Boston

Money-Saving Deals on Boston Area Kids Classes

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 08/20/2019 - 2:02pm

If you're on the hunt for fall kids activities, your wallet will thank you for this one! Some much-loved children's programs across the Boston area have offered to extend special offers to Mommy Poppins readers just in time for fall 2019 registration. Read on to find deals on STEAM courses, theater and dance classes, soccer lessons, and more for Boston kids.

Don't drag your feet, because these deals will literally disappear as they expire. If you don't see a deal listed below it means the offer is no longer available. If you're looking for even more kids classes, visit our Boston Classes Guide, or you can even search our Directory by location and age!

Best Things to Do With Kids at the Boston Children's Museum

Submitted by Caitlin Dowling on Sun, 08/18/2019 - 3:05pm

Our city is full of family-friendly museums, but only the Boston Children's Museum is designed just for kids. Whether you're looking for a few hours to kill or somewhere to enjoy an entire day with your kids, there's no better destination in Boston. This three-story museum offers endless entertainment and discovery, including exhibits that focus on science, culture, social awareness, health and fitness, the arts, and more. While the museum may seem overwhelming, we've broken it down, level by level, so you can plan your visit and make sure you see all the best exhibits.

Make sure to save some extra time to head outside before or after your visit to play, slide, and explore at Martin's Park playground, and if you want to make a full day of it, explore all that the surrounding Seaport neighborhood has to offer!

These Hotel Pools Will Wow the Kids on a Family Vacation

Submitted by Elaine Paoloni ... on Sat, 08/17/2019 - 3:43pm

When you have kids, finding a hotel with an awesome swimming pool is usually right at the top of the vacation-planning list. After a long day of activity, you can kick back and watch them splash around at the hotel pool. On a rainy day, hotels with indoor swimming pools will be a saving grace. While most kids will be satisfied with any hole that contains water, impress them with something unique to make that next family vacation one that they won't soon forget.

Here are some of our favorite U.S. hotels with pools sure to satisfy the whole family. We've included both outdoor hotel pools, indoor options, and even those hotels that let you swim in the pool without staying there overnight. The options run from a Las Vegas hotel pool to a Texas-shaped rooftop pool in Houston to a day-pass-friendly NYC hotel pool.

For more vacation ideas on where to stay, check out our Hotels & Resorts Guide.

Family Friendly Vineyards and Wineries in New England that Welcome Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Fri, 08/16/2019 - 6:00pm

When thinking of New England, most people conjure up the tastes of apples, cranberries, and maple syrup, but local vineyards prove we can produce some tasty grapes, too. Stretching from Connecticut’s "wine trail" all the way up to New Hampshire's White Mountains, many of these vineyards aren't just great places to sip wine with your grown-up friends, but also to hang out with kids (yes, you heard that right!). Much like the local beer gardens that keep popping up in Boston and Connecticut, these wineries welcome families with beautiful, spacious grounds, and in some cases, apple picking, live music, wagon rides, and other activities.

Here are our favorite family-friendly vineyards and wineries in New England—from coast to mountaintop!

Free Public Art Around Boston that Will Blow Your Kids' Minds

Submitted by Elyse Andrews on Fri, 08/16/2019 - 9:30am

Boston has long been home to some of the best museums in the world, showcasing art from around the world. Recently, the city has acquired an extensive collection of free public art where families can get up close and personal with installations of all kinds. Some of these exhibits are permanent, while others are currently on view. Outdoors, outsized, and often interactive, these works of art are especially appealing to kids.

Here are some of our favorite artsy destinations for a family day trip, along with spots to eat or play nearby. For more artsy outdoor fun, open year-round, check out the deCordova Sculpture Museum in Lincoln. And be prepared: If your kids are anything like ours, the kitchen table will be covered in recycle bin scraps and glue for the next month or two.

Weekend Fun: Fisherman's Feast, Fairs, and Butterflies

Submitted by Lucie T on Wed, 08/14/2019 - 7:00pm

Let's hope these perfect, late-summer temps continue this weekend with all of the outdoor fun Boston has to offer. From the Fisherman Feast in the North End to a fair in Marshfield that people have been flocking to for over a century, this weekend is packed with some of Massachusetts' most beloved August events.

Want to exercise your mind as well as your legs? Check out this family scavenger hunt. You can also celebrate the power of water, go green, catch a lion dance, float like a butterfly, or enjoy a lobster bake on the waterfront. Fall is fast approaching, so max out on these long days with these or other activities from our end-of-summer checklist.

8 Great Full Day or Extended Day Preschools in or Near Boston

Submitted by Caitlin Dowling on Sun, 08/11/2019 - 9:00am

Finding a preschool that fits your family is a huge undertaking: From Montessori programs to bilingual preschools, there are many nursery school and pre-K options in the Boston and greater Boston area. For many families, a key feature of a preschool is a full-day schedule. So we've rounded up some popular, parent-approved schools in the Boston area, from the city to Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville, that have full-day programs or widely-used extended-day options. More time in a super school can mean peace of mind for busy parents, not to mention extra learning and social time for your budding student.

Iceland with Kids: 10 Things You Will Want To Do on a Family Trip

Submitted by Roberta B on Sat, 08/10/2019 - 1:00pm

Iceland has become the place everyone talks about. It's dramatic. It's beautiful. It's rugged, unspoiled, totally different, and the perfect stop between North America and Europe. In fact, it's where the two continents actually meet (cue photo op)! But without amusement parks, warm weather, or any kind of branded entertainment, will it hold your kids' attention? The answer is heck yeah—tell the kids you're bringing them to the Land of the Midnight Sun, and check out as many as you can of the 10 extra-special Icelandic highlights below.

20 Things To Do In Charlestown with Boston Kids

Submitted by Kristin Quinn on Fri, 08/09/2019 - 6:37pm

Located on the banks of Boston Harbor, historic Charlestown has become an increasingly popular neighborhood for young families due to its proximity to the city and neighborhood feel. Made famous by several touristy landmarks like the Bunker Hill Monument and Old Ironsides, Charlestown offers plenty to do for kids in all seasons. It's hard to believe this 'hood is only one square mile!

You could spend a whole day exploring Charlestown, but if you want to branch out to the nearby neighborhoods, check out our picks for family-friendly activities in Boston's North End and Seaport/Fort Channel areas, too.

Weekend Fun: Lions, Musicals, and Campouts

Submitted by Lucie T on Wed, 08/07/2019 - 8:00pm

August may not seem like typical theater season but this weekend there are not one, not two, but three kid-friendly performances happening around Boston. We're also excited about a few of MP's favorite August events, including one with stars, s'mores, and meteors, one song spectacular for all ages, and a real summer campout. Music lovers should head to Jamaica Pond for a popular classical music concert, and dance enthusiasts should check out this new fest by Urbanity. Don't forget to celebrate World Lion Day at the zoo!