Fiona Haley

Latest posts by Fiona Haley

Zip Lines and Ropes Courses near Boston for Outdoor Family Adventures

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Sun, 10/04/2020 - 10:07am

Kids will love to zip between the trees in Canton. Photo courtesy of TreeTop Adventures

Do you have a child who loves adventure—or who can often be found scaling walls or scrambling up trees? While a family hike is always a great outlet for these high-energy kiddos, you might want to up the ante with a day trip to an outdoor zip line course or ropes course around Boston. Massachusetts is home to a number of zip line courses with a range of age-appropriate challenges that will excite thrill-seekers young and old.

What if the weather is cold or wet? Kids can monkey around at these Boston-area indoor obstacle courses instead.

Great Summer Camps for Preschoolers in and around Boston

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Tue, 03/03/2020 - 11:00am

Catch butterflies and make friends with nature in Lincoln. Photo courtesy of Drumlin Farm Camp

Summer camp can be an awesome way to introduce preschool-aged kids to a school-like setting. They're old enough to want (and need) some mental and social stimulation during those long summer days, but not so mature that you can plant them at any old camp and trust they'll make do. The good news is that Boston and the surrounding Massachusetts 'burbs offer lots of great summer day camps to suit the many different types of preschoolers out there—from sporty to outdoorsy to tech-y!

We have the scoop on art camps, science camps, theater camps, and farm camps, too. Find more great summer camp options for your Massachusetts kids in our Boston Camp Guide and camp directory, which is searchable by interest, age, or location.

5 Kids' Farm Camps Near Boston for Little Plant and Animal Lovers

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 3:18pm

Making new friends at Waltham Fields Community Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

If your Boston kid is enchanted by things that grow in the dirt, whether they're pea shoots or baby piglets, it might be time to consider farm camp. Trust me when I tell you your kids will love it—when else are children encouraged to get messy and play with farm animals? Hosting summer camp on the farm offers kids the chance to explore the countryside while still in close proximity to the city, and your kids will get to be outside, do a lot of learning about ecology and environmental science, and discover the wonders of vegetables.

Here are five summer farm camps within about a half hour of Boston in Newton, Waltham, Natick and more nearby cities and towns. Please check the websites or call for exact prices, which may fluctuate seasonally.

Find more great summer camp options for your Massachusetts kids in our Camp Guide and Directory of listings, which is searchable by interest, age, or location.

9 Family-Friendly Spots to Watch the Boston Marathon with Kids

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Sun, 04/15/2018 - 8:47am

Viewing in Hopkinton, where it all begins. Photo by Susanna Bolle/Flickr

It's finally mid-April again, and Boston’s time to shine. Marathon Monday brings out the best of Boston, as half a million people come together to cheer on competitors from around the world. With 26 miles to choose from, it’s hard to know the best places to go to get the best view, while staying away from rowdy crowds. Here are a few spots along the marathon route where you can get a great view, while staying close to transportation and places to eat. If watching fife and drum brigades, battles, and other historical enactments is more your family's speed, check out these other Patriots' Day activity ideas.

Thrilling Family Fun: 5 Escape Rooms and Quests to Do With Boston Kids

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Fri, 02/16/2018 - 10:35am

As kids get older, it gets harder to find indoor family activities that aren’t “boring” or “stupid.” Fear not; there’s good news. If you’re the parent of older school-age kids or 'tweens, you might want to try an escape room adventure. People all over America are paying to be locked in a room for an hour—to try to get out, together. Escape rooms are the newest trend, and your family might love it. We’ve found five nearby escape rooms, or similarly-themed quest activities, where you and your kids can test your quick-thinking and problem-solving skills (and maybe do some bonding at the same time).

A-maze-ing! Review of the New MOS Mirror Maze Exhibit

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Fri, 02/09/2018 - 10:52am

The Museum of Science is a gift to families in Boston, offering dozens of interactive displays that take hours to investigate, with ever-changing rotating exhibits. Its newest temporary exhibit, A Mirror Maze: Numbers in Nature, is just as enthralling and informative as the Museum’s permanent collections, teaching visitors about how patterns are found everywhere, from a shell's spiral to the veins on a leaf. Bonus: Entrance to the exhibit is included in the general admission, so you can check it out without having to chip in any extra. Here's what we discovered in this truly cool exhibit, and our recommendations for visiting.

Why Sugarloaf in Maine Is My Family's Favorite Ski Resort

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 11:00am

Nobody can deny that there are plenty of wonderful ski resorts in southern and central New England. That said, sometimes families want to branch out for something a little different (without going so far as to board a plane to do it). When my family goes skiing, we go to Sugarloaf. Now, look—I know what you’re thinking. Why in the name of all that is holy would we voluntarily drive all the way up to the heart of Maine with children just to go skiing? Let me explain.

Find more family ski destinations in our Skiing and Snow Sports Guide.

10 Must-See Exhibits at Boston's Museum of Science

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Mon, 01/22/2018 - 12:12pm

The Museum of Science is a paradise for pretty much any curious kid, which is why, in a city packed with brainy attractions, the MOS is probably our crown jewel. Many of the exhibits are specifically aimed at children, with lots of opportunities for fun and hands-on learning, but parents are certain to learn something new when visiting the MOS. The catch: With 130,000 square feet of exhibit halls, it's nearly impossible to soak up every part of the museum, so it's best to go with a game plan in mind. While not every family is going to agree on their favorites, we're pretty certain you can't go wrong by hitting these highlights—none of which, by the way, require extra money beyond regular admission fees.

Latest posts by Fiona Haley

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