What can the children do in Boston? A better question might be "What can't the children do in Boston?" Just about every major destination in the city either is specifically designed to appeal to youngsters or can easily be adapted to do so.
I wouldn't ordinarily make such an insulting suggestion, but experience tells me that some parents need reminding: Allowing your kids some input while you're planning your trip and incorporating suggestions (especially from teenagers) cuts down on eye-rolling and sighing. And the college tour, whale watch, or day trip that you might not have considered may turn out to be one of the highlights of your vacation.
Destinations with something for every member of the family include Faneuil Hall Marketplace (tel. 617/338-2323;) and the Museum of Fine Arts (tel. 617/267-9300;), which offers special weekend and after-school programs.
Hands-on exhibits and large-format films are the headliners at the New England Aquarium (tel. 617/973-5200;), where you'll find the Simons IMAX Theatre, and at the Museum of Science (tel. 617/723-2500;), home to the Mugar Omