Massachusetts family activities can keep kids entertained year-round

Massachusetts > State > Families and Kids > Family Activities

Massachusetts has welcomed families since the first one landed at Plymouth.

Any time of the year, you’ll find family friendly lodging, activities, and adventures on day trips, weekend getaways, and longer vacations.

Enjoy a full menu from museums to indoor and outdoor amusement parks and water parks, beaches, zoos and ziplines, whitewater rafting and kayaking, and the largest family go-cart track in New England.

The most complete set of early American historic sites are here with tales to tell and there are great beaches and endless scenic places to stop, relax, and snap some pictures.

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Old North Bridge at Minuteman National Historical Park - Concord, MA - Photo Credit Ed Feather Photography

Visit Concord MA

Discover History, Culture, and Outdoor Fun for the Whole Family in Concord, MA

Concord, MA offers an abundance of family-friendly activities and events that blend history, culture, and outdoor fun. Retrace the steps of Revolutionary War soldiers, literary greats, and more with a walking tour where guides bring the town’s rich history to life. Indulge in Concord’s bustling food scene, take a guided Chocolate Tour of the downtown area, and stroll between locally owned shops. Tour the Orchard House, home of Louisa May Alcott, where fans of Little Women can explore the home where the beloved novel was written and took place. For a scenic outdoor experience, check out the area’s many walking and hiking trails, and don’t miss a visit to Minute Man National Historical Park to hear tales of the first shots of the American Revolution. Between Concord’s many museums, its local charm, and well-preserved historic sites, your family will be begging you to stay longer.

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Old Sturbridge Village

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, off Route 20 Sturbridge, MA, 01566 Phone: 508-347-3362 Toll-Free: 800-733-1830

Family fun is around every corner in this re-created 19th-century New England village

Everywhere you turn at Old Sturbridge Village in historic Sturbridge, MA, there is a shop, store, farm or home designed to draw families into life in a rural 1830s New England village. Watch the blacksmith or printer at work, see how food was cooked at a kitchen hearth, help with animals at the Freeman Farm. See how wool was prepared for spinning and how lumber was cut for the village in the sawmill. Kids will love visiting heritage-breed chickens, cows and pigs, riding in a horse-drawn wagon and checking out the graffiti on the original schoolhouse desks. There are nature walks, covered bridges, bakeries and souvenir shops, and dining is casual and delicious at the Bullard Tavern or Ox & Yoke Cafe. (Afterward, stop by the Village Scoop Shop across from the playground.)

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Salem Witch Museum

19 1/2 Washington Square North Salem, MA, 01970 Phone: 978-744-1692

Salem witch trial story, and the evolution of scapegoating through history, among museum highlights

Salem is a town designed for exploration by children and adults alike, and there’s no better place to start than the Salem Witch Museum, where light is shed on one of the country’s darkest moments: the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. The lives of those found guilty during the trials, as well as the lies and intrigue leading up to the trials, are brought to life through 13 life-size stage sets, figures, dramatic lighting and narration. A second exhibit looks at the meaning and evolution of the word “witch,” from European witch trials up to modern times. Visitors learn about scapegoating and stereotyping through time. The museum gift shop has a large assortment of apparel, spell books, tarot cards and locally made treats. Parking garages are nearby.

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Evening View of the Lowell Summer Music Festival - Lowell, MA

Greater Merrimack Valley

61 Market Street, Unit 1C Lowell, MA, 01852 Phone: 978-459-6150

Activities from art museums to escape rooms will engage every member of your family

Visit the Concord Museum to see the “one if by land” Paul Revere lantern or Thoreau’s writing desk. Marvel at the intricacies of the model ship collection at the Addison Gallery of American Art. Climb up the crow’s nest on the Discovery Museum’s. Just-for-kids ship, or make pinch-pot clay animals and trinket dishes at the Pottery Mill Clay Studio. Go on a winter walk or explore the Native American and Shaker collections at the Fruitlands Museum. Or step into your own private escape game, cracking codes and solving puzzles, at Escapology. There are so many activities to delight families in the Merrimack region, from trampoline parks and bowling alleys to museums with astonishing art and activities that engage even the youngest visitors.

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Island Queen Ferry - Getting to Martha's Vineyard is half the fun! Advance Reservations required - Click here to book your trip!

Experience the Revolution in America's Hometown - See Plymouth, MA! - See Plymouth, MA!

See You in Plymouth this Thanksgiving! Visit our Destination Plymouth page!

Concord Museum

35 Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Road Concord, MA, 01742 Phone: 978-369-9763

Interactive exhibits, Revolutionary War objects get children involved at Concord Museum

At the Concord Museum, there are several ways children are encouraged to experience the thrill of discovery as they move through the galleries. There are scavenger hunts, interactive stations and close-looking prompts that encourage involvement. And the exhibits themselves are intriguing for children: the lantern used by Paul Revere when he rode to rouse the Colonial Army, for example; or the kettle used by Louisa May Alcott while serving as a nurse for the Union Army in Washington, DC during the Civil War. The April 19, 1775, gallery is also popular with families, featuring many items from the Revolutionary War and a digital map that takes viewers step by step through the events of that historic day. Strollers are allowed in the museum. Check the website calendar for special events and programs.

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Family Rafting 500x250 - Crab Apple Whitewater - Charlemont, MA

Crab Apple Whitewater (MA)

2056 Mohawk Trail Charlemont, MA, 01339 Phone: 800-553-7238

Members of rafting company’s family join trips to make sure they’re fun, comfortable for all families

At Crab Apple Whitewater, members of their family join every rafting trip to ensure a comfortable, exceptional experience for members of your family. In Massachusetts, there are trips just perfect for families. The Fife Brook section of the Deerfield River features Class I to III rapids, exciting but family-friendly, through mild whitewater for 2.5 hours followed by a hearty meal at the Mohawk Trail base camp, with a patio overlooking the river. And kids love the Funyaks option, where they can fire giant squirt guns from inflatable kayaks as they float through five miles of the lower Deerfield River. The Funyaks hold one or two; the self-bailing rafts hold six to seven paddlers. Spend the night in a nearby hotel or motel recommended by Crap Apple.

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The House of the Seven Gables

225 Derby Street Salem, MA, 01970 Phone: 978-774-0991

Hands-on activities and outdoor fun make visiting this historic home perfect for families

Hands-on activities and exciting outdoor environments make visiting The House of the Seven Gables a fun family experience. Take a tour of the 17th-century gabled house, now called the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, which inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel. You can also visit the author’s birthplace, other colonial homes and colorful seaside gardens. Weekend activities might include learning how to use a quill pen or how to churn fresh butter. (Check the event calendar.) Over at the Kids Cove, in the 19th-century Counting House, kids can check out harbor views from the helm of a “ship,” or through a porthole telescope. A scavenger hunt is also available. The property also offers a variety of theatrical performances centered around Hawthorne, Salem, MA and different holidays. And check the website for special coloring pages.

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Family Activities at Tanglewood - Photo Credit Great Sky Media

Visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts

Bring the Family to the Berkshires

Find family magic in the Berkshires! We have adventure and excitement enough for everyone. Explore our hiking trails, whitewater rapids, historic homes and gardens, impressive museums, and aerial adventure parks. Get out on the links, rent some kayaks, pitch a tent, or peddle a bike. Listen to world-class music, be inspired by classic and modern art, be moved by theater indoors and out. Find food for every palate - the Berkshires boasts fabulous ethnic flavors as well as traditional dishes. Don’t forget homemade ice cream and handmade chocolates! Family time in the Berkshires can be as curated or as unconstructed as you like. Bring your swimming and hiking gear for adventure, and a good book to read lakeside. Pack up the family for some quality time in the Berkshires. To learn more visit us at berkshires.org. Find us on Facebook at Visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts and Instagram at visittheberkshires.

