Ultimate Guide to Boston for Families
If you are planning a family trip to Boston with kids this year, this is the right post for you. Not only is Boston a great place to visit during any season of the year, your kids will enjoy all the places you want to put on your bucket list. Find out what the best things to do in Boston for families is below.
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Find Boston’s Secret Street: Acorn Street
Another spot that was also in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston is the iconic street called “Acorn Street”. One of the last remaining, cobble-stoned streets in Boston, this street is more of an alley way and dates back to the 1600s. It is one of the prettiest streets in Boston!
Because this street is rather short in distance, it might be missed by many tourists. We enjoyed this street because it makes you feel that you are walking back because of the charm of this untouched-by-time pathway.
In order to find Acorn Street, walk NE from Cheers along the Boston Common Park until you get to Charles Street. Then go north (take a left) to Chestnut Street, where you will go northeast (take a right). When you get to Willow Street, take a left (go North), and Acorn Street will be on your left. The neighborhood isn’t called Beacon Hill for nothing. It can be quite hilly, but luckily, you will be going downhill once you get to Acorn Street.
Walk the Freedom Trail
Though it might be said that Acorn Street could be a spot on the Freedom Trail, we determined that our self-walking-tour began at a different spot, just north of the Boston Common Park at the Massachusetts State House. When in Boston, what better way to see the important sites of the American Revolution than to walk the historic Freedom Trail.
The Massachusetts State House is located at the top of Beacon Hill in Boston and was built in the late 1700s. With its gold dome, it is easy to find this building, which is the home of the Massachusetts General Court and the Governor of the Massachusetts.
Turning south on Park Street will lead you quickly to the Park Street Church. Here, the song “America” was first sung, as well as important antislavery speeches were given in the early 1800s. Park Street Church also created one of the first Sunday school organizations within the United States.
Paying Respect to American Heroes
Directly behind the church is the Granary Burying Ground. Here, you can see the graves of Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin’s parents, and Mother Goose, as well as a memorial to those who died during the Boston Massacre.
If you are looking for one of the most important graveyards for the freedom fighters of the American Revolution, the Granary Burying Ground is the place for you. This can oddly be a cool place in Boston for families, since everyone can relate to someone buried there.
Walking north on Tremont Street will get you to King’s Chapel, which sits at the corner of Tremont and School Streets. King’s Chapel was built in the mid-1700s, but the interesting part of it is the graveyard next to it. The King’s Chapel Burying Ground is a great place to visit if you are interested in old gravestones with skeletons carved within the tops of the stones.
Literature and Architecture Teachers also Love Boston
As a literary teacher of Nathanial Hawthorne (American writer of the 1800s), I was interested to see these well-known types of tombstones, as well as walk the area where a real “Hester Prynn” was buried.
Though this was also the name of one of Hawthorne’s may characters, it was very surreal to see it. You can also see some graves of those who came to the new world on the Mayflower ship in the 1600s.
On School Street next to the King’s Chapel is Boston’s Old City Hall Building. Though not a part of the Freedom Trail, this is a pretty building for those interested in French architectural styles of the Second Empire. Here, you can also find a nice statue of Benjamin Franklin.
Continuing our walk on School Street to the corner at Washington Street, you will find the location of the Old Corner Bookstore, which was built in the early 1700s. However, when we visited Boston, this building was a Chipotle restaurant, but the charm of the building still remains.
You could get the feeling that it belonged more in the past than the present day, but I loved that it was left to look the same as much as it could.
If you love American literature, you will love seeing the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA.
Where History meets Modern Day in Boston
Across School Street is a little memorial to the Boston Irish Famine. It shows an Irish family from the mid-1800s, which is an interesting addition to a street that is mostly filled with shopping and restaurants.
We quite enjoyed a bit of break to shop since our luggage was delayed a few days during the beginning of our trip! If you find yourself in a similar situation, Washington Street in Boston is great for shopping.
Across Washington Street from the Irish Family Memorial, you will find the Old South Meeting House. Built in 1729, this building is an important place for discussion and education of sorts. During the mid-1700s, you could hear debates from patriots and loyalists.
