Situated just over the river on Congress Street, the Boston Children’s Museum is a must-visit location if you’ve got kids and are near the city. Admission is $9.00 for kids aged 1-12 and $12.00 for adults. One key tip is to check out this list to see if your town/city library participates in the Museum’s coupon program. Participating libraries have coupons that are good for 4 tickets at a reduced cost of $2.00. That’s $40.00 in savings for a family of four! Call your library to reserve tickets ahead of time as they usually have one coupon available for each day of the year. Pack a lunch and you’ve got a very inexpensive, fun, and educational day with the kids.
Lay of the Land
The museum spans 3 levels with 5-6 themed areas on each floor. It seemed logical to us to start at the top and make our way down, but the centrally located large elevator and staircase make is easy to move between levels during your visit, so order probably isn’t too important. Peep’s World on the 2nd floor is primarily a hands-on water play area. Science Playground on the 1st floor also has a hands-on bubble area. Even though there are plastic smocks for the kids, they are bound to get wet, so take that into consideration when planning your path through the museum.
The third floor has the Global Gallery, which features visiting exhibits, usually for several months at a time. Check the website to see what is currently there. Let’s Get Curious was there when we visited and we timed our stop to this floor based on a scheduled visit from George himself. Make sure you check the daily schedule on your way in. This floor also has an actual Japanese-style home which you can visit (make sure you take your shoes off!) as well as a construction zone and a room focused on Black history in Boston.
If you’ve got toddler-aged kids you will want to make sure to check out the PlaySpace on the 2nd floor. It is dedicated to kids 0-3 years old with a museum staffer guarding the door to make sure the older kids don’t sneak in. In this area are a large train track, blocks, puzzles, a play house and kitchen, bubble making area, and a special zone for little crawlers.
General Information
If you want to plan for eating during your visit, there is an Au Bon Pain connected to the eating area and you are welcome to bring your own. The map of the museum also lists some nearby restaurants if you’d like to go that route. There are a decent amount of tables and if the weather is nice, plenty of areas outside to eat. Lockers are available if you need to store any valuables without having to worry about carrying them around. Bring a few quarters to rent one of the self-service lockers. Strollers are welcome and there are plenty of ‘parking lots’ for them throughout the facility.
Other Highlights
We like that admission to the museum is all-inclusive, meaning if your kids want to take part in a special event or the frequent KidStage performances, it’s included!
We really enjoyed visiting the Japanese House, an authentic two-story silk merchant’s home from Kyoto, Japan. You have to take your shoes off to visit this one and it’s worthwhile as you’ll wonder how they got a real home into the museum. Your older kids will enjoy viewing how a different culture lives and be very happy to go home to their bed when they see the sleeping space in this home.
Kid Power is an active area focused on teaching kids about the activities that will make them healthier. There is an interactive dance floor, a rock-climbing wall, power pump seats, and other fun exercise activities.
The 3-story New Balance Climb is the centerpeice of the lobby when you enter the museum and is something your kids will want to try out. Painted, curved platforms encased with carpet seem to float around the central pole with a net surrounding the entire structure to make sure nobody falls out as the climb up. Unlike many climbing structures, parents can follow their kid’s progress on the stairs next to this structure.
This past weekend we took a trip to the New England Aquarium to check out the penguins and the massive fish tank. It had been years since we last visited, so we were looking forward to checking out any new exhibits and seeing the famous penguins, of course.
The ticket booth is outside on your left as you approach the main entrance. For the kids that don’t enjoy standing in lines (meaning, all kids), there is a harbor seal exhibit directly behind the ticket booth that will keep their attention and whet their appetite for some see creature viewing. Tickets cost $12.95 for kids 2-11 and $20.95 for adults. Combo tickets are available if you are planning to view an IMAX show or take a whale watch. Check out your local library for discounts to the aquarium.
The central exhibit at the aquarium is the Giant Ocean Tank, which is a four-story, cylinder-shaped Caribbean coral reef tank that is 23 feet tall and 40 feet across. A circular ramp wraps around the outside providing great views from top to bottom of the tank. Be sure to take the staircase on the top floor to view the open top of the tank. At the top you can see divers feeding some of the fish or you can catch a “tank talk,” where an aquarium staffer answers questions you have about the tank or fish.
