Family activities in New England and attractions for kids

New England > All New England > Families and Kids > Family Activities

Try something new on a New England family vacation. From shopping at general stores and trading posts, to outdoor quests like whitewater rafting, whale watching, and hiking scenic trails, New England has a limitless selection of exciting, family-friendly activities to please kids and parents alike. Explore the beaches, farms, and amusement parks, or bring the kids on a train ride or sightseeing cruise. Plenty of family friendly lodgings welcome parents and kids with swimming pools, game rooms, discounted children’s meal, and group activities for the kids. Many lodgings have a variety of accommodations and public spaces to be perfect for family reunions.

America's Stonehenge

105 Haverhill Road Salem, NH, 03079 Phone: 603-893-8300

Let your kids explore the mysteries of America's history

Kids love mysteries, and that's what makes a visit to America's Stonehenge in Salem, New Hampshire, a great trip for your family. A half-mile trail through the pine woods leads to megaliths, stone chambers, a rock altar, and other strange artifacts. Were they built by colonial farmers or Native Americans? Or constructed by ancient people -- Druid priests, perhaps -- who left similar monuments all over great Britain. Adding to the mystery is the fact that you'll find megaliths of the same type scattered around New England. Our site, however, is one of the largest collections. What's more, many other sites are on private property, and off limits to visitors. So come visit our woods, and find out why they've left scholars confused for decades.

Summer Dog Sled Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel & Raft Jefferson New Hampshire

Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel & Raft NH

32 Valley Road Jefferson, NH, 03583 Phone: 603-545-4533

A family sojourn never to be forgotten

There’s adventure ahead on land and water and the whole family is invited. Enjoy warm weather rolling dog sledding that’s educational and hands on. Meet the sled dogs, help the musher harness and hitch the team, enjoy the dog sled ride, and share treats with the sled dogs after your ride. Get out on the water with Raft NH, a family-friendly, rafting outfitter offering whitewater trips for ages 6 and up. You’re in for unforgettable mild to wild rafting! Check out the “Paws & Paddles” package and enjoy a daytime whitewater raft trip and an evening rolling dog sled trek for a full day of outdoor fun.

York's Wild Kingdom

Route 1 - Animal Park Road York, ME, 03909 Phone: 207-363-4911

New England's Only Zoo AND Amusement Park

Come observe and interact with our animals at York’s Wild Kingdom, where adults and children learn and play! See African lions, ring tail lemurs, prairie dogs, and so much more up close and personal. We have a wide range of animals from A (alligators) to Z (zebras) in beautifully landscaped exhibits, just walking distance from the quaint beach town of York Beach. Here at YWK you can feed African pygmy goats, deer, and ducks all by hand. Walk through and feed a flock of parakeets and view a verity of butterflies in our butterfly aviary. Ride the rides and enjoy some fair favorites in our amusement park! Take a spin on a carousel or play a round on our mini golf course. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch or feast from our snack bars on ice cream, fried dough, hamburgers and more. York’s Zoo will be open daily from 10am-5pm thru Sept. 25. Our Amusement Park is open daily (weather permitting) from 11:30am-5pm thru Sept. 5, then only on weekends to the end of our 2022 season on Sept. 18.

Conway Scenic Railroad

38 Norcross Circle North Conway, NH, 03860 Phone: 603-356-5251 Toll-Free: 800-232-5251

Come aboard for family fun as you travel through mountain valleys on this scenic railroad

Everyone in the family will enjoy the classic train excursions offered by the Conway Scenic Railroad. Check out the Victorian-style 1874 station in North Conway Village and pick up some snacks in the gift shop. Then board a 1950s-era passenger car and sit back to enjoy the scenery, including a trip over Crawford Notch, on the Mountaineer excursion train. Or, choose the Conway and Sawyer River Valley trains, classic heritage train rides with vintage passenger cars from the 1920s. There’s also a winter Snow Train to Attitash. At just under an hour, the Conway Valley train is best for small children. Kids under 4 can ride free in coach. Come see why families rave about this old-fashioned railroading experience.

Festival of Illumination 2022: Once Upon at Time - September 1 to December 31 at Southwick's Zoo in Mendon, MA

Take a Ride through Time at the Railroad Museum of New England - Thomaston, CT

The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat -Train & Boat Excursions through the Connecticut River Valley - with all the bells & whistles!

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Off Route 302 Bretton Woods, NH, 03589 Phone: 603-278-5404 Toll-Free: 800-922-8825

Thrill ride up Mt. Washington continues to delight railroad fans of all ages

Families from all over the world come to the majestic White Mountains of New Hampshire to be thrilled by the ride up Mt. Washington on the historic Cog Railway. The dramatic ascent to the summit of the Northeast’s highest peak features amazing views of lush forests, deep chasms and the steepest railroad trestle in the world in Jacob’s Ladder. (Yes, the trees are straight: It’s you who are at an angle!) Kids will love the commentary of the entertaining and knowledgeable engineer and brakeman or brakewoman. The journey begins at a base station with a great interactive museum and observation deck and, at the summit, there’s an interactive weather exhibit as well as a summit post office to mail postcards direct from the mountain. Trains run from late April through November.

Trolley Tours - Greater Boston CVB - Boston, MA

Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau

Family-friendly Boston has something for everyone – and it’s all a short walk away

Families love Boston, and it’s no secret why: It’s so walkable, and there’s so much to do, everyone leaves happy. See tea tossed overboard at the Tea Party Ships & Museum, then take in the Children’s Museum practically next door. Visit the Paul Revere House and the USS Constitution on the exciting Freedom Trail, catch a game at Fenway or take a relaxing trip on the famous Swan Boats in the Public Garden (don’t forget to visit the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues while you’re there). There are plenty of playgrounds, a classic carousel, trolley and duck boat tours, street performers at fun Faneuil Hall, seals, penguins and sharks in the New England Aquarium – and you can watch a lightning storm happen indoors in the Museum of Science.

Connecticut River Museum

67 Main Street, Steamboat Dock Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-8269

Families who visit this river museum learn about history, experience outdoor adventures

Bring the family to the Connecticut River Museum and prepare for a day that is both fun and educational. Through artifacts and artwork, you’ll learn about the river’s history and its Native American communities, explore the memorabilia and vintage racing motors of the speed-racing era on the river from 1900 to 1940, trace the river in a vertical mural that winds up and down three floors, or step inside a replica of the Turtle, the first submarine to be used in combat in 1776. You can take a cruise on the Onrust, a re-created 1614 sailing vessel or on the eco-tour boat RiverQuest, perhaps seeing an eagle or osprey. There’s a great drop-in Summer Fun Days program for kids 6 through 12.

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

One Railroad Avenue Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-0103 Toll-Free: 800-377-3987

Boats and trains: a combination bound to be a sure-fire hit with everyone in the family

Imagine telling the kids that today you are going to go on a train, or a riverboat – or both! Or maybe you’ll book a four-seat rail bike and tool along the tracks from Essex Station to Old Saybrook. Or you’ll get up close to vintage train locomotives – and perhaps a caboose! Great family activities await you at Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, the only steam and riverboat connection in the country, with two operating steam locomotives and multiple classes of passenger service taking you through the scenic countryside to Deep River Landing, where you can board the 70-foot Mississippi-style riverboat, the Becky Thatcher, for a 1 1/4-hour cruise past the rocky shores and wildlife along the Connecticut River and its wildlife, including swans, herons and bald eagles. Please check our website for current train & riverboat schedules.

Village by the Sea - Family Fun with Room to Stretch Out! - Wells, ME

Begin your adventure at Plymouth Rock this spring - See Plymouth, MA!

Story Land

850 New Hampshire Route 16 Glen, NH, 03838 Phone: 603-383-4186

Every day is an unforgettable adventure!

Write your own tale of adventure with a day at Story Land! Every moment is an exciting chapter in your book of fun family memories. You’ll find your favorite Nursery Rhymes come to life along the pathways of Story Land. Experience an eye-popping kid friendly magic show at Loopy Lab and sing along with Daniel Tiger during his NEW Grr-ific Stage Show. Make a splash on the Bamboo Chutes, meet real-life storybook characters and scream aboard our thrilling roller coaster, Roar-O-Saurus. Have dinner with Humpty Dumpty and friends or sit with Cinderella at Tea Time. Uncover prehistoric fossils and enjoy an exciting array of games, shows and rides! There’s even a free kennel for your pooch. Then snuggle up together in one of the great family lodgings nestled among the scenic White Mountains.

Lake Swimming at Camp Plymouth State Park - Your Place in Vermont - Okemo Valley

Okemo Valley - Your Place in Vermont

Lots to do and see from your perfect perch in the family-friendly Okemo Valley

Fun activities and attractions, comfortable accommodations, countless dining options: It’s no wonder families love visiting and staying in the Okemo Valley. Places to play include ski slopes and trails, skating rinks, rock-climbing centers, hiking trails and bike parks. You can visit the baby goats on a farm, fly down the mountain on a coaster track or through the trees on a zip line. Pick apples in an orchard or go on a snowmobile tour. Take a scenic train ride, go horseback riding or hang gliding. Lots of great places to shop, too, from country stores to unique boutiques. Stay in a mountain resort with indoor and outdoor pools, a hotel with a playground or a tucked-away inn with family-style dining.

Margate Resort on Winnipesaukee

76 Lake Streeet Laconia, NH, 03246 Phone: 603-524-5210 Toll-Free: 800-627-4283

Family memories are sure to be made at this activity-filled lakeside resort

Make The Margate on Winnipesaukee, right on the pristine lake’s shore, part of your family’s memories and traditions. You’ll experience all the comforts of home in your family suite, with mini fridge and free wifi. Resort activities include sunbathing and swimming off the 400-foot private sandy beach. Swim out to the floating raft, or rent a kayak or stand-up paddle board to glide around the islands of Paugus Bay. There are summertime beach campfires (don’t forget your s’mores), fireworks and movies as well as a game room. There’s an outdoor pool and a large indoor heated pool and oversized whirlpool. Nearby activities include a huge arcade center, farms to visit, lake cruises, old-fashioned train rides and guided rail bike tours.

Ice Cream Kids - Northeast Kingdom VT Travel and Tourism Association - Get NEKed

Vermont's Northeast Kingdom

Four seasons of family fun in this welcoming, adventure-packed region of Vermont

There’s family fun four seasons of the year in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, where over 2,000 square miles are home to a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. You can hike up mountain trails for spectacular vistas, bike on woodland trails (particularly gorgeous in the autumn), go swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding or fishing in the region’s pristine lakes or take a sunset or themed lake cruise. Visit a farmer’s market, a planetarium, a covered bridge, a history museum or a Dog Chapel! Listen to an outdoor concert, see a show with massive puppets, a presentation from the Vermont Children’s Theatre or a circus, go camping or shopping. In the winter, there’s alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, skating and fat biking.

Old Sturbridge Village - More than a Museum!

Hobo Railroad

64 Railroad Street Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-745-2135

Travel back into the country’s railroad past in vintage cars, along a winding river

All aboard the Hobo Railroad for a relaxing journey into America’s railroad past. Climb into restored vintage coaches, breathe in that crisp White Mountains air, sit back and enjoy the scenery through the woods and banks along the winding Pemigewasset River. During the 80-minute, 15-mile round trip, you’ll see swimmers, kayakers and fishermen in and along this picturesque waterway. The rail system dates back to the late 1800s, when trains pulled by steam locomotives moved tourists from Boston, Hartford and New York north to the pristine lakes and mountains of New Hampshire. The family owned and operated train runs late May through October, then Thanksgiving through mid-December. At the Hobo Junction Gift Shop, grab snacks, ice cream and soda – or bring your own picnic lunch.

Galaxy Montage - Blake Planetarium - Plymouth, MA

W. Russell Blake Planetarium

117 Long Pond Road Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-830-4470

Full-dome Plymouth planetarium a shining star for visitors of all ages

The sky’s the limit for visitors to the W. Russell Blake Planetarium, the only 4K full-dome planetarium south of Boston. As you sit back in angled chairs, you’ll gaze at a ceiling filled with stars and planets while learning to identify them and how to use a star map (that you can take home). It’s a spectacle of light and color not to be missed. Regular seasonal stargazing programs take advantage of the high-tech surround-sound system and jaw-dropping full-dome views.

