Planning spring break in Boston with the family? We’ve got some plans for everyone to enjoy, both young and old. From life-size dinosaur exhibits and Legoland adventures to scenic walks in the park and self-guided tours, here are our 22 favorite family-friendly activities for you to enjoy this spring break.
1. Check out this limited-edition space exhibit
Space Adventure has been extended due to popular demand, so there’s still time to launch off into this wicked awesome adventure. It’s perfect for adults and kids of all ages to explore what a space launch entails in an immersive way. Explore over 300 original NASA artifacts, and step inside a life-size control room! It’s sure to be a blast!
Find Space Adventure at 121 Webster Ave Chelsea, MA 02150
2-9. Embrace the rainy weather with one of these indoor activities
Spring is a notoriously gloomy and rain-abundant time here in Boston, but you shouldn’t let the rain stop you from having a good time! Below are 10 unique activities perfect for a rainy day:
- Catch an AMC movie at a discounted price
- Enjoy a stunning Candlelight Concert
- Explore one of Boston’s many museums (for free!)
- Discover your new favorite restaurant with an Instagrammable interior
- Pamper yourself to custom cheeseboard with on-demand delivery
- DIY your own hand-tufted rug
- Take a class at this Cambridge crafting studio
- Explore a 43-challenge indoor entertainment space
10. Spend a day at the New England Aquarium
Boston’s world-class aquarium is an attraction that needs no introduction- but hey, we’ll give it one anyways! Whether you’re looking to escape the weather, or you’re simply an avid fish fanatic, the New England Aquarium is a delightful spot to spend an afternoon on spring break. With over 8,000 aquatic creatures – including 80 adorable penguins – you’ll have no shortage of sea creatures to ogle and enjoy. You can even see friendly sea lions swimming at the front of the museum for free!
Find it at 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110.
11. Learn some American history at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum while having a tea tasting
You can relive a thrilling moment in American history at the fully interactive Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. With holographic displays, films, and life-size colonial recreations, you’ll be whisked away into the past to witness some real historical fun!
You might even get to dump your own tea into the harbor, in the exact place where the real Boston Tea Party occurred over 240 years ago. And for those looking for a little less laborious adventure, try over 8 unique tea blends at the tearoom.
Find it at 306 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210.
12. Visit the Theater of Electricity at the Boston Museum of Science
The Boston Museum of Science, a learning hotspot for the young and the young at heart, is home to a unique showcase of the power of static electricity. Two pillars topped by luminescent orbs stand in the center of the museum’s Theater of Electricity. The theater hosts a show entitled Lightning! that shows the power of electricity, and the performance is included in the price of admission for the museum’s Exhibit Halls.
Find it at 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114.
13. Enjoy the return of the Swan Boats at Boston Public Garden
The Public Garden is by far one of the most iconic springtime spots to visit in Boston, with tranquil walking paths, fountains, and dozens of delightful flowers. A telltale marker of spring in Boston, the famous Boston Common Swan Boats open for the season on April 16. They’re the only boats of their kind in the world, and it’s a great way to enjoy nature!
14. Tiptoe through the tulips at the Public Garden
The Public Garden is easily one of the most photogenic spots in Boston during springtime – and that’s really saying something! With flowers all around you, enjoy the sunshine, flowers, and springtime breezes in the air. Maybe you can even snap a gorgeous family photo in the meantime!
15. Have some fun at the Legoland Discovery Center
At Legoland Boston, you can immerse yourself in the world of a Lego playground! Discover how Legos are made, take a ride on two indoor attractions, and learn how to make the best Lego castles and forts from expert builders. It’s a totally awesome spring break experience for Lego lovers of all ages. And you can check out this Lego art exhibit in Boston until April 23.
Find it at 598 Assembly Row, Somerville, MA 02145.
16. Take a North End pizza tour
Want to know where to find Boston’s best slice? By the end of this tour you will. You’ll get to taste some of Boston’s best pizza around Boston’s oldest neighborhood and explore 5 history-laden Freedom Trail sites. And as a sweet ending, watch old-world chocolatiers work their tasty magic inside a 300-year-old home.
The tour kicks off from the historic Hanover Street, and you can reserve your visit here!
17. Take a self-guided walking adventure through the city
Guided tours aren’t for everyone. On your spring break, you can tour the city independently on a scavenger hunt-style, self-guided tour known as Puzzling Adventures. Each adventure consists of a series of secret locations where you are required to answer questions or solve puzzles to receive your next instruction. As you figure out the mystery, you’ll see the sights and sounds of Boston while learning about its history, too!
18. Take trip to one of the most beautiful small towns in the world
Just 3 hours from Boston lies Stowe, Vermont. Stowe was recently selected as one of the “23 Most Beautiful Cities in the World,” by Travel + Leisure. Stowe is known for its beautiful landscape that seamlessly adapts to any season. It’s definitely a town for family-friendly fun and lots of outdoor activities like swimming, skiing, or hiking depending on the season!
19. Or if you prefer the seaside, check out one of these top small coastal towns
USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards ranked Marblehead and Provincetown as two of the top 5 coastal small towns in the country. Explore them, breath the fresh ocean air, and enjoy some great seafood while you’re there.
20. Watch the Boston Marathon (or run it)
Whether you’re a runner or spectator, the Boston Marathon is an adrenaline filled day, and it’s right around the corner. Every year, around 30,000 runners travel from across the globe to compete and nearly 500,000 people watch from the sidelines! The marathon will take place on Patriot’s Day, as always, which will be Monday April 17 this year! The race starts in Hopkinton, MA and finishes on Boylston Street in Copley.
21. Enjoy a week of family fun at this Cape Cod glamping site
AutoCamp Cape Cod is hosting a series of special events you don’t want to miss this spring! The luxurious camping site will kick-off spring break with clam and oyster roasting class on April 15 with MasterChef finalist, Anna Rossi. From April 18-21 enjoy clubhouse movie nights with classic campfire smores! During the day enjoy the complimentary bikes and go for a ride along the scenic Shining Sea Bikeway!
For kids, the property will host a fun scavenger hunt and once completed, they can claim a cool prize at the front desk!
Find AutoCamp Cape Cod at 836 Palmer Ave, Falmouth, MA 02540.
22. Tour Boston’s newest cultural destination
The Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) is a blooming destination this spring! FARHOF will be hosting the “Arlo Guthrie: Native Son” exhibit which looks at Folk Musician Arlo Guthrie’s life, from his childhood to his decade long career on the stage. The FARHOF exhibit opened to the public for tours just one day before Arlo kicked off the What’s Left Of Me tour at the Boch Center Shubert Theatre.
Find the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame at 270 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116.
23. Visit the Nantucket Daffodil Festival
From April 27-30 you can enjoy the blooming daffodils on Nantucket. Explore the beauty of nature and chime in on festival festivities like a daffodil hat pageant, parade, flower show, and kid-friendly beach events.
It’s a fun way to escape the city and treat yourself to a lovely hotel like Faraway which is conveniently located near the festival and offers an amazing on-site dining experience at Sister Ship. Faraway hotels are now open to reserve your visit ahead of the crowds, and reservations for the restaurant Sister Ship open April 1!
24. Take a crafting class at this 4,000-quare-foot studio space in Cambridge
Studio by Garden Streets is always hosting fun workshops and classes available to all ages! If you want to send the kids off or take a class yourself they’ll have everything from knitting workshops to candle making!
Find Studio by Garden Streets on level 2 (beside Old Navy) at CambridgeSide: 100 Cambridgeside Pl, Cambridge, MA 02141