Play
Kid-friendly places to play near Boston
Tucked-away playgrounds, hands-on museums, farm adventures and rainy-day gems. Browse places to play in each area we cover and find your family's next outing.
Greater Boston
Action Athletics
Brighton · Indoor Playspace
Real-life Ninja Warrior style obstacle courses where kids can climb, swing, and zoom through challenges until they are happily worn out.
Albion Playground
Somerville · Playgrounds & Parks
A unique neighborhood park featuring a climbing structure and a stylized water spray zone.
Alden Playground
Cambridge · Playgrounds & Parks
A shaded neighborhood pocket park with simple, toddler-friendly ground sprays.
Alexander W. Kemp Playground
Cambridge · Playgrounds & Parks
A whimsical, nature-inspired playground featuring an interactive water-and-mud play stream.
Alexander W. Kemp Playground at Cambridge Common
Cambridge · Playgrounds & Parks
A redesigned playground that is a landscape of hills, valleys, sand, wooden branches and stumps, living plant material, and loose wooden blocks to…
Alfond Memorial Spray Deck
Boston · Playgrounds & Parks
Situated on the Charles River Esplanade with excellent city views and standard ground jets.
Allied Veterans Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool
Everett · Playgrounds & Parks
A large public complex featuring a dedicated, shallow concrete wading pool. Check the pool's website for current open hours before you go — pools can…
Allo Boston
Charlestown · Indoor Playspace
A beautifully designed indoor play space where tiny voyagers can climb, slide, and explore to their heart's content. Featuring wooden climbing…
Arnold Arboretum
Jamaica Plain, Boston · Playgrounds & Parks
A 265-acre park in Jamaica Plain with 7,000+ trees and beautiful trails perfect for biking or walking. One of Boston's best spots for a peaceful…
Artesani Playground Wading Pool and Spray Deck
Brighton, Boston · Playgrounds & Parks
A massive, fenced-in wading pool paired with an interactive spray area. Check the pool's website for current open hours before you go — pools can…
BCYF Blackstone (Temporarily Closed)
South End, Boston · Water Play
Heads up: this pool is currently closed. An indoor community pool at BCYF Blackstone in Boston — free swim for the whole family with a BCYF…
BCYF Charlestown
Charlestown, Boston · Water Play
An indoor community pool at BCYF Charlestown — free swim for the whole family with a BCYF membership (free for Boston residents). Check the center's…
The North Shore
Allied Veterans Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool
Everett · Playgrounds & Parks
A large public complex featuring a dedicated, shallow concrete wading pool. Check the pool's website for current open hours before you go — pools can…
Appleton Farms
Ipswich · Farm Fun
Families can experience the charm of one of the oldest continuously operating farms in the United States, nestled on nearly 1,000 acres. Little ones…
Barnes & Noble (MarketStreet Lynnfield)
Lynnfield · Books & Hidden Nooks
The MarketStreet Lynnfield bookstore hosts free weekly storytimes for little ones, with a well-stocked children's department and The Green's…
Boda Borg
Malden · Sports & Entertainment
Swedish 'quest room' for older kids (7+); physical & mental challenges in teams inside Alden Center (just outside Boston). This amazing venue…
Boston Hill Farm
North Andover · Farm Fun
A low-key North Andover farm where families can pick seasonal fruit and pumpkins, visit farm animals, and browse a year-round farm stand. Cider…
Boston Playground
Chelsea · Indoor Playspace
Bouncy houses, climbing zones, and big-silly-energy approved play spaces, perfect for getting all the wiggles out.
Box District Park
Chelsea · Playgrounds & Parks
A modern urban park featuring sleek, minimalist ground-level cooling fountains.
Bradley Palmer Wading Pool and Playground
Topsfield · Playgrounds & Parks
A picturesque state park wading pool with a beautifully landscaped setting — a shady, laid-back spot for little ones to cool off. Check the pool's…
Breakheart Reservation
Saugus · Playgrounds & Parks
Families can explore a large forest filled with multiple trails perfect for wandering and discovering nature together. Two beautiful lakes provide a…
Brooksby Farm
Peabody · Farm Fun
A seasonal Peabody city farm with pick-your-own fruit, barnyard animals, a free play yard, picnic areas, flower cutting, and a farm store. Fall…
Cape Ann Lanes
Gloucester · Sports & Entertainment
Families can enjoy candlepin bowling with bumpers for kids, a mix of arcade games, and a family-friendly Laneside Pub with a kids menu. Seasonal beer…
Cape Ann SUP & Surf Co
Essex · Sports & Entertainment
Families can explore Essex waters with Cape Ann SUP & Surf Co, where tiny voyagers can try paddleboarding and surfing in a beautiful coastal setting…
The South Shore
Altitude Trampoline Park
Avon · Indoor Playspace
Wall to wall trampoline fun with dodgeball, battle beams, basketball, and a toddler area so everyone can bounce safely.
Bare Cove Park
Hingham · Playgrounds & Parks
Former military base turned 487-acre park with paved paths, playgrounds, and waterfront views. Perfect for biking families with easy trails and…
Barnes & Noble (Derby Street Shops)
Hingham · Books & Hidden Nooks
The Derby Street Shops bookstore hosts a free children's story time every Friday morning, with a big kids' section and plenty of room for browsing…
Billy Beez
Kingston · Indoor Playspace
A massive indoor play park with tunnels, slides, ball blasters, and sports courts for nonstop climbing and racing.
