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.

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks

1168 County Road Montpelier, VT, 05602 Phone: Toll-Free: 800-242-2740

The Morse family has some maple magic for your family

Here is a farm with 200 years experience the whole family will enjoy with scenic views, four season fun, and lots of maple syrup, jams, jellies and other goodies to discover. The Morse’s do it right in so many ways whether its showing you their maple syrup process or presenting displays and artifacts and a humorous educational video in the Woodshed Theater. There are monthly events. a nature trail, a country store filled with local crafts and gifts, and an outdoor farm life museum. The Ski Touring Center has cross country and snowshoe trails for sliding, snowmobiling and skating. Once sugarin’ time comes around in March, take part in their annual maple tastings. And don’t miss the sugar on snow.

Conway Scenic Railroad

38 Norcross Circle North Conway, NH, 03860 Phone: 603-356-5251

Ride into the past aboard the Conway Scenic Railroad

Enjoy an old-fashioned family experience that begins with a visit to our 1874 station in the middle of North Conway Village. Children of all ages will be transported back to a simpler time when passenger train connected towns and cities across the region. Travel in vintage railroad cars, some dating back to the 1920s. Go in style and experience our Premium or First Class cars. Children under four travel FREE in Coach on the Valley Trains, and well-behaved dogs are always welcome in Coach class (one dog per party).

Fun World

200 Daniel Webster Highway Nashua, NH, 03060 Phone: 603-888-1940

Be a Family That Plays Together

Arcades have been an entertainment choice for kids and families for generations and no wonder. Fun World has the formula covered. There's lots of physical activity for younger kids in a huge, multi-level playground with big slides and a ball pit, along with 30 tot rides. For older kids and teens, the blur of choices of arcade games is daunting, from Wave Motion Theater and six-player Galaxian Theater to sports games, dance games to classic air hockey and pinball. Tickets can be redeemed for prizes hundreds of prizes. Parents will appreciate the reasonable price for a full day for family fun. Naturally, Fun World sells pizza and other classic kid foods, so your gang can hunker here ’til everyone is too tired to move.

Edaville's Christmas Festival of Lights - Now through January 1st, 2022! - Edaville Family Theme Park in Carver, MA

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

Plymouth Will Warm You in Winter - See Plymouth, MA!

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.

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.

Nonantum Resort

95 Ocean Avenue Kennebunkport, ME, 04046 Phone: 207-967-4050 Toll-Free: 800-552-5651

One of the region’s best family resorts has an unending menu of activities

Get to know each other again, you and the kids, at The Nonantum Resort, named one of the best family resorts in New England by Yankee Magazine. The comfortable, classic New England inn on the Kennebunk River has so many activities for children, they’ll find it hard to choose: arts and crafts, scavenger hunts in themed costumes, pulling up crab pots right off the dock. Activities for all of you include family campfires, dips in the pool, sing-alongs and s’mores under the stars. Take a boat tour right from the marina or a trolley tour right from the resort doorstep. Stroll into Dock Square for shopping or head farther afield to arcades, water parks, zipline parks, movies and museums.

Argia Mystic Cruises

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

Haul Away! Bring the whole family sailing.

Argia thanks you for your patronage in 2021 - See you again in 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!

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

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

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.

White Mountains Attractions

Visitor’s Center at Exit 32 Off I-93 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.

Great Waters

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

Visitors of all ages will be delighted at this series of concerts in a location worth exploring

Outstanding concerts in a tent set in one of New England’s loveliest spots: That’s great entertainment for everyone in the family. This season, Great Waters, which has been entertaining visitors to the Lakes Region for over 25 years, is holdings its concerts in a tent in the meadow of the spectacular Castle in the Clouds, where the views are breathtaking. This summer’s concerts include jazz, a Bee Gees tribute band, a comedy night, rock ’n’ roll, a Broadway spectacular and a free folk festival. There truly is something for everyone’s musical tastes. The picturesque Castle in the Clouds estate includes miles of hiking and walking trails, the historic Lucknow Mansion with exhibits, gardens – and a pond where the kids can feed the ducks.

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

Lost River Gorge has closed for the 2021 season - See you again in May 2022!

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.

Old Sturbridge Village - More than a Museum!

