Hey there!
Planning a trip to Boston, Massachusetts?
It’s Cathy from My Book a Day. It’s been a busy summer for our family. We took 4 kids (ages 18, 18, 13, and 5) with us to Boston. And we had a blast! There are so many fun and family-friendly things to do in Boston.
Here are just a few family activities in Boston that we enjoyed.
Duck Tour
Everyone’s favorite family activity in Boston was the Duck Tour. You may have seen these WWII-style amphibious vehicles driving around other cities. They are super fun because they not only drive on land, but in the water as well.
We cruised around the city streets with our tour guide telling us fun facts about the city and history. Then we splashed into the Charles River for a completely different view of Boston. And they even let our little guy drive the duck in the river. It was so much fun!
Related: 5 (More) Fun Things to Do in Boston
Boston Public Garden
Another fun stop was at the Boston Public Garden. This space was just great! It’s fun to find nature in the big city. We enjoyed watching the squirrels that ran rampant in the garden. There are also ducks and swans on the pond, which were neat to watch as well. We checked out the Make Way for Ducklings statues. Our little guy loved those!
The highlight of our visit was the Swan Boat. The Swan Boats are historic and just plain fun. You get on the boat with a swan in back. The ride operator pedals the boat from behind swan and gives you a ride. The ducks and real swans on the water come right up to the boat and you can feed them, making this ride just a bit more fun and quirky.
Walk the Freedom Trail
There is so much history in Boston – especially early U.S. history. We walked a good chunk of the Freedom Trail. I liked the way being in the spot where things happened helped history to come alive, for both me and my children.
One of our favorite spots was the cemetery where Paul Revere and John Hancock were buried. It was interesting to find old cemeteries in the middle of the big city.
We broke the trail up over a couple of days, and that helped. The kids did get tired of walking.
The USS Constitution is closed every Monday. If you want to see it, make sure you go another day. We were sad to miss it!
Boston Harbor Cruise
Boston is surrounded by water, and it’s a lot of fun to spend time on it. We decided to take a harbor cruise with Boston Harbor Cruises. It’s a good way to see the city from the water.
Our guide shared all kinds of facts and history about Boston and its harbor. It was a good opportunity to slow down, but still enjoy the city.
There are all kinds of cruises and packages you can choose from. We chose a cruise that included tickets to the New England Aquarium, which saved us a little money.
New England Aquarium
It rained on the final day we were in Boston, so the New England Aquarium was the perfect indoor activity.
There are some really fun exhibits in this aquarium. We enjoyed the stingray experience, and the seals outdoors. The highlight of our trip was seeing Myrtle the Turtle, a large green sea turtle, in the Giant Ocean Tank.
Save Money
Go City and CityPASS are two good bundle-and-save passes that can save you money on the Harbor Cruise, New England Aquarium, Duck Tour, Swan Boats and more in Boston. We didn't use them on this trip, but if you are planning to visit Boston's popular attractions, you should at least consider one of these options because they can save you up to 65%.
Boston Go City lets you choose a number of days or number of attractions for a set price. It includes 40+ attractions, tours and experiences. It's the most flexible of the two passes. Learn more at https://gocity.com/boston.
Boston CityPASS saves you 45% on admission to New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Skywalk Observatory and your choice of a Harbor Cruise or Harvard Museum of Natural History. This pass is the least expensive option. Learn more at https://www.citypass.com/boston.
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Take Public Transit
Driving and parking in downtown Boston is a massive hassle. We found that Boston's subway, known as the T, is a good way to get around. We don't have a subway at home in Utah, so riding the T was a fun and novel activity for our family, as well as a convenience.
Conclusion
There are so many great family activities in Boston! I hope that this list has given you a few ideas for your own trip.
Happy travels!
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