Creative Travel

No idea how to make or install this, but I thought it was a pretty cool and creative way to travel with two little ones.  I spotted it in Davis Square in Somerville one morning.

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

Edaville: A Day with Out With Thomas

For anyone with Thomas the Train obsessed toddlers and preschoolers, Edaville, in Carver, Ma, holds a Day Out with Thomas twice a year.  Thomas and Sir Topham visit in June and October.  The park is open to the usual public, but you can also buy train tickets to ride "Thomas" separately.  The tickets can be bought ahead of time online and mailed to you, for particular departure times.  If you arrive when the park opens, at 9:00 on Thomas days, the crowd is minimal.  The park is also fairly extensive for the little guys, various rides other than the train, a shady playground area, a small pond to walk around, and tents that host musicians and storytellers.  There are food vendors, but the park allows picnics to be brought in also.

                  Park play area that tends to be less crowded and quiet.

Edaville: A Day Out with Thomas

Drumlin Farm

Drumlin Farm is a local working farm, that is a great way to introduce little ones to animals and farms, in a low key environment.  The farm offers a short tractor pulled hay ride that loops the farms, and is home to sheep, birds, pigs, horses, and cows, among other animals.
They are run by the Mass Audubon Society, which means that with a membership ($65 a year for a family), you can go an unlimited amount of times, and also gain entrance to other Audubon wildlife sanctuaries, while supporting local wildlife.
The farm also offers picnic spots, public restrooms, educational lectures and events, and some seasonal produce for sale.  Drumlin Farm hosts field trips and a summer camp.
Drumlin Farm is located in Lincoln, Mass, just at the end of Route 2.



Drumlin Farm

North Point Park

A beautiful spot for a family outing, picnic, or just relaxing, North Point Park in East Cambridge is a hidden spot.  The location offers views of the Charles River, Museum of Science, and Zakim Bridge.  It is tucked back from the river, but trails and walks take the pedestrian or cyclist along the river in either direction.  There are a number of benches and some picnic tables in the playground area.  The Duckboats enter and exit the water just next to the park, which offers additional entertainment for the little ones, as well as friendly exchange if you're in the mood for quacking or interacting with tourists.  The playground area offers structures that are age appropriate for toddlers through younger elementary school age children, as well as a little spray park area.  Landscaping around the park is lush and well maintained, in addition to the views in most directions, makes for a very pleasant spot.  The only drawback to this area is that 93 runs directly to one side of you, which can be noisy and detracts from the rest of the environment. However, if your little ones enjoy the sight of trucks and cars, and the sound of sirens, it can add to the experience.  The park is typically quiet earlier in the morning and has parking available.  The pictures below don't really do it justice.

Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl Boston

The annual ice-cream festival will hit City Hall Plaza this year from Tuesday June 5- Thursday June 7.  This event is held daily for the three day stretch from 12- 8pm and features ice-cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet from nationwide vendors.  Beginning 30 years ago as a National Dairy Association event, it has now become the largest all you can eat ice-cream festival in the nation.  Ticket prices vary- children under 3 are free, kids from 3-9 are $5, and from there on up tickets are $10 each, for an all you can eat event. (Group rates and 3 day passes are also an option).  Part of the proceeds go to the Jimmy Fund for cancer research at Dana-Farber.  Easily accessible on the Red Line or Green Line to the Government Station stop, public transportation is probably the easiest way in.  There is a calendar of entertainment, with the Red Sox wives serving ice-cream and various musical acts, as well as the mayor kicking off the event.

Scooper Bowl 2012

Museum of Science

One of Boston's best resources and venues is the Museum of Science in Cambridge.  The museum offers a wealth of information and exhibits, most of which are interactive.  It provides information and entertainment for primarily school age children through teenagers and adults, but also has a small area for the younger preschool/toddler age kids.  There are presentations that run everyday that are free after the admission fee is paid, as well as an Omni Show, which is an additional cost.  The presentations vary from animals to weather and the ever popular electricity show, but are all engaging and given by knowledgeable presenters.  Much of the museum staff are volunteers, many of whom have been there for years and know the museum inside and out.
Exhibits cover topics from optics, to health, force and motion, rocks and minerals, to local issues like the Big Dig.  There is a Butterfly Garden and Planetarium in addition to the other exhibits.  The museum has a cafeteria and a gift shop.  During the school year the museum is often overrun with field trips, so moving through it with younger kids can be tricky.  The is enough space and if it you time it correctly you can work around the large groups.

The museum is also located on the Charles River and is convenient by public transportation or the highway.  It can be rented out as a venue for private events also, and if you are an educator, offers a discount and has an educator's library. 

Museum of Science