Kayaks and Kids - The Briches Resort - Rockwood, ME

The Birches Resort

281 Birches Road Rockwood, ME, 04478 Phone: 207-534-7588 Toll-Free: 800-825-9453

Family activities in the great outdoors a specialty at this scenic lakeside resort

Family owned and operated for over 40 years, The Birches Resort, 11,000 acres on marvelous Moosehead Lake, knows a little something about family activities. For starters, all the resort’s activities originate at the resort. Whether you want to fish, swim, kayak, canoe, go whitewater rafting or for a sea plane ride, you don’t need a car to get there. Go hiking or mountain biking (or, in the winter, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling) or arrange for a Jeep wildlife tour or moose safari. Take a nature hike or go mountain biking. Then relax in your yurt, cabin, cottage or private home rental (all pet-friendly). Cook your meals in your kitchenette or kitchen or join fellow vacationers at the resort restaurant.

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.

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!

Worcester Art Museum

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

Art museum a lively, engaging adventure for families with children of all ages

Families love the Worcester Art Museum, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a safe, comfortable environment for kids and families to learn about art in new ways. Through mid-September, there’s a special exhibit featuring baseball jerseys, and the Open Door Gallery features the work of artists with disabilities.. All galleries are stroller-accessible, and there are baby-changing stations.

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.

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.

Mt. Washington Auto Road

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

The kids will love driving through the clouds to the summit of Mount Washington!

For over 150 years, families have enjoyed visiting the legendary Mt. Washington Auto Road, a one-of-a-kind experience offering ever-changing weather extremes and panoramic views as you climb to the highest peak in the Northeast.
Choose to drive your own car or take a comfortable, 2 or 3-hour guided tour led by one of our accomplished and dedicated guides. Adventure can be found all the way up to the 6,288-foot peak where, on a clear day, visitors can discover panoramic views spanning the mountains and valleys of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and north into Canada! Rain or shine, and included with your Auto Road ticket, the entire family will love the new interactive museum “Extreme Mount Washington” located on the summit, brought to you by the Mount Washington Observatory.

Santa's Village

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

Pure Joy, Family Style.

Santa's Village is now accepting online ticketing only for 2021 Christmastime! Please visit our website for open dates & times.
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.

Story Land

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

Every day is an unforgettable adventure!

Story Land has closed for the 2021 season - See you again in May 2022!

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.

Island Queen

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

Sail away into your fabulous family vacation aboard this comfortable island ferry

Families have been enjoying the trip to Martha’s Vineyard via the Island Queen ferry for decades, and it’s easy to see why: The trip only takes 35 minutes, there’s a full-service snack bar, and the views are amazing. Kids under 4 sail free, and tickets are discounted for ages 5 to 12. Once on the Vineyard, there are beaches to paddle board from, bike trails to explore (you can bring boards and bikes on the ferry), fun shopping, a whaling museum – even the nation’s oldest carousel in Oak Bluffs. Back in Falmouth, you can launch your Cape explorations, visiting lighthouses, going to Cape Cod Baseball League games, concerts and plays, hiking, biking and swimming at some of the country’s most beautiful beaches.

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.

Festival of Illumination - World of Lights 2021

Southwick's Zoo - 2 Southwick Street Mendon, MA, 01756 Phone: Toll-Free: 800-258-9182

Illumination festival designed to awe and enchant visitors of all ages

Visitors of all ages will be enchanted with the artistic display at the drive-through Winter Wonderland Holiday Spectacular and Festival of Illumination at Southwick’s Zoo. Featuring hundreds of handcrafted Chinese lanterns and intricate exhibits made of silk and steel, the “World of Lights: Our Continents and Their Cultures” festival will take you on a magical journey across the globe, visiting African Savannahs, the Amazon rainforest and other amazing regions. The zoo is also lit with over a million holiday lights and visitors will drive through Whoville (the Grinch’s territory) and the Frozen Forest, where fallow deer reside. Park your car and hop on the tram to Santa’s Village, where the kids can visit Santa and everyone can enjoy live entertainment, fire pits and s’mores.
The Festival of Illumination is open Thursday-Sunday evenings, now through January 3, 2022. Starting Nov. 26, the zoo’s traditional Winter Wonderland lights, as well as additional holiday-themed lanterns, will be added, and Santa will visit children at his Enchanted Village.

