Family Activities in New England
41 Main Street
Lincoln, NH 03251
Phone: 603-745-9911
Toll-Free: 888-745-9911
Unique and exciting outdoor adventures
Get 100% of your recommended daily adventure at Alpine Adventures Our original zip-line tour is a true treetop canopy adventure, zip from tree to tree through the forest on 6 separate ziplines, ropes bridges and a grand finale freefall. Sky Rider is our separate exciting canopy tour. In the winter we rent snowmobiles and proved guided, and un-guided, tours. Safari off-road tours take you where wildlife is seen in natural habitats. For families and thrill-seekers of all levels Alpine Adventure has the excitement. Book online or call for reservations.
Schooner Wharf - 15 Holmes Street
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: 860-536-0416
Fax: 860-536-0000
Discover islands, lighthouses, and traditional windjammer sailing
321-338 Atlantic Avenue
Misquamicut, RI 02891
Phone: 401-322-0504
Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street, Route 114
Bristol, RI 02809
Phone: 401-245-7500
Stay in touch with the great outdoors
The Audubon Environmental Education Center is a state-of-the art natural history museum and aquarium that puts fun and excitement into experiencing nature. Look inside a 33-foot life size Right Whale, discover life in a tide pool, and observe Narragansett Bay’s marine life. The Center’s interactive exhibits feature local habitats. Situated on the 28-acre McIntosh Wildlife Refuge the Environmental Education Center has walking trails with a ¼ mile boardwalk that winds through fresh and saltwater marshes leading to a majestic view of Narragansett Bay. The refuge is along the East Bay Bike Path allowing bikers and walkers access to the refuge’s natural beauty. The Center offers guided tours, nature walks, special family programs and much more throughout the year. The facility and trails are handicapped accessible.
1 West Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: 207-288-9800
Toll-Free: 888-533-WALE
New England’s Premier Whale Watching Tours
Join us for an adventurous whale watching trip in the gulf of Maine. We feature several distinct whale watching, sightseeing, lighthouse and nature trips which sail daily throughout the summer season. The Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company has spared no expense in order to offer you a spectacular opportunity to experience the awe inspiring beauty of the magnificent mammals of the sea. The Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company offers six distinct tours: Puffins & Whale Watching, Just Whale Watching, Nature Cruise, Lobster Fishing and Seal Watching, Baker Island and Acadia National Park Tour and the Historical Lighthouse Tour. Trips depart everyday throughout the season from the town pier at 1 West Street in Bar Harbor, Maine. Come and enjoy a fantastic experience that you will never forget.
66 Thunder Mountain Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Phone: 413-339-6617
If you are a family, it's easy, bring your kids and ski!
3984 Vermont Route 11
Six miles east of Manchester, VT
Phone: 802-824-5522
288 Shaker Road
Canterbury, NH 03224
Phone: 603-783-9511
Educational Family Fun
The Canterbury Shaker village, which once was home to over 300 Shakers, is an outdoor history museum that has provided educational fun to families since 1992. The National Historic Landmark features 25 original Shaker buildings on 694 acres of gardens, fields, ponds and forests. Come experience two hundred years of Shaker life through guided tours with engaging interpreters, craft demonstrations, restored organic vegetables and botanical gardens and special events. Highlights include a Shaker school and hospital, as well as a number of nature trails. Situated on a beautiful site, the Village is ideal for learning, reflection and renewal of spirit. Rich in authenticity, Canterbury Shaker Village is a non-profit, educational institution.
774 High Street
Candia, NH 03034
Phone: 603-483-5623
Fax: 603-483-1079
It's a ZOO!
Charmingfare Farm is home to many of the traditional agricultural animals you would expect to see on a farm. Children will enjoy the Oakhurst Dairy Discovery Barn, home to our large "hands-on" petting area. After visiting with the farm animals you will follow the paths leading into the woods and there you will encounter our wildlife exhibits, here you will find many of North America's greatest predators. Throughout the day various demonstrations and activities are offered, including the free flying "Birds of Prey" presentation. So be sure to pack a picnic lunch and spend the day with us at our farm and enjoy our Animals!
50 Ferncroft Road
Danvers, MA 01923
Phone: 978-777-2500
Toll-Free: 866-754-6959
Fax: 978-750-7991
Want to relax and unwind and have a great time doing so??
Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Road
Concord, MA 01742
Phone: 978-369-9763
Fax: 978-369-9660
Family-friendly history
Exploring historic Concord? Begin at the Concord Museum! An inspiring collection of American treasures includes the 1775 “one, if by land, two, if by sea” Revere lantern and Thoreau’s Walden desk. Enjoy engaging, self-touring history galleries that present intriguing ideas relevant to today – concepts of liberty, self-reliance, independent thinking and the preservation of the environment. Family favorites include the engaging “Why Concord?” history galleries, Exploring Concord film, and child-friendly treasure hunts. A year round calendar of programs for adults and children includes story hours, nature explorations, crafts, and a holiday celebration of children’s literature. Open daily year round.
