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

Pumpkin Patch

For a little pumpkin patch option, the Second Congregational Church in Winchester runs an annual fall pumpkin patch.  It begins at the end of September and runs through until Halloween.   Located on Washington Street the patch is outside the stone church, with street parking on Washington Street and Kenwin Road.
A few baked goods are available and wagons to pick the pumpkins, which are priced from $1.00 on.  It is run by church members volunteering and most of the proceeds to go charity, specifically the Navajo Nation, the Winchester Middle School after school programs, and a local food pantry.

This year hours are:
Mon:  Fri 2- 7pm
Sat: 10 -5 pm
Sun: 12- 5 pm
and Columbus Day from 10-5
They also run special fair days, that include kiddie activities.

Raspberry Picking at Wright-Locke Farm

Raspberry picking is available at Wright-Locke Farm in Winchester through the first frost.  Located on Ridge Street in Winchester, the raspberry bushes are organic and is the perfect size for an outing with toddlers and preschoolers.  Entrance is free and you pay per pound for the raspberries.  It's a fun, local and fast picking alternative to apple orchards.  There are a few animals to see and chickens to feed the underripe raspberries to.

Wright-Locke Farm site

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

deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park

A great place to go with kids to expose them to art from an early age.  The sculpture park is perfect for your active little ones who want to run and discover and enjoy the outdoors.  The sculpture park encompasses about 35 acres of land and is surrounded by trees.  Some sculptures are interactive and some integrate into the natural surroundings.  The deCordova also can be accessed with a Minuteman Library pass so that admission is free.  Additionally, in the summer they host yoga sessions for both adults and children on the weekends, as well as artist talks, and sculpture garden tours.  The museum also has workshops and is home to a nursery school.  The interior of the museum is host to changing contemporary art exhibitions.
The grounds are perfect for picnicking and enjoying a full day of exploring.
One last family-friendly point is that the restrooms all have changing tables!

deCordova Link

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