Massachusetts Bucket List Kid Friendly Day Trips

It is no secret that I love living in New England. In fact, I’ve got my own New England Bucket List that I keep in our family journal.

I thought it would be fun to share some top kid friendly day trip destinations in my home state of Massachusetts.  Without further ado, I present Massachusetts Bucket List: Kid Friendly Day Trips! Many of my blogging friends helped me with this post by giving me permission to use their images and providing links to their reviews. If you’re wondering more about any of these destinations and if it would be a good fit for your family, please click through to their post. They’ve all given great insight into these places!

Massachusetts Bucket List Kid Friendly Day Trips

Massachusetts Bucket List Kid Friendly Day Trips: Outdoor Adventures & Hiking

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation

A unique natural landmark, Purgatory Chasm runs for a quarter of a mile between granite walls rising as high as 70 feet. Popular with picnickers and rock-climbers alike, the Chasm is believed to have its origin in the sudden release of dammed-up glacial meltwater near the end of the last Ice Age, approximately 14,000 years ago.

• Address: 198 Purgatory Rd. Sutton, MA
  
• Hours: Sun up to sun down.
• Price: $5 MA Vehicle, $6 non-MA Vehicle

Read more about Robin’s day at Purgatory Chasm here.

Ashley Reservoir

Ashley Reservoir Loop is a 3.7 mile loop trail located near Holyoke, Massachusetts that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for nature trips, road biking, trail running & walking and is accessible year-round. No Dogs allowed.

• Address: 250 Whitney Ave Holyoke MA 01040 (closest address for your GPS, this will take you to the Elks club where there is places to park).
• Hours: Sun up to sun down.
• Price: Free

Boston Harbor Islands

 A unique National and State park. We have 12 diverse islands and peninsulas ready for exploring and 22 more that form an island wilderness. In all, there are 1,600 acres and 35 miles of undeveloped ocean shoreline on the islands. With so many places to choose from, it’s easy to visit an island that’s right for you—and what you like to do.

• Address: 60 Long Wharf, Boston MA (for ferry service via Boston Harbor Cruises)
• Hours & Price: Vary based on cruise times. Click here for more info.

Read about Kimberly’s day at Boston Harbor Islands here and about about Nicky’s time here.

Look Park

There is something for everyone at Look Park from trails to walk or ride bikes on, a splash pad, three awesome playgrounds, picnic tables, mini golf, bumper boats, a steam train, and even a zoo!

• Address: 300 North Main St Florence MA
• Hours: 7:00 am to sunset. Hours of attractions vary based on season. Click here for more info. 
• Price: Monday through Friday Vehicle entry $7.00, weekends and holidays $9.00

Massachusetts Bucket List Kid Friendly Day Trips: Museums

Battleship Cove 

Explore five National Historic Landmarks: the Battleship Massachusetts, Destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., Submarine Lionfish, and the only two motor torpedo boats on display in the world, PT 617 and 796. Along with the Hiddensee, our Russian-built missile corvette, you’ll travel through time as you move from ship to ship–all the way from WWII, through the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, to the Cold War, and beyond.

• Address: 5 Water Street Fall River, MA
• Hours: Open daily 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Price: Adults $17.00, Children 6-12 years old $10.50, Children Under 5 free. Special pricing applies for active military, veterans, senior citizens, and AAA. Click here for info. 

Read more about Robin’s adventure at Battleship Cove. Here’s a hint, plan more than a few hours.

Museum Of Fine Arts Boston 

The MFA Guide Kids’ Tour introduces young visitors age 6 to 10 to the Art of the Americas and Contemporary collections. The galleries are brought to life with the help of three quirky animated characters: Lucia, a high school reporter; Steve, an adventurous 10-year-old; and Malone, an art detective. Together they help kids look at art in new, creative ways.

• Address: 465 Huntington Avenue Boston, Massachusetts
• Hours: Sunday through Tuesday 10:00 am to 4:45 pm, Wednesday through Friday 10:00 am to 9:45 pm
• Price: Adults $25.00, Seniors (65+) and Students (18+) $23.00, Youth (7-17) $10.00 but free with special exceptions (click here for more info), Children 6 and under free.

Read about Victoria’s time at the MFA here and Jolanta’s visit to the the MFA here

Boston Children’s Museum 

Designed for children and families, Museum exhibits focus on science, culture, environmental awareness, health & fitness, and the arts. In addition to extensive child-centered exhibits,  Museum educators develop numerous programs and activities that address literacy, performing arts, science and math, visual arts, cultures, and health and wellness.

• Address: 308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210
• Hours: Saturday through Thursday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Fridays 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
• Price: Adults & Children $14.00, Babies under 12 months free

Read about Gilda’s time at the Boston Children’s Museum here.