270 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320
Phone: 860-439-5020
Over 750 acres of beautifully preserved open space
Connecticut College Arboretum's 750 acres include the college campus, plant
collections, natural areas, and managed areas. Its three major plants collections for
public enjoyment are the Campus Landscape with 120 acres of trees and shrubs from around the
world; the Native Plant collection, with 20 acres of woody plants and wildflowers indigenous to North America with a pond, and walking trails;
Caroline Black Garden with an exquisite display of diverse woody plants in a garden setting. Open every day from sunrise to sunset. Free public guided tours every Sunday afternoon May - October at 2 p.m. Call 860-439-5060 for
more information. Private group tours can be arranged upon request.
38 Norcross Circle
North Conway, NH 03860
Phone: 603-356-5251
Toll-Free: 800-232-5251
Enjoy old-fashioned train rides, all departing from the 1874 Victorian Station in the heart of North Conway Village. Coach, First Class and elegant Dining Car seating are available on all routes. Trains run rain or shine, and round-trip excursions are from 1 to 5½ hours. Whether you choose one of the Valley Train routes to Conway or Bartlett, or the legendary Crawford Notch excursion, this is a journey back in time that the whole family will enjoy!
Route 2
Charlemont, MA 01339
Toll-Free: 800-553-7238
Let our Family take your Family on a rafting adventure
Crab Apple Whitewater is New England’s largest rafting company, offering 5 rafting and inflatable kayaking trips on the Deerfield River in western Massachusetts as well as trips in Maine and Vermont. Trips are run daily April through October. Crab Apple offers fun, easy raft trips which are great for families with children as young as 6 or advanced trips for those seeking thrilling Class IV whitewater. Trips are fully outfitted, guided and include lunch. Half-day inflatable kayak and float trips are also available. Crab Apple has been family owned and operated since 1983 and is proud to offer the finest service in the whitewater industry with a personal touch. Call 1-800-553-7238 (8am-10pm) for a Catalog of River Trips or visit our website at www.crabappleinc.com for more information and internet specials.
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: 508-747-7533
Toll-Free: 800-USA-1620
History is just the beginning!
Bring the whole family to Plymouth, MA for some unforgettable fun! Adults and children alike will be able to enjoy their visit to Plymouth with a wide variety of activities on land or on the water. The Atlantic Ocean itself is a playground, and trips such as whale watches, lobster excursions and pirate adventures have proven popular with visitors both young and not quite as young. Our beaches and parks offer families a place to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. Edaville USA is open year-round and features a restored narrow gauge train ride through acres of cranberry bogs, and Plimoth Plantation provides a living history museum depicting life in Plymouth in 1627. Please call 1.800.USA.1620, or visit our website to learn more about these activities and others to prepare for your trip to Plymouth.
Discovery Museums
Acton, MA 01720
Phone: 978-264-4200
This pair of museums is a two-for-one bargain for families with younger and older children. Children’s Discovery Museum is a Victorian house transformed into hands-on exhibits and activities for pre-school children. The Science Discovery Museum, a contemporary structure, invites school-aged children to experiment with science and math. Check for seasonal changes in programs and hours.
222 Harrington Way
Worcester, MA 01604
Phone: 508-929-2700
Fax: 508-929-2701
Inspiring a Passion for Science and Nature
One Railroad Avenue
Essex, CT 06426
Phone: 860-767-0103
Toll-Free: 800-377-3987
Fax: 860-767-0104
Ride the Steam Train, Ride the Riverboat!
Gather family and friends for the adventure of a sightseeing journey... aboard the only steam train and riverboat connection in the country! Your 2½ hour narrated journey begins at the historic 1892 Essex Station. Meander through the countryside aboard vintage rail cars pulled by an authentic steam locomotive. At Deep River Landing, you’ll be escorted onto to the Becky Thatcher Riverboat for a 1½ hour cruise along the Connecticut River - bursting with lush scenery and historic sights, such as Gillette Castle and Goodspeed Opera House. Upon Becky’s return to Deep River Landing, the steam train welcomes you for the return trip back to Essex.
Mystic, CT 06355
The Coolest Places under the Summer Sun are in Mystic Country
Looking for family-friendly places to visit this summer? Check out Family Fun Mystic Country for the coolest getaway packages that promise great times and fun memories for all ages. Soak up the summer sun and build castles on the white sugar sand of Ocean Beach; All aboard for an engaging ride through the countryside on the historic Essex Steam Train and Riverboat excursion; Explore America’s first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, at the Submarine Museum; or Discover a prehistoric land before time at The Dinosaur Place.
