Story Land

Story Land is a manageable and affordable amusement park for younger children in the outskirts of the White Mountains in Glen, New Hampshire. It has an interesting history, the seed being planted by a German doll makers in the 1950s while the American founders were living overseas. The park opens at 9:30 during the summer and closes at 6:00 each day. Although refreshments and food are provided throughout the park, food and water are allowed to be brought in and areas are available to sit and eat.
There is an area for toddlers and smaller children which was the original area of the park when it first opened in 1954. This area is small houses designed around nursery rhymes and fairy tales, such as The Old Woman in the Shoe and the Three Bears Home. Children can walk through the interactive homes and see some of the characters. There is a sand box to play in a some shaded sitting areas and well as restrooms, etc. On the outer rim of this area there are some smaller rides such as tea cups, and swan boats, which glide on a little water area. Over the water is a bridge that leads up to a small Cinderella's Castle. A pumpkin coach also rides up to the castle on a track pulled by pretend horses. Cinderella herself sits in the castle for photos, which can be purchased or taken by parents, free of charge.

Another area of the park is an around the world experience, designed for older children, where there is a food area, an Arctic ride and Pharaoh's boat. Other rides compliment the area also. Additional rides throughout the park area faster, a couple of roller coasters, a log flume ride, and some others.
There are also some family rides, such as a short train ride around the park, a raft ride (one does get wet), and antique car ride.

Character dinners, Cinderella's tea, and other services are offered for additional costs.

There are often Group ons available for Story Land, which offer minimal discounts. There are also usually deals directly through the park for Father's Day and weekends. Perhaps one of the best tips though, is arriving after 3:00 pm and buying park passes, you are granted entry into the park that afternoon and issued return passes to use the next day or for use one other day that season. The also provide military and senior citizen discounts, children under 2 are free.

Antique cars that run on a track.

Story Land website

Graverson Playground and Elsie Turner Field

Check out this newly rebuilt playground in Waltham, with a small sprinkler splash pad. Beautiful facility in a quiet neighborhood. The playground boasts two new structures, while the field has a walking loop, newly finished basketball hoop, and soccer nets. There are trees around the perimeter, but the playground itself is full sun exposure during the day.
Hours for the water area start at 10:00 am.
Graverson playground

Sprinkler head on the sprinkler pad.

Splash pad area, which is fenced off from the other sections.

Covered picnic area.

View of the field area.

Free Fridays

The Highland Street Foundation provides these activities during summer months. 

Click below for 2016 summer activities and sights:


Free Fridays

Connors Memorial Pool

Great new(ish) pool open to the community.  Perfect for a family visit, the pool starts off with a  shallow- walk-in end and gradually gets deeper, with a pretty visible divide.  There are fountains and water jets for kids to play in and locker rooms for men and women.  Life-guards are attentive and rule-enforcing.  Great summer find!  


The address is 330 River Street in Waltham, it is open 7 days a week from 11am- 7 pm.

Imagine Indoor Playspace & Art Center

A two floor indoor playground opened in Cambridge, just outside the Fresh Pond rotary, last fall.  The space is large and aesthetically pleasing with artistic touches throughout.  There are paintings by various artists hang in on the walls and a little library area for kids to relax and have some down time.

The play area is divided into a library, snack area, sensory table, small climbing structure and ball pit, and a small bouncy house.  There are various toys throughout, Magna tiles, blocks, push and ride on toys, kitchen areas, etc.  Downstairs at this point is a more open space for running.

The space is also creating clubs for children and running some classes, such as CPR.  They are open for open play from 9-6 every day.

Upstairs at Imagine.

Ball pit and climbing structure.

It is $7 per child, with discounted passes and sibling rates.  Great space and art center!

Link to Imagine

Stone Zoo

In Stoneham, just off of 93N, there is a small zoo, the perfect size for young children.  The newest attraction is the addition of a few alligators.  The zoo is a good size for a few hours and is open from 10:00- 5:00pm on weekdays, April 1- September 30 and on weekends from 10:00 - 6:00 pm, and the winter hours which run from October 1- March 31, are 10:00 am- 4:00 pm.
Rates are available at the link below.  Stone Zoo Link

The zoo runs daily Birds of Prey shows, has a small gift shop, a food vendor during summer hours, restrooms and a few rides for children.   

Concord Museum Christmas Trees

Each year the Concord Museum, in Concord, Mass, puts up themed Christmas trees.  The trees are based on children's literature and copies of the books are displayed next to each tree.  The thirty plus trees are located throughout the museum and range in all shapes and sizes.  The trees and stories change each year.  Admission this year ran at $15 per adult, $6/child,  and children 3 under being free.  Parking is street parking along Lexington St and is also free.  (Be careful crossing the street, cars drive very quickly on Lexington St).  The museum opens the exhibit just after Thanksgiving and it stays open through January 1.  Throughout the duration of the exhibit, various authors of the books will visit, sometimes characters from the books, and other events take place.  Checking the website will give you the annual calendar.

Concord center, just down the street is also a quaint, lovely little town center which is great for Christmas shopping or wandering around.  Metered street parking is available there.