It was also where many issues were debated about the tea tax of the 1770s, which lead to the Boston Tea Party. It was very interesting to see such an important building surrounded by very larger, modern-day shops and office buildings.
Seeing the Location of the Boston Massacre
Taking Washington Street North, you will find the Old State House, which was the seat of the state government until the mid-1800s. Imagine standing inside this building as the Declaration of Independence was read. However, one of the more interested historical parts of this building lays outside the walls.
If you walk towards the back of the building on the outside, you will see a marking on the ground that represents the site of the Boston Massacre. When a group of colonists taunted British soldiers on March 5, 1770, five of them were killed when the soldiers decided to open fire on them.
Though the group of colonists protesting the British was well over 200 colonists, the event of the massacre helped to persuade others to join the side of the colonists against the British. In turn, this was one event that happened before the American Revolution began.
Heading north to Congress Street, it feels weird to be among all of the city’s skyscrapers when you started the walk on a street made of brick.
It is at about this time that we took a break for a drink and some food. You’ll find some beautiful, historical buildings that make up the marketplace here. This area of Boston has many great options for food, so see “Where to Eat in Boston” (below) to get more information on that!
Continuing on the Path to Freedom in Boston
Going from the food / Old State House to the next stop is quite a long walk considering how close everything else is to each other. It is 15 minutes north to get to the next stop, but these last few places are not ones you will want to skip! You could avoid the walk if you decide to take one of the tours. (See below.)
The Old North Church on Salem Street is Boston’s oldest church, built in 1723, but that isn’t why we visited it. As being on the Freedom Trail, you will be excited to know that this church was used by Paul Revere.
Two men from the church signaled Paul Revere with lanterns to let me know how the British would be coming to Lexington and Concord. The phrase, “one if by land, two if by sea” referred to the lanterns used to make the signal. This was an important part of America’s history that in April of 1775 the colonists were able to get warned of the British invasion by sea beforehand.
Last Stop of the Freedom Trail, but not the least
The last place we visited wasn’t too far northwest on Freedom Trail. It was the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. Not only was this a location used by the British army during the American Revolution, but it was also much more important than that.
Here, you will also find the final resting place of Robert Newman, one of those to warn Paul Revere with the lantern in the church, as well as two ministers from the Salem witch trials, Cotton and Mather.
Other interesting facts about this graveyard is that not only will you find many graves of free, black Americans from a time before slavery ended and some of those who died during the Boston Tea Party, but you will also see the grave of Edmund Hartt, the builder of the USS Constitution ship (see more about that below).
For us, this walking tour was much more than exercise, it was a great way to experience history in Boston for families!
Visit Paul Revere’s Statue and House
After you have visited his grave and the Old North Church where he received his message, you aren’t done. You can still learn more about this revolutionary man and the famous “Midnight Ride” at the Paul Revere House. Find out when the Paul Revere House is open and get ticket information HERE.
Located a 3 minute walk from the Paul Revere House is the statue of Paul Revere on his horse. You can find this at the Paul Revere Mall just southeast of the Old North Church. If you get hungry on your walk, stop by 300 Hanover Street and get a tasty treat at Mike’s Pastry, Boston’s famous Italian pastry shop!
Step Aboard the USS Constitution Ship
Located in the northern area of Boston called Charlestown is the USS Constitution warship. This frigate ship helped the US Navy during the Battle of 1812 against the British, and the USS Constitution ship is now docked the bay as glorious and magnificent as ever.
You may ask “why is the USS Constitution so famous”? Well, did you know that it is the world’s oldest ship that is still floating on water? It is crazy to think that this ship has lasted since 1797, and people can still walk on board!
It is even more interesting to know that the USS Constitution still sails from time to time, but for only rare, special occasions. During a trip in eastern Denmark, we were able to visit a ship that is similar to this one, so if you love old ships and are in Europe, check out the Fregatten Jylland ship!
After you tour the USS Constitution, you can also visit the USS Constitution Museum which is a short walk from the actual ship. Learn more HERE.