A few other highlights of our trip were the Edge of the Sea Touch Tank, Amazing Jellies, The Penguins, and the Marine Mammal Center. The Touch Tank, which is on level 2, literally gives your kids a hands-on experience as they dip their hands into the tide pool and pick up sea stars, hermit crabs, and even a lobster. This exhibit is very popular and gets crowded. It opens at 10:00am so it may be worth heading to this exhibit if you get to the aquarium early. The Amazing Jellies Exhibit spans two floors of the aquarium and is the first exhibit to your left when you enter the front doors. This exhibit features incredibly fascinating views of these amazing sea creatures. You and your kids will learn all about the brainless, spineless, bloodless jelly fish.
The Penguin Exhibit is by far one of the most popular at the aquarium, and rightfully so. Situated at the base of the Giant Ocean Tank, this exhibit gives you a birds-eye view of three different types of penguins as they sit on their rocks and swim around their large tank. There are plenty of places to view the penguins from behind glass partitions on the ground floor as well as along the entire walk-way encircling the Giant Ocean Tank. Be sure to get a copy of the daily schedule and catch the penguin presentation or penguin feeding. There seem to be at least two of each presentation each day.
The New England Aquarium can seem small at times, especially during busy hours, so watch out for the strollers and kids running about. Like any museum, it’s good to map out your course either before arriving or once you get in, but stay flexible if certain exhibits are crowded. The aquarium is small enough that it’s easy to circle back and visit any exhibits you missed on the first way through.
Given the craziness around the Swine Flu, we decided to stay away from the crowded playplaces and headed to the South Shore Natural Science Center (SSNSC) in Norwell, MA. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to educating the public about the natural and cultural environments of the South Shore. The entry fee for adults is $5 ($4 with AAA card) and $3 for children 2 and over.
Situated on 30 acres, with 200 surrounding acres of conservation and recreation land, the SSNCS offers hours of nature education and fun for kids. There are three main areas to check out at the SSNCS: the EcoZone, Coes Greenhouse, and nature trails and conservation land.
The EcoZone is the main thing to check out inside the SSNCS, featuring displays and interactive exhibits about the habitat of southeastern Massachusetts, including wetlands, woodlands and meadows. While this area appeared small at first, there were quite a few areas of interest to us and the little guy and you could easily take up 30 to 45 minutes exploring the various animals and environments.
Walking into the exhibit, there are several different displays on the walls featuring ecosystems of southeastern Massachusetts. This area leads into the EcoZone, where we were immediately drawn to the Creature Corner, with cages of various reptiles set into the wall allowing for close up views through Plexiglas. Snakes, turtles, salamanders, and frogs make the Creature Corner their home and were quite fun to view. My son enjoyed trying to get the attention of the snakes and turtles in this exhibit.
In the middle of this room is a large pool with turtles swimming around and basking in the heat of a sun lamp. This area provides for some great close-up views of the turtles. If your kids aren’t tall enough, you’ll have to pick them up to see into this pool. On the other side of this pool is a smaller frog pond inhabited by a large bullfrog. In between the turtle and frog ponds is a hollow log big enough for kids and adults to crawl through. There are peepholes in this log letting your kids see an underwater view of the ponds. Depending on your kids’ interest level, you could spend an hour or more viewing and discussing the exhibits. Make sure you pay a visit to the large iguana near the exit.
After checking out the indoor stuff, we headed outside for a short hike and to view the owl exhibit. There are six different trails you can explore, which take you through the wooded land and feature signs along the way explaining some of the sites on the path. We read about maple syrup spigots and different reasons why trees were damaged. We were running short on time, so we took a short trail, but you could combine trails for a longer hike if you so desired. The owl exhibit is outside and features Hedwig, a barred owl who is native to the area. This exhibit lets you view Hedwig from about 10-15 feet away.
We visited on a Saturday, but due to some time constraints missed the two programs they offer on Saturdays. At 10AM there is a “Feed the Animals” program, and at 2pm there is a “Meet an Animal” program. If you are visiting on a Saturday it would be good to time your visit to coincide with one if these.
Dad Says: Big doesn’t always mean better! This place offers some cool close up views of reptiles and amphibians and the trails were easy to walk and the signs were good conversation starters about various natural happenings.
Uncle Says: The SSNSC is one of those “hidden gems.” It was cool to see some of the local animals and learn about the local trees and plants. I can’t wait to go back again with my nephew to see a “Meet an Animal” show.
