Park, Boston
(617) 723-2500
mos.org

2. New England Aquarium

On the pricier end of the spectrum is the New England Aquarium. The many exhibits give visitors a closer look at penguins, seals, sea turtles, jellyfish, a coral reef, and more. Children will especially enjoy getting their hands wet at the tide pool exhibit where they can touch smaller marine life like starfish. The aquarium is particularly great for a rainy day outing. While you’re down by the waterfront you can also go for a whale watching tour or catch a film on the enormous IMAX screen for an additional charge.

For details, read the New England Aquarium profile.

3. Frog Pond and Tadpole Playground

The Frog Pond is one of Boston Common’s most popular attractions and a perennial favorite with children who want to work off some youthful energy. Great fun any time of the year, in the winter the Frog Pond is frozen over for ice skating (November – mid-March), and in the summer it serves as a wading pool for young children (July and August). Adjacent to the Frog Pond is the Tadpole Playground featuring a play structure, safety play surfacing, a water play spray fountain (excellent in the warm summer months), and bronze frog statues.

See website for skating hours and prices
bostoncommonfrogpond.org

4. Fenway Park Tour

A great tour for young sports fans, children and adults will enjoy hearing stories of baseball lore and getting a closer look at where their heroes play. Explore behind the scenes of one of America's most historic ballparks, touch the Green Monster, and check out the view from the Press Box. Tours leave hourly from the Souvenir Store across Yawkey Way.

Monday-Saturday 9 am to 4 pm
Sundays Noon to 4 pm
Adults $12, Seniors $11, Children and Military and Active Reserve (with valid ID) $10
Fenway Park, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston (617) 226-6666 boston.redsox.mlb.com

5. Harvard Natural History Museum

Kids and adults will enjoy exploring the many wonders of the natural world, including dinosaurs and birds, meteorites and gems, flowers and plants, and more. With brilliant butterfly displays, a 1,600-pound amethyst geode, and a 42-foot-long prehistoric marine reptile called the Kronosaurus, there’s sure to be something to captivate your child. The museum is free to Massachusetts residents on Wednesdays from 3 to 5 pm (September through May) and every Sunday morning (year-round) from 9 am to noon.

For details, read the Harvard Museum of Natural History profile.

6. TOMB

Great for a group outing, TOMB is a popular interactive Egyptian adventure set in a pharaoh's tomb. Participants play the part of archaeologists looking for a missing professor and must complete a variety of fun puzzles and challenges or meet their doom! Though not utterly terrifying, TOMB's spooky brand of fun is perhaps better suited for slightly older kids.

Read a review of TOMB by About.com’s Go New England guide.

See website for hours
Adults $16-$20, Children (12 and under) $14-$16
5 Wits Inc., 186 Brookline Ave., Boston
(617) 375-9487
5-wits.com

7. Franklin Park Zoo

Children love animals, and there are more than 200 different species of them to enjoy at the 72-acre Franklin Park Zoo, including traditional favorites such as lions, gorillas, giraffes, and camels, as well as more exotic offerings like tapirs and tree kangaroos. The zoo offers an Outback Trail, Serengeti Crossing, Kalahari Kingdom, Tiger Tales, Franklin Farm, Giraffe Savannah, Tropical Forest, Bird’s World, and Butterfly Landing. Admission to Franklin Park Zoo is 1/2 off on the first Saturday of each month from 10 am to noon.

For details, read the Franklin Park Zoo profile and visit the photo gallery.

8. Boston Children’s Museum

The Boston Children's Museum, which reopened in April 2007 after a $47-million renovation, is a leader in the world of hands-on museums. It’s also a whole lot of fun! Highlights include a three-story climbing sculpture, the Construction Zone, a kids’ performing arts center, and the Common game area. Visit on Fridays between 5 pm and 9 pm and take advantage of the Target-sponsored $1 admission.

Saturday-Thursday 10 am - 5 pm, Friday 10 am – 9 pm
$10 Adults / $8 seniors (65+) and children (2-15) / $2 children (1) / children under one are free
Children’s Wharf, 300 Congress St, Boston
(617) 426-6500
bostonchildrensmuseum.org

9. Swan Boats

A great activity for a sunny day in Boston is the Swan Boats in the Public Garden. A time-honored and affordable favorite, the Swan Boats take you on a leisurely 15-minute ride around the Public Garden lagoon. The Swan Boats are open from mid-April to mid-September, seven days a week (weather permitting). They are wheelchair accessible. For a longer outing, consider combining this with a picnic and a walk over to the Frog Pond and playground in the Boston Common.

See website for hours
$2.75 adults / $2 seniors/ $1.25 children (2-15)
Public Garden lagoon, Boston
(617) 522-1966
swanboats.com

10. Duck Tours

Enjoy an 80-minute tour of Boston's highlights by land and sea in a refurbished World War II amphibious vehicle! Duck Tours are a great way to see a lot of the city without pushing the energy and attention limits of smaller children. The tours are led by conDUCKtors, entertaining and knowledgeable guides who crack jokes and throw out an almost constant stream of fascinating trivia that is sure to entertain children and adults alike. If they're in a good mood they might even let your child try driving the Duck while it’s in the river. All Ducks are wheelchair accessible.

For details, read the Boston Duck Tours profile.