Dump Tea into the Harbor at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
A great way to learn about Boston and America’s history for the kids would be to go to the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Here, you get to be an onlooker at some of the most important debates in the history of the American Revolution with a fun reenactment.
My boys particularly liked going on board a ship to toss the “tea” overboard as one of the colonists fighting against the British taxation. They even have one of the 342 original tea chests on display in their museum, and the tour gives you lots of details of what happens before and after this historic event!
It doesn’t take long to tour the Boston Tea Party Museum, but you really want to make sure you call ahead to get your tickets. Otherwise, you might have to wait for your tour to start or come back at a later time.
Experience the Salem Witch Trials at the Salem Witch Museum in Salem, MA.
The gift shop and ta room at the Boston Tea Party Ships Museum were great places to visit if you are interested in tasting delicious treats and tea. They also have lots of great souvenirs for things relating to history, the American Revolution, as well as kitchen and home items.
Watch the Red Sox play at Fenway Park
Whenever we are in a large American city during our family trips, we like to see a baseball game. This encouraged us to see the Red Sox play at Fenway Park on our summer vacation to Boston!
As baseball fans who live in Denmark, we are not able to see games very often. We are happy to get to go a ball game, no matter which team is playing. We had also never been to Fenway Park before, and since Fenway Park is the oldest Major League Baseball stadiums in use the USA, we just had to see a game there!
Of course, its age makes Fenway Park so famous, but the experience of watching a game (especially when it was with the New York Yankees) was one my kids will never forget. The food at Fenway Park was also quite unexpected.
They served the normal nachos and hotdogs that you would get at any baseball stadium, but you could also get some Boston specialties like lobster rolls. I was happy to see some vegan food on the menu at Fenway Park!
There are a number of ticket services online that sell tickets to Boston Red Sox games, which is how we got tickets to the game. Just be sure to print your tickets beforehand to avoid any issues. Also, bags are not allowed into the stadium, so you will have to store your bag in one of the paid containers outside the stadium before going in! If you want a sporty experience in Boston for families, this is your best option!
Go Under the Sea at the New England Aquarium
If you love creatures under the sea, you will love visiting the New England Aquarium in Boston. Not only is this the largest aquarium on the eastern coast of the United States, but it is also in a great location. Situated at a ferry stop and subway station, the New England Aquarium is quite easy to visit.
Immediately as you walk into the aquarium, you will notice a very large tank in the middle of a winding staircase. This tank is filled with many varieties of fish and turtles. Watch your view change as you walk up the staircase and see the view from above when you reach the top.
There are also smaller tanks on the side walls of the building where you can find many other sea creatures and colorful fish. We liked looking at the seals and penguins, but one of the best parts was petting the stingrays. For ticket prices to the New England Aquarium, visit HERE.
Explore the World and Beyond at the Boston Museum of Science
No family trip to Boston is complete without a trip to the Boston Museum of Science. You’ll have a great time learning about dinosaurs, engineering, farming and more with plenty of hands-on activities that are spread out on the many floors of the museum.
Each activity helps children and adults understand some complex new discoveries in science and the fundamentals of math. What better way to learn together than with the fun play activities they have there!
If you are hoping to get a different type of experience, you can also see one of their different shows on life under the sea or out in space. I particularly liked the Planetarium Show, and my boys loved pretending to be explorers in the Arctic Adventure section.
Be sure to plan on spending a few hours at this fun museum on your trip to Boston with kids. Find show times and ticket prices to the Boston Museum of Science HERE.
Take a Ride on the Swan Boats at Boston Common Public Park
As a child, I loved the book Trumpet of the Swan, which was partially set in Boston. After rereading the book with my kids, we were excited to see the swan boats at the Boston Commons on our trip to Boston. These swan boats are also very unique compared to what you might expect.
Instead of small, two-man, peddle boat, the swan boats at Boston Common Park have multiple benches and a driver who takes you around the beautiful park in the center of Boston. This is a perfect way to relax after a long day of sightseeing. The cost to ride the boats is also quite affordable. Find the current price for the swan boats HERE.
