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American Association of Law Libraries
2004 Annual Meeting, July 10-14
Boston, Massachusetts

Guide to Boston for Families and Kids

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Boston is a great town for kids with lots of fun museums, history, sports teams, water activities, and beautiful parks. Stock up on film before you visit, Boston is over 350 years old and you’ll probably find yourself taking photos of your kids in front of Paul Revere’s house or sitting on the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues in the Public Garden. Boston is a city where the new is side-by-side to the old. In Boston’s Financial District, North End and Beacon Hill you will find many lovely brick buildings, some dating back to Revolutionary days. To plan your visit, you can check out the following sites:

Attractions by neighborhood: For your convenience, neighborhoods are listed in proximity to each other. Each section includes kid-friendly restaurants. Boston has public restrooms, but they are somewhat hidden. Very few T stations have restrooms for riders. Stick to the nicer hotels, restaurants and stores. You can actually find bathroom ratings online. They recommend:

Back Bay: Copley Plaza Hotel, Lenox Hotel, Crate and Barrel
Downtown: Borders Books, Macy’s, Filene’s
Waterfront: Boston Harbor Hotel, Marriott Long Wharf, Kinko’s
Quincy Market: North Building, Second floor
Harvard Square: Frameworks, Charles Hotel

Places designated are within walking distance of the Convention Center, less than a 15 minute walk. Those near a train station include the station name. Click on the train station name to open a new window for T directions from the convention center.

NOTE: Massachusetts uses 10 digit dialing. All phone numbers are in the 617 area code unless otherwise stated.

Tours

There are all kinds of tours available, by land and sea, sometimes both! A small selection is below. Water tours are listed in the Boston Waterfront section. Any of the tours can give you a great taste of what Boston has to offer. A lot of Boston’s spots to visit are contained in a relatively small area including downtown, the Waterfront, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the North End, and Charlestown so it is possible to see a great deal on foot. One of the best parts about walking around the city is noticing the architecture and building details. Make sure you look up along the roof lines as you walk, you might see a fierce gargoyle or a garden on the roof.

For tours by water, see Waterfront. See the Excursions page for AALL arranged tours during the conference.

Boston Duck Tours
Address: 790 Boylston St. (Prudential Center)
Phone: 723-DUCK
Tickets: Booths at Prudential Center, Museum of Science, and Faneuil Hall

Taking the duck theme to its ultimate, this tour goes by land and sea, floating down the Charles River as well as visiting Boston landmarks. Voted the “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine, these tours sell out quickly, so plan ahead and order your tickets online before coming to Boston. Tickets may be purchased up to 5 days in advance on the Internet or early in the morning at their ticket booths in the Prudential Center, the Museum of Science, and Faneuil Hall. They do not sell individual tickets over the phone. Tickets may sell out by noon in the popular summer season. The amphibious vehicle “ducks” are open-air vehicles covered only by a canopy so dress appropriately. Plastic side shields are lowered in cool or rainy weather. Tours are 80-90 minutes long. Included with your tour is a Boston Duck Tour brochure and coupons for the Museum of Science and for the Prudential Center. Don’t confuse this tour with the “Make Way for Ducklings” tour listed below.

Old Town Trolley
Tickets: Central Wharf & Milk Street, near New England Aquarium (T: Aquarium, Blue Line)
Phone: 1-800-868-7482

Kids under 12 are free accompanied by an adult ($31.50) and there’s a free harbor cruise included if you book with Bostonusa. The tour is good for two days and you can get off and on at any location staying as long as you want.

Beantown Trolley and Harbor Cruise
Phone: 236-2148

Check their website for hotel pick-up locations. Tickets can be purchased on board. If you’ve got a whole day to explore Boston, this Gray Line tour lets you on and off the trolley at all major Boston attractions. The tours are narrated. If you plan an extended visit, other Gray Line tours are worth exploring including Cambridge/Lexington/ Concord, Salem (the witches city), Newport and Plimoth Plantation.

Make Way for Ducklings tour
Address: 99 Bedford St. (T: Park Street, Green line)
Phone: 426-1885

If the Robert McCloskey’s book Make Way for Ducklings is a favorite in your family, you can take a tour of the very spots where Quack and his friends walked. The tour winds through Beacon Hill and the Public Garden. Be sure and call them first, tours do not run every day. You can top your tour off with gelato at the cozy Caffe Bella Vita at 30 Charles Street.

Ghosts and Gravestones Tour
Ticket office: Old Atlantic Ave. across from New England Aquarium (T: Aquarium, Blue line)
Phone: 269-3626
Tour times: 6:30pm, 7:15pm, 8:30pm. Reservations are required

From the Boston Strangler to Cotton Mather, try this scary yet fun tour of Boston’s dark side. The tour also includes a visit to the Granary Burial Ground, final resting places of some famous Revolutionary patriots and Copp’s Hill Burying Ground where Cotton Mather of Salem Witch Trial fame, is buried. Recommended for older children 14 and above, this is a trolley and walking tour so wear comfortable shoes.

Boston Fenway Park Tour
Address: 4 Yawkey Way (T: Kenmore, Green line)
Phone: 266-6666

The baseball fans in your family can check out the Green Monster and the historic home of the Boston Red Sox. Better yet, get tickets for a Red Sox game. The Sox will be in town during the Convention. Tickets are sold for the same day, in person only. The box office opens at 8:45am and it’s wise to buy early. There’s a Pizzeria Uno in Kenmore Square at 1 Brookline Ave. 262-4911 if you’d like a sit down meal before or after your tour or attending the game. On game days all restaurants near Fenway Park are packed so dine early or plan to dine closer to your hotel. Of course you can go the concession route with Fenway Franks, crackerjacks and ice cream.

Innovation Odyssey
Ticket booth: Museum of Science (T: Science Park, Green line)
Phone: 350-0358
Advance tickets are recommended or space available on day of show.

These tours, recommended for ages 13 and up, travel by motor coach through Boston and Cambridge. Using a multimedia presentation, the guides give fascinating details about Boston’s extraordinary inventors and Boston’s reputation as a world center of discovery. Tours leave Saturdays at 1:40pm from Museum of Science and 2pm from 28 State St. next to Old State House (T: State Street, Orange line). Tickets may be purchased online.

Footsteps to Freedom
Address: Beacon Street, across from State House (T: Park Street, Green line)
Phone: 851-2273

If you’re photographically inclined or have budding photographers in your family, these walking tours of historical Boston spots via the eyes of a photographer can be fascinating. Tours leave from the Shaw Memorial, the bronze sculpture directly across the street from the Massachusetts State House.

Boston by Little Feet
Address: Faneuil Hall, Congress Street (T: Government Center, Green line)
Phone: 367-2345 (general), 367-3766 (recorded tour info)
email: bbfoot@bostonbyfoot.com

Boston by Foot tours has a Freedom Trail walking tour specifically designed for kids from ages 6-12. Tours are 60 minutes long and include a free explorer’s map and guide. Tours leave Monday and Saturday at 10am and Sunday at 2pm. from Faneuil Hall on Congress Street in front of the Sam Adams statue. ($10 adults, $8 children). Tickets may be purchased directly from the tour guide at the start of the tour.

Back Bay (close to the Convention Center)

The two tallest buildings in Boston are the John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Tower. Check out the Boston Skyscrapers page for views of these and other skyscrapers.

John Hancock Tower

Unfortunately the observatory on the 60th floor of the Hancock Tower was closed for security reasons following 9/11.

Prudential Skywalk Observation Deck
Address: 400 Boylston St.
Hours: Daily 10am-6pm
Admission: $7 adult, $4 children under 10.

For the best views of Boston, you can visit the Prudential Skywalk Observation Deck & Exhibit. From a height of 700 feet on the 50th floor, there are breathtaking 360-degree views of the city. You get a great bird’s eye view of Fenway Park.

Boston Public Library
Address: 700 Boylston St. (T: Copley Square, Green line)
Phone: 536-5400

In historic Copley Square, about a 3 block walk from Convention Center, the McKim building of the Boston Public Library Central Branch is worth exploring. Check their website for tour information. If you’ve got Curious George fans in your family, the Children’s Room is named after the authors who lived in Cambridge right across the river and were big library supporters. Be sure to stop in the restored courtyard a beautiful respite on a summer day. For a unique gift or souvenir, Boston Public Library sells T-shirts with historic views of Boston, maps or Red Sox memorabilia. For a switch from fast food, you could try the sandwiches in the Boston Public Library at Sebastian’s Map Room Café 385-5660 Hours: 9-5 M-Sat.

Newbury Street

While a ritzy shopping street with many galleries high end shops, if you’ve got teens that enjoy shopping, start at the end closest to Massachusetts Avenue (between Hereford and Fairfield Streets). Both Berklee College of Music and Boston University are nearby giving that end of Newbury Street a college student flavor. There are a number of cool clothing, book and music stores including Urban Outfitters (361 Newbury), Allston Beat (348), Army Barracks Inc. (328), Patagonia (344), Quicksilver Boardriders’ Club (326), a large Virgin Megastore (360) and used CD’s at Smash City (304) and CD Spins (324). Be sure to try the gourmet ice cream at Emack and Bolio’s (290) The flavors change daily and there’s always a great choice. Kids will like the Caramel Moose Prints (butterscotch ice cream with caramel and chocolate peanut butter cups. They have great fruit smoothies and hand roasted coffees also. JP Licks (322), a local favorite, has a “moo-velous” rich, creamy ice cream and a great selection flavors. There is soft-serve, yogurt and hand-dipped as well as frappes and fruit slushes. Nonfat yogurt, gourmet coffee, cappuccino and espresso are also available. Cow mascots are everywhere here.

The Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library
Address: 200 Massachusetts Ave., Christian Science Church
Phone: 888-222-3711
Hours: Tue-Fri 10am-9pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 11am-5pm
Admission: $5 adults, $3 students, under 6 FREE.

You and your children can climb inside a unique 3 story glass globe (circa 1935) inside the Mary Baker Eddy Library. A seven-minute presentation “A World of Ideas” featuring music, words and lights illustrates how ideas have changed and enhanced the world. The globe was refurbished with state of the art lighting and a sound system recently so it’s definitely worth a stop. The Library is housed in one of the historic buildings on the Christian Science Plaza. The Hall of Ideas includes a flowing fountain. You can also tour the impressive Christian Scientist Mother Church at the same site. The reflecting pool on the plaza on the Huntington Ave. side of the church is a lovely spot for some great views of Boston. Your kids are guaranteed not to be able to resist putting their hands in the disappearing sides of the pool. Tuesdays at 10:30am is Summer SOULstice with activities that include musical entertainment, storytelling or face-painting. Check their website for summer listings.

Bastille Day Festival
Address: Marlborough and Clarendon Streets (T:Arlington, Green line)
Phone: 266-4351

Parlez-vous français? The Boston French Center Library Society celebrates Bastille Day during the month of July. Check back for local events. The end of Marlborough Street becomes an outdoor celebration of all things French. Vive la France!

Back Bay Restaurants

The Wrap
Address: 247 Newbury St.
Phone: 262-2200

Instead of a typical PB & J, kids can have their choice of their favorite sandwich wrapped in a tortilla. On the kids’ menu are cheese wraps, chicken and cheese, steak and cheese, or the standard PB & J. For dessert they can try a Nutella wrap a delicious spread of chocolate and hazelnut.

California Pizza Kitchen
Address: 800 Boylston St. (Prudential Center)
Phone: 247-0888

Pizza, mac and cheese and some great pastas are on the kids’ menu at this popular chain. Located in the Prudential Center near the Huntington Ave. entrance, prices are reasonable and you’ll enjoy the imaginative pizza combinations such as caramelized pear and gorgonzola, Peking duck or Santa Fe chicken. There is a second location in the theatre district (137 Stuart St., 720-0999), and at the Cambridgeside Galleria Mall (225-2772).

TGI Friday’s
Address: 26 Exeter St.
Phone: 226-9040

On the corner of Newbury and Exeter, some of us remember going here as college students when it was a place that catered to singles. Now the crowd is decidedly more family-oriented. Kids get a package with balloons, crayons, a coloring book, peanut butter and crackers and surprises with their meal. How can any kid resist a dessert called “cup of dirt” (chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos and gummy worms). Their food has always remained good and their prices won’t break you. If you get a seat near the windows, you can people-watch on Newbury Street.

Cottonwood Cafe Southwestern Restaurant and Bar
Address: 222 Berkeley Street
Phone: 247-2225

While not strictly a kid’s restaurant, the Cottonwood Cafe has good food at decent prices. Lunch prices range from $6-16. You’ll enjoy the margaritas and your kids can try a quesadilla or a taco. Of course first you have to keep them from eating the entire meal of chips and salsa! For dinner, the café (rather than the restaurant) is less expensive.

Hard Rock Café
Address: 131 Clarendon St.
Phone: 424-7625

Yes, Boston has one of these also. If you’ve visited any in other cities, you know the arrangement. They have decent burgers, sandwiches, etc. with rock and roll memorabilia throughout. A good choice for teens, they probably won’t leave without purchasing a T-shirt.

Kenmore Square/Fenway area

Museum of Fine Arts
Address: 465 Huntington Ave. (T: Museum, Green line)
Phone: 267-9300

Boston’s premiere art museum is the largest in New England and one of the five largest in the country. You may want to concentrate on one or two of the galleries. Kids may like the bright Impressionist paintings, the Egyptian mummies or the Japanese tea room. Free gallery and workshop programs are offered for children ages 6-12 in the Museum’s Children’s Room on Monday-Thursday during July and August at 3:30-4:45pm. The group leaves promptly from the Sharf Information Center (West Wing entrance). No preregistration is required. Other family programs are listed on their website. Be sure to check to make sure they’re offered during the summer months. See a detailed description of the MFA’s many collections. The wonderful museum shop, on the main floor of the West Wing, has some great children’s art books. Your best bet for food in the museum is downstairs in the West Wing where the Courtyard Café is a cafeteria style restaurant with sandwiches and grilled food. In nice weather, you can bring your meal out to the courtyard. The museum encourages sketching of the wonderful artwork, so bring a pencils and a sketch pad if you’ve got a budding artist in the family.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Address: 280 The Fenway (T: Museum, Green line)
Phone: 566-1401
Hours: Tue-Sun 11am-5pm (Galleries begin closing at 4:45pm)
Admission: Adults: $10 ($11 on weekends), College students $5 with ID, Children under 18 FREE.

From the Museum stop, cross Huntington Avenue (toward the Texaco Gas Station) to Louis Prang Street and walk down Louis Prang Street for two blocks.
A couple of blocks away and right next door to Simmons College is a beautiful Venetian palace containing the art collection of eccentric and outspoken Isabella Stewart Gardner. Recommended for older children, the paintings, tapestries and sculpture are displayed in each lovely room of the palazzo with a sky lit central courtyard that will take your breath away. The Museum is on the left. The Gardner Café is lovely, (and small) and only recommended for well behaved children. The café serves quiches, salads, sandwiches and desserts with nary a burger in sight. During nice weather, you can dine on the outdoor terrace overlooking the museum’s gardens. 566-1088

Fenway Park
Address: 4 Yawkey Way, between Van Ness and Brookline Ave. (T: Kenmore, Green line)
Tickets: 482-4769 or 267-1700

From the train station, walk down Brookline Ave, turn left on Yawkey Way. Visit the smallest and oldest major league ballpark in the country where you can take a tour or get tickets for a game. Tours are expensive but worth it to hear great tales of Red Sox and Fenway lore. Do ask about family discounts available for designated Red Sox games. The ballpark opens 1 ½ hours before game time, and if you sit in the bleachers, and brought your glove, you may catch a fly ball. There is an alcohol free zone in the ballpark. For baseball souvenirs, stop at the Souvenir Store 19 Yawkey Way 421-8686 across from the box office.

Beacon Hill

Boston Public Garden
Tremont, Boylston, Beacon Streets (T: Arlington, Boylston or Park Street, Green line)

At the base of Beacon Hill and right across Charles Street from Boston Common, you can stroll into the Public Garden. A feast for the eyes and a welcome downtown respite, the Public Garden has wonderful winding paths with beautiful flowers and majestic trees planted in an arrangement guaranteed to cool you right down on a hot day. Purchase a picnic lunch nearby and let your kids run around chasing the squirrels or trying to feed their snack to one of them.

No visit to the Public Garden would be complete without a visit to the Swan Boats. This is a great treat for small children. It’s very relaxing to be paddled around the pond gazing up at Boston’s skyline while surrounded by the oldest botanical garden in the country. The well-loved “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey is set right here in Boston’s Public Garden. Small children will delight in climbing aboard the perfectly kid-sized bronze statues of Pack, Quack and the rest of the Make Way for Ducklings family. Make sure you have your camera in hand! Local ducks still reside here and can be seen on the island in the middle of the pond. Be sure to get some duck food to throw to them. The Make Way for Ducklings Tour winds its way around Beacon Hill ending in the Public Garden.

Massachusetts State House
Beacon and Park Streets (T: Park Street, Green line)
Phone: 727-3676

If you’re on the Boston Common, the large brick building with the gold dome at the top of the hill is the Massachusetts State House. Completed in 1798, the Charles Bullfinch-designed building served as a model for the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. There are tours available and you can actually see both the House and Senate chambers. You won’t find the legislature in session in July. The Hall of Flags contains flags carried into battle by Massachusetts regiments. Your tour docent will tell you all about the Sacred Cod and you’ll see a model of one hanging in the House chamber. Tours are offered weekdays only and are about 30-45 minutes long. Use the large main staircase, enter the left door and turn right into Doric Hall where you can find the tours and information desk.

Robert Gould Shaw Memorial
Beacon and Park Streets, directly across from the State House (T: Park Street, Green line)

This monument celebrates Massachusetts Infantry’s 54th regiment, the first free black regiment recruited to fight for the North during the Civil War led by Robert Gould Shaw. The movie “Glory” with Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman depicted the heroic regiment. One of the Union flags rescued by Sgt. William Carney, the first African-American awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, is reproduced in the Hall of Flags in the State House.

Black Heritage Trail
Beacon Street (T: Park Street, Green line)
Phone: 742-5415

Free walking tours led by National Park Service Rangers leave at 10am, noon and 2pm daily, from the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial across from the State House. Boston had a large free African-American community in the nineteenth century who lived principally on the north slope of Beacon Hill and the West End. Visiting the African Meeting House 8 Smith Court 725-0022 and several private homes, you can see actual stops on the Underground Railroad. If your kids are studying the Civil War in school, this is an especially relevant tour. The African Meeting House had an interesting history, going from a black church building and political center of Boston’s African-American society in the early nineteenth century, to a Hasidic synagogue in the 1890’s. In 1987 the Meeting House reopened as the main site on the Black Heritage Trail.

Charles Street
base of Beacon Hill (T: Arlington, Green line)

Beacon Hill’s shopping street with trendy stores, antique shops and high end groceries. Check out Black Ink (101 Charles St., 723-3883) for funky unique gifts that are reasonably priced such as rubber stamps, embroidered mittens and fun banks.

Beacon Hill Restaurants

The Paramount
Address: 44 Charles St.
Phone: 720-1152

A friendly neighborhood counter-service diner, that serves breakfast and brunch food until 4:30pm, prices are very reasonable.

Panifico
Address: 144 Charles St.
Phone: 227-4340

Sandwiches, salads, pizza and decadent desserts are the fare at this counter-service café. It can get crowded at lunch time.

Venice Ristorante
Address: 204 Cambridge St.
Phone: 227-2094

Great pizzas that you can get in a small size for one

Harvard Gardens
Address: 316 Cambridge St.
Phone: 523-2727

Sports leather booths and high quality low cost bar food standards pizza, pasta and burgers. Lunch is the best time to go. By evening, the local young professionals meet.

Paris Creperie
Address: 326 Cambridge St.
Phone: 589-0909

For a truly different meal, this restaurant serves all kinds of lunch and dessert crepes at reasonable prices. You can tell your kids that they’re pancakes.