Blue Hills Reservation
Milton · Playgrounds & Parks
Just outside Boston: large natural area with hiking trails, skyline views, and a small ski area. A nature break where families can explore forests…
Bossy Beans
Plymouth · Toys & Shops
A fun baby and kids clothing shop with clothes and accessories including playdough packs, stuffies, dolls, heritage mouse and bunny dolls, books, and…
Brook and Main
Cohasset · Toys & Shops
A curated collection for modern families in Cohasset village — beautiful baby and kids' clothing, accessories, and gifts, all hand-picked with a…
Buttonwood Books and Toys
Cohasset · Books & Hidden Nooks
A South Shore favorite combining a full bookstore with a great toy selection, plus storytimes with songs and author events for little ones. One stop…
Children's World Indoor Playground
Canton · Indoor Playspace
An indoor playground with bounce houses, ride on toys, and toddler zones, great for little ones with big energy.
Christine Devine Memorial Rainbow StoryWalk
Duxbury · Museums & History
A magical outdoor reading adventure for tiny voyagers! Follow the trail behind Alden School and discover pages of a picture book posted along the…
Create a Splash
Kingston · Arts & Crafts
Get messy in a black-light, neon paint-splash studio where families can fling non-toxic, washable paint onto canvases, each other, and splatter-proof…
Dalby Farm
Scituate · Farm Fun
A picturesque working farm in Scituate offering seasonal activities, farm animals, and fresh produce. A wonderful spot for families to experience…
Cape Cod
1856 Country Store
Barnstable · Toys & Shops
Turn a stroll through Centerville into a little treasure hunt at the 1856 Country Store. Families can browse classic and newer candy favorites…
Adventure Playground
Sandwich · Playgrounds & Parks
Make time for a playground break in East Sandwich at Adventure Playground, a town recreation spot on Quaker Meetinghouse Road. It’s an easy place to…
Annie’s Books and Gifts
Orleans · Books & Hidden Nooks
A Orleans bookstore on the official Cape & Islands Bookstore Trail. Stop in with the family to browse books and discover a new read together.
Art's Dune Tours
Provincetown · Sandy Spots
Hop aboard a classic Suburban and explore the breathtaking dunes of Provincetown on this unforgettable Cape Cod adventure. Art’s Dune Tours takes…
Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail
Wellfleet · Playgrounds & Parks
A 1.2-mile Cape Cod National Seashore loop that descends through oak and pine woods to a boardwalk winding through a rare Atlantic white cedar swamp…
Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
Chatham · Museums & History
Learn all about sharks and ocean life through interactive exhibits and hands-on educational experiences.
Barnes & Noble (Cape Cod Mall)
Hyannis · Books & Hidden Nooks
The Cape Cod Mall bookstore runs a free Saturday morning storytime and has a big, browsable kids' section — a reliable rainy-day stop in Hyannis.
Belonging Books
Hyannis · Books & Hidden Nooks
A Hyannis bookstore on the official Cape & Islands Bookstore Trail. Stop in with the family to browse books and discover a new read together.
Brewster Book Store
Brewster · Books & Hidden Nooks
A Brewster bookstore on the official Cape & Islands Bookstore Trail. Stop in with the family to browse books and discover a new read together.
Brooks Park
Harwich · Playgrounds & Parks
A spacious community park with playgrounds, sports fields, and plenty of room to play.
Buds Go Karts
Harwich · Sports & Entertainment
Race around the go-kart track, play arcade games, and enjoy classic Cape Cod family fun.
Buzzards Bay Park & Splash Pad
Buzzards Bay · Playgrounds & Parks
Features a modern splash pad with views of the Cape Cod Canal traffic.
MetroWest
Action Athletics
Wellesley · Indoor Playspace
Real-life Ninja Warrior style obstacle courses where kids can climb, swing, and zoom through challenges until they are happily worn out.
Beaver Brook Spray Deck
Belmont · Playgrounds & Parks
A popular state-run facility with diverse water jets, shaded picnic areas, and walking trails.
Belkin Family Lookout Farm
South Natick · Farm Fun
One of the country’s oldest continuously operating farms, Lookout combines a working orchard with a polished family outing. Seasonal pick-your-own…
Blue Bunny Books & Toys
Dedham · Toys & Shops
A magical children's bookshop in Dedham Square, founded by author-illustrator Peter H. Reynolds (of The Dot fame). Blue Bunny is brimming with…
Bobby Connors Playground
Waltham · Playgrounds & Parks
A neighborhood spray park in Waltham with playground structures alongside the water jets.
Chesterbrook Housing
Waltham · Playgrounds & Parks
A community splash spot in the Chesterbrook neighborhood of Waltham.
Discovery Museum
Acton · Museums & History
Hands-on STEAM exhibits, water play, and light and sound experiments, plus an epic outdoor treehouse for curious kids.
Drake Playground
Waltham · Playgrounds & Parks
A local Waltham playground with a summer spray area for quick cool-downs.
Eastleigh Farm
Framingham · Farm Fun
Explore a picturesque 100-acre former dairy farm and animal sanctuary in Framingham. Families can meet cows, goats, and peacocks, see historic barns…
Emerson Playground
Concord · Playgrounds & Parks
A popular town park featuring a modern, multi-jet summer splash pad.
Fitch Spray Park
Waltham · Playgrounds & Parks
A dedicated Waltham spray park with multiple water features for splashing.
Graverson Playground
Waltham · Playgrounds & Parks
A quiet Waltham neighborhood playground with summer water sprays.