The swan boats in boast run from the middle of April to the beginning of September, so if you heart is set on seeing them, be sure to plan your trip during this time. These wonderful boats have been around since the 1870s and are truly a secret gem of the town of Boston. If you are traveling there by the T train, you can find the closest location to the swan boats at the corner of Arlington and Boylston Street.
You can also find some splash pads in the summer in Boston parks, so be sure to pack your suit and a towel when traveling there on a hot day!
Walk Under the Giant Flag at Rowes Wharf
One place that we stumbled upon by accident was the gigantic flag within the archway of the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf. We had left the aquarium to get lunch in the area, and we couldn’t help but see this amazing flag. It is truly a beautiful area, and the flag is like no other!
Find Hidden Treasures at the Boston Library
Going to a library in a big city like Boston might not be what you would expect to do. However, you might be surprised by what you find there. Not only is the Boston Library a great place to take a break from traveling and to find great internet, it is also amazing inside.
The older sections of the library are filled with statues and marble, much like what you would see in a royal place. That along makes it one of the prettiest architectural places you will find in Boston!
How to Get Around Boston with Kids
I am not going to lie; we did a lot of walking during our summer trip to Boston. For the most part, the weather was perfect to be outside, which was nice. However, there are times when we were simply too tired to walk anymore.
Renting an e-bike in Boston would have been a good idea, but we didn’t think about that until it was too late. That might be a good option for you. However, there are a variety of options for getting around Boston without having to rent a car.
Take a Duck Tour in Boston
If you would like a truly unique way to tour Boston, Massachusetts, take a Duck Tour! This 80-minute tour takes 30 visitors around Boston from the Prudential Center at 52 Huntington Avenue. You can see many of the places I mentioned in this post and many more.
Sit down on one of these colorful boat/trucks and listen as a guide explains some insight into Boston history. This a great way to get around Boston. It is also fun when the boat drives out onto the water for part of the tour!
Worried that you will miss the boat? Don’t be, there are 28 duck boats driving around Boston during the warmer months of the year. However, planning your trip ahead of time might not be a bad idea during the busy summer season.
Hop on the Old Town Trolley Tours
Another fun option for seeing Boston in style is with an Old Town Trolley Tour. These fun buses come in different shapes and sizes from a multi-layered bus to one that resembles an actual trolley. With 18 stops, you can tour Boston at your own pace and step off and back on whenever you want!
With live narration of the attractions, it is easy to learn about Boston without having to wear out your legs! If you are looking for things to do in Boston without walking, read more HERE!
Sail on Boston Harbor’s Water Taxi
If you hope to get out on the water, hop on the Boston Harbor’s water taxi. This is a great way to see some of the most spectacular views of Boston from the water. Though this won’t get you everywhere in Beantown, it is a great way to go from the USS Constitution ship to the New England Aquarium.
Tickets are rather cheap, as well! This is definitely a great way to travel in Boston for families!
Ride the Charlie (T) Subway in Boston
We also enjoyed riding on the T subway when in Boston. Though there aren’t many stations in the city, we still found it a good way to travel from our hotel to the city center. It was also a good way to get back to the hotel after the Red Sox game. It is a clean and safe way to travel when in Boston.
The subway train is also a great way to get to the buses that will take you to Salem, MA for the day if you are hoping to travel outside of Boston without a car. Learn about getting a “CharlieCard”, “CharlieTicket” or other tickets for the subway in Boston HERE!
Best Places to Eat in Boston for Families
Though some of our meals came at quick and cheaper places like breakfast sandwiches from 7/11 or lunch at Panera, we couldn’t visit Boston without trying some local specialties. However, some of them were quite pricy. Overall, Boston is a rather expensive place to eat, which you should know about before you go!
Find Something for Everyone at Quincy’s Market
Since my husband’s bucket list consisted of food, we had to find the best place to get his lobster roll. As you may have guessed it, lobster is expensive no matter where you get it. We decided to get his sandwich at the Quincy Market. We thought that was best,. since it was only my husband who wanted to try it.