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 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. Tickets are guaranteed to sell out each weekend - be sure to buy yours in advance at IceCastles.com!

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

Chuckster's is now closed for the 2021 Season. See you again in 2022!
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.

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.

Great Glen Trails

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

Outdoor Fun That's Just Right for The Entire Family

At the Great Glen Trails in Pinkham Notch, N.H., we offer adventures in all shapes and sizes. 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.

Southwick’s Zoo

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

Take the family into the wild right near home

New England’s largest zoo is opening April 21 for the 2014 season with an all new prairie dog digs, two toed sloths and cheetahs. Learn about your favorite animals at the Earth Discovery Center. You’ll find 115 species of animals large and small on foot, from the Woodlands Express train ride or high above on the Skyfari Sky Ride, Meet elk, native birds, painted turtles and toads, Step into the 35 acre deer forest, ride over the playful chimpanzees, stately camels, scary alligators, colorful zebra and ostrich. Enjoy a day’s worth of shows, animal encounters, a petting zoo, parakeet aviary and animal exhibits to take your breath away with big cats, white rhino, snakes, dragons, and WATCH OUT - the popular Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. Always free parking and handicap accessible.

Coming to Southwick's Zoo this September thru January 3, 2022 - The Festival of Illumination "World of Lights" 2021! Take a trip across continents and explore hundreds of hand-crafted Chinese paper lanterns!

Photo for Family Activities 500x250 - IT Adventures - New Haven, CT

IT Adventure Ropes Course

40 Sargent Drive New Haven, CT, 06511 Phone: 203-812-9981

An adventure for everyone in the family at this fun, challenging ropes course

An adventure awaits family members of all ages at the It Adventure Ropes Course inside Jordan’s Furniture. The world’s largest indoor ropes course includes more than 100 exciting challenges, from crisscross angled rope ladders and zig-zag swinging beams to cargo nets and tricky bridges. And, zip rails that sit at heights up to 56 feet let you fly over a liquid fireworks water show from one end of the course to the other. A full-body harness and sling line keeps you connected the entire time. For children under 48 inches tall, there’s the fun Little It course, with platforms less than three feet above the ground and adult chaperones nearby to lend assistance if needed.

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.

Old Sturbridge Village

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

Kids will have a interactive experience at this re-created 1830s village

Old Sturbridge Village is open! Advanced ticketing required is required. Please visit our updated policies & procedures before reserving your visit.

Learning comes alive like never before at Old Sturbridge Village, where kids can try their hand at farming, get up close and personal with baby animals, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, walk through a covered bridge and see how everything from horseshoes to lanterns were made in the early 19th century. The 200-acre village is designed to transport guests back to a rural New England town of the 1830s – and it’s really an immersive experience. Costumed historians at schoolhouses, trade shops, farms and homes are happy to answer questions. There are nature trails through woodlands, pastures and along the river, with wildlife from great blue herons to mallards and turtles.

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.

Snow on the Mountain - Mt. Washington Cog Railway - Bretton Woods, NH

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.

Scott Farm

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

At its core, apple-picking at this orchard is the ultimate in great family activities

Years from now, when your kids are old enough to reminisce about their childhood, it’s a guarantee that one of the family activities they will remember most fondly is apple-picking. So start to create that memory today at the Scott Farm Orchard, a 571-acre farm where “pick your own” means gorgeous, ecologically grown heirloom apples and strolls through beautiful surroundings. The farm, in active cultivation since 1791 and now owned by landmark Trust USA and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, grows over 130 varieties of apples, including Jonagold, Gala, Honeycrisp (a kids’ favorite) and Fuji. Stop in at the Farm market, with pies from fresh-picked fruits, apple cider, pumpkins and other regional fare. Check the website for pick-your-own updates.

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.