Museum Address: 200 Lexington Rd, Concord, MA 01742

Phone:(978) 369-9763

Hours:  April- Dec. Mon- Sat: 9- 5:00 Sunday 12- 5:00
Jan- March: Mon- Sat 11:00- 4:00, Sun 1:00- 4:00

Click here for Concord Museum Link

Beaver Brook Reservation and Spray Park

Belmont and Waltham are home to Beaver Brook Reservation, a conservation land of 59 acres.  The reservation includes hiking trails, bike paths, picnic areas, and a playground and spray park.  The trails are open year round, as is the playground, while the spray park is open in the summer from 9:30 am - 7:30 pm.  There are picnic tables at various points on the reservation and a covered pavilion at the park site, along with bathrooms, trash cans, and benches.

It is accessible by public transportation and also has parking lots and street parking, depending on which part of the park you are going to.


Click here for link to Beaver Brook Reservation and Spray Park

Arlington Spray Park

The spray park next to Thompson Elementary School in Arlington is a good cool down spot for the summer.  Other than the sprinklers, they also offer a playground with an area appropriate for both toddlers and older children.  There are a set of picnic benches also and shady spots for relaxing under the trees.  The spray park is open when school lets out in the early summer until the close of summer.

The easiest way to find the park is to locate Dunkin Donuts on Broadway in Arlington and it is a few blocks behind it.  Set in a residential neighborhood, there is street parking and parking at the elementary school.

Click here for link to park

Funtown Splashtown USA

Funtown Splashtown USA is about an hour and a half from the city of Boston, in Saco, Maine, just off of 95 and is a good sized amusement park for children.  It is another, bigger option to Canobie Lake.  There are two sides to the park, identifiable by the bracelets one purchases upon entering.  (The entry fees are confusing, after speaking to two representatives and having friends have completely different experiences purchasing their bands, I couldn't explain it).  Splashtown houses about twenty water slides and pools for various heights and ages.  If you read the height requirements however, it will reduce the number of water slides and rides to a lot fewer available to a given group of people.  Funtown has rides for all sizes and at varying speeds also.  There are several "family" rides, such as antique cars on a track, kiddie rides including airplanes and bumper boats, and much faster rides, for older children or more daring folk.  Park hours begin sporadically in late May, and pick up in June.  The park closes again in September.  During the summer, the parks open at 10:00 on a daily basis and Splashtown closes at 6:00, Funtown at 9:00.

Food is available in the park, but you are also allowed to bring food in, just no glass containers.  There is some shopping and various other park activities, such as arcades and games.  Often during the week in the summer, camp groups will go, so weekends aren't that much busier comparatively.

A family of four would probably spend between $100-150 for a day at the park, with admission and purchasing food.  Children under 38 inches ride for free, so it is a good option for little ones!

Click here for link to FuntownSplashtown, USA

Seacoast Science Center

A little marine center in Rye, New Hampshire is a great destination for the day.  It is set in Odiorne State Park and is a small aquarium on the coast.




The facility itself has a touch tank area, several tanks housing various sea creatures, and some hands on exhibits that include a submarine parts, and a row boat for pretend fishing.
There are hourly educational activities to join and tidal pools outside to explore.  In addition to the center itself, there is no shortage of picnic tables outside to eat a prepacked lunch (only vending machines available and no trash barrels) and a nearby playground within the park.
The setting is beautiful and bountiful rocks to climb on and places to explore.  Definitely worth a trip, just over an hour from the city of Boston.

There are two fees, one to enter the park (adults $4 and children 6-11 $2 each) and one for the Science Center (adults $7, seniors $5, and children 3-12 $3).

Click here for link to Marine Science Center

Tidal pools and rocks

Watertown Indoor Playground

For an indoor play space with lots of room to run, Watertown Indoor Playground has a good amount of space and equipment.  It is geared to children from age 0-5 (2-5 being on the more appropriate end of the scale).  There is one large, open room with another room for quieter, less movement oriented play.
The equipment includes two bouncy houses, ride on toys, climbing areas, a kitchen set, ball pit, and exercise area.  There is much more beyond the options mentioned above.  Kids are required to take off shoes and socks and it is fairly clean (a little weird to visit the bathroom shoeless, but I guess everyone does it).  Upon entering, there is a seating area to have and buy snacks, but you can bring in your own food.  Earlier in the day, it is fairly empty, and can be quiet.
Hours are less restrictive than other indoor playgrounds that we have visited and are less booked for events and birthday parties.

Monday to Saturday 9- 8pm
Sunday 10- 8pm

Pricing differs slightly, the winter being a couple of dollars more, but kids are generally $10 for the first child and $8 for each additional child, and the first adult is free.  There are rocking chairs and Wifi for adults.  The parking is around the back of the facility, as is the door to enter.  Further information and birthday party info is at the link below.

Worth a trip for those cold days of cabin fever!

 Watertown Indoor Playground

Cape Cod Children's Museum

This children's museum is located in Mashpee, Cape Cod, near Falmouth.  It is housed in what seems to be a warehouse type space.  The museum is open for summer hours starting at 10 am.  It is host to exhibits that cater to the toddler set through mid elementary school, with areas like an interactive post office, kitchen/restaurant space, a submarine to explore, and a pirate ship to climb.  The museum is affordable at $7.00 per person (they start charging at 1 year old), but a visit probably won't last longer than a few hours.  The summer can get crowded, particularly on rainy days, when Cape visitors don't have a lot of other indoor choices for kids.  However, during the school year and winter months, Cape residents and visitors will find an open, fairly quiet facility.   Another drawback is the lack of an outdoor area, including not having a sitting area for outdoor snacks.  The museum staff are friendly and helpful and the exhibits range enough to provide experiences for varying ages.  They also host field trips and birthday parties.

Cape Cod Children's Museum