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Old Sturbridge Village - More than a Museum!

Sunflowers - Plimoth Patuxet - Plymouth, MA

Plimoth Patuxet Museums

137 Warren Avenue Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-746-1622

Families can travel back in time to the 17th century with this interactive, engaging museum

Take your kids on a journey back in time, to see how Indigenous and Pilgrim children experienced life in the 17th century. At Plimoth Patuxet Museums, contemporary interpreters at the Historic Patuxet Homesite and 17th-Century English Village engage visitors in everything from cooking lessons and muster drills to how to create a dugout canoe. There’s a Craft Center, cinema and quick-service cafe. In Plymouth Harbor, MA, you are welcome to step aboard Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction of the original famed tall ship. A pleasant stroll on the path along Town Brook (in the spring, watch for herring) takes you to the Plimoth Grist Mill, where you can learn how cornmeal is ground. Named the Best Open Air Museum in the United States by USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards!

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Island Queen

75 Falmouth Heights Road Falmouth, MA, 02540 Phone: 508-548-4800

Beginning, middle and end: Every part of this voyage from Cape to Vineyard is a blast for kids

It’s hard to predict which your kids will love more: their time on the Cape, their time on the Vineyard, or their time on the Island Queen, the passenger ferry taking them from one place to the other. They’ll love hanging out on the deck during the 35-minute trip. And they like being able to bring their bikes and paddle boards – and pets! In Oak Bluffs, MA. they can ride the Flying Horses carousel; in Edgartown, MA, there are fun shops to explore; and Martha’s Vineyard’s bike trails and harbors are spectacular. Back in Falmouth, MA, there’s the Shining Sea Bikeway, an aquarium, a Cape Cod Baseball League team, a county fair and beautiful beaches. The ferry has a snack bar and restrooms, and kids 4 and under travel for free.

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Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort

37 Corey Road -- Route 43 Hancock, MA, 01237 Phone: 413-738-5500 Toll-Free: 800-882-8859

Family vacations always end way too soon at this exciting four-season mountain resort

All year-round, Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort is the place where vacations end way too soon – because there is so much to do! Winter, of course, means first-class skiing over 45 trails and snowboarding in three terrain parks. There’s also a network of snowshoeing trails and excellent night skiing. When it’s not ski season, it’s still fun season in the Mountain Adventure Park, with an alpine slide, mountain coaster, giant swing, rock-climbing wall, trampoline, scenic chairlift rides, a zip line and a playground with a bounce house. Over at the Aerial Adventure Park, climb and zip through the trees as you conquer various challenges like rope bridges, swinging logs and cargo nets. And, you’ll find superior mountain biking and hiking trails as well as loads of different dining options.

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Trolley Tours - Greater Boston CVB - Boston, MA

Meet Boston

Information Centers on Boston Common and Prudential Towers (Center Court) Boston, MA, 02116 Phone: 888-733-2678

Family-friendly Boston has something for everyone – and it’s all a short walk away

Families love Boston, and it’s no secret why: It’s so walkable, and there’s so much to do, everyone leaves happy. See tea tossed overboard at the Tea Party Ships & Museum, then take in the Children’s Museum practically next door. Visit the Paul Revere House and the USS Constitution on the exciting Freedom Trail, catch a game at Fenway or take a relaxing trip on the famous Swan Boats in the Public Garden (don’t forget to visit the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues while you’re there). There are plenty of playgrounds, a classic carousel, trolley and duck boat tours, street performers at fun Faneuil Hall, seals, penguins and sharks in the New England Aquarium – and you can watch a lightning storm happen indoors in the Museum of Science.