Great Waters

54 N. Main Street Wolfeboro, NH, 03894 Phone: 603-569-7710

Great music, great venue, great family atmosphere make these concerts a must

A second season of exciting Concerts in the Clouds at spectacular Castle in the Clouds has been announced by Great Waters, which has been entertaining visitors to the New Hampshire Lake Region for over 25 years. Opening night kicks off a stellar season with “1964: The Tribute,” a popular Beatles performance. The summer lineup continues with Electric Light Orchestra tribute band and then ultra classic sound of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours.” Michael Cavanaugh will play the songs of Billy Joel & Elton John. Act fast if you want tickets to “One Night of Queen: Gary Mullen and The Works.” Jaw-dropping mountain views, hiking trails, a duck pond and historic Lucknow Mansion add to this not-to-to-missed family event.

Island Queen

75 Falmouth Heights Road Falmouth, MA, 02540 Phone: 508-548-4800

Family activities abound from one end of this Cape-to-island ferry voyage to the other

Fabulous beaches, scenic hikes and bike rides, great restaurants, interesting shops and museums: There is so much for your family to love about Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard! Connecting these two vacationlands is the Island Queen passenger ferry, which turns the 35-minute sail from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs into a fun activity of its own, with amazing views and a full-service snack bar. On the Vineyard, you can visit the Whaling Museum in Edgartown, the “Flying Horses” carousel in Oak Bluffs or the astonishing red clay cliffs of Aquinnah. In Falmouth, there’s the Shining Sea Bikeway, Falmouth Museums on the Green and Cape Cod League baseball. And of course the Cape has New England’s most beautiful beaches and quaint seaside towns.

Launch Trampoline Park

920 Bald Hill Road Warwick, RI, 02886 Phone: 401-828-5867

What do most kids need? They need to move and they need a certain degree of silliness. Launch Trampoline provides both, in an indoor setting immune to changes in weather. Come and burn up some young energy on 11,000 square feet of huge jumping surface. Even better: you can bounce off the (angled) walls! This indoor trampoline park is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. If you or your kids run out of their own ideas for movement, options for activities include group exercise classes, trampoline dodge ball, and a foam pit. Great choice for active kids for a birthday party or family gathering. And, adults, don’t sulk – come hit the trampolines for your corporate event.

Roger Williams Park Zoo

1000 Elmwood Avenue Providence, RI, 02907 Phone: 401-785-3510

Zoo offers so many exhibits and interactive areas, you’ll need more than one visit!

Who can resist a family outing to the zoo? At the Roger Williams Park Zoo, your family cam visit Africa and its zebras, cheetahs and elephants; explore the Amazon Rainforest’s free-flight aviary (you’ll love the toucans); follow in Marco Polo’s footsteps and try to find the secretive snow leopard; check out harbor seals and bison in the North America exhibit; collect eggs or interact with goats and sheep at the Alex and Ani Farmyard. The Hasbro Our Big Backyard offers dozens of play and exploration ideas including a building zone and creativity corner, you can go on a zip or train ride, and Carousel Village is fun for kids of all ages. Dining options range from salads and burgers to pizza by the slice.

Bear Rock Adventures

545 Beach Road Pittsburg, NH, 03592 Phone: Toll-Free: 866-663-9777

Win parent-of-the-year honors by booking an ATV or snowmobile for an exciting adventure

You want to be called the best parent on the planet? Book an ATV or snowmobile experience at Bear Rock Adventures. They rent new-every-season, fully equipped Polaris vehicles and will give you a customized itinerary, guided or unguided, to help you get the most out of your day riding through fields, forests, by waterways and up mountain trails. Spot wildlife in its natural habitat, go past an 80-foot waterfall, walk underneath giant turbines in a wind farm, picnic by a pond. Ask about Play and Stay packages where discounted multiple-day rentals are combined with accommodations at a fully furnished lodge apartment or at a relaxing glamping site on top of a mountain. (And, yes, well-behaved family dogs are allowed on vehicles.)

Bluefish Girls 500x250 - Black Hawk Party Boat - Niantic, CT

Black Hawk Sportfishing

Sailing from the Niantic Bay Marina Niantic, CT, 06357 Phone: 860-448-3662 Toll-Free: 800-382-2824

Fishing excursions, nature cruises fun-filled activities for the whole family

It’s no wonder that dozens of the “regulars” at Black Hawk Sportfishing out of Niantic, Conn., are kids. Fishing cruises are fun-filled activities for the whole family, and there’s no minimum age for children. Experienced captains take you out on one of the fastest, safest and most comfortable boats of its kind in New England to catch everything from stripers and bluefish to cod, fluke and tuna. Bring a cooler or grab a burger, a soda and snacks on board. The kids might even get a chance to honk the horn or win a t-shirt! Or, if you’re not up for fishing, take a nature cruise, seal cruise, eagle-watch cruise or sunset cruise. Private charters for kids’ birthday parties are available.

Old Sturbridge Village

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, off Route 20 Sturbridge, MA, 01566 Phone: 508-347-3362 Toll-Free: 800-733-1830

Step back into the past and watch history come alive (and be fun!) in this re-created village

History is more than educational, it’s downright fun, at Old Sturbridge Village, where families have been coming for years to explore rural life in an 1830s New England village. Kids love the carved graffiti from 19th-century schoolchildren in the original District School desks and visiting with the cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens at the Freeman Farm, where they can also see food cooked at the kitchen hearth. You can walk across a covered bridge or on a riverside nature trail (keep an eye out for turtles), see lumber cut in the Sawmill or cloth woven in the Fenno House. Take a horse-drawn wagon ride, play old-time games, then grab ice cream at the School Shop or a sandwich at the Bullard Tavern.

Whitewater Crew 500x250 - Crab Apple Whitewater - Charlemont, MA

Crab Apple Whitewater (MA)

Route 2 Charlemont, MA, 01339 Phone: 800-553-7238

Family Owned and Operated Whitewater Rafting Outfitter in the Berkshires

Crab Apple ran the first ever raft trips in 1989 on the dam controlled Deerfield River. The excitement continues on a wide range of full day and half day trips. Kids 8 and up can enjoy rafting trips on mild Class 1-3 rapids, teens on more aggressive Class 3-4 rapids, and those age 5 and up will have a great fun time in guided rafts or inflatable kayaks on mild whitewater. The guides are great with kids of all ages and help rafters explore the Deerfield sharing information about local history, wildlife and hydrology along the way. There’s great food, hospitality and service, the best equipment, and riverside base camps with the comforts and convenience to make your rafting adventure one that you’ll never forget.