Downtown

Boston Common
Tremont, Park, Beacon Streets (T: Park Street, Green line)

"The Common" is pretty close to the center of Boston and good place to start your day. The Common and Public Garden are the Central Park of Boston. The starting point of the Freedom Trail, the Boston Common is one of the oldest public parks in the country. Today, Boston Common and Public Garden is the anchor for the Emerald Necklace, a system of connected parks that winds through many of Boston's neighborhoods. Tell your kids that until 1830, cattle grazed the Common. British troops camped on Boston Common prior to the Revolution and left from here to face colonial resistance at Lexington and Concord in April, 1775. Be sure to check out the Frog Pond where kids can frolic in the fountain on hot summer days. There is a good-sized playground available for the younger kids.

Freedom Trail Boston National Historic Park Visitor Center
Address: 15 State St. (T: State Street, Blue line)
Phone: 242-5642

Can you say history? Philly may have had the Continental Congress, but the Revolution began right here in Boston. Follow the Freedom Trail to visit Paul Revere’s house, the Constitution and the site of the Boston Massacre. The Boston National Historic Park Visitor Center is across the street from the Old State House and is a good place to start your excursion. National Park Service rangers staff the center, dispense information, and lead free tours of the Freedom Trail. The audiovisual show about the trail provides basic information on 16 historic sites. The center is accessible by stairs and ramps and has restrooms and comfortable chairs. Open daily from 9am to 5pm.

The Freedom Trail is a National Historic Park, so if you have a National Park card and passport book, be sure to bring it with you. There’s a kid’s activity page and kids can become junior rangers with the National Park. The Hit the Trail Passport ($1) has a space for a stamp from every stop. The Freedom Trail is three miles long and there are 16 sites to visit so give yourself at least 5 hours. Some of the sites on the Freedom Trail charge a nominal fee. There is also a special Freedom Trail tour designed for kids (see above under tours).

Granary Burial Ground
Tremont St. (T: Park Street, Green line)

Cross Park Street, head down Tremont Street past the Park Street Church and look to your left. Inside the large gates is the Granary Burial Ground. Some very interesting folks are buried here including Paul Revere, John Hancock, Sam Adams, Ben Franklin and “Mother Goose”. Mary Goose got her nickname because she and her husband, Isaac, had 10 children. After she died and was buried here at Granary Burial Ground, Isaac Goose married Elizabeth. She then took care of Mary's 10 children plus 10 children of her own. That's 20 children. Now who was the real "Mother Goose?"

Dreams of Freedom Museum
Address: 1 Milk St. 338-6022
Closed indefinitely due to funding

Boston’s immigration museum was closed indefinitely in August 2003 due to funding. Check back in July to see if their situation changes.

Boston Globe Store (The Old Corner Bookstore)
Address: 1 School St. (T: State Street, Blue line)
Phone: 367-4000
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 9am-5:30pm; Sun 11am-4pm.

The Old Corner Bookstore is packed with Boston history and memorabilia. Reproductions of historic newspaper pages and photographs make this a terrific place to pick up a special reminder of historic Boston. Red Sox Monopoly and other Boston souvenirs are also available. The historic bookstore is also a stop on the Freedom Trail.

Rand McNally Map and Travel Store
Address: 84 State St. (T: State Street, Blue line)
Phone: 720-1125
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun noon-6pm

"Are we there yet?" The store is full of all kinds of travel games including electronic and magnetic games, books, tapes, and more. Travel-related items like children's atlases, maps, puzzles, and geography books are also available. You can also pick up some great maps of Boston and its environs.

Boston Harbor/Waterfront

Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall (T: Government Center or Haymarket, Green line)

Quincy Market is a great spot for Boston souvenirs, with lots of great stands and kiosks, some with inexpensive and fun gifts for kids and adults. You can even get a genuine New England lobster sent back home. Some fun shops for kids are Zoinks A Wicked Cool Toy Store, Sock it to Me (fun socks for everyone), Discovery Channel Store, FYE (For Your Entertainment) with music, movies and games, and Sluggers Upper Deck Kiosk for Boston sports shirts and hats. The Christmas Dove and Whippoorwill Crafts are fun to visit if your kids are past the “don’t touch” age. The food and small stands are in the center building with larger shops on the north and south market building on either side. Quincy Market can be crowded with lots of activity, so if you want a quieter meal, head inside one of the restaurants for a sit down meal. A good kid’s choice is Durgin Park, a Boston institution with genuine New England specialties and reasonable prices. According to local legend, the waitresses are supposed to be rude. Or try Slugger’s Dugout for great ice cream sundaes and fun sports memorabilia. Be sure to try Steve’s Ice Cream in the market for some great ice cream flavors. Bathrooms at Quincy Market are in the main building downstairs, or in the North Building on the second floor near the elevators. From Quincy Market, you can cross Atlantic Avenue and head over to the Aquarium.

Custom House Tower
Address: 3 McKinley Square, near State St. and India (T: State Street, Blue line, walk against traffic down State Street to India Street)
Phone: 310-6300

Boston’s first skyscraper and the tallest building in Boston until the 1960’s, the classic Greek revival building with its distinctive clock tower can be seen from many vantage points around Boston. Converted and refurbished by the Marriott Corp., it reopened as a hotel in 1997. For wraparound views of Boston Harbor, you can visit the observation balcony for a charitable donation of $1. If you’re lucky, you can see the pair of peregrine falcons who nest in the tower. Tell your kids they’ve laid 64 eggs and raised 36 chicks. Remember to time your visit when the balcony entrance is open. The concierge will escort visitors up to the balcony and you can stay as long as you like. Escorted tours of the balcony are at 10am and 4pm Sun-Fri and at 4pm on Sat.

New England Aquarium
Atlantic Ave. Central Wharf next to the Marriott Hotel (T: Aquarium, Blue line)
Phone: 973-5200
Admission: Adults $15.50, Children 3-11 $8.50, Children under 3 free;
IMAX Theater Adults $8.50, Children 3-11 $6.50

Be prepared to be fascinated yourself especially when you and your kids can view sharks, giant sea turtles, penguins and hundreds of tropical fish in the four story, 200,000 gallon giant ocean tank. Kids can touch sea urchins, hermit crabs and sea stars at a recreated tide pool. Tyler, the Sea Lion stars in his own show at the docked ship Discovery. A few lucky visitors get to be in the show. From delicate sea dragons to moray eels, there are 21,000 fishes, birds, reptiles and marine mammals to watch. Check out the penguins as you come in. The Harbor View Café features burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and snacks. There is also a great gift shop with lots of stuffed sea creatures and some wonderful kid’s tee shirts. Also at the Aquarium is a Simons IMAX theatre. There are usually 5 different films playing so check out the schedule when you arrive. You can even experience the new Harry Potter movie in IMAX! The Aquarium also runs whale watches leaving right from Boston. Getting to the Aquarium is easiest by public transportation. Parking is expensive and difficult to find, so hop on the T and take the blue line to the Aquarium stop. The Aquarium is very popular so to avoid lines, purchase your tickets online. The best times to go are Sunday before noon and after 1 during the week. Saturdays tend to be the most crowded. Driving Directions.