Don't miss a moment of fun! Plan a great escape with exciting two-day package starting at just $199 and get more of what your family loves. For details visit Family Fun Mystic Country website and reserve an amazing overnight family package today. Mystic Country is located in Eastern Connecticut, a short drive from Boston and New York City.
25 Merriam Parkway
Fitchburg, MA 01420
Phone: 978-345-4207
Fax: 978-345-2319
Family Friendly Art Museum
This family-friendly museum is the areas oldest cultural institution, and the region's most important center for art study and appreciation. With 12 galleries, featuring American and European paintings, prints, sculpture and decorative arts, Greek, Roman, Asian and Pre-Colombian antiquities this Museum hosts changing exhibitions in a 3-building complex. A newly renovated Egyptian gallery will be opening at the end of 2010. The museum is an excellent resource for students, home-schoolers and teachers. Tours, lectures, studio art classes for children, youths and adults as well as weekly yoga lessons. The Museum is also a perfect venue for private functions.
Museum Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 12-4pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11 –5. Open the following bank holiday Mondays – Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Patriot’s Day and Columbus Day. The Museum is open late and free the first Thursday of every month. For more information, follow our link above.
One Franklin Park Road
Boston, MA 02121
Phone: 617-541-LION (5466)
Fax: 617-989-2025
Get Close.
Opened in 1912, this 72-acre site nestled in Boston’s historic Franklin Park features an array of wildlife from all over the world. Come face-to-face with an African lion in the Kalahari Kingdom, visit Masai giraffe and Grevy’s zebra at the Giraffe Savannah and discover the Tropical Forest, home to western lowland gorillas, lemurs, mandrills and much more! Be sure not to miss Aussie Aviary, a free-flight, interactive aviary open seasonally and home to hundreds of brightly colored budgies. Franklin Park Zoo offers many activities for children including education classes, Zoo Camp and Snorin’ Roarin’ sleepovers. The zoo is available for rentals and offers unique indoor and outdoor facilities and catering services to turn your child’s birthday party or your next meeting or event into an adventure! Open year round - except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
200 Daniel Webster Highway
Nashua, NH 03060
Phone: 603-888-1940
Open Year 'Round - Rain or Shine!
Route 16 at Pinkham Notch
Gorham, NH 03581
Phone: 603-466-3988
Fax: 603-466-5225
Outdoor Fun That's Just Right for The Entire Family
At the Great Glen Trails in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire, we offer adventures in all shapes and sizes - Your adventure is up to you. During the spring and summer you can set out on a hike, run, or bike ride on any of our scenic trails through New Hampshire's White Mountains. Or join us for a guided bird watching tour or a paddling trip on the Androscoggin River. In winter, the cross country skiing and snowshoeing is absolutely glorious. Our trail system of easy and rolling terrain allows skiers of all abilities to find the right level of activity, challenge, and fun. The trails are groomed with both double tracks and a skating lane and run through the forests at the base of Mt. Washington. And the SnowCoach makes everything accessible to all, with or without skis. It's the natural vacation plan for you and your family.
26 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617-495-3045
Fax: 617-496-8782
Dinosaurs, Glass Flowers, Meteorites – Explorers Welcome
Explore 12,000 specimens at the Harvard Museum of Natural History -- dinosaurs, meteorites, gemstones, and hundreds of animals from around the globe. Get close to the world’s only mounted Kronosaurus, a 42 ft-long marine reptile; one of the first Triceratops ever discovered; a 1,642 lb. amethyst geode. Don’t miss the world famous exhibit of 3,000 ‘Glass Flowers’, amazingly realistic models of plants, fruits and flowers created by father-son glass artists Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka from 1886-1936. Explore the renovated Great Mammal Hall, where skeletons of huge Sperm, Right and Finback whales are suspended from the ceiling. The museum is on the University campus, just a 7-10 minute walk through historic Harvard Yard from the Harvard Square Red Line ‘T’ station. Check out new and changing exhibitions, New England Forests, Africa, and Language of Color. Follow our link above for directions, parking & info on classes and free evening lectures.
67 Grove Street
Sandwich, MA 02563
Phone: 508-888-3300
Celebrating 40 Years of Educational Family Fun
The Heritage Museum & Gardens is a great place for families to spend a day. We’re famous for our beautifully landscaped grounds, providing a naturalized woodland park on the edge of upper Shawme Pond. A Shaker round barn houses our J. K. Lilly III Antique Automobile Collection with its stunning display of antique automobiles. The American History Museum will be opening this summer with several New Exhibits. An operating hand-carved carousel and many of America's most distinguished artists' works are on exhibit in the Art Museum. We offer loads of special and educational children’s activities in a setting parents can enjoy too.
88 Old Main Street
Deerfield, MA 01342
Phone: 413-775-7214
Open: Daily, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; call for seasonal changes.