The Butterfly Place is an indoor living environment designed specifically for butterflies and was a fun place to spend an hour of our weekend. If your kids enjoy butterflies or nature in general, this is a must-see. Make sure you plan your clothing accordingly as the atrium is 80 degrees and humid, the ideal environment for butterflies.
The Butterfly Place is open from Valentine’s Day (February 14th) through Halloween (October 31st) from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM (5:00 in the summer), and costs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $7 for kids 3 to 12 years old. For $1 you can purchase a double-sided color butterfly identification chart to help name each type of butterfly you see. Some kids had a butterfly scavenger hunt worksheet, which we assumed was part of a birthday party happening in the large tent in the rear of the facility. This seemed to keep the kids quite busy and interested in the different species of butterflies. One item on the list was to find an animal resting, which sparked a great conversation between a child and parent on the hunt.
There were three main parts to The Butterfly Place: the gift shop, the observation area, and the butterfly atrium. The gift shop is the entrance and exit, as well as where you purchase tickets. It sells butterfly books, feeders, ornaments, jewelry, and some small toys. The featured item was the Butterfly Hatching Kit, which includes two caterpillars and the food to hatch your own butterflies. Any kid that is really into butterflies would appreciate being able to witness the life cycle of the butterfly first-hand.
You enter the observation area directly from the gift shop and are presented with three main areas to explore: display cases, a video presentation, and the atrium viewing area. The display cases offer close-up views of various stages of a butterfly’s life, from caterpillar to flying butterfly. Each case is well labeled with descriptive signs. In the corner is a room with a 15-minute video presentation detailing the life cycle of butterflies. The last part of the observation area is a large window looking into the atrium where you can get a glimpse of the butterflies flying around. This would be a good place to get out of the 80 degree heat and still keep an eye on the kids (unless they go off the path and into the trees, but that is against the rules).
The atrium is a semi-circle shape with large ceilings and a multitude of dirt and pebble paths weaving throughout. The space is smaller than we expected, but does provide an intimate viewing of many butterflies in their natural habitat. Signs clearly warn visitors that attempting to capture butterflies or lure them into your hand is prohibited and could result in your removal from the facility. It is impossible to miss the butterflies as they whiz by your head or maybe land on your shoulder. One landed on our son and he didn’t even know until we told him. There are several benches along the path to take a break and view the butterflies from a different angle. A koi pond filled with large orange and white fish is stashed near the exit of the atrium area, and there were several finches flying around.
Dad Says: I’m always up for some nature education, and the Butterfly Place didn’t disappoint. I thought $10 was a bit pricey given the size and amount of time you could spend here, but it was some good learning for us and the little one. The huge Atlas Moth was something to be seen!
Mom Says: Between the warmth, flowers, and butterflies, there was no way I wouldn’t like this place. Don’t forget your camera, and stay close to each other – you never know when you can get a shot of a butterfly catching a ride on one of you!
Check out a slideshow of the rest of our pictures from this trip or view them on Flickr
If you told us that a Bald Eagle, a Polar Bear, a Boa Constrictor, and a Great Horned Owl all lived within 15 minutes from our home in Central Mass, we probably would have called you crazy. That is, until we visited the EcoTarium in Worcester, MA, with a weekend guest and his 4-year-old twins. The EcoTarium is an indoor and outdoor science and nature museum with a wide variety of activities, including a digital planetarium, wildlife, nature trails, a working railroad, and many other hands-on exhibits. The EcoTarium costs $10 for adults and $8 for kids (children under 3 are free) and is open 10am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5pm on Sunday.
Driving into the facility you arrive at a guard booth, where you are greeted and pay for the vehicle full of kids. We thought this was good as you can park and get right to the action without having to wait in line for tickets. Walking from the parking lot to the main building you are immediately greeted by a cage of owls on one side of the path and a cage of Bald Eagles on the other side. Both have good signage with details about the birds and got our group pretty enthused about what was to come.
With a map in hand we plotted out our day, deciding to tackle the outdoor activities first by hitting the Wildlife Path. The first exhibit was Kenda, the 600 pound Polar Bear. The kids and adults were quite impressed with the balancing act this enormous animal exhibited as she walked back and forth on a high ledge within her concrete play area. Unfortunately, we did not get to see Kenda take a swim in her large pool. The museum offers a glass viewing area on one side of the pool so you can see her swimming under water. Hopefully we can catch that next time. The rest of the path was not quite as exciting, but we did hit the playground along the route. This trail brings you right to the Explorer Express Train which was a must for our crew. The 12-minute train ride takes you around the entire museum grounds. The highlights included the fox cage and a tunnel where the kids are encouraged to scream out loud. The train does cost an extra $2.50 per person.