Central Rock Warwick

275 West Natick Road Warwick, RI, 02886 Phone: 401-889-5452

Get yourself and you kids up and moving, enjoy some (overdue?) exercise for yourself, and build family bonds with a day or afternoon at Central Rock Gym Warwick, an indoor rock climbing facility that welcomes everyone. Kick it free-style and just spend some time messing around on the walls with your kids, or get more serious by joining a coach-led weekly climbing team. The 20,000-square-foot facility offers space for adult or kid birthday parties. Try staffed climbing, when experts take you out on high wall ‘top rope’ climbing in any area of our facility. Create a family outing tradition!

Concord Museum

35 Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Road Concord, MA, 01742 Phone: 978-369-9763

Families who visit this engaging museum find learning about history is a fun, shared experience

Families who immerse themselves in the varied exhibits at the Concern Museum find that learning about America’s history can be both enlightening – and fun! Start at the Family Station to get a Family Trail guide and drawing materials so you can hunt for objects, learn fun facts and and sketch favorite objects (don’t forget to share your artwork). Favorite objects include Native American stone tools and one of the lanterns that signaled Paul Revere to take his famous ride. There are several hands-on areas as well as activities to take home. The museum has plenty of places to rest, chat and draw – and strollers are welcome! Check the online calendar for special holiday and school vacation events, crafts sessions and other group activities.

New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival

Loon Mountain Resort - 60 Loon Mountain Road Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-229-1975 Toll-Free: 800-358-7268

Fun for the whole family at this three-day Scottish festival

Bring the whole family to the NH Highland Games & Festival at Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, NH. This three-day celebration is one of the largest cultural events in the Northeast and has something for everyone! Kids will enjoy watching strongmen compete in heavy athletics like caber toss and stone carry or taking a photo with the friendly Highland cows. Try-It classes in stone lifting, drumming, and Highland dance will keep the whole family entertained while traditional Scottish cuisine will keep you well-fed. Don’t forget to stroll through the Clan Village, home to 60+ Scottish clans and also visit over 30 vendors selling tartan scarves, traditional sweets, bagpiping supplies, and various other Celtic items.

Event Date: September 16-18, 2022 - Visit our website at the link above for more details, or click the ticket icon below this listing to purchase tickets today!

Face Painted Kids 500x250 - Clark's Trading Post - Lincoln, NH

Clark's Bears

110 Daniel Webster Highway (Route 3) Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-745-8913

See a show, ride a train, try out a Segway - So much to do at this family amusement park

Clark's Bears has closed for 2021 - See you again in 2022!
There’s so much to see and do at Clark’s Bears. On the seeing front, there’s the famous trained bear show, or Yandong's Chinese Circus with amazing acrobats, or the Pemigewasset hook-and-ladder fire station with its antique horse-drawn fire engines. On the doing side, there’s the White Mountain Central Railroad trip, the Anaconda Escape water raft ride, a rock-climbing wall, water blaster boats for those who don’t mind getting soaked, Merlin's Mansion for those with a mystical mind, and places to mine for gemstones and fossils. Food ranges from burgers, subs and pizzas to a dish of something special at the Peppermint Saloon ice cream parlor. Tickets include all rides, all shows, all day.

Living Shores Aquarium

850 New Hampshire Route 16 Glen, NH, 03838 Phone: 603-383-4186

Otters, touch tanks with sharks, an aviary with lorikeets: Kids will love this aquarium

The Living Shores Aquarium, next door to Story Land, represents the best sort of family activity: where the kids learn something and have a great time. They will love the touch pools, interacting with sting rays, urchins, shrimp, horseshoe crabs – and friendly sharks! In the walk-through aviary, tropical lorikeets will fly from perch to perch overhead, and you might spot a red-foot tortoise or two. And everyone will enjoy watching the otters entertain with their mischievous antics. There’s a digital sandbox where kids can dig and discover marine life, a drawing station and exhibits showcasing colorful clownfish, lake trout and denizens of Caribbean reefs. The Bistro restaurant offers breakfast and lunch items, snacks – and Dunkin’ coffee.

Great Glen Trails

Route 16 at Pinkham Notch Gorham, NH, 03581 Phone: 603-466-3988

There’s family fun to be had every season at this outdoor center at the base of Mt. Washington

Every season is family fun season at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, at the foot of magnificent Mt. Washington. In the warmer months, you can take family bike rides across the center’s miles of well-marked carriage roads and single tracks or go on a whitewater kayaking excursion or a wildlife tour (watch for moose!). There’s great hiking through meadows and woodland. In the winter, those trails become groomed pathways for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. There’s also fat biking in winter as well as an old-fashioned walk-up snow-tubing hill (with hot cocoa and s’mores at the top). And don’t forget the Mt. Washington Auto Road, taking you up to the summit for some pretty spectacular views.

Funtown Splashtown USA

Route 1 Saco, ME, 04072 Phone: 207-284-5139

Earn your kids’ undying affection and make family memories at this amusement and water park

Want to be a hero with the kids? Tell them you are going to Funtown Splashtown USA, where 50 rides await, from roller coasters to corkscrew water slides. At Funtown, they can plummet down New England’s longest and tallest log flume, sit and spin in a tea cup, zip through hairpin turns on a roller coaster or ride the carousel. Kiddie rides include boats, cars, swings, helicopters, canoes and planes. At Splashtown, thrill-seekers can plummet down a 60-foot-high slide feet first or race down a 45-foot slide head first on a mat. There’s also a swimming pool, and private cabanas for rent that seat eight. Dining options include cafes, a tiki bar with fruit smoothies, ice cream shops and a beer garden. A family owned and operated business, Funtown Splashtown puts guest safety first. Please review our health safety guidelines prior to your visit.

Plimoth Patuxet

137 Warren Avenue Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-746-1622

Families can travel back in time to the 17th century in these interactive, engaging museums

Take your kids on a journey back in time, to see how Native and Pilgrim children experienced life in the 17th century. At the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, contemporary interpreters at the Historic Patuxet Native village and 17th Century English Village engage visitors in everything from cooking lessons and muster drills to how to scoop out the insides of a dugout canoe with a shell. There’s a Craft Center, cinema and quick-service cafe. In Plymouth Harbor, you are welcome aboard the Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction of the original famed tall ship. A pleasant stroll on the path along Town Brook (in the spring, watch for herring) takes you to the Plimoth Grist Mill, where you can watch cornmeal being ground.