The Quincy Market is a very large building with a large variety of different food stands. We all tried something different during our lunchtime there. I was able to get my bucket list’s top choice: the Boston Crème Pie! You can also find clam chowder, sandwiches, desserts, ethnic foods and much more at this amazing eatery.
The Quincy Market is located in the business section of Boston and is the perfect place to get lunch when doing the Freedom Trail walking tour. It is in between the Old State House and the Old North Church!
Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name…in Boston
Another place that was more for the sightseeing aspect than for the food was the bar/restaurant Cheers. This was made famous by the television show from the 1980s with the same name.
However, I live in Denmark, where the show is called “Sam’s Bar”. It just goes to show that it is a popular place to get a beer and burger for more than just Americans! This is located across the street from the Boston Common Public Park.
Eat and Drink with Ghosts of the Revolution
One of the coolest places on our trip to Boston was actually a bar/restaurant called the Green Dragon Tavern. Located on 11 Market Street, this pub is among many great bars and restaurants. The Green Dragon Tavern sits hidden from the main bustle of the crowd. However, with a red coat soldier out front, it is a hard place to miss.
Established in 1654, this historic pub was once a favorite meeting place for Paul Revere and John Hancock. All along the walls of the pub, you will see many different historical artifacts from the time of the American Revolution.
It feels that you have stepped back in time when you visit this fun place. My boys have also named it the place with the best chili nachos EVER! That is saying something! I was happy to get a veggie burger, which was also very delicious!
Drink like a Freedom Fighter
If you are looking for something fun to do in Boston for adults, check out the Sam Adams Boston Tap Room. This is just a place that serves beer, but when in Boston, it is a great excuse to have a Sam Adams beer.
Since they don’t serve food, it wasn’t a logical place to take children, but we did see some in there. However, it is next to the Quincy Market, so you could always go there after you eat! They also had a very nice outdoor roof where you could sit and enjoy the scenery.
Best Place to Stay in Boston for Families
Though we love camping on our trips, we decided to try out a hostel for the first time as a family! It still gave us that community feeling of camping, since the bathroom was shared an down the hall. We didn’t mind, since it ended up being a really fun choice.
We stayed at The Revolution Hotel, which was a great price for the location. My kids loved the hip vibe of the place and fun game room. They also had a friendly hotel bar/restaurant with delicious fish tacos. I appreciated the helpful staff who really made this a great place to stay. During our stay, there was a bit of a problem with the air conditioner. The staff were great in getting this fixed before we left.
Not only that, but my boys loved that we stayed in a room with two bunk beds! It was also better than staying at a boring hotel, since hostels are more social places. That makes them great for families. We were also across the street from a 7/11. That became the best place to get drinks and snacks during our stay!
Tips for Visiting Boston, Massachusetts with Kids
If I were to offer any advice for your trip to Boston with kids, it would be to:
1) bring your walking shoes.
Though we did use the water taxi and the T subway, we mostly got around by walking. Keep that in mind when you plan your days. You might want to bring a good pair of walking shoes to make your days as comfortable as possible.
2) buy a pass for attraction discounts.
If you are planning on visiting multiple places, you might want to buy a pass. You can get a GoCity pass or a Boston CityPASS. Each of these allows you to pay one flat fee and be able to visit many different attractions.
3) plan breaks in your day
Though our boys were a bigger on this trip, they still needed breaks. The heat, walking, and constantly being on “the go” can be a lot for anyone. Be sure to plan trips to the parks or indoor places during the afternoons. This is when it is quite hot outside in the summer. Taking advantage of splash pads and playground is always a good idea too.
4) take a taxi to your hotel from the airport.
When traveling with luggage and children, it is best to get a taxi to your hotel from the airport. It won’t take that long to travel and the cost is reasonable. It is also much easier to load all of your things into a taxi than have to juggle kids and suitcases. Ubers are also much faster when going from your hotel to the airport if you have that option.
Side Trips from Boston for Families
Are you interested in extending your stay in the Boston area? I would recommend these side trips / places to visit on a day trip from Boston, Massachusetts.
- Salem, Massachusetts
- Beach Day on Cape Cod
- Plymouth, Massachusetts
