America’s oldest public park marks the start of Boston’s Freedom Trail and offers family-friendly activities such as free Shakespeare on the Common, carousel rides, and year-round events at the Frog Pond.

Kids love Boston Duck Tour’s amphibious vehicles, said Del Llano. The tours, in operation since 1994, take visitors through Boston neighborhoods and past historic landmarks before driving right into the Charles River, which Del Llano calls “the big finish.” Each 80-minute trip is led by a ConDUCKtor who narrates the tour. Guests spend about 60 minutes on land and 20 minutes in the water.

The Boston Harbor Islands, made up of 34 islands and peninsulas, offer a variety of outdoor experiences. For example, families can enjoy panoramic views of Boston Harbor from Spectacle Island’s trails and explore a historic Civil War-era Fort Warren on Georges Island.

Young animal lovers can spy lions, tigers, giraffes, and more at the 72-acre Franklin Park Zoo. Families can sign up for meet and greets with the animals and take behind-the-scenes tours. In 2022, the zoo opened a $9.1 million outdoor gorilla habitat, Gorilla Grove, for its six gorillas: Little Joe, Kitombe (Kit), Kit’s mate, Kiki, and their three offspring: Kambiri, Azize, and Pablo.

Families can attend special exhibitions, kids and family programs, and studio art classes throughout the year. And when kids get hungry, families can take a break at several on-site restaurants.

Kids can explore more than 700 interactive exhibits at the Museum of Science, and watch Planetarium shows and IMAX films. What’s more, there are more than 125 live animals, as it was the first science museum to become an accredited zoo. Permanent exhibits help kids explore space, technology, dinosaurs, nature, and more. Temporary exhibits and live presentations abound. Kids can also help test new exhibits.

The aquarium features seals, sea lions, penguins, and a four-story, 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank, full of hundreds of Caribbean reef animals such as eels, sea turtles, and stingrays. It also has the largest shark and ray touch tank on the East Coast

It is the first botanical garden in America and the home of Boston’s iconic Swan Boats, in operation since 1877. Families can explore the lagoon via swan boat with the backdrop of the city. For those who’d rather remain on land, there are benches for relaxing and pathways for strolling. There’s plenty to see in the Public Garden, which boasts monuments, fountains, plants, flowers, and a scenic pedestrian bridge.

This contemporary public park in the heart of Boston has a lot to offer — from fountains to food trucks to a carousel. During the warm months, kids of all ages can splash in several different fountains along the Greenway.

Kids love following the red brick road through Boston, said Del Llano. The iconic 2 ½-mile Freedom Trail linking 16 historic stops offers more than 250 years of history in museums, churches, burying grounds, parks, and even a ship.