In full disclosure, we were hosted by some Boston attractions to make our family travel to Boston series possible.
Experience History and More in Boston Massachusetts
Whether you’re a fan of colonial times, or U.S. History in general, or just appreciate beautiful cities, Boston should be on your family travel list! It had been on our wishlist of places to bring our kids for some years, and once our youngest could handle some walking, we decided it was time. Our family vacation to Boston was from Saturday afternoon to Tuesday morning, and we could have easily spent more time exploring the city. Read on for some of what we saw, and links to our reviews.
We sure did do a lot of walking! The T is convenient mass transit, but the weather was so perfect we chose to walk so we could see more of the city. We were fortunate to stay at the Residence Inn Tudor Wharf just over the Charlestown Bridge from the North End. It was so conveniently located to all of the attractions below that once we parked our car, we didn’t move it during our family vacation to Boston until it was time to head back to New Jersey. Read our family friendly hotel review here.
The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum are a fun and educational way to learn about the night of December 16, 1773. The Boston Tea Party is explored in depth at this attraction, enjoyed by all ages. Read our review here.
We were impressed by how Boston public spaces are used. From the Boston Common to seemingly randomly placed sprinkler parks to waterfront parks, it’s a city that welcomes visitors to enjoy outside space. There’s art almost everywhere you look as well, from statues, to memorials, to even the colonial era cemetery headstones. The architecture is so different on every street; there’s always something new to see. A simple stroll through the city will interest you for sure.
The Freedom Trail stretches for 2.5 miles through downtown Boston and Charlestown, and includes most of the familiar colonial era sites. The trail is free, though some of the attractions on the trail charge a small admission fee. Guided tours are also available at a fee.
Want to rest your feet during your family vacation to Boston but still see the city? The Old Town Trolley Tour takes you to the outer neighborhoods with a fun narrated tour. You can “hop on/hop off” at any of the 16 stops and your ticket is good for the whole day. You’ll pass through Freedom Trail sites, Fenway Park, and MIT and more, in comfort and safety! Read about our trip here.
We are fans of CityPASS, and eagerly used ours for family vacation to Boston. It got us admission to the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science, and the Skywalk and Observatory. Each attraction was better than the last, and if you visit all four (also included is the Museum of Fine Arts or a Boston Harbor Cruise) you save 43% off admissions! It’s a great way to fill almost 3 days in Boston, as you’ll see by our review here.
One of our favorite Boston experiences was the Charlestown Navy Yard where both the USS Constitution and the USS Constitution Museum are located. The history of this beloved warship is well documented with interactive exhibits in the Museum, and steps away is the actual ship! It’s staffed by U.S. Navy crew, who offer more detail on its history as well as its successful battles in the War of 1812. We were impressed with the detail and the quality of the Museum, and having the ship right there only enhanced our visit.
See our experiences in our video!
Ready for that family trip to Boston? You won’t regret it!