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Worcester Art Museum

55 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA, 01609 Phone: 508-799-4406

Guaranteed: Your kids are going to love interactive features at art museum

If you think your kids will not fall in love with the Worcester Art Museum after a visit there, think again. The museum offers families several ways to enjoy its magnificent collection and special exhibitions, from ancient to contemporary art. Art carts let children draw pictures and touch materials. Hands-on displays and touch stations urge them to touch tools used to create art. Interactive arms-and-armor presentations let them try on armor from the beloved Higgins Armory Collection. (See the website from a list of great questions to ask when you’re experiencing art with kids.) The Cafe in the spectacular Renaissance Court features sandwiches and salads, pastries and beverages. There’s plenty of free parking — and children under 17 get in for free!

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Galaxy Montage - Blake Planetarium - Plymouth, MA

W. Russell Blake Planetarium

117 Long Pond Road Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-830-4470

Full-dome Plymouth planetarium a shining star for visitors of all ages

The sky’s the limit for visitors to the W. Russell Blake Planetarium, the only 4K full-dome planetarium south of Boston. As you sit back in angled chairs, you’ll gaze at a ceiling filled with stars and planets while learning to identify them and how to use a star map (that you can take home). It’s a spectacle of light and color not to be missed. Regular seasonal stargazing programs take advantage of the high-tech surround-sound system and jaw-dropping full-dome views.

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Seekonk Grand Prix

1098 Fall River Avenue Seekonk, MA, 02771 Phone: 508-336-8307

Family fun is almost endless from Grand Prix racing to rock-climbing wall, mini golf, ropes course

There’s no end to the family fun at Seekonk Grand Prix, so race on over! Navigate the family track, the largest of its kind in New England, with hairpin turns and tunnels, or the rookie or kid’s track. Try the heated bumper cars or play a round of miniature golf that takes you through caves and across streams. There’s a rock-climbing wall and a challenging ropes course. And the game room has all the popular games as well as some old favorites, from the hoops challenge and classic movies to air hockey and the Sweet Stuff Candy Crane. Cash in those points for prizes. Check the website for special character events. And if you’re planning a birthday party, they have a variety of special packages.

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The Steamship Authority

Ferries from Cape Cod bring you to your island vacation on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard

Your fun family vacation to the exciting islands off Cape Cod begins with a comfortable, scenic trip on one of the Steamship Authoritys ferries. Enjoy the sea breezes, food and beverage service and wifi (pets are permitted). Once you dock at Oak Bluffs, MA on Martha’s Vineyard or at Nantucket, your adventure begins. Take a sightseeing tour, or explore your island on beautiful biking and hiking trails. Go kayaking, stroll cobblestone streets with unique restaurants and shops, book a sunset sail. There are movies at Children’s Beach on Nantucket, and the Flying Horses carousel in Oak Bluffs on the Vineyard. Don’t miss the amazing red clay cliffs at Aquinnah, MA or windsurfing off Nantucket. And look for special festivals, honoring film, food and wine – and daffodils! For more information visit SteamshipAuthority.com.

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Visit North Central Massachusetts

1000 Route 2 West (between Exits 103 & 102) Lancaster, MA, 01523 Phone: 978-534-2302

No matter what the season, there is always family fun throughout the region

Your family will never be bored when you visit North Central Massachusetts. Head to an alpaca farm to say hello to the animals, glide across the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh at Cornerstone Ranch in Princeton, MA or give your skis and snowboards a workout at Wachusett Mountain. Try your hand at axe throwing, corn hole, basketball or volleyball at Game on Fitchburg, MA, or have a blast at an indoor water park and ropes course at Great Wolf Lodge. Winter hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are spectacular in the area’s parks, preserves and recreation centers. With a variety of performing arts venues, historical museums and galleries, there really is something for every age and interest. - Read more about North Central Mass. here!