Town of Bethlehem

From skiing to shopping, there’s something fun for every member of the family

Bring the family to Bethlehem, N.H., and be prepared to be entertained, White Mountains-style. There’s fantastic alpine skiing and snowboarding, of course, at six nearby mountains: Cannon, Bretton Woods, Attitash, Loon, Waterville Valley and Wildcat. Miles of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing trails, snowmobile trails, and fat biking trails wind through the area. In the warmer months, those trails are great for biking and hiking for all ages. There’s also tennis and basketball on public courts, two golf courses, a movie theater, town pool, pristine rivers to cool yourself down and a lively downtown area with all sorts of shops and cafes. It’s a short drive to a variety of attractions including Santa’s Village, Story Land, Whale’s Tale Waterpark, the Flume Gorge and the Mount Washington Cog Railway.

Raft NH

196 Main Street Gorham, NH, 03581 Phone: 603-545-4533

Family fun a guarantee when you book this rafting adventure, perfect for all ages, levels

If your family has always wanted to try whitewater rafting, now’s the time, and Raft N.H. is the place. The rafting center is offering Class II rafting adventures for everyone age 6 and up, so they’re perfect for families. The run goes down a 2.5-mile section of the scenic Androscoggin River, below the Pontook Dam. It includes sections of milder rapids and calmer water, which means plenty of time to get in some swimming. The adventure includes a guide, safety gear, comfort gear, a small snack and transportation to and from your beginning point in Gorham. It’s a great way to experience the beauty of the White Mountains, the Great North Woods and the river as a family.

Argia Mystic Cruises

75 Steamboat Wharf Mystic, CT, 06355 Phone: 860-536-0416

Haul Away! Bring the whole family sailing.

Opening for the season May 1st, 2022!
Sail away aboard the traditional sailing schooner Argia for a journey into the past. The adventure begins as the Ship's horn blows and you depart from Mystic's historic Bascule Bridge, a national historic landmark. As the ship travels down the Mystic River, join the crew in raising sail the old-fashioned way...or lend a hand steering the ship! Morgan Point Lighthouse and the quaint fishing village of Noank greet you at the river’s mouth, followed by islands and peaceful sailing.

May 1st through mid-October, choose a day or sunset cruise aboard ARGIA!

Ice Castles

24 Clark Farm Road North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: Toll-Free: 888-407-4054

A spectacular frozen fantasy for the young – and young at heart

Ice Castles is now closed for the season - See you again next winter!
Ice Castles in North Woodstock is a fun-filled winter activity that has everything a child – or a child at heart – could fantasize about: ice slides, mazes of tunnels, crawl spaces, frozen fountains, thrones and towers of cascading ice. This frozen fortress is the perfect place to make unforgettable memories as a family. But the fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down. In fact, there’s always a spectacular light show at night, as LED lights embedded inside the ice turn the castles from brilliant shades of blue, to vibrant red, purple, and green. Families are advised to buy tickets online in advance (you can spend as much time as you like once you’re inside), to dress warmly with boots, and to consider a small sled instead of a stroller for really little ones. There’s also a concession stand with hot chocolate, cider, and warm treats.

Battleship Cove

5 Water Street Fall River, MA, 02721 Phone: 508-678-1100 Toll-Free: 800-533-3194

An exciting family adventure in America’s naval history

Battleship Cove is now open from 9am-5pm daily! Please remember to follow our safety & social distancing guidelines!
America’s naval history inspires the whole family at this world class heritage museum in Fall River. Explore the world's largest collection of US naval ships including the mighty USS Massachusetts, the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., and PT Boats used in the South Pacific. The sheer size and impression these ships and their stories leave is overwhelming. There’s the state-of-the-art special effects Pearl Harbor Experience, the only outdoor multimedia reenactment anywhere. Scouts and youth groups can participate in a year round maritime camping program, overnights, and family nautical nights with affordable camping on site. Whether a casual visitor, history buff, student, teacher or scout leader, everyone learns. Special exhibits honor our men and women in uniform then and now.

Rocky Point Park

3275 Post Road Warwick, RI, 02886 Phone: 401-738-2019

Family fun comes easily at this park, whose very name, for Rhode Islanders, recalls a large, fabulous amusement park that entertained people with neon-lit splendor on this site for almost 150 years. The Rocky Point Park rides are gone, but families now enjoy walks along the elevate coast, picnics, playing on the wide fields, and fishing. A large, new fishing pier will offer plenty of space to cast a line off a planned 260-foot-long wooden walkway leading from the existing blacktop path out to a 21-by-111-foot main deck above the water’s surface.

Chuckster's Family Fun Park

Two Great Locations Chichester and Hooksett, NH Phone: 603-798-3555

True fun and games for everyone at these New Hampshire play parks

Fun for all ages is an understatement at New Hampshire’s two Chuckster’s locations. At Chuckster’s Ice Cream & Miniature Golf in Hooksett, you can tee off from inside a fire tower on a multi-level mini golf course (one of two huge courses) and, after 18 amazing holes, adjourn to the ice cream barn. At Chuckster’s Family Fun Park in Chichester, mini golf is one of 17 unique attractions, including a go-kart speedway, a 27-foot climbing wall, and Timbertrek where you go from tree to tree on everything from a horse saddle to a snowboard. Fun games include Balloon Blast, Shoot-N-Shower (foul-shot loser gets a watery surprise) and Light Frenzy. Need recharging? There’s ice cream, pizza, chicken wings and more.

Save The Bay

Multiple Centers & Dock Locations Providence, Newport, Westerly, RI and Fall River, MA Phone: 401-272-3540

Family-friendly programs educate and entertain in and along Narragansett Bay

On land and sea, you can’t beat the family activities offered by the nonprofit Save The Bay organization. Among the family-friendly public programs led by trained educators and naturalists to connect the community to the bay all year long are seal-watch and nature cruises, ranging from one to one-and-three-quarters hours, and daylong lighthouse tours that motor by up to 20 lighthouses and include lunch and exploration at Rose Island. At the very interactive Exploration Center and Aquarium in Newport, three touch tanks and dozens of exhibits get you up close and personal to skates, dogfish sharks, urchins, crabs, lobsters, seahorses and turtles – all in all, more than 40 species from the bay and Rhode Island waters.
Boat tours depart from Newport, Westerly, and Providence RI.

