Guides for weekends with kids around Boston
Hand-picked lists for the way parents actually plan a weekend: by your kid's age, the weather, your budget, the kind of outing, or where you live. Every place links to full details — drive time, stroller notes, parking (or which T line to take) and tips.
In season
- Spring blossoms & swan boatsSpring flowers with kids around Boston: Public Garden tulips, Arboretum lilacs and the swan boats5 places
- Berry pickingBerry picking with kids around Boston: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and peaches5 places
- Apples & pumpkinsApple picking and pumpkin patches with kids around Boston6 places
- Holiday lightsHoliday lights with kids around Boston5 places
- Snow & skatingWhere to play in the snow with kids around Boston4 places
By age
By weather & budget
By type
- HikesKid-friendly hikes and nature walks around Boston17 places
- FarmsFarms with animals for kids around Boston6 places
- PlaygroundsThe best playgrounds around Boston9 places
- LibrariesLibraries with great kids' areas around Boston7 places
- Beaches & pondsBeaches and pond beaches for kids around Boston7 places
- Trains & boatsTrains, ferries and swan boats for kids around Boston7 places
- GardensGardens worth visiting with kids around Boston5 places
- Zoos & aquariumZoos, the aquarium and animal farms for kids around Boston6 places
- MuseumsKid-friendly museums around Boston8 places
By area
Every place, by type
Hike
- Beaver Brook Reservation falls, duck pond and spray deck
- Boston Nature Center
- Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (Mass Audubon)
- Cold Spring Park woodland trail
- Fresh Pond Loop
- Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (Concord)
- Hemlock Gorge and Echo Bridge
- Horn Pond Loop
- Jamaica Pond Loop
- Lake Waban Loop (Wellesley College)
- Larz Anderson Park
- Middlesex Fells: Sheepfold meadow and Spot Pond
- Minute Man National Historical Park: Battle Road Trail
- Mount Auburn Cemetery and Washington Tower
- Walden Pond
- Ward Reservation: Holt Hill and the bog boardwalk
- World's End (Trustees)
Farm
Playground
- Boston Common: Tadpole Playground and Frog Pond
- Cambridge Common nature playground (Alexander W. Kemp Playground)
- Charles River Esplanade and Charlesbank Playground
- Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
- Cypress Street Playground
- Danehy Park playground and spray area
- Lexington Center playground (Center Recreation Complex)
- Martin's Park accessible playground (Seaport)
- Newton Centre Playground
Library
- Boston Public Library Central Library children's library (Copley)
- Brookline Public Library main branch children's room
- Cambridge Public Library main branch children's room
- Cary Memorial Library children's room
- Newton Free Library children's department
- Thomas Crane Public Library children's room
- Wellesley Free Library children's room
Beach
Train
Garden
Zoo
Museum
Seasonal
- Blink! light and sound show (Faneuil Hall)
- Boston Common Frog Pond skating and Christmas tree
- Canobie Lake Park
- Cider Hill Farm
- Edaville Christmas Festival of Lights
- Honey Pot Hill Orchards
- Kimball Farm
- Nashoba Valley snow tubing
- Shelburne Farm orchard and pumpkin patch
- Tougas Family Farm
- ZooLights (Stone Zoo)