Rowes Wharf (Boston Harbor Hotel)
Atlantic Ave.

If you’ve visited the Aquarium, a fun walk is over to the Boston Harbor Hotel which as the large arch with a great view of Boston Harbor. The kids can run off some steam while they can see the planes taking off from Logan Airport.

The Children’s Museum
Address: 300 Congress St. (T: South Station, Red line)
Phone: 426-8855
Hours: Mon-Thu, Sat and Sun 10am-5pm; Fri 10am-9pm
Admission: Adults $8, Children 2-15 $7, 1 year olds $2, under 1 free. BARGAIN: Fri 5-9pm, $1

Take the red line to South Station, the Museum is behind South Station, cross over the bridge and look for the tall milk bottle in front and large Arthur on the roof. Your kids can watch themselves on TV in Arthur’s World, make the largest bubbles they’ve ever seen, work a cash register and shop at the Mercado market, try on “old fashioned clothes” in grandmother’s attic, climb up a real climbing wall, or scale the climbing structure, build the tallest tower in a room full of building blocks, or launch a boat and watch it race to the end. There’s plenty to do here for kids of all ages. Three floors of activities will keep your family busy for hours. There’s a glass elevator that kids will enjoy riding between floors and you get a view of the harbor as well. Bring some extra clothes if your kids get too enthusiastic in the water area! There’s a great recycle shop to purchase leftover stuff to create works of art. For 3 and under, there’s a wonderful (and safe) play-space with soft blocks, craft projects, books and a great Thomas/Brio train layout. A picnic area outdoors and a lunch room indoors are available, if you choose to brown bag your lunch. There’s also a McDonald’s next door to the Museum. The forty foot tall Hood Milk Bottle has lunch and snacks during the summer. Tell your kids the milk bottle could hold 50,000 gallons of milk if it wasn’t made of wood! If you stop at Quincy Market first, you can pack up a lunch to go and eat it at the picnic area. If you do dine at the Golden Arches, take a detour outside to get to the museum rather than going through the gift shop.

Boston Tea Party Ship

Due to fire damage, the museum was CLOSED and is undergoing a full renovation. It’s not due to reopen until spring/summer 2005. This is a replica of the type of ship from which the colonists would have dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to protest high English taxes on tea.

George’s Island (Ferry from 63 Long Wharf)
Phone: 223-8666 / Boston Harbor Cruises 227-4321
Tickets: Adults $8, Children 3-12 $6

While down at the Waterfront, you have a variety of choices to explore the harbor by boat. There are harbor cruises, whale watches, and visits to the Boston’s Harbor Islands. A short ferry ride to George’s Island is a fun outing. There are tours available of historic Fort Warren and the island is only seven miles from downtown Boston with lots of space for picnicking and a gravel beach. Fort Warren is 150 years old with 8 foot walls that stand 30 feet high. Kids will enjoy the space to run and explore the observation towers and abandoned gun batteries. A walk along the shore and the tidal pools might locate a starfish or hermit crab. There is a snack bar and bathrooms on the island. If you pack a picnic lunch, you can sit on the hill and watch the ships in the harbor during your meal. You can’t really swim in Boston Harbor, but the island always gets cool breezes and feels degrees cooler than downtown. Make sure and check the ferry schedule to be sure the times work for you. Ferries late in the day tend to be the most crowded, especially the last of the day, so plan accordingly.

Boston Light (Little Brewster Island)
Phone: 223-8666

You can visit a genuine working lighthouse (220 years old), the oldest lighthouse site in the country, on Little Brewster Island. You and your kids over 50” tall can climb the 76 stairs for some wonderful views of Boston Harbor. Kids can look for the names of keepers carved into the island rocks. The lighthouse is open to tours only. Tickets can be purchased by phone or at the Harbor Islands Store at 1 Courthouse Way, Fan Pier. Reservations are recommended, tickets can sell out on summer weekends.

Harbor Tours

Some of the Boston Harbor tours are a great treat on a hot day and some of the boats have food aboard. Better yet, pack up a picnic lunch from the vendors at Quincy Market. There are a number of different cruise lines at the Waterfront next to the Boston Marriott Hotel. Boston Harbor Cruises and Mass Bay Lines offer harbor tours. Whale watches are great fun for older kids. Be aware, they really mean a three hour ride, so younger restless kids would be happier on a shorter cruise. The best whale watches are run by the New England Aquarium. Reservations are recommended. If the Aquarium’s whale watches are sold out, Frommer’s lists some other companies running them.

North End

The Old North Church
Address: 193 Salem St.

“One if by land, two if by sea.” A stop on the Freedom Trail that’s definitely worth a visit is the Old North Church which heralded the start of the Revolutionary War when the sexton hung two lanterns that signaled Paul Revere for his historic ride. The church was built in 1723 and is still an active Episcopal church. To bring history home with you, the gift shop carries children’s books on Paul Revere’s ride and about the Revolutionary War. You can cool off in the lovely gardens surrounding the church.

Paul Revere House
Address: 19 North Square
Hours: Daily 9:30am-5:15pm
Admission: Adults $3 adults, College students $2.50 college students, Children 5-17 $1

The original home of Paul Revere has been lovingly restored with ninety percent of the original structure. It is the oldest wooden building in Boston. You can take a self-guided tour and seeing how the Revere family would have lived. The museum interpreters are on hand to answer any questions. Paul Revere was a well-known silversmith in addition to being famous for his “midnight ride”. Some of his work is displayed in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Plan 30-45 minutes for your visit.

Fleet Center (T: North Station, Green line)

Home to the Boston Celtics (basketball) and the Boston Bruins (hockey), unfortunately the Fleet Center is unavailable for tours during the month of July due to the Democratic Convention being held at the Fleet Center at the end of July.  Both the Sports Museum and the Pro Shop at the Fleet Center will be closed from June 23 until August 23, 2004.  For Boston Bruins and Celtics merchandise, visit the Prudential Center in the Boston Garden Collection.  Call 236-6434 for more information.

North End Restaurants

There is probably no bad food in the North End; it’s hard to go wrong at any of the places. A lot of the restaurants are kid friendly once you can get a table. If you can have lunch or an early dinner, aim to get there before 5pm. Most of the restaurants will have lines outside the door on summer evenings and some take only cash. For a more complete list, see the restaurant guide.

Pizzeria Regina
Address: 11 ½ Thacher St.
Phone: 227-0765
Features: Great pizza a little off the beaten path. From 1926, Pizzeria Regina has been serving its delicious brick oven pizza. Come early to avoid lines.

Piccola Venezia
Address: 263 Hanover St.
Phone: 523-3888
Features: friendly atmosphere, large portions and great tiramisu.

Pagliuca’s
Address: 14 Parmenter St.
Phone: 367-1504
Features: Not fancy, but has good food.