Family Reunion on the Stephen Taber - Maine Windjammers - Camden, ME

Maine Windjammer Association

Sailing from Ports in Rockland and Camden, ME, 04843 Phone: Toll-Free: 800-807-9463

Family fun, relaxation, connection come easily on Maine windjammer cruises

Here’s a great way to reconnect with your family: Take a cruise (three, four or six days) aboard one of the sailing schooners of the Maine Windjammer Association. As you sail past lighthouses, onto remote islands with sandy beaches, into fun harbors and villages, past porpoises and seals, you’ll relax, play games, tell stories. You’ll go swimming or paddleboarding, or you’ll help with the sails. You’ll sit around a galley table together and feast on real down-home cooking (and hand-cranked ice cream!) or enjoy a lobster bake on the beach. You’ll look at the stars together. Theme cruises include whaling, hiking, seamanship, kayaking and storytelling, among others.

Roger Williams Park Zoo

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

From active animal exhibits to classic carousel rides, there’s so much to do at this zoo

It’s no wonder families flock to the Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village: There’s so much to do! Watch an African elephant take a bath or a Masai giraffe reach high for a snack. See if you can spy the secretive snow leopard or the shy red wolf. From bison to bears to bald eagles, the zoo’s animals will amaze you. Even explore amongst free-roaming sloths, birds and monkeys at the Faces of Rainforest. Time to dine? Grab a gourmet burger or made-to-order salad at a comfortable concession. Glide 115 feet above the zoo in side-by-side seats on the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride. Or visit the nearby Carousel Village, ride a colonial horse on a classic carousel or take a train ride.

York's Wild Kingdom

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

New England's Only Zoo AND Amusement Park

African lions, ring tail lemurs, prairie dogs, and so much more for families to see and do at York’s Wild Kingdom where kids and parents come to play. Observe animals from A (alligators) to Z (zebras) in beautifully landscaped exhibits, walk into the colorful Butterfly Kingdom, feed and pet African pygmy goats, deer and ducks. You can also ride a Ferris wheel, carousel or play a round on the mini golf course. Bring a picnic lunch or feast from our snack bars, ice cream and fried dough stands. York’s Zoo will be open daily starting 5/29-9/26/21, 10am-5pm daily! Amusement park is open weekends only 5/29-6/25/21, then daily 6/26-9/6/21, hours 11:30am-5pm

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.

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.

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.

Photo for Family Activities 500x250 - Beanstalk Adventures - Reading, MA

Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course

50 Walkers Brook Drive Reading, MA, 01867 Phone: 781-942-9816

Taking Fun to New Heights!

Get the whole family active and make lasting memories while challenging yourself at Jordan’s Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course. Your full body harness and sling line will keep you connected at all times while you explore two levels of exciting obstacles including zig-zag beams, spaghetti hand lines, angled rope ladders, crisscross walks and a Sky Rail® zip rail! In addition, little kids under 48” tall are able to explore the Beansprout ropes course, positioned close to the ground at more comfortable height. This smaller course allows children to build coordination, confidence, and have fun while their adult chaperones stay close by to assist.

Winter Family Skiing - The Berkshires - Western Massachusetts

The Berkshires of Western MA

Make Family Memories in the Berkshires

Pack up the kids and head to the Berkshires for an unforgettable winter getaway. Breathe in the crisp mountain air as you glide into a blanket of fresh snow on snowshoes or skis. Whether you’re seeking the rush of a downhill slope, the natural beauty of a cross-country trek, or the giddy glide of tubing, the snowy mountains of Western Massachusetts offer fun for the entire family. Take a break from the chill and warm up at an art or science museum - many of which are free during winter - then cozy up by the fire with hot cocoa or spiced apple cider. Learn more at Berkshires.org or follow “Visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts” on Facebook.

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.

EcoTarium, New England's Leading Museum of Science and Nature

222 Harrington Way Worcester, MA, 01604 Phone: 508-929-2700

Ready to Explore?

EcoTarium is closed for the fall and winter - see you next year!
From experiencing hurricane-force winds in The Arctic Next Door: Mount Washington exhibit to watching life below the surface in the Fresh Water habitat, there is so much to explore at the EcoTarium, Worcester’s unique indoor-outdoor museum. Meet live animals, watch exciting shows in the Alden Digital Planetarium: A National Geographic Theater, and try a variety of hands-on exhibits that examine the world around us. Then head outdoors for an easy hike along nature trails that include pond, meadow and forest environments, as well as endless play in the Nature Explore® Outdoor Exhibit. And while you are there, take a trek through the treetops on the Tree Canopy Walkway (seasonal). Rain or shine, summer or winter, there’s always something fun for the whole family to discover at the EcoTarium!