White Mountains Attractions

200 Kancamagus Highway North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: 603-745-8720 Toll-Free: 800-346-3687

Every day in the White Mountains brings a new adventure or activity for fun-seeking families

You know what people who bring their families to the White Mountains never hear? The words “I’m bored.” There is simply too much to do! Shoot down North America’s longest alpine slide, visit a park where fairy tales come to life, explore the area in a Side X Side vehicle or on a cog railway. Let the kids poke their way through glacial caves, go mountain biking at a ski resort, slide and splash their way through a world-class water park. Learn about loons at a wildlife center or about rural living at a country doctor museum. Visit an aquarium, the largest arcade in the world or a sled dog kennel. From disc golf to gondola rides, there’s a thrilling family experience around every corner in the White Mountains. To find out more, follow our link above or call us today at 1-800-346-3687.

Discover Quincy

Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center - 1250 Hancock Street Quincy, MA, 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700

Families valued by this historic South Shore city

From the home of one of the nation’s first families, the city of Quincy offers your family a variety of activities from which to plan a day outing or a long vacation. Take the trolley trip at Adams National Historical Park to see the home of John and John Quincy Adams, and the nation’s first presidential library, boat over to Boston Harbor Islands National Park, sunbathe at Wollaston Beach (or one of 10 other city beaches), fish from a pier or just relax at one of 52 parks, many with playgrounds, picnic areas and ball fields. Enjoy autumn colors strolling marsh-side and riverside trails. In the winter, go ice skating or try skiing or snow-shoeing at Blue Hills Reservation.

Curious Kids - Mount Washington Auto Road - Gorham, NH

Mt. Washington Auto Road

Route 16, Pinkham Notch Gorham, NH, 03581 Phone: 603-466-3988

From top to bottom, and in between, there’s plenty to do on Mt. Washington

There are all kinds of fun things for families at the summit and the base of Mt. Washington, and connecting them is a terrific attraction all on its own: the legendary Mt. Washington Auto Road. Take your own vehicle to the summit or go on a two-hour guided tour to learn about the mountain’s history and wildlife. At the summit, there’s an observatory museum, and, on a clear day, you can see the Presidential Mountain Range and beyond, all the way to Canada and the Atlantic. At the mountain base, there’s the Douglas A. Philbrook Red Barn Museum, with memorabilia and vehicles from the road’s long history. At the Great Glen Trails Outdoors Center, you can book a kayaking cruise or mountain biking trip.

The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village

1650 Hartford-New London Tpke. (Rt. 85) Oakdale, CT, 06370 Phone: 860-443-4367

Something fun for everyone, from a Splash Pad to a dinosaur trail, at this adventure park

From the tiniest tots to young-at-heart adults, there is something for everyone to do, and love doing, at The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village. At the Splash Pad, a zero-depth water playground, there’s a separate area for infants to toddlers, while older kids will love the water cannons, dino rib cage waterfall and dumping buckets. Over at T-rex Tower, obstacles include zip lines, slides and bridges. There’s also a tricky dino maze and, of course, the 50 life-sized dinosaurs who inhabit 1.5 miles of easy-to-travel trails (and caves!). Adults will also enjoy Copper Creek Mini Golf and the variety of shops, from those selling fossils and minerals to an ever-changing antiques marketplace.

The Great Race - Warwick, RI to Fargo, ND

Starting at Rocky Point Park Warwick, RI, 02889 Phone: 800-989-7223

Beginning of ‘Great Race’ at state park lets everyone get up close to vintage cars

Spend a spectacular Saturday checking out the 120 vintage automobiles that will assemble in Rocky Point State Park to begin the nine-day, 2,300-mile Great Race. Talk to the driver-navigator teams before they set out on their adventure that will take them across 10 states, passing through secret check points and ending in Fargo, N.D. This year’s vintage cars include a 1916 Hudson Pikes Peak Hillclimber and a 1917 American LaFrance (all cars must be manufactured in 1974 or earlier; most are pre-World War II). Other area events include a tour of a private car collection in Providence, and “Newport Day,” featuring the Audrain Automobile Museum and Newport Car Museum. The 120-acre park by Narragansett Bay is also great for hiking, biking and fishing.

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort

37 Corey Road -- Route 43 Hancock, MA, 01237 Phone: 413-738-5500 Toll-Free: 800-882-8859

Super-sized fun for families at this resort nestled in the beautiful Berkshires

The family that stays together plays together at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, where families have come for years for the great summer activities, skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Whether your idea of fun is zooming down one of 45 ski trails or zipping through trees in the Aerial Adventure Path, that fun is super-sized at Jiminy Peak. An alpine roller coaster and slide, a bungy trampoline, a rock-climbing wall, a chairlift ride up to a magnificent summit: Those are just a few of the attractions at this scenic resort. Stay in a spacious country inn suite or a perfect-for-families condo unit. Stop by for a burger at a rustic tavern. Nearby activities include theaters, museums, horseback riding and golf.

Family Biking - Lakes Region Association - New Hampshire

Lakes Region Tourism Association

61 Laconia Road Tilton, NH, 03276 Phone: 603-286-8008 Toll-Free: 800-605-2537

Family fun the focus of attractions in the lakes region

Families will find so much to do in central New Hampshire in the winter that they will need an itinerary. The Lakes Region Tourism Association can help, offering suggestions on all sorts of family activities, from skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing down one of the region’s many slopes to ice skating, sleigh-riding across a snow-filled field, a museum, doing a little boutique or outlet shopping (tax-free!), taking in a craft show or scarfing down breakfast at a down-home pancake house round out fun winter outings. The holidays bring special treats, from Santa Express trains to festivals celebrating the lights of the season.

Southwick’s Zoo

2 Southwick Street Mendon, MA, 01756 Phone: 800-258-9182

Looking for a wild idea for a family adventure? Zoo offers amazing animals, exciting rides

Your kids will go wild for all the attractions at Southwick’s Zoo. With more than 850 animals in naturalistic habitats, there are so many creatures to see, from lions and tigers and giraffes to chimpanzees, white rhinos and two-toed sloths. You can walk among colorful parakeets and cockatiels in an aviary and feed them with seed sticks, pet pygmy goats, take a ride on a camel or pony or check out tarantulas and lizards in the reptile and insect exhibit. And then there are the adventure rides, including the seated, two-person Soaring Eagle Zip Line, the Skyfari Sky Ride and the Rainforest Adventure Maze. For the young at heart, don’t miss the all new Play Park. Dining is right next door at Galliford’s Restaurant & Tavern, open for lunch and dinner year-round.