Alloro Ristorante
Address: 351 Hanover St.
Phone: 523-9268
Features: Informal and quaint with prices between $6.95 and $16.95.

L’Osteria Restaurant
Address: 104 Salem St.
Phone: 723-7847
Features: Half-size portions for kids.

Joe Tecce’s Ristorante
Address: 61 N. Washington St.
Phone: 742-6210
Features: North End institution.

The over-the-top Italian atmosphere is great fun. A lot of locals celebrate big events so there’s usually a spirited celebration going on. They do take reservations and they’re one of the larger restaurants in the North End so you can probably get a table.

Ernesto’s
Address: 69 Salem St.
Features: Cash only.

Cheap meal with no atmosphere but can you beat huge pizza slices at $1.85? Also, try their calzones.

For some wonderful cannolis and gelato, check out a few of the cafés along Hanover Street:

Caffe Vittoria
Address: 290-296 Hanover St.
Phone: 227-7606

Caffe Della Sport
Address: 308 Hanover St.
Phone: 523-5063

Charlestown (T: Haymarket or North Station, Green line)

U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides)
Charlestown Navy Yard
Hours: Tours: Thu-Sun 10am-3:50pm
Admission: Free

Be sure not to miss visiting the Constitution (Old Ironsides) in Charlestown right on Boston Harbor. Climbing aboard this wonderful ship is a real treat. Thirty minute guided tours are led by active navy personnel. This warship held 400-500 men in its lower decks and kids can see how 19th century sailors bunked aboard ship. It’s not too far from the Aquarium. If you're at Haymarket, hop on a green line train to North Station. Turn left when you exit the station. Make your way down Causeway St. to North Washington Avenue. To your left is the Charlestown Bridge. Get over to the right side of the bridge and cross it to the first light. That is Chelsea St. Turn right onto Chelsea St. and, at the third traffic light, make a right turn. Shortly, you will come to a stop sign and see the National Park Service gate guard at the entrance to Charleston Naval yard. Just walk right in and you shall see the USS CONSTITUTION ahead of you. Post 9/11 security is tighter so backpacks and bags will be searched before boarding the ship.

The U.S.S. Constitution Museum
Address: Building 22 Boston Nat’l Historical Park, Charlestown Navy Yard
Phone: 426-1812

Complete your visit to the Constitution with a stop at the Constitution Museum. Also located at the Charlestown Navy Yard, it has lots of hands-on exhibits and some fascinating naval history. Kids can try sleeping in the hammocks that sailors used aboard ship and learn to keep time with bells. Hours are 9am-6pm and admission is free. You can purchase a Constitution baseball hat or shirt at the Museum store, sure to be a big hit. Pick up a junior ranger activity handbook here and have your kids fill it out. They can become official junior park rangers.

The Bunker Hill Monument
Monument Square
Phone: 242-5641

“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” A great stop if your kids like climbing stairs. The 294 steps to the top are worth it for the view. The monument marks the site of the first major battle of the Revolutionary War (which actually took place on Breed’s Hill). The 220 foot monument was completed in 1842. Admission is free, there is no elevator.

Whites of Their Eyes Exhibit
Address: 55 Constitution Rd. (between Warren and Chelsea Streets)
Phone: 241-7576

For history buffs, and older kids, this 14 screen multimedia show brings the Battle of Bunker Hill to life. Tickets can be purchased at the door and are also available as part of the Old Town Trolley Tour.

Charlestown Restaurants

Shipyard Galley
Address: Building 10, Pier 1
Phone: 241-5660

Burgers and snacks are served at this summer restaurant opposite the Constitution.

Tavern on the Water
Address: 1 Pier 6, 8th St.
Phone: 242-8040

A large children’s menu and the view of the ships are the attraction in this restaurant serving seafood and burgers. Your kids will want to dine outdoors.

Warren Tavern
Address: 2 Pleasant St.
Phone: 241-8142

A restoration of a 1780 Colonial tavern has a variety of burgers and sandwiches. Worth going to for the history alone, Paul Revere was said to have eaten here. It’s just steps from the Freedom Trail.

The Ninety-Nine
Address: 29/31 Austin St.
Phone: 242-8999

The familiar chain has a huge selection of hamburgers, chicken, seafood, sandwiches, salads, etc. There is a kid’s menu with crayons and coloring.

Chinatown (T: Chinatown, Orange line)

Plan a visit to Chinatown for dim sum if your kids are adventurous eaters. Portions are appetizer-size and kids might get a kick out of choosing what they want to try. Spring rolls, meat, shrimp or vegetable dumplings, spareribs and lots of other fun dishes are wheeled around on carts by waitresses. You order by pointing unless you know Chinese and the waitress adds the cost to your bill. Even picky eaters can find something they enjoy. Four places to try include:

Dynasty
Address: 33 Edinboro St.
Phone: 350-7777

The dim sum is delicious, and meal-time favorites include crab meat and shark's fin soup, beef with mixed vegetables, and deep fried oysters. Kids may like the gaudy pink, red and gold décor.

Empire Garden Restaurant
Address: 690-698 Washington St., 2nd floor
Phone: 482-8898

Serves a dazzling variety of dishes in a large, ornate former theater balcony. Also known as Emperor's Garden, it opened in 1998 and instantly challenged the dim sum supremacy of China Pearl.

Chau Chow City
Address: 83 Essex St.
Phone: 338-8158

Dim sum is served daily from 8:30am to 1pm. Robert Nadeau, the restaurant critic, notes they serve the familiar shao mai and "crystal shrimp dumpling" (har gow) and stuffed crab claws, as well as more unusual items like "crystal pea pod stems shrimp & pork dumpling," meatball congee with preserved egg, and shark-fin dumplings. Be sure to check out the huge fish tank here.

China Pearl
Address: 9 Tyler St., 2nd floor
Phone: 426-4338

A majestic, threadbare staircase leads diners into the cavernous, pink dining room of this Chinatown dim sum mecca. Food ranges from the conventional (barbequed spareribs and chicken fingers) to the mysterious (fish maw in a thick soup).

Science Park/Esplanade

Museum of Science
Address: Science Park (T: Science Park, Green line)
Phone: 723-2500

There is a parking lot available, but it tends to fill early, so plan accordingly, especially on a rainy weekend day. The MBTA stop is right across the street.

A great stop for everyone in the family. Give yourself at least an entire afternoon, there’s so much to see and do from viewing a real mummy, a full sized T-Rex model, robots gallery, a chicken hatchery, and a special discovery center for all ages. Visit the Hayden Planetarium or the Mugar Omni (IMAX) Theatre. Younger children will especially enjoy the Discovery Center where they can handle dinosaur artifacts, minerals, skulls and observe live animals in their own creature habitats. Preschoolers even have a room of their own. The Children’s Gallery has puzzle, blocks, costumes, books, mazes and more. There are some great views of Boston and Cambridge which you can check out through the center’s lenses and binoculars. Thursday-Sundays are laser shows in the Planetarium. One of the most fun things for kids of all ages is the musical staircase. Even adults like to run up and down playing the different notes. The Museum has a great gift shop and they cleverly made it all glass so your kids will be guaranteed to try to get you in there. Exhibit halls stay open until 9pm on Friday nights.