There were several other nature trails to check out, but the chilly day made us head inside after the train ride. There are 3 floors of science and nature exhibits inside the museum, some permanent and others that change seasonally. We would encourage you to check out the EcoTarium’s website before visiting to see the current list of exhibits and any live shows that might be coming up (we enjoyed a live talk about tortoises). All exhibits focus on natural history and New England’s environment. Older kids, who can read and enjoy science, will soak up the information in each exhibit while the younger kids will require some help from parents to explain things along the way.
None of the kids in our group were over 7, but the adults sure would have liked to try the Tree Canopy Walkway if the children were of age (7 years old or 50 pounds are the minimums on this 40 foot high walk and swing through the tree tops). Other events and exhibits the EcoTarium offers includes a sunset Jazz concert series, a digital planetarium, and the discovery room, which is a special room for preschool-aged kids to learn about nature and science.
Mom Says: The owl and Bald Eagle cages are pretty close to the path so you can get a great view of the birds. If your kid is like ours and loves to play with anything he can grab, this is a great place. I was amazed at all of the exhibits the kids were able to tinker with – upon entering the museum there was a microscope that the twins couldn’t take their hands off of.
Dad Says: I was surprised at the variety of exhibits and like the fact that exhibits change frequently. The facility is a little dated and could use some TLC, but the kids didn’t seem to mind that. The cool stuff is all extra, so plan on additional spending above the entry fee. We’d definately go back and would think about becoming members.
Weekend Guest Says: My son and daughter, both 4, finally understood a few tricks that I had never been able to explain, like how mosquitoes can spot your blood 3 miles away in the dark, how turtles reproduce, and how fish grow in a river eco-system. The staff was very nice and took time to explain things to the kids. Workshops are well organized around various schedules at convenient times (management must have kids too). If you visit, don’t miss a chance to lose your quarter in the “black hole”, but be careful as it’s addictive and, unlike slot machines, there is no cash payout.
If you would like to receive our weekly Crazy Kids Boston email newsletter, fill out your name and email address below.
About
"What will I do with my Kids today?" is on the lips of every parent, every day. Once you get past breakfast, the grueling decisions start. You have done the same things a million times. Crazy Kids is the cure. We’ll provide reviews on everything Kids do and let you and other parents comment on them.
The Crazy Kids Blog will highlight a specific activity each week to give you a more in-depth look at one specific idea. We are all in this together and Parents must join in the fight against boredom and repetition. Good luck, have fun and let us know what you think.
Dad Says: Big doesn’t always mean better! This place offers some cool close up views of reptiles and amphibians and the trails were easy to walk and the signs were good conversation starters about various natural happenings.
Some kids had a butterfly scavenger hunt worksheet, which we assumed was part of a birthday party happening in the large tent in the rear of the facility. This seemed to keep the kids quite busy and interested in the different species of butterflies. One item on the list was to find an animal resting, which sparked a great conversation between a child and parent on the hunt.
In the corner is a room with a 15-minute video presentation detailing the life cycle of butterflies. The last part of the observation area is a large window looking into the atrium where you can get a glimpse of the butterflies flying around. This would be a good place to get out of the 80 degree heat and still keep an eye on the kids (unless they go off the path and into the trees, but that is against the rules).
Mom Says: Between the warmth, flowers, and butterflies, there was no way I wouldn’t like this place. Don’t forget your camera, and stay close to each other – you never know when you can get a shot of a butterfly catching a ride on one of you!
Driving into the facility you arrive at a guard booth, where you are greeted and pay for the vehicle full of kids. We thought this was good as you can park and get right to the action without having to wait in line for tickets. Walking from the parking lot to the main building you are immediately greeted by a cage of owls on one side of the path and a cage of Bald Eagles on the other side. Both have good signage with details about the birds and got our group pretty enthused about what was to come.
The rest of the path was not quite as exciting, but we did hit the playground along the route. This trail brings you right to the Explorer Express Train which was a must for our crew. The 12-minute train ride takes you around the entire museum grounds. The highlights included the fox cage and a tunnel where the kids are encouraged to scream out loud. The train does cost an extra $2.50 per person.
RSS Feed