Choosing Schools

With all the great public and private schools in the Greater Boston area, choosing a preschool or school can be a difficult choice.  One resource we found for looking at schools was attending open houses.  This is a good basis for determining what you want and what is out there.  Fall is a Open House "season" for private schools, with the application process beginning not long after.
The Independent Schools in New England website is one resource for tracking dates and locations:

Open House Link, Fall 2012

Some schools require advance registration for Open Houses, and if you miss the date, they will fulfill requests for scheduling (usually group) tours at later dates.

Brooksby Farm

A little farm and pick-your-on spot in Peabody, close to Route 1, Brooksby Farm offers seasonal fruit picking and has a few animals for kids to view also.  The animals include llamas, a variety of birds, and some pigs.  It's a manageable spot for a day trip with little ones and not too far to walk into the Orchard and picking areas.  They also have a great little farmstand with fresh produce and baked items, as well as homemade jellies and jams.  Weekday summer picking is not crowded and the fruit is plentiful.

Brooksby Farm Link

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.