The food court has grilled food, deli sandwiches, pizza and a Starbucks. Every Sunday at 11am and 1pm, it’s worth getting tickets for the Skyline Sunday Brunch. You can enjoy the great river views from the sixth floor dining room and get your choice of an Omni Theatre or Planetarium ticket, museum admission and free parking. Advance reservations are recommended.

From the Museum you can stroll on either the Boston or Cambridge side of the Esplanade and watch the boats on the Charles River. Near the Museum is a bridge that’s fun to watch go up for the tall sailboats.

If you can only get to one museum in Boston, either the Science Museum or the Aquarium is the best of the lot. The Children’s Museum is great for children 7 and younger.

Cambridgeside Galleria Mall
(T: Lechmere, Green line)

Right around the corner from the Museum of Science, this three story shopping mall has all the usual suspects and a food court.

From the Galleria Mall you can take a scenic cruise along the Charles River, on a Charles River Boat Company tour, seeing the sites of Boston and Cambridge. Cruises run at 10am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, and 4pm daily. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children 2-12.

Harvard Square (T: Harvard Square, Red line)

Harvard Museum of Natural History
Address: 26 Oxford St. Cambridge
Phone: 495-3045
Hours: Daily 9am-5pm
Admission: Adults $7.50, Ages 3-18 $5.00, Students w/ID $6.00, Free Sundays 9am-noon

Made up of three separate museums, the Botanical Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology and Mineralogical and Geological Museum, admission is free with a Boston City Pass. Dinosaur lovers and future scientists shouldn’t miss the Museum of Comparative Zoology. A fascinating trip through time, from the dinosaurs through the mammals, kids can see a triceratops head, a plateosaurus and a 42 foot long kronosaurus skeleton. A smaller museum where your kids can get right up close to a Siberian tiger, you can also check out the glass flowers in the Botanical Museum (yes they are all made of glass), and great gemstones if your have kids will let you! The taxidermic animals were collected a century ago long before animal rights, but the proximity to wild creatures is worth it. You can see every detail which you rarely can in a zoo. On weekends, there are live animal presentations called Creature Features, so check the schedule when you arrive. This museum is never as crowded as some of Boston’s more popular tourist attractions, so this is a good stop on a Saturday.

Directions: Take the Alewife Red Line to the Harvard Square stop. Exit through the turnstiles and up the stairway that leads to Harvard Yard, and walk into Harvard Yard to the statue of John Harvard -- from here take the path to your left, exit the yard and veer slightly to the right. The Science building (a white granite structure with a rock formation in front) will be on your left and Memorial Hall (a large red brick building with a tall steeple) on your right. (If Memorial Hall is on your left, you are walking in the wrong direction.) This will take you to the intersection of Kirkland and Oxford. Proceed left (westward) down Oxford Street. The main entrance to the museum is on the right side of Oxford -- at 26 Oxford Street.

Cambridge Common and Mass. Ave.

For some space to run, try the paths in Harvard Yard or cross over to Cambridge Common. There’s a stage that has performances, benches and a playground.

Dining in Harvard Square

Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage
Address: 1246 Mass. Ave. Cambridge
Phone: 354-6559
Hours: Mon-Wed and Sat 11am-9pm; Thu-Fri 11am-10pm; Closed Sundays.

Burgers, wraps, sandwiches and a kids menu, you can rub elbows with Harvard students. Located right next to the Hong Kong restaurant, be sure to try one of their frappes (milkshakes). Voted best frappe in Boston. Kids will enjoy a cookie (chocolate chip or Oreo) frappe or candy frappe for dessert.

Charlie’s Kitchen
Address: 10 Elliott St. Cambridge
Phone: 492-9646
Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-1am; Fri-Sat 11am-2am

A Harvard Square neighborhood spot, Charlie’s has been around for over 40 years. There are booths downstairs and a bar on both floors. Said to have the best cheeseburger in Boston, great lobster rolls and a large selection of ales, you can soak up the Cambridge atmosphere enjoying their killer fries. If you like diners, you’ll love this place. Charlie’s also serves sandwiches, pasta dishes, soups and salads.

Bertucci’s
Address: 21 Brattle St. Cambridge
Phone: 864-4748

Always dependable, Bertucci’s has a wide variety of pizzas and pastas and great rolls made from pizza dough. Other Bertucci’s branches are in Faneuil Hall Marketplace (227-7889), on Merchants Row off State Street; in Back Bay at 43 Stanhope St. (247-6161), around the corner from the Hard Rock Cafe; and 799 Main St. Cambridge (661-8356), a short walk from Central Square.

Border Café
Address: 32 Church St. Cambridge
Phone: 864-6100

Due to their great prices and delicious Mexican entrees, this place is usually packed. If you plan to go, try coming early around 5 for dinner. If there’s a line, you can stroll around the square and the restaurant will beep you. Inside it can get noisy, but if your kids will eat Mexican food, this place rocks.

Shopping in Harvard Square

Harvard Coop
Address: 1400 Mass. Ave.
Phone: 499-2000

Harvard’s cooperative school store, now run by Barnes and Noble, offers a large selection of new and discounted books, calendars, Harvard merchandise of all sorts as well as school supplies and dorm accessories. For discounted licensed Harvard merchandise, you can also visit In Season 901-7707 located in the Harvard Square T station at the base of the escalators.

Out of Town News
Address: Zero Harvard Square
Phone: 354-7777

In addition to newspapers from all over the world and a large collection of magazines, there is a selection of Boston guidebooks and maps. Located right next to Harvard T station.

The Garage
Address: 36 JFK St.
Phone: 492-8027

Small 3 story shopping complex with shops selling clothes, jewelry, gifts, video games, toys and CD’s. Your teens will find cool stores here. SciFi and role playing game lovers can visit Pandemonium Books and Games (547-3721)

Galleria
Address: 57 JFK St.

Another indoor shopping complex with boutiques.

Hidden Sweets
Address: 6 Church St.
Phone: 497-1797

If you’re looking for a treat, you can check out the over 250 kinds of candy here. They also have a good selection of Boston and Cambridge souvenirs.

Million Year Picnic
Address: 99 Mt. Auburn St.
Phone: 492-6763

Got comic book lovers in your family? Then check out New England’s oldest comic book store. They’ve got everything here from the standard Archie and Batman comics to the latest hip comics from Europe.