37 Corey Road
Route 43
Hancock, MA 01237
Phone: 413-738-5500
Toll-Free: 800-882-8859
Fax: 413-738-5729
Your family belongs here
Columbia Point
Boston, MA 02125
Phone: 617-514-1600
Toll-Free: 866-JFK-1960
Fax: 617-436-3395
The life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy
Situated on a 10-acre park overlooking Boston Harbor, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is the nation's official memorial to John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States. The museum at the Kennedy Library enables visitors to step back into the recreated world of the early 1960s and experience first-hand the life and legacy of John F. Kennedy. In 25 dramatic exhibits, including three theaters and 20 video presentations, visitors are inspired by the stirring eloquence of John F. Kennedy and by the grace of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; closed New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Route 153
East Madison, NH 03849
Phone: 603-367-8896
Toll-Free: 800-FREE-SKI
Celebrating its 50th season in 2011/12
With a pristine private lake, full recreation program, family-friendly dining and lodging, and stunning natural surroundings, Purity Spring Resort is the ideal destination for affordable family vacations, weekend getaways, weddings and reunions. During the spring and fall seasons, Purity Spring offers unique theme weekends and packages for all ages. Our summer guests have full use of all resort amenities, including waterskiing, sailing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, boating and so much more. If you love lobster, you'll absolutely love our old-fashioned, seaweed-steamed lobster bakes every Thursday evening during the summer. From mountainside and slopeside lodges to lakeside condos and cottages, our family-style lodging options is sure to satisfy everyone. Year-round, Guests can relax at our Mill Fitness Center, where the entire family can enjoy our heated indoor pool and hot tub.
300 North Main Street
Florence, MA 01062
Phone: 413-584-5457
Come out and Play!
Open Saturdays and Sundays starting in April and Seven Days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Look Memorial Park is full of family fun. Our full schedule events includes everything from Breakfast with the Easter Bunny followed by the Northampton Recreation Department Easter Egg Hunt to Breakfast with Santa Claus and Santa’s Workshop. We have events year round that take place in the Park or at the Garden House. Check out the “Special Events” page of our website for a full list of event information. Don’t forget to put the Franklin King III Children’s Entertainment Series in your calendars. Every Wednesday in July at 10AM, we hold children’s performances from Ed Popielarczyk’s Magical Moments to the UNH Little Red Wagon Troup. After the performance, HALF PRICE WEDNESDAY. All attractions are half price each and every Wednesday throughout the summer!
60 Loon Mountain Road
Lincoln, NH 03251
Phone: 603-745-6281
Toll-Free: 800-229-LOON
A Day of Outdoor Fun for the Entire Family!
A whole day of family fun awaits you at Loon Mountain this summer! Ride NH’s longest scenic gondola skyride and enjoy extraordinary scenery while riding to 3,050-foot summit in the heart of the New Hampshire's White Mountains. Explore glacial caves and hunt for the Lost Loon Gold, hike the self-guided interpretive nature trail, and climb the observation tower. Visit with local artisans, as they produce unique crafts in this beautiful mountain setting and stop by the Summit Café.. At the mountain’s base: ride the zip line across the Pemigewasset River, hit the trail on horseback (pony rides also available) rent a mountain bike, take the Franconia Notch Bike Tour or the new Segway PT Tour, try your skill on the climbing wall, or jump yourself silly on the Bungee trampoline. Visit our website for a full calendar of events and festivals.
1712 Lost River Road
Route 112W
North Woodstock, NH 03262
Phone: 603-745-8031
During the age of the glaciers, forces of water, wind, and weather created Lost River, where granite walls erupt from the earth and a river dodges in and out of view. Today you can follow Lost River as it appears and disappears through the narrow steep-walled gorge, the tumbled granite crevasses, caverns and falls. Along the boardwalks and in the caverns you'll become a time traveler journeying back 25,000 years. Kids and families will experience genuine outdoor adventure and natural history as they wander along the narrow steep-walled gorge.
P.O. Box 9
West Forks, ME 04985
Toll-Free: 800-207-7238
Whitewater rafting is a family adventure
Magic Falls Rafting Co. is Maine’s fun, safety-conscious, value-priced whitewater outfitter on Maine’s Kennebec and Dead Rivers. Family owned and operated since 1989, safety is Magic Falls’ Number One Priority. Owner, Dave Neddeau is on the rivers almost every day of the season guiding or leading trips. The company has a fleet of rafts including custom-designed state-of-the-art self-bailing Aire rafts, and Class 3/5 model PFD’s with the highest flotation rating.
Magic Falls is well known for its specialty packages for families, youth and college groups, Scout Merit Badges, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and project graduation trips. It pioneered the Multi-Magic Trip-a double run of the Kennebec’s upper gorge. Its Outback Adventure including camping, outdoor BBQ, rafting, fun-yaking, a hike to Moxie Falls and wildlife safari was cited by Air Tran’s in-flight magazine “GO” as one of the 20 top Family Adventures in the USA.
