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Best Educational Activities in Boston for Kids
My husband and I are devouring the HBO series John Adams on Netflix. I’m loving the period dress and lifestyle of Boston residents during the Revolutionary War (though that live smallpox inoculation was nasty). Along the way, we’re re-learning the events leading up to the war and the founding of our country, which is bringing me back to middle school and which got me to thinking about present-day Boston, Massachusetts. What an absolute treasure-trove it is for visiting families to learn about the birth of the United States. Beantown is also home to several museums and other attractions that appeal to kids. They’re enjoying educational activities and don’t even know it!
Here are five attractions you should check out with your children on your visit to the capital of Massachusetts:
While walking the 2.5-mile red-brick or red-painted trail throughout downtown Boston, visitors can stop at 16 different historic sites and monuments, including Paul Revere’s House dating back to 1680; the Old North Church, where lanterns hung to signal the “British are coming!”; and the Old South Meeting House, where colonists gathered just before ceremoniously dumping crates of tea into Boston Harbor, one of many protests against Great Britain that eventually led to the Revolutionary War.
Walk all or part of trail at your own pace for free (donations are appreciated at the various sites). If you’re going it alone, a good place to start is the Visitors Information Center on Boston Common, where you can pick up maps and guides for a nominal fee. Or take a guided tour from a knowledgeable docent dressed in 18th-century attire; these animated folks keep school-age children spellbound with tales from colonial times. The Freedom Trail Foundation’s 90-minute tours cover part of the trail and only involve a mile or so of walking. They run May to November and also start at the Visitors Information Center.
“Old Ironsides,” docked in Boston Harbor, is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat today. This means that after more than 200 years of service, including a stint in the War of 1812, she remains an active-duty Navy ship.
One of the highlighted sites along the Freedom Trail, this majestic tall ship and its nearby museum merit more than just a quick look-see. Free tours, again with costumed docents, are held on board every 30 minutes throughout the warm-weather months. Daily raising and retiring of the flag, at 8 a.m. and sunset, include cannon fire, which, naturally, most children find quite impressive.
Aspiring marine biologists, or anyone who thinks sharks, penguins and moray eels are pretty neat, will love Boston’s New England Aquarium at Central Wharf. Its centerpiece is the Caribbean Coral Reef Exhibit, also known simply as the “Giant Ocean Tank,” holding 200,000 gallons of water, sea caves, coral and a stunning display of ocean life.
Another aquarium highlight ranking high when it comes to the “cool factor,” is the on-site medical center, where visitors can actually watch veterinarians treat sick or injured animals. Video monitors allow even closer views of live procedures—from vision exams to inoculations. The aquarium also features an extensive penguin exhibit and IMAX theatre. Whale-watching tours and harbor cruises, available April through October, are available.
Permanent exhibits at this beloved Boston institution range from “A Bird’s World” and “Beyond the X-Ray” to “Mathematica” (on display since 1981) to “Welcome to the Universe.” Traveling exhibits bring fresh material to the museum several times a year, and plenty of interactive activities keep kids fully intrigued.
Live presentations also engage visitors with such topics as “Frankly Franklin,” where actors tell tales of the statesman’s contributions to science, and “Electricity!” in which staff members produce live, indoor bolts of lightening. An IMAX theatre, planetarium and laser show offer still more ways to spend a morning, afternoon or full day at this museum.
Geared for children up to age 10, the museum gives them opportunities to climb and crawl, pound with hammers, get messy with art, weave on large-scale looms and much more. The “Arthur and Friends” exhibit, based on the beloved Arthur books written by Marc Brown and television cartoon produced by a Boston station, allows preschoolers to interact and role play with the characters, The authentic Japanese silk merchant’s home and “Boston Black: A City Connects” engages adults as well as children.
Younger kids will just like blowing the quacking whistle (pay extra for this joy) and riding around in the WWII-style amphibious vehicle (all of the originals have been retired). But school-age kids who have some knowledge of our country’s history might appreciate all of the historic Boston landmarks you’ll see on this tour. I took the tour with my children (then ages six and eight) last year, and most of the history and the driver’s funny jokes went right over their heads. The highlight for my children was taking the wheel after the “Duck” plunged into the Charles River. Each kid got a turn, and made for some great photos (unfortunately, my camera went missing right after this trip).
Readers, are there any great educational activities in Boston for kids that I missed? I know I listed the “biggies,” but perhaps there are some lesser-known gems out there? We’ll be making our annual trip back East this summer, and likely our agenda will include at least one day in Boston, so I’d love to hear your suggestions.
Source: MountainMama
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