Urban Outfitters
Address: 11 JFK St.
Phone: 864-0070

Your teens can find it all here: jeans, a hot pink rain slicker, a polka dot bikini, army commando briefs, purple suede shoes and all kinds of other funky clothes, shoes, greeting cards and knick knacks. Their other store is located at 361 Newbury St.

Tannery
Address: 11A Brattle St.
Phone: 491-0810

Named Best of Boston for two years running by Boston Magazine, you can get your high end kid and adult shoes, clogs and sandals here. If you want baby Birkenstocks, this is the place. Also features Dansko, Ecco and Naot. There is also a Tannery at 402 Boylston St. in Boston.

April Cornell
Address: 43 Brattle St.
Phone: 691-8810

Adorable girls' dresses and women’s designer clothing with prices to match, girls sizes 2-6 and 8-12

Calliope
Address: 33 Brattle St.
Phone: 876-4149

A colorful children’s boutique specializing in locally made clothing for newborns to size 6.

Beadworks
Address: 23 Church St.
Phone: 868-9777

Do you need a fun activity for your kids in the evenings at your hotel or when you get home? You can pick up some great beads and all the supplies you need to make your own jewelry at Beadworks.

Bathrooms in Harvard Square: Frame Works 2067 Mass. Ave. or at the Charles Hotel 1 Bennett St.

Central Square (T: Central Square, Red line)

MIT Museum
Address: 265 Mass. Ave
Phone: 253-4444

Directions: From Central T stop, walk toward Boston skyline 7 minutes, Museum is on left. For older kids into science, you can visit the MIT Museums. Not only do they have a large science and technology collection, they have a collection of 1500 holograms, and a collection of model ships in their nautical collection. Check website for hours and directions since the museums are in different buildings.

Another dining option in Cambridge...

Jasper White’s Summer Shack
Address: 149 Alewife Pkwy Cambridge (T: Alewife, Red line)
Phone: 520-9500

While you’re in Cambridge, it’s worth a stop at this fun New England seafood restaurant. Designed to resemble a typical New England clam shack (at many times the size!), the large dining room features a giant lobster tank for checking out your dinner. There are lots of great seafood dishes and fantastic chowders making it fun for adults as well as kids. There are plenty of non-seafood items on the menu burgers, hot dogs, shells with cheese and corn on the cob available if your kids turn up their nose at seafood. Desserts for kids include snow cones, walk away sundaes and home made pudding. Chef Jasper White received numerous awards for his upscale restaurant Jasper’s on Boston’s waterfront (which closed in 1995). Now that he has three kids of his own, he opened this family restaurant. If you get truly inspired, you can purchase one of Jasper White’s cookbooks.

For some great views of Cambridge, ride the glass elevator to the top of the parking garage at the Alewife T station. You can walk around on the top for 360 degree views. Young kids will also enjoy the many escalators.

Surrounding Areas

Franklin Park Zoo
Address: 1 Franklin Park Rd.
Phone: 541-LION
(T: Forest Hills, Orange Line then #16 bus to Zoo)

While the zoo is somewhat off the beaten path, it’s worth a trip especially to see the lowland gorillas in the Tropical Rainforest pavilion and visiting life-size dinosaur exhibit with extremely realistic looking dinosaurs. Small children will enjoy petting goats and sheep at the Franklin Farm as well as climbing on small tractors and the slide-through silo. A close up view of the lions from a crashed jeep will excite small viewers as will some of the exotic species like the pygmy hippo, snow leopards, wallabies, and African wild dogs. There are three snack bars and prices are reasonable. Kalahari Kitchen has fresh pizza, snacks and drinks. Outback Barbecue has grilled chicken and burgers. Giddy-Up Grill offers burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders and snacks with indoor and outdoor seating. If you plan to drive, directions can be found on the zoo’s website.

Beyond the Greater Boston Area: Lexington/Concord/Lincoln

If you have access to a car, you’ll want to plan a stop to historic Lexington and Concord. A short drive from Boston brings you out into green meadows, lovely woods, rolling hills, country farms and quaint New England town centers.

Minute Man National Historic Park
Rt. 2A, Lexington
Phone: 978-369-6993 or 781-862-7753

Walden Pond Visitor Center
Address: 915 Walden St. (Rt. 126, near Rt. 2), Concord
Phone: 978-369-3254

For a cool place for a summer swim and a bit of history in the bargain, plan a stop at Walden Pond. Actually the size of a small lake, there is life-guarded swimming at one end of the pond. If the crowds get to be too much, you can walk around the pond til you fnid a quieter spot. Henry David Thoreau wouldn't recognize his secluded summer cabin on busy summer weekends. You can visit his cabin site on a guided tour. Be sure and call ahead, since visitors are limited to 1000 at any given time. Plan an early morning visit if you can. Restrooms are available. Drviing directions are on their website.

Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Address: 208 S. Great Rd. (Rt. 117, near Rt. 126), Lincoln
Phone: 781-259-2200

You can plan a visit to both Drumlin Farms and the DeCordova on the same day as they are not too far from each other. Drumlin Farm is accessible by public transportation, but trying to arrange your day around the commuter rail trains is difficult. A car will make your trip easier to get out to this working farm. A short walk from the entrance near the large red barn is the Farm Core where kids see all the regular barnyard animals including pigs, goats, milking cows, large draft horses, sheep, and a chicken coop. While not a petting zoo, Drumlin Farms offers milking demonstrations, and some of the animals are pretty tame around people. You can go in all the barns to visit animals and sometimes get quite close to the animals. There are tractors to climb on, a hay ride around the area, and an area of rescued animals such as foxes, owls or eagles. On occasion, you can enter the chicken room and gather eggs (which you pay for). If you have cooking facilities where you’re staying, you can cook them up for breakfast! There are nature trails as well. There are some paved roads, but most of roads are unpaved, so as long as it’s dry, you should have no problem with a stroller. The Audubon gift shop is worth a stop.

DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park
Address: 51 Sandy Pond Rd. (Trapelo Rd. Exit of I-95), Lincoln
Phone: 781-259-8355

It’s hard to believe you’re only 13 miles from Boston, when you pull in the long driveway up to the DeCordova and look down on Flint (or Sandy) Pond behind the museum. It may be hard to get your kids inside when they see the 75+ sculptures decorating the large grounds. While a ‘no-climb” zone, many of the sculptures are great to hide around and under. The Musical Fence by Paul Matisse is a huge xylophone that kids will love to make music on. Inside the small museum, there are family activities available. The museum is contemporary and exhibits change frequently. Check out their website for up to date information.

Playground at Lincoln Schools

If you’ve got kids that want to burn off some steam after visiting Drumlin Farm or the DeCordova on a weekend, there are three playgrounds on the campus of the town of Lincoln schools. Take Sandy Pond Road back to Trapelo Road and follow the directions on the website. There is plenty of room for the kids to run, and the large wooden playground to the right as you come in is great fun. But stay out of the woods as there has been poison ivy back there.

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Last Updated: June 29, 2004
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