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Happening Now
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October 4 and 5:
Apple Days.
Your grandchildren can learn how to grow apple trees, grind apples (by ox-power), make cider, and create apple crafts during a full weekend dedicated to the fall harvest. After an orchard walk, you can all enjoy apples, cider, and cheese tastings. At Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge. (website) Hide details
The USS Constitution's 211th Birthday.
Take your grandchildren to celebrate the birthday of the nation's oldest commissioned ship and a Boston institution. Fans of "Old Ironsides," young and old, can enjoy hands-on craft activities and special gallery programs when they join the party. At the USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown. (website) Hide details
Boo at the Zoo.
Give your little witches and goblins a head start on Halloween at the Stone Zoo. You'll have fun sharing their day of spooky crafts, music, and games. And don't forget the costume contest and haunted maze. At the Stone Zoo in Stoneham. (website) Hide details
Salem Haunted Happenings.
This seaport north of Boston has embraced its bewitching past and goes all out in October with spooky events for the whole family. A witchcraft expo, ghost stories, a "Bizarre Bazaar," haunted-house tours, and a children's costume brunch are a few of the creepy doings in town all month. At Salem. (website) Hide details |
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Help With This Page
In the City Guides section, you'll find the best things to do with your grandchildren. To get started, choose a city below or select from among movies, home activities or things to do in the car. Whatever you do, have loads of fun with your grandchildren.
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| | High concept scavenger hunts, well-appointed museums of fine art and great shopping, our Boston guide has some of the best things to do with grandchildren of all ages. —Compiled by Laurie Wilson | |
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A visit to Newport without setting foot on a boat is like visiting New York City without visiting a museum. You simply must. America’s Cup Charters offer some of the best boating experiences for kids and grandparents, whether you’d like an action-packed race, or a leisurely sail into the sunset. Sightseeing aboard authentic America's Cup, 12-meter yachts includes waterfront mansions and historic lighthouses.
Info: Admission: $75
Hours: May–October
Age: Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Outdoor Fun
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Animal lovers will want to visit this educational attraction to see and learn about tortoises, lizards, snakes, alligators, ferrets and tarantulas. Traditionally a program where the animals are brought into the schools and other establishments, Animal Adventures recently opened the doors to the public to visit, see the animals up close and even handle them-unlike a traditional zoo experience where you're separated from the fauna by cages and thick glass. Local charities benefit from the attraction's proceeds, so the admission price goes even further than your own adventure.
Info: Admissions: group Adventure tours $10
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 12PM-5PM
Age: Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Animals & Nature
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Art Beat
212-A Massachusetts Ave.
Arlington, MA 02474
(781) 646-2200
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Want to teach your grandkids how to scrapbook, or just have some fun with paints and pastels? You'll find no better resource in the Boston area for grandkids' artistic endeavors than Arlington's ArtBeat, a fully stocked shop for every level of artist from long time professionals to young amateurs. Take advantage of the free drop-in instruction they offer in mosaics, painting, decoupage, decorating candles, stuffed dolls and animals, optiart magnets, and colored sand on the weekdays, and learn metal embossing and silk painting on Saturdays. Call ahead of time to make sure there isn't a birthday party in the studio, or opt to spend your time browsing the merchandise with your little Van Gogh.
Info: Studio Instruction: free; projects $10-$40
Hours: Monday 12PM-6PM, Tuesday and Wednesday 10AM-6PM, Thursday-Saturday 10AM-8PM, Sunday 12PM-6PM
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Classes & Workshops
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Blue Man Group, Riverdance, The Wind in the Willows and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown are just a few shows you can catch with your grandchildren in Boston. Most tickets for the family-friendly musicals and live performances are competitively priced, so you can splurge on a fancy dinner beforehand. Go easy with pre-show sweets; however, BosTix Jr. recommends getting grandkids excited for the show, but not so much so that they can't sit still during the performance. Reviewing a particular show's book or history together before show time is also a great way to keep kids engaged for the entirety of the performance. Note: Half-price tickets go on sale at 10AM and cash only is accepted.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10AM-6PM, Sunday 11AM-4PM, closed Patriots Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Live Performances
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The best time to eat here is on a warm afternoon, sitting beneath a large red-and-yellow tent and savoring the fresh fish. You’ll be given a stone to smash your lobster with but, if clawed crustaceans still freak your grandkids out, they can order an equally delicious burger. Bonus: The restaurant is a seashell's throw from the newly-renovated Boston Children's Museum.