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Discover Quincy

City of Quincy Welcome Center - 1259 Hancock Street Quincy, MA, 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700

Home of two presidents boasts historic sites, great beaches, shopping, hiking, dining

It’s not surprising that a city known for so many families – the Adamses, Quincys and Hancocks – would have activities and attractions popular with families. Visiting the Adams' Homesteads and Presidential Library. (In the Stone Library, you’ll find the Mendi Bible given to John Quincy Adams by the Amistad enslaved people.) Walk to the Abigail Adams Cairn, the site where she and John Quincy watched the smoke and fire from the Battle of Bunker Hill. From the Quincy RiverWalk, you can launch your kayak. Shop or dine in stylish Marina Bay, with incredible Boston skyline views. Hike or bike (or ski) in Blue Hills Reservation, take a harbor cruise, or climb a lighthouse in the Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park.

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See Plymouth

4 North Street Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-747-0100 Toll-Free: 800-872-1620

Interactive history museums, boating excursions, kid-friendly dining and lodging make Plymouth a must for families

Check out some more great things to do while visiting Plymouth County, MA!

A walk through the streets of picturesque Plymouth will show you right away why it’s a family-favorite vacation spot. Kids love going on board the Mayflower II and leaning over the nearby barrier to get a peek at Plymouth Rock. At the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, interpreters are happy to answer questions as you explore life in a 17-century English village and a Wampanoag homesite. Sometimes children can help scrape out a dugout canoe or play with a Pilgrim child’s toy. At the Plimoth Grist Mill, you can see how corn was ground. At the harbor, go on a pirate cruise, whale-watch, or take a harbor cruise aboard a paddlewheel boat. There are arcades, ice cream shops, family-friendly restaurants and the Edaville Family Theme Park a short drive away. Please visit our website to learn more about these activities and others to prepare for your trip to Plymouth.

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Southwick’s Zoo

2 Southwick Street Mendon, MA, 01756 Phone: 800-258-9182

Fun and exciting adventures await for the whole family at Southwick’s Zoo

A day at Southwick’s Zoo brings fun and adventure for the entire family! Discover the over 850 animals that call Southwick’s Zoo their home. Dine at one of the many food venues in the park or make your reservation at Galliford’s Restaurant & Tavern, the full-service restaurant here at the zoo.
After lunch, continue exploring the zoo! Visit the EARTH Discovery Center to hear from one of our Earth Educators about the many ambassador animals. Explore the 35-acre Deer Forest and feed the fallow deer, journey through the North American Exhibit on the Woodlands Express Train to see the elk forest, and glide high above the sky on the Soaring Eagle Zipline! So much, so close…Your adventure begins at Southwick’s Zoo!

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Battleship Cove

5 Water Street Fall River, MA, 02721 Phone: 508-678-1100 Toll-Free: 800-533-3194

An exciting family adventure in America’s naval history

Battleship Cove is now open from 9am-5pm daily! Please remember to follow our safety & social distancing guidelines!
America’s naval history inspires the whole family at this world class heritage museum in Fall River. Explore the world's largest collection of US naval ships including the mighty USS Massachusetts, the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., and PT Boats used in the South Pacific. The sheer size and impression these ships and their stories leave is overwhelming. There’s the state-of-the-art special effects Pearl Harbor Experience, the only outdoor multimedia reenactment anywhere. Scouts and youth groups can participate in a year round maritime camping program, overnights, and family nautical nights with affordable camping on site. Whether a casual visitor, history buff, student, teacher or scout leader, everyone learns. Special exhibits honor our men and women in uniform then and now.

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Western Mass.

Cape Cod & The Islands

Central Mass.

Greater Boston & Cambridge

North of Boston

South of Boston

Massachusetts family activities can keep kids entertained year-round

Visit Concord MA

Old Sturbridge Village

Salem Witch Museum

Greater Merrimack Valley

Concord Museum

Crab Apple Whitewater (MA)

The House of the Seven Gables

Visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts

Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Island Queen

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort

Meet Boston

Worcester Art Museum

W. Russell Blake Planetarium

Seekonk Grand Prix

The Steamship Authority

Visit North Central Massachusetts

Discover Quincy

See Plymouth

Southwick’s Zoo

Battleship Cove

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