Visit the EcoTarium website for directions, events calendar, exhibit information and more.

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.

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.

Mystic Aquarium

55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT, 06355 Phone: 860-572-5955

Children of all ages will have fun and learn about the natural world at this engaging aquarium

Kids of all ages (and their adults) will love all the interactive habitats at Mystic Aquarium. Plus: dinosaurs and whales! Visitors can touch stingrays and Epaulette sharks in pools, walk through a digital interactive watershed model and watch as breathtaking Beluga whales glide through the Arctic Coast, the largest outdoor beluga whale habitat in the nation. Watch as seals and sea lions are fed or trained, then head to Jurassic Giants to see enormous animatronic dinosaurs “come to life” and enjoy two 4-D movies that combine your senses of smell, touch, and more. Check out Japanese Spider Crabs in the Weird and Wonderful exhibit or paint with a seal in a scheduled animal encounter. Sandwiches and snacks are available at the Saltwater Cafe.

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

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

Much more than a Choo Choo

Climb aboard the only steam train and riverboat connection in the U.S! Kids will enjoy riding in the vintage coaches alongside farms, ponds, and boat yards, and spotting swans, ducks, and egrets. The 12-mile, narrated roundtrip brings passengers to Deep River Landing, where the riverboat continues the adventure with a 1¼-hour cruise on the breathtaking Connecticut River. The steam train returns visitors to Essex station. Throughout the year, there are several special events specifically for kids: In April and May, Day Out with Thomas; mid-November through December, Santa Special (daytime) and North Pole Express (nighttime). Please check our website regularly for holiday and 2022 schedules.

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.

Pilgrim Belle Cruises

Mayflower II, State Pier, 77 Water Street Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-747-3434

Plymouth by paddle wheeler – the calm, the stories

Being by the water makes being on the water all the more inviting and you can be at one of the most important historic American landmarks. Jump on this true paddle wheeler which has no conventional propeller and watch and listen as the big red wheels on the back of the boat propel it like the boats on the Mississippi. Once aboard, you’ll get the perfect introduction to Plymouth. Loaded with history, you’ll learn more about Pilgrims, famous shipwrecks, the role of the commercial fishing and lobster industries, two lighthouses, and Plymouth’s spectacular beaches. Relax amid the calming sound of the paddles as they swish through the water. Then sit back and enjoy those fabulous stories. Spoiler alert: the Pilgrims considered lobster to be “poor man’s food.”

Spring Shopping Bloom 500x250 - Destination Plymouth - Plymouth, MA - Photo Credit Ashleigh MacAskill

See Plymouth

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

History is just the beginning!

Bring the family to Plymouth, MA for some unforgettable fun! Adults and children will enjoy their visit to Plymouth with a wide variety of activities on land and water. The Atlantic Ocean is a playground, and trips such as whale watches, lobster excursions and pirate adventures have proven popular with visitors. 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 cranberry bogs. Plimoth Plantation provides a living history museum depicting life in Plymouth in 1627. Please call 800.USA.1620, or visit our website to learn more about these activities and others to prepare for your trip to Plymouth.

Funtown Splashtown USA

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

Families have a blast at this giant combination amusement and water park

Funtown Splashtown USA is now closed for the 2021 Season. See you again in 2022!

It’s easy to see why families keep coming back to Funtown Splashtown USA: There’s so much to do! In the water park, there are family raft slides as well as translucent and completely dark tube slides, a corkscrew slide and the Pirates Paradise Aquaplay where 500 gallons of water are dumped every two minutes! Amusement park rides include two roller coasters, a log flume, Thunderbolt, Tilt-a-Whirl, bumper cars and boats and the breathtaking Dragon’s Descent (220 feet up). Lots of eating options here, from pizza to pulled-pork sandwiches, a tiki bar with smoothies and the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe. A family owned and operated business, Funtown Splashtown puts guest safety first and is strictly following CDC guidelines.

