Things to do with kids in Quincy
Quincy is Boston's seaside city to the south, and dim sum is one reason west-suburb families drive over, but the kids' outings are just as good: two miles of sand at Wollaston Beach facing the Boston skyline, with crabs on the low-tide flats, and the castle-like stone Thomas Crane Library, whose children's room runs Chinese-language storytimes.
A perfect summer day: a swim at the freshwater beach at Houghton's Pond in the Blue Hills in the morning, dim sum in Quincy Center at lunch, then low tide at Wollaston and fried clams at Tony's Clam Shop. In spring and fall, otters and owls at the Trailside Museum, with the climb up Great Blue Hill for big kids; Castle Island and its planes are 15 minutes away. When it rains, the Thomas Crane Library.
- 8 places
- 5 free
- 8 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
8 places
Drive times from Quincy
Thomas Crane Public Library children's room
5.0Quincy · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot beside the library; or Red Line to Quincy Center and a 5-minute walk
Wollaston Beach
4.0Quincy · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free spaces along Quincy Shore Dr plus several free lots
Franklin Park Zoo
5.0Boston · 15 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free zoo lot; admission about $25 adults, about $17 kids, free under 2, check the website
Boston Nature Center
5.0Boston · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Walk Hill St entrance
Castle Island and Pleasure Bay loop
5.0Boston · 15 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Large free lot at the end of William J. Day Blvd, fills by midday on summer weekends
Houghton's Pond beach (Blue Hills)
5.0Milton · 15 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot on Hillside St, arrive before 11am on summer weekends
Blue Hills Trailside Museum (Mass Audubon)
5.0Milton · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free museum lot (Route 138); admission about $8 adults, about $5 kids
Ferry to Spectacle Island (Boston Harbor Islands)
4.0Boston · 15 min drive
5 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$ · Parking: Board at Long Wharf (by the Blue Line Aquarium station); round-trip ferry about $25 adults, about $17 ages 3–11, free under 3, check the website
💡 Good to know
- Wollaston and Houghton's Pond are both free, but parking gets tight by 11am on summer weekends; check the tide table for Wollaston, since low tide is when it's fun.