Magic Falls base facility is located along the banks of the Dead River and includes the area’s only outdoor climbing wall, a recreation pavilion, changing and shower facilities, campground with tent sites and cabin tents, a lodge with queen, king and bunk rooms and an ADA room, and the River’s Inn, a housekeeping inn sleeping 16, a favorite with small groups. Recreation amenities include a hot tub, volleyball court, basketball half court and float tubes.
Sailing from Ports in Rockland, Rockport and
Camden, ME
Toll-Free: 800-807-WIND
An extraordinary Family Vacation experience.
Maine and the Windjammer fleet go hand in hand. Nowhere else in North America will you find such a large, historic fleet of traditional sailing vessels. Thousands of wild and pristine islands dot the Maine coast, providing unlimited anchorages for the windjammers. Guests are invited to participate in all shipboard activities, from taking a turn at the wheel to raising and lowering sails. The 13 ships in the Maine Windjammer Association have a well-earned reputation for outstanding sailing adventures and delicious down-home cooking. One night everyone goes ashore for a traditional island lobster bake. Wildlife abounds, with bald eagles, porpoises and seals sighted on every cruise. In the fleet’s home waters of Penobscot Bay, there are hundreds of anchorages just waiting to be explored. Three- to six-day cruises available from May through October. Departures from Camden and Rockland.
200 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Toll-Free: 888-222-3711
Home of the world-famous Mapparium®
The Mary Baker Eddy Library features some of the most thought-provoking and fun exhibits in the city, exploring the life and achievements of Mary Baker Eddy. She was a controversial New England woman who defied conventional 19th-century thinking to become an influential religious leader, author, teacher, and founder of the Christian Science Monitor at age 87. The museum also houses the world-famous Mapparium®, an achievement in art and architecture from 1935 giving visitors a unique look at how ideas have the power to change the world. The Lending & Reference Services and Research Room provide access to further subject reading, books, archival documents, photographs, and artifacts of the Mary Baker Eddy Library Collections.
Off Route 302
Bretton Woods, NH 03589
Phone: 603-278-5404
Toll-Free: 800-922-8825
Fax: 603-278-5830
When you ride on the world's first mountain-climbing Cog Railway train, you're in for a treat. Your train will carry you above the clouds to the top of the highest peak in the Northeast, where all of New England spreads out before you.
You'll marvel at the spectacular views from your coach window as your train climbs the steepest railroad tracks in North America. It's an exciting and unforgettable experience for the whole family. Three-hour round trip with onboard audio tour. Includes free admission to the Observatory Museum at the summit. Base Station with museum, restaurant and gift shop.
Route 16, Pinkham Notch
Gorham, NH 03581
Phone: 603-466-3988
"This car climbed Mt. Washington"
Make the summit of New England’s highest peak the highlight of your travels. Your trip on the Mount Washington Auto Road will create a lifelong memory. The mountain is renowned for its weather. But for visitors there are spectacular views, mountain ecology, short hikes, and legendary tales of the road and mountain. You may drive the mountain yourself or take one of our guided tours. And come winter our one-of-a-kind SnowCoach travels the road where you can view the majesty of the season on Mount Washington. Be sure to view our website for special events and impressive records of climbs by runners, bikers and cars.
465 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-267-9300
Fine Art and Family Fun at the MFA
Bring the whole family to the MFA for a day of discovery and creativity. At every turn, you’ll find breathtaking works of art, from modern masters to ancient Egyptian mummies. The MFA offers hands-on activities designed for children ages four and up. Piece together puzzles, learn mythical tales, and uncover ancient Egyptian mysteries. Choose from our ever-changing array of interactive activities, books and Art Cards. Borrow a tote bag equipped with a sketch-book and colored pencils. Explore the galleries with the help of one of our Art Connections activity sheets, each focused on a specific theme, downloadable online or when you visit the Museum. Open daily. Visit mfa.org for more information.
27 Coogan Boulevard
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: 860-536-1205
Fax: 860-536-1480
Have you ever discovered Mystic, Connecticut? Mystic Country is defined by the three very different experiences that exist only miles from one another. These experiences take visitors from Adventure on the Coast to Entertainment at the Casino and back to Calm in the Mystic Quiet Corner. That contagious New-England hue that’s felt in Mystic comes from over 400 years of history and evolution. The Mystic locals, the landscapes, and the culture brim with life that still remains untouched – definitely something worth seeing! Rediscover New England and check out all Mystic has to offer for your family getaway here at MysticCountry.com
75 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic, CT 06355-0990
Phone: 860-572-5315
Toll-Free: 888-973-2767
Open: Daily April through October, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and November through March, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Christmas Day.