Castle in The Clouds

Route 171 - 455 Old Mountain Road Moultonborough, NH, 03254 Phone: 603-476-5900

From exploring mansions to feeding pond fish, there’s a lot for kids to do at Castle in the Clouds

There are so many things for kids to explore at Castle in the Clouds, they’ll want to visit more than once! At the 1914 Lucknow Mansion, they can check out vintage clothing and, on the basement tour, see how the servants lived, or go on a scavenger hunt. (Check the website for other interactive activities.) Outside, there are 28 miles of hiking trails and carriage roads, many of them going past cascading waterfalls. In the winter, the trails are perfect for skiing and snowshoeing. After grabbing a snack and an ice cream at the Cafe in the Clouds, it’s a guarantee that your children will want to buy some fish food there to toss to the trout in Shannon Pond, who jump out of the water for the food.

See Plymouth

4 North Street Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-747-0100 Toll-Free: 800-872-1620

Must-see family vacation destination includes outdoor activities, interactive museums

Family-friendly Plymouth has been a must-see vacation destination for kids and parents for generations. It may start with trips to Plymouth Rock and the majestic Mayflower II, but pretty soon you’ll discover a host of other fun activities, from whale watches and paddleboat cruises to ghost tours and playgrounds. At Nelson Memorial Beach Park, there’s a splash pad area, biking and hiking path as well as a great beach. There’s camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and swimming in state and local parks, with pleasant ponds for picnicking and boating. There are local theaters, interactive museums, all kinds of restaurants and unique shops. Visit the Plimoth Patuxet Museums to see a dugout canoe being made or to help soldiers in a muster drill! 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.

Goddard Memorial State Park

1095 Ives Road Warwick, RI, 02818 Phone: 401-884-2010

A sunny weekend any time of the year draws flocks of families to Goddard Park, Rhode Island’s most popular park (which is actually located at the end of a long country road). With its spacious lawns and forested walking trails, the park is a serene place, but it is also a place for family play. The park has 355 picnic tables, some with grills, where families enjoy restful gatherings. Eleven game fields and lots of open space invite kids for Frisbee and games. A sandy swimming beach is a big draw on hot days. The park also has a performing arts center for weddings and other family gatherings.

Worcester Art Museum

55 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA, 01609 Phone: 508-799-4406

Family-centered activities a particular specialty at this art museum

Looking for an art museum that will engage the kids as well as the adults? At the Worcester Art Museum, families are a top priority. That means new interactive elements in many galleries (some that involve iPads), special family guides, 20-minute “zip tours: that focus on one artist or work of art, scavenger hunts and other fun activities from drawing to designing your own jousting helmet. (The kids will love the chivalric arms and armor collection.) Special touch carts allow children to, yes, touch things in a museum! On community days, there’s art-making, storytime, demonstrations and music-making. The museum, with exhibits ranging from medieval to modern times, also has a quiet-time Family Nook. Check the website for timed-admission information and safety protocols.

Santa's Village

528 Presidential Highway Jefferson, NH, 03583 Phone: 603-586-4445

Pure Joy, Family Style.

Santa’s Village is Santa’s summer home in the White Mountains, and named by TripAdvisor's Travelers’ Choice Awards as one of the Top 25 Amusement Parks in the USA - and number one in New England for straight years in a row. With reindeer and elves, cookies and ice cream, a roller coaster, a log flume, a monorail, and plenty of other rides and activities, it’s everything you’d imagine Santa’s favorite theme park to be. Admission covers an entire day of memory-making for families with young children. For nearly 70 years and three generations, from our family to yours – Santa’s Village is pure joy, family style.

Scott Farm

707 Kipling Road Dummerston, VT Phone: 802-254-6868

A picture-perfect day of apple-picking, orchard strolling and shopping in a bountiful market

Get the phone ready, because you’ll want to take plenty of pictures at the Scott Farm, where the kids will love picking their own apples (especially Honey Crisps!) and peaches – and pumpkins when the weather turns toward autumn. The 571-acre property, which began its farming life in 1791, is part of the Landmark Trust USA, and was the site for many of the scenes in the movie “The Cider House Rules.” The farm specializes in heirloom fruit, including pears, plums, cherries, persimmons, apricots, grapes and blueberries. Fresh fruit can be purchased at the market, along with jams, jellies, pies, cider and cider donuts. Check the website for information on fun family activities, including Heirloom Apple Day, orchard walks and crepe nights.

Morningside Flight Park

357 Morningside Lane Charlestown, NH, 03603 Phone: 603-542-4416

Flight fun for every age and skill level

This is family fun on a grand scale with activities and excitement to create memories that last a lifetime. This amazing flight park in the Connecticut River Valley in New Hampshire is your launching point to enjoy scenery you can see from the ground or high up on hang gliders, paragliders and zip lines. Bring the gang and stay in a variety of camping options from small cabins and platform tents to your own plot of ground with restrooms and shower facilities available to all campers. Get into a game of laser tag, kayak together, go fishing or swimming, light up a barbecue and have a picnic. Great for day long adventures or weekend getaways, birthday parties and family events.

Kripalu Hula Hoop Kids 500x250 - Berkshires Visitors Bureau - Photo Credit Ogden Gigli

1Berkshire

Everywhere you turn in the Berkshires, there’s something fun for families to do

Family fun is everywhere in the Berkshires in the spring and summer. The kids will love outdoor activities including whitewater rafting, zip lining, horseback riding, kayaking and biking. There are scenic mountain trails to hike and farms to visit. You can check out the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, Hancock Shaker Village and the Magic Wings Butterfly Gardens. And, like the region’s spectacular gardens, the arts are in bloom in the summer, from extraordinary concerts at Tanglewood to a dozen live theater venues. Shopping is fun, too, in the picturesque mountain towns, where dining options are also plentiful and kid-friendly. Lodging possibilities include full-service resorts with on-site tennis courts and indoor and outdoor pools, affordable hotels, quiet inns, cabins, campgrounds and vacation rentals. To learn more click our listing link or search “Visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts” on Facebook.

