The American Sanitary Plumbing Museum
Located in Worcester (pronounced wooster) - about an hour's drive from Boston city - this two-story warehouse is filled with toilets. What kid can refuse an excursion to discover the history, depth and breadth of the world of potties? Outhouses, early flush toilets, bidets, sitz-baths... all have a place here; the engineering-minded youngster will enjoy the ground-floor exhibitions of plumbing tools, pipes and mechanics. Admission is free.


Boston Duck Tours
Pardon? DUCK TOURS? Yes. For those who are unaware, a Boston DUCK is an original WWII amphibious landing vehicle which takes you on an 80-minute tour of the city on both land and in the water. The guides are conDUCKtors. You have to quack. It's unique. It's special. It's Boston.

Charlestown Navy Yard
OK, that doesn't sound too exciting, until you realize that it is the home of the U.S.S. Constitution, commissioned by George Washington in 1794 and affectionately known as "Old Ironsides." Any student who has been exposed to the history of the United States will recognize the name. Ship visits on both the U.S.S. Constitution and the World War II Naval Destroyer U.S.S. Cassin Young are conducted daily.


The Children's Museum of Boston
This award-winning museum has designed "early learning" experiences for kids of all ages and is world-renowned for its interactive displays. Permanent exhibits include Climbing the Walls, an indoor "rock climbing" experience, Science Playground, with a rotating series of experiments, and Japanese House wherein both kids and adults can experience the culture of Kyoto, Japan.

The museum also offers a rotating schedule of special exhibits; check the Calendar to see what's happening while you're visiting. Birthday parties and other special occasions can be celebrated at the museum with prior arrangements.


Franklin Park Zoo
If you live in a city that doesn't have a zoo, or if you have already visited the Children's Museum and the Aquarium and are looking for another excursion, the Franklin Park Zoo is accessible via public transportation and is open all year. Special exhibits include "Butterfly Landing," an enclosure with over 1,000 species of butterflies, and the Tropical Forest, a three-acre indoor exhibit, one of the largest in the world.


Museum of Science - Boston
You could spend days here (and nights, since it also includes the Charles Haden Planetarium,) and never be able to see and do everything that is offered. What fun for adventurous kids - and their parents! With both static and changing exhibits, the museum is almost better than any theme park. Exhibits include the Virtual Fish Tank, where you can be a fish for awhile, Seeing is Deceiving, with all sorts of optical tricks, and Omni Theater, a five-story tall domed screen with a variety of thrilling movie exhibits.


New England Aquarium
Located in the heart of Tourist Central, next to Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market, the Aquarium can provide an entire days' worth of activity and fun for a family. Imax Theatre presentations, hands-on exhibits, junior science educational sessions, and even an "Adopt a Clown Fish (or penguin, or shark..)" program all add to the enjoyment of the experience.


Swan Boats at The Public Garden
The ride isn't long, but it's cheap and thrilling to a kid, as the swan boat glides through the lagoon in the middle of one of the most beautiful public parks in the world. If your child has read Make Way for Ducklings, the Swan Boat will be familiar; in any event, it's uniquely Boston, part of the history of the city dating back to 1877.


Whale Watching
The best trips are sponsored by the New England Aquarium, and you don't have to go out to Gloucester or Cape Ann to join an excursion. The season lasts from early April to the end of October, in boats specifically designed for the activity. The reasonable fare goes toward funding research at the Aquarium. Kids under three years and/or under 30" are not allowed, but for all others, this is a wonderful trip.