Mystic Seaport – The Museum of America and the Sea – encourages every child to discover their connection to the sea. Kids of all ages roll up their sleeves and find out what keeps a boat above water in our new interactive exhibit, How Boats Float. The Discovery Barn gives older children hands-on experience with nautical knots, signal flags and more, while the Children’s Museum encourages younger sailors to explore a lobster boat, cook in the galley and swab the decks. Help set a tall ship’s sails, participate in a traditional “dead horse” sailor’s ceremony and create nautical crafts at Inspiration Station.
1225 Ocean Avenue
New London, CT 06320
Phone: 860-447-3031
Toll-Free: 1-800-510-SAND (7263)
C’mon in... the water’s fine... and so is that sand. Build a castle...
There’s family fun and more at Ocean Beach Park. New this year is our Splash Park for kids under 8. For more water fun we have the ocean, of course, an Olympic-size swimming pool and triple waterslide. Our award-winning lifeguard staff is on duty for your safety. For more fun we have rides, mini-golf, and a Family Fun Center with a video arcade. Kids can enjoy our playground and adults can work out in the health club. The nature walk and observation deck let you enjoy our natural beauty. When all the activity makes you hungry you can choose from our full-service restaurant, a food court, or ice cream stands. Ocean Beach Park can also accommodate picnics and corporate events. Our nightly entertainment schedule includes Classic Car Cruises on Mondays; kids movies on the beach Tuesday and Thursday; live magic on Wednesday; live bands on Friday; and family entertainment on Saturdays.
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Off Rte 20
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Phone: 508-347-3362
Toll-Free: 800-SEE-1830
Old Sturbridge Village: The Story of a New Nation
Open year-round: daily 9:30am to 5pm, May-late October; call for seasonal hours.
Admission, good for two visits within 10 days: $20 adults, $18 seniors (65 and up).
Youth rate: $7 (ages 3-17). Children under 3 free.
Come play in the past with us! Our new Kidstory early learning gallery invites children to use their imaginations and thinking skills as they do chores in the farmhouse, barnyard, and country store -- all dressed in 1830s frocks and vests (bring your camera!). Out in the museum Village, play 1830s games, work a water pump, milk Holly the (life-size, resin-cast) Holstein, build a stone wall or quarter-scale snake-rail fence with lightweight materials, and visit “A Child’s Life,” our new hands-on exhibit in the Fitch House. Enjoy an overnight getaway with a family package from our Lodges, dine at one of our taverns, and shop for treasures to take home at the Museum Gift Shop and New England Bookstore.
137 Warren Avenue
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: 508-746-1622
A compelling approach to history; a memorable visitor experience.
Plimoth Plantation, a bicultural museum, offers powerful personal encounters with history built on thorough research about the Wampanoag People and the Colonial English community in the 1600s. The 1627 English Village is a re-creation of the small farming town built by English colonists in the midst of the Wampanoag homeland. At the Wampanoag Homesite, the people you will meet talk of the past, speaking from a modern perspective. Mayflower II is an extraordinary experience. Details of the ship are all carefully recreated to give a sense of what the original 17th-century vessel was like. A visit to Plimoth Plantation encourages a new level of understanding about present-day issues affecting communities around the world. Please allow at least 3 hours to visit to Plimoth Plantation and about 45 minutes for Mayflower II.
620 Ragged Mountain Road
Danbury, NH 03230
Phone: 603-768-3600
Toll-Free: 877-GO SKI RM
Located just 90 minutes from downtown Boston
Guilford Fairgrounds
Lovers Lane
Guilford, CT 06437
Phone: 860-478-5954
Open May 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27 & June 2, 3 - 2012; 11am-7pm
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Cranston, RI 02907
Phone: 401-785-9450
Roger Williams Park is a 430-acre Victorian park with a zoo, a museum of natural history and planetarium, a carousel, a casino, landscaped grounds, and historic buildings. Known as the jewel of Providence, the park attracts more than 3.5 million visitors per year. Among lavish trees, stunning rose gardens, rolling hills and emerald lakes, the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens is the first of its kind in Rhode Island and one of only a few in the region. The exquisitely designed gardens is a multi-level glass and steel conservatory, rising from a complex of visitor and education facilities. During a visit to the Botanical Center, visitors can relax by a waterfall, enjoy the wonderful fragrance of flowers from around the world, take a child on a scavenger hunt or bring a camera or sketch pad.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Last ticket will be sold at 3:30 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $3; children age 6-12, $1. Group rates can be booked for 10 or more people with 10 days advance notice by calling 401-785-9450 ext. 263.
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02907
Phone: 401-785-3510
From the arctic to our own backyard
Roger Williams Park Zoo is home to well over 100 species of rare and fascinating animals from around the world including elephants, giraffes, snow leopards, kangaroos, moon bears, gibbons and many others, all in naturalistic settings. The Zoo is open year ‘round, with special events scheduled throughout the year. Visit our link or call for more information.
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02905
Phone: 401-785-9450
Since the 1890s, Roger Williams Park has been the premier playground for Rhode Island residents. Designed in 1874 by landscape architect Horace W.S. Cleveland, the park's 435 acres feature over 100 acres of ponds throughout the rolling landscape. The landscape includes specimen trees, the famous Rose Garden, and outdoor sculptures. Major attractions include the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, the Botanical Center, the Casino, the Carousel Village, the Temple to Music, tennis courts, and baseball fields. The park attracts 1.5 million visitors a year and is the site for numerous festivals.
Carousel Village is a popular amusement area located in Roger Williams Park. The main features of the area are a beautiful Victorian-style carousel, the Hasbro Playground, the Depot Cafe, and seasonal outdoor rides. Open April-Columbus Day.
The Casino at Roger Williams Park, built in 1896, features a brick exterior and verandas adorned with Ionic columns, porticos and railings with turned balusters in the Colonial Revival architectural style. A Rhode Island landmark, the casino hosts score of special events each year.
The Zoo at Roger Williams Park includes the exhibits Australasia, Fabric of Africa, a wetlands trail, a farmyard, the Marco Polo Trail, North America, and Tropical America. Open year-round, with many special events for adults and children.
The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium at Roger Williams Park is Rhode Island's only natural history museum and is home to the state's only public planetarium.
528 Presidential Highway
Jefferson, NH 03583
Phone: 603-586-4445
It’s Christmas Today!
For 60 years families have enjoyed the festive atmosphere, the great rides, live shows and Santa and his Reindeer in this wonderfully themed Christmas Park. Be thrilled on our newest ride, Santa’s Chimney Drop. And bring bathing suites so you can romp in our awesome water park Ho Ho H2O. One low admission includes unlimited use of all activities for the entire day. Two-day and Season Passes are available, as are Senior discounts and group rates. Come within 3 hours of closing and return another day for free. It’s Christmas Today at Santa’s Village and we can’t wait to see you! Seasons: Open from Memorial Day through Christmas including Halloween.
Port of Galilee - Dock RR
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-789-9250
Toll-Free: 800-371-FISH
Half-Day Fishing Safaris
Take a kid fishing - It's a great feeling!
The Seven B's V family owned-and-operated custom yacht originated the Half-Day fishing safaris over 35 years ago. Specifically aimed as an introduction to fishing for children and their families, Half-Day safaris run from July to August, with specials available on Monday and Wednesday - save $30 per family!
**PAY ON BOARD**
U.S. Route 7 / P.O. Box 10
Shelburne, VT 05482
Phone: 802-985-3346
Open May - October
4323 VT Route 108 South
Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464
Toll-Free: 800-451-8752
#1 for family programs in North America
2 Southwick Street
Mendon, MA 01756
Toll-Free: 800-258-9182
Fax: 508-883-0242
Opening for the 2012 season on April 14th.
21 Edwards Street
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: 413-263-6800
Life-size statues of Springfield native Dr. Seuss and his favorite characters including Horton, the Grinch and the Lorax, greet you at the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. Then step inside the four museums where you'll find fierce Samurai armor and weaponry; an internationally-acclaimed collection of Oriental bronze, jade and porcelain; intricate Middle Eastern rugs; fine American and European paintings and sculpture; the live-animal Solutia Eco-Center; a savannah-full of animals in the multi-level R.E. Phelon African Hall; Dinosaur Hall with its towering tyrannosaurus rex; Astronomy Hall complete with a planetarium; and changing exhibits highlighting Connecticut River Valley history since 1636. Learning is more fun hands-on in the colorful Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center and stimulating MASSPOWER Science Discovery Laboratory. A variety of curriculum-based tours and programs are available.
149 Pond Street
Stoneham, MA 02180
Phone: 617-541-LION (5466)
Fax: 781-438-9517
Get Close.
Stone Zoo features a wildly popular black bear exhibit and, opening in June 2009, greater Boston’s only gibbon exhibit. The Zoo is also home to colobus monkeys, Canadian lynx, a snow leopard, Mexican gray wolves, river otters, spider monkeys, capybara and many other interesting and fascinating animals from around the world. The Treasures of the Sierra Madre exhibit features, jaguars, cougars, coyote, and Gila monsters.” At Windows to the Wild, view hyacinth macaws, flamingos, emperor tamarins, silvery-cheeked hornbills, Inca terns and Geoffroy’s tamarins. Open year round - except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Stone Zoo is located off Exit 34 on 93 North and Exit 35 off 93 South.