Plymouth Plantation

Travel back in time and visit 17th century New England at Plymouth Plantation. The 17th-Century English Village is a re-creation of the small farming and maritime community built by the Pilgrims* along the shore of Plymouth Harbor. The first outdoor living history exhibit you will encounter on your visit is the Wampanoag Homesite, located on the banks of the Eel River. Here you’ll discover how the 17^th-century Wampanoag would have lived along the coast during the growing season; planting their crops, fishing and hunting, gathering wild herbs and berries for food, and reeds for making mats and baskets. Finally, climb aboard the Mayflower II.  Plimoth Plantation’s full-scale reproduction, Mayflower II, was built in Devon, England and crossed the Atlantic in 1957. The details of the ship, from the solid oak timbers and tarred hemp rigging to the wood and horn lanterns and hand-colored maps, have been carefully re-created to give you a sense of what the original 17th-century vessel was like.

•  Address:
  • The museum is comprised of three locations:
    • Plimoth Plantation is located at 137 Warren Ave Plymouth, MA 02360. We’re 3 miles south of Plymouth center.
      
    • Plimoth Plantation’s Mayflower II  is located at the State Pier (across the road from 74 Water St) on the Plymouth waterfront. Tickets for this location are currently unavailable. Please see information below regarding the ongoing restoration of Mayflower II or visit theMayflower II restoration information page: www.plimoth.org/sos
    • The Plimoth Grist Mill is located at 6 Spring Lane, Plymouth, MA.
• Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
• Price: Prices depend on which part of the plantation you want to visit. Click here for prices. 

Read about Jodi’s trip to Plymouth Plantation here.

Peabody Essex Museum

 Imagine dancing with dragons, building a ship model or making art together as a family. When you step inside the Peabody Essex Museum — or visit us online — you enter a world of artistic and cultural experiences from past and present. PEM links art to the wider world and back again — to you.

• Address: 161 Essex Street Salem MA
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Closed Mondays, Open until 9:00 m the third Thursday of the month
• Price: Adults $18, seniors $15, students (with ID) $10, Youth (16 and under) and Salem, Mass. residents (with ID) admitted free

Read about Tamara’s time at the Peabody Essex Museum here.

Massachusetts Bucket List Kid Friendly Day Trips: Fun Adventures & Attractions

Legoland Discovery Center Boston

Discover iconic regional landmarks and attractions all made entirely out of LEGO® bricks. Using more than 3 million LEGO bricks, see Boston come to life with interactive displays, touch screens and sound effects, and watch the LEGO® population explore Boston.”

• Address: 598 Assembly Row Somerville, MA 02145
• Hours: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Sunday though  Thursday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Friday & Saturday
• Price: $15.00 and above. Buy tickets online here

Read Robin’s Review of Legoland Discovery Center Boston here. You can also read about Gilda’s experience here.

Basketball Hall Of Fame

 

Basketball Hall of Fame is a fantastic destination for everyone from lifelong basketball fans to families with children who are just beginning to explore the world’s most popular sport.

• Address: 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue Springfield, MA
• Hours: Sunday-Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturdays. However, they host special events that may change the hours they’re open to the pubic. Click here for more info.
• Price: Adults $22.00, Youth (ages 5 to 15) $16.00, Children 4 and under are free. Special pricing applies for teachers, military, and AAA. Click here for info.

Read Jodi’s review of The Basketball Hall Of Fame here.

Six Flags New England

From thrill rides, kiddie rides, entertainment, and a water park, there is something for everyone at Six Flags!

• Address: 1623 Main St Agawam, MA 01001
• Hours: Park typically opens around 10:30 am and is open until at least 6:00 pm. Consult this schedule before going to confirm hours as they vary.
• Price: General Admission $59.00, Children Under 54″ $49.00, Children 2 & Under: Free . Discounted rates may be available by purchasing online.

New England Aquarium

In addition to three species of penguins, there are thousands of other aquatic animals to visit at the Aquarium. Don’t miss the fearsome lionfish, the delicate leafy seadragons and the mysterious giant Pacific octopus. Go out back to see the Northern fur seals and California sea lions in action, and be sure to visit the Atlantic harbor seals out front.

• Address: 1 Central Wharf, Boston MA
• Hours: Hours vary, but they are generally open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (or later) 7 days a week.
• Price: Adults $26.95, Seniors (60+) $24.95, Children ( ages 3 to 11) $17.95, Children (under 3) free

Read about Gilda’s trip to The New England Aquarium here.

Have you been to any of these places? If I were to visit your state, where would you recommend I go?