Bear Rock Adventures

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

Family-friendly ATV rides with Bear Rock Adventures

Pick your own adventure with customized ATV and side-by-side ride itineraries from Bear Rock Adventures, perfect for families and thrill-seekers alike, to experience Northern New Hampshire’s Great North Woods from a new perspective. Explore over 1,000 miles of Ride the Wilds interconnected trails on half, full, or multi-day excursions for prime family photo stops and wildlife spotting. Bear Rock Adventures provides a safe, turnkey way to ATV with the latest gear including safety helmets and goggles, cutting-edge GPS and Bluetooth technology as well as storage compartments for your gear, maps, picnic lunches and selfie sticks to capture the ultimate memory.

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.

Castle in The Clouds

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

Plenty to do for the whole family at this expansive estate

Indoors and out, there are plenty of activities to entertain and enlighten the whole family at Castle in the Clouds. Explore the 1920s mansion (kids can win small prizes in a scavenger hunt), including a basement tour that shows how the servants lived. Or, feed leaping rainbow trout (seriously!) at beautiful Shannon Pond, hike past water falls or, in the winter, cross-country ski or snowshoe over groomed trails. Grab some pizza and a cone at Cones in the Clouds in the summer, picnic in a meadow or soak in mountain views at the Carriage House Restaurant. Go for a winter carriage or sleigh ride or a summer horse ride (there are pones for kids under 8).

Plimoth Patuxet

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

History in a New Light

Plimoth Patuxet Museums creates powerful encounters with history built on thorough research about the Indigenous and European people who met along these shores of change. At our immersive, outdoor living history sites you’ll encounter costumed actors portraying iconic figures such as William Bradford and Myles Standish, as well as contemporary interpreters who discuss the Indigenous heritage of the Northeast and 17th-century life-ways of a culture that continues to thrive today. Permanent exhibits that tell the complex and interwoven stories of two distinct cultures – Indigenous and English – include the 17th-Century English Village, Patuxet Homesite, Plimoth Grist Mill, and Mayflower II.

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.

Loon Mountain Resort

60 Loon Mountain Road Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-745-6281 Toll-Free: 800-229-5666

Outdoor fun, recreation and inspiration in the White Mountains

Pick a season and bring the family to New England’s most-accessible mountain resort destination. In summer and fall, ride New Hampshire’s longest gondola skyride to the 2,733-foot summit for breathtaking views of the White Mountains and great food at the Summit Café. Explore glacial caves and walk a scenic nature trail. At the mountain’s base, ride a zipline across the Pemigewasset River, scale a rock wall, navigate the LogJam Maze, or climb a 30-foot-tall spider web. Bunyan’s Bouncin’ Backyard has a bounce house. In winter, big mountain skiing and snowboarding features 2,100 feet of vertical with three peaks of terrain for all abilities – including an award-winning progression of terrain parks and New Hampshire’s only Superpipe. There’s also snow tubing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing.

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.

Edaville Family Theme Park

5 Pine Street Carver, MA, 02330 Phone: 508-866-8190 Toll-Free: 877-332-8455

Cherished family memories are made at this South Shore festival of lights

Start a new family tradition or rekindle an old one at Edaville Family Theme Park’s Christmas Festival of Lights. The large theme park includes 90 rides and attractions that spin, fly through the air and delight kids and wannabe kids of all ages. You’ll be dazzled by over 7 million lights as you walk through the park. A train ride through the cranberry bogs also takes passengers by holiday light displays. The kids can visit with Santa Claus, and adults can pick up handcrafted items in Dickens Village to help with holiday shopping. Experience the sights and sounds of Christmas again, or for the first time, at this cherished family experience. The festival runs Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 12 to Jan. 1.

Connecticut River Museum

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

Inside and out, lots to fascinate and entertain families along our riverbank!

There are so many things to do outside at the family-friendly Connecticut River Museum – winter cruises to see majestic bald eagles, sailing adventures aboard the 1614 replica ship Onrust, strolling the harborside grounds, walking to historic Essex Village for lunch – that you might forget to go inside. But don’t! The kids will love to examine the handmade tools used for fishing and hunting in and along the river, old navigation tools, the model train layout set up every fall, the three-story river mural that snakes up and down staircases and the model of the very cool Turtle, the first submarine to be used in combat (during the Revolutionary War).

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, May through October.

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.

Family activities in New England and attractions for kids

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