14 Hancock Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: 603-433-1100
Open May 1 through October 31, 10AM- 5PM Daily
Guided Tours and Holiday Events available November-December
Our Family Activity Center provides period crafts and games. Children also enjoy the gardens, the Abbott Corner Store with its groceries from the 1940s, the cooper and the 1950s house. New this season, Wheelwright will be furnished with reproductions so that children and families can touch, feel, see and smell to get a real feeling for what it might have been like to a child in the past.
1 Crystal Lake Road
Groton, CT 06349
Phone: 800-343-0079
Explore the memorabilia of historical interest about the submarines rich place in history.
1650 Route 85
Montville, CT 06370
Phone: 860-443-4367
Fax: 860-443-0253
An interactive science and nature adventure
Discover a land before time at The Dinosaur Place™ where you can explore over 1.5 miles of prehistoric trails in a 60-acre dinosaur-themed park filled with 30 life-sized dinosaurs. This interactive Outdoor Adventure also includes the a’MAZE’asaurus – New England’s largest self-standing maze; Monty’s™ Playground and Space Net; and the Splashpad™ - A zero-depth aquatic park complete with dinosaur-themed water cannons and much more.
Venture indoors to the Activity Center where you can learn to pan for “gold” in Thunder Creek™; Help to uncover a dinosaur fossil in the Bone Zone™; or dig for gems and polished stones in our Jackpot Mine™. Changing rooms are available. Picnic areas, snack bar and ice cream shop on site. Check website for attraction hours and more information.
96 Lyme Street
Old Lyme, CT 06371
Phone: 860-434-5542
This 11-acre riverfront campus calls itself the Home of American Impressionism, for its service in the 1910s as a summer boarding house to artists of the Lyme Art Colony. The Krieble Gallery hosts changing exhibitions of American art. The permanent collection includes works by Church, Cole, Twachtman, Hassam, and others. The Griswold House contains a remarkable collection of painted panels and doors left in their original places by the artists who stayed at the Florence Griswold House. Museum offers many seasonal events and activities for children.
Visitors today understand immediately the site's appeal to the artists who stayed with Florence Griswold. Her house, gardens and river view were favored subjects of her boarders. Walking the grounds, one is delighted by the same trees and gentle bend in the river. Visitors stand at the site of Childe Hassam's favorite spot, stroll Miss Florence's lovingly restored old-fashioned garden.
Hours: Krieble Gallery and Griswold House open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Chadwick Studio and Rafal Landscape Center open mid-May through October.
Admission: Adults, $9; seniors, $8; students, $7; children age 12 and younger admitted for free.
115 Derby Street
Salem, MA 01970
Phone: 978-744-0991
Fax: 978-741-4350
Visit Kids Cove and discover the countless surprises beneath our legendary gables.
Climb up the Secret Staircase at The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts! This seaside historic site features Turner-Ingersoll Mansion (1668), forever immortalized as “The House of the Seven Gables” by author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Visit Kid’s Cove at the Gables for a glimpse of what life was like aboard ships in this interactive learning space featuring hands-on family activities. Admission also includes a visit to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Birthplace to learn more about how the author’s life in Salem influenced his work. Stroll through three-season gardens and a unique museum store. Open mid-January through December, 10:00am-5:00pm, with
extended hours until 7:00pm, July-October.
302 Sumner Avenue (Route 83)
Springfield, MA 01138
Phone: 413-733-2251
Celebrating Nature's Diversity
200 Warfield Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Phone: 413-339-6600
Toll-Free: 888-339-8439
Fax: 413-339-5754
You can get a real taste of farm life.
The farm tradition is everywhere, everyday. On the farm you can find everything from llama treks (seasonal) and cozy rooms. There are 530 acres for you to explore. Depending on the season there are horse and wagon rides, sheep to shear, cattle to round up, hiking or snowshoe trails, sap to gather, and unsuspected enjoyments in the most simple and wonderful events of the day. We have events ongoing year around. Please check the calendar on our web site.
121 East Main Street
Gloucester Harbor, MA 01930
Phone: 978-283-0313
Toll-Free: 800-942-5464
Fax: 978-283-6089
Yankee Whale Watching Voted Best Whale Watch in New England
Route 2 (Mohawk Trail)
Charlemont, MA 01339
Toll-Free: 800-532-7483
The perfect vacation or active getaway for friends and family.
Zoar Outdoor is New England's Leader in Outdoor Adventure, offering whitewater rafting, zip line tours, canoeing, kayaking, biking and rock climbing at our adventure resort on the Deerfield River in western Massachusetts. Our friendly professional staff, comfortable base camp and top-notch equipment ensure that your adventure will be memorable. From half-day family raft trips to week-long whitewater kayak clinics we can match your schedule and your desire for adventure. The Outfitters Shop is the Northeast's premier whitewater outlet featuring over 100 of the hottest designs in stock. Our expert staff can help you select a boat, but the greatest part of shopping at The Outfitters Shop is that you can try any boat before you buy it on the Deerfield River right in front of our shop.