Stone Zoo

149 Pond Street Stoneham, MA, 02180 Phone: 617-541-5466

You and the kids will have a wild time at this multiple-environment zoo

Tell the kids you are going to have a really wild time, and let the Stone Zoo do the rest. Stroll through a series of environments bringing you up close and personal to animals from arctic foxes, reindeer and cougars to roadrunners, gila monsters and sloths. In the Caribbean Coast, feed the flamingos and play native percussion instruments; check out yak and snow leopards in the Himalayan Highlands and listen to the eerie calls of the gibbons and watch otters frolic in the Treetops and Riverbeds exhibit. Attractions include a children’s train, playground, hands-on Animal Discovery Center and nature play areas for children to climb into an oversized bird’s nest and build forts. The zoo has single and double strollers to rent.

Bruce Museum

One Museum Drive Greenwich, CT, 06830 Phone: 203-869-0376

Dinosaur tracks and mechanical banks: lots for kids to see at this lively museum

Advance reservation, with timed ticketing, is required. Masks are required, but must not have an exhalation valve or vent.
What is there for kids to see at the Bruce Museum, where art collections and science collections sit side by side? Through November 2020, the Museum's science exhibition, "Under the Skin," highlights a dozen recent discoveries through a combination of remarkable imagery and real biological specimens. And in December 2020, we open a wonderful exhibition featuring the captivating work of Maurice Sendak. Over at the museum’s Seaside Centereach summer, there’s a variety of family activities as well as a marine tank where kids can get a feel for some of the creatures that live in the region’s waterways.

Harvard Peabody Museum of Natural History Kronosaurus Cambridge MA

Harvard Museum of Natural History

26 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA, 02138 Phone: 617-495-3045

A memorable & amazing journey into our world's history

For families, it’s hard to beat the 16 galleries in this museum displaying 500 taxidermy animals -- full-size elephant, rhino, hippo, tiger, bison, even a 15-foot giraffe -- not to mention huge whale skeletons. Don’t miss the skull of one of the first Triceratops ever discovered and the world’s only mounted skeleton of the 42 ft.-long Kronosaurus. Explore a timeline of Earth’s history, and admire 3,000 rare minerals and gemstones. Touch a meteorite from outer space. New and changing multi-media exhibitions showcase cutting-edge research. The museum is an easy 8-minute walk across the historic Harvard campus from Harvard Square with its popular shops and restaurants and MBTA station. The museum is connected to Harvard’s Peabody Museum, and one admission fee covers both museums.

Franklin Park Zoo

One Franklin Park Road Boston, MA, 02121 Phone: 617-541-5466

It truly is fun for kids (and adults) of all ages at this colorful, exciting zoo

Age is no barrier to the delights of the Franklin Park Zoo. Littlest visitors (ages 2 to 4) have fun in the Curious Cubs Playgroup; other activities kids love include breakfast with the animals, behind-the-scenes tours, the petting zoo at Franklin Farm, a Children’s Zoo for climbing and the outdoor playground with wildlife-inspired designs. And, of course, there are the animal environments, from the Tropical Forest with Western lowland gorillas and hyenas to the lions of the Kalahari Kingdom and the giraffes and zebras of the Savannah. Families love the butterfly exhibit, watching kangaroos and kookaburras along the Outback Trail and feeding the budgies in the Aussie Aviary. For dining, there are burgers, pizzas and plenty of picnic spots.

Rock Climbing - Mt. Washington Valley NH Chamber of Commerce

Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce

Endless list of activities, adventures to excite every family member

Your challenge isn’t going to be finding fun family activities in the Mount Washington Valley region – it will be persuading the family it’s time to go home. In the winter, ski, skate, snowboard or take a dog-sled tour. In the summer, go kayaking, check out a water park or go ziplining over the forest. Take a cog railroad trip up Mount Washington, squeeze through caves, tackle a corn maze, visit a family farm, a 600-game arcade or the country’s oldest continuously operated general store. Go see the bear show at Clark’s Trading Post, the elves at Santa’s Village or fairy tale characters in Story Land. Visit a weather museum, a nature center or an inter-active science museum.

Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

1712 Lost River Road -- Route 112W North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: 603-745-8031

Trek through a White Mountain wonderland at Lost River Gorge

Take your family on a journey beneath the earth at Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves in New Hampshire's White Mountains. You'll find yourself exploring a spectacular wilderness wonderland formed millions of years ago by glaciers, water, and wild weather. Located on a preserve owned by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Lost River Gorge is home to granite cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, rugged caves, and a river that plays hide-and-seek amid the rocks. Hike along a three-quarter mile boardwalk, or step off and explore the boulder caves, including the Sun Altar, Thor's Workshop, the Devil's Kitchen, the Lemon Squeezer, and the Judgment Hall of Pluto. Sturdy footwear and outdoor clothing are recommended. Open early May to mid-October.

Shelburne Museum

U.S. Route 7 - P.O. Box 10 Shelburne, VT, 05482 Phone: 802-985-3346

This super-cool museum on the edge of Lake Champlain is filled with unusual attractions that are sure to entertain every person in the family. Kids and parents will love the authentic paddlewheel steamboat Ticonderoga, which was a workhourse of passenger and cargo transportation on the lake for decades in the 19th century. Shelburne Museum is one of the nation’s most eclectic museums of art, Americana, and design, displaying 150,000 objects on 45 acres in 25 historic New England buildings. There's even a lighthouse. A full day of family fun waits here.
Hours: Open Tues-Sun May 15 through late October, 10am - 5pm.
Museum Admission: Adults $25, Ages 13-17 $14, Ages 5-12 $12, Under 5 Free. Discounts available for VT residents, students, seniors, Museum or AAA members, and active military.

ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center - Burlington, VT

ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center

One College Street Burlington, VT, 05401 Phone: 802-864-1848

This maritime-oriented science museum is located right on the shore of Lake Champlain, and its expertise is to study and enjoy the natural history of the Lake Champlain Basin. A visit to ECHO is a wonderful science and ecology expedition for children and families. Lots of expert work has gone into creating permanent exhibits about the ecology, wildlife, plant life, and Native human inhabitants of the region. Plenty of changing exhibits and fun seasonal activities to encourage kids to get involved in this fascinating maritime world. ECHO is open year round, 10am - 5pm daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day.

Family activities in New England and attractions for kids

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