Hours: 11:30AM–11PM
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Kid Friendly Eats
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Located 50 minutes away from Boston in Fall River stands one of the Boston area's most visited museums. Just as the name suggests, Battleship Cove is home to the world's largest collection of naval warships, including the Massachusetts, Destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., the Submarine Lionfish, and PT Boats 617 and 796, each deemed historic landmarks and accessible for you and your grandkids to explore. Climb the turrets, try out the sailor's sleeping quarters and survey any of the nine decks of the massive Massachusetts. In the summer, families are invited to camp overnight, where your grandkids can learn how to tie knots, eat sailors' grub and sleep in the sailors' bunks.
Info: Admission: adults $14, ages 65+ $12, 6-14 $8, 6 and under and Military in uniform free; overnight camping $33 per person
Hours: vary
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Planes
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Since his 2000 debut album, "Emily Songs," Ben Rudnick has enjoyed his status as Boston's premiere songwriter and performer of family friendly music, which means not only will grandchildren love it, but you might find yourself dancing and singing along as well. Ben Rudnick and Friends' songs are as catchy and fun as some of the popular covers he plays when performing live. The talented band features both a mandolin and an accordion, and plays in and around the Boston area for most of the year. Pack a picnic and catch them at a park for an outdoor performance, inspiring giddy and singing grandchildren for the rest of the week.
Info: Admission: varies
Hours: vary
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Live Performances
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Take a guided tour along the Black Heritage Trail, which brings to life Boston’s 19th-century African American community. Most of the sites are private homes and not open to the public, but the accessible African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School capture enough history to keep inquisitive grandkids talking for hours. Tours are given daily by the National Park Service Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.
Info: Admission: free
Hours: Wednesday and Saturday 10AM–1PM, 2PM–5PM, Friday 10AM–1PM, 3PM–6PM
Age: Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Outdoor Fun, Attractions & Landmarks, Local Unique
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Intricate arabesques, skilled leaps and twirls, and other amazing choreographed acts are a thrilling feast for the eyes at any age, (except very young grandkids prone to crying jags when bored). Dress them up for a proper evening at the ballet, and see any one of Boston's world-class performances, be it the Nutcracker during the winter holidays or Giselle in the spring. Special educational programs are available to the curious of any age, including "Pre-Curtain Talks," informal discussions with dancers, choreographers, musicians, and other special guests offer an insider's knowledge on the history, costumes, story and anything else you and your grandkids want to ask.
Info: Admission: varies by seat
Hours: vary by performance
Age: Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Live Performances
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Meet in Boston Common and begin your journey through Boston’s rich history, via the Freedom Trail. This red-painted road snakes throughout the city, zig-zagging from Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument. The 16-site walk includes such historic gems as the Boston Globe Store, (the meeting place of famous New England authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson), Paul Revere’s house and the burial site of Samuel Adams. About two and a half miles long, the Freedom Trail takes about three hours to complete, which is a bit less grueling than the Boston Marathon. You and your grandkids can walk the route yourselves while getting lost in conversation about the Revolutionary War. Or if they’re between six and eight years old, consider taking the cliff notes version of the route: the “Boston by Little Feet Tour,” a 60-minute walk of historical highlights.
Info: Admission: $8
Hours: Monday and Saturday 10AM and Sunday 2PM
Age: Child, Pre-teen
Outdoor Fun
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