I am often asked, "what's the one thing we should do while we're here?" And honestly, I HATE that question! Suffice it to say, there's a LOT of depends in there. So, in a semi-sorta way of answering that question I give you, The Perfect Day in Boston for....The following pages are dedicated to those niche travelers looking for a power packed day in the city. Do some, do all, mix and match but most importantly, HAVE FUN!
A Perfect Day in Boston for.....
Family Fun
Oh boy! Do I know how to make things hard on myself. A perfect day for what family? The prefect family? LOL. Obviously, a lotta depends here. How many kids, their ages, their interests, your interests. And who knows, maybe grammy and/or grampy is with you or that crazy aunt who somehow managed their way into you trip? So, here's what I'm gonna do. I'll put down 2 plans. One for the say, toddler to double digits range. And one for the tweens and teens. Then I'll throw out a bunch of rando suggestions that you can mix and match with hopefully, you find, sweet perfection:) Mine are young adults now and of course, don't want to spend any time with dear, old, dad BUT, I'll give what my plans would be for them in those age ranges. Also, I had a boy and a girl, so I was forced to think "fun for all". And away we go......
Toddlers-Double Digits: First off, bless you! It takes a lot of commitment and a little bit of insanity to pull off travelling with this group in tow. Let's do this!
Start in the AM at the Boston's Children's Museum (308 Congress St). If you passed a giant, Hood milk bottle, you went too far! Simply put the BCM is LOADED. Jam packed with fun and, dare I say, educational, hands-on stuff for kids especially age 11 and under. Climbing wall, construction zone, art studio, science galore and a whole lot more.
Note. The BCM is right next to the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. I am not necessarily including this in the Perfect Day for age range but....it sure can be! The BTPSM is wonderful for kids of all ages, truly but, IMHO, better for kids 8-10+. Going on the ship, throwing tea into the hahbah, all great stuff no matter how old ya are. But the rest is pretty much a straight tour that a 6 year old will likely find, um, boring:) Oh and definitely worth noting for those with the littler ones. The tour ends with watching a 10, 15 minute video that culminates with Battles of Lexington & Concord. It is LOUD. The musket shots are LOUD. Be prepared to cover or shield them little ears. Yes, a literal, trigger warning. Anyhow, you know you and your family best. Do this AND the Children's Museum, or instead of. Choice is yours, fun to be had either way.
OK, for the middle portion of the day, what say we keep it cheap? How about free? Also worth mentioning, this next part depends on how much you want to walk, or how much your kids can walk. At any point, of course, seek out Mr. Uber. Coming out of the BCM, head opposite of Congress St. Yes, away from the giant, milk bottle. Walk along the Harborwalk, not far and on the right you will soon reach the entrance to, Martin's Park, which was built as a lasting memorial to Martin Richard. Martin was only 8 years old when his life was taken on April 15, 2013 from the Boston Marathon bombing. It is a truly unique space on the edge of the Seaport District. As per the website, "a welcoming, public gathering place and playground rich with robust horticulture that celebrates the diversity and inclusion of all its visitors."
Now for the longest walking portion. The objective? The Rose Kenndy Greenway. Specifically, between Milk Street and Salem Street. The Greenway is a 1.5 mile stretch through the heart of the city with every block featuring something different. The blocks I just mentioned, I think are the most kid friendly. Between Milk Street and State Street, bring them bathing suits for the water-spray park. Between State and Commercial, the one-of-a-kind carousel. No horsies or unicorns here. All the rides are hand-carved, native New England animals. And between Hanover Street and Salem Street, more water fun and swings and play structures. This whole stretch is also a great place to re-fuel. Depending on day and time, there will be different food trucks parked right on the Greenway. But a plethora of choices abound on both sides. I can't imagine you are ever more than a 5 minute walk to great food, drink and sweets:)
Last up in your perfect day, a harbor cruise. More specifically, a harbor island cruise. You'll want to get to the Long Wharf area, near the NE Aquarium. What better way to spend the afternoon than on the water and hopping an island or two? You and the kids can rest a little on the boat (you're welcome) and even keep that going, just lazing on an island beech for a picnic. But there's also so much to explore on the many islands. You can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or again, relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming. Bring it back home as the sun goes down and them kids of yours gonna be sleeping before their heads hit the pillow. Maybe even give mommy and daddy a little alone time? Sounds kind of...perfect, don't it?
Tweens & Teens:
