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.

Chikki Plaza

Chikki Plaza is an English-Spanish bilingual playspace located in Cummings Park in Woburn (behind BankAmerica). Each weekday they run an activity for children in Spanish.  The clean playspace is for children from 1-5 with a separate snack/birthday party area upstairs.  The space is ideal for more low-key, indoor play.  It's on the smaller side, so high energy play could be tricky.  The play equipment appears to be new and is organized.  They provide coffee for parents and little complimentary snacks for children. 

Chikki Plaza link

Hours

Monday - Friday	9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday, & Sunday	9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Admission

Child less than 1 year	Free with paid child admission
Child 1 year and up	$11
Extra child 1 and up in the same household	$7
Adults	1 adult Free with a child admission. (additional adults $2)

Free and Reduced Museum Times

I put this together for students whom I teach, but it's a quick guide for some local museums:

                                  Exploring Museums

Boston Children’s Museum

http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/ 

Fridays, 5pm – 9pm   $1 admission

308 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210
617.426.6500

From Downtown Crossing: The MBTA #7 bus stops in the Downtown Crossing area at Summer and Otis Streets and at South Station (See walking directions from South Station to the Museum). The bus will indicate that the destination is City Point.

Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum

http://www.gardnermuseum.org/home 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans Way (not gps address)
Boston, MA 02115

18 and under – Free

Take the Green Line E train to the Museum of Fine Arts stop, or the Orange Line train to the Ruggles stop

Harvard Art Museum(s)

http://www.harvardartmuseums.org/ 

32 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 495-9400

Saturdays 10- 12pm- Free (under 18 always free)

5 minute walk from Harvard stop red line

Museum of Fine Art

http://www.mfa.org/ 

465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 267-9300

Wednesdays 4 pm- 9:45 pm pay what you wish

Take the Green Line E train to the Museum of Fine Arts stop, or the Orange Line train to the Ruggles stop

 MIT Museum

http://web.mit.edu/museum/ 

465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 267-9300

Last Saturday of every month- Free (except July and August) The MIT Museum is a 7-minute walk from the Central Square stop on the Red Line.
The # 1 bus stops on Massachusetts Avenue a few blocks from the MIT Museum.

deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

http://www.decordova.org/
First Wednesday of each month is free

51 Sandy Pond Road
Lincoln, MA 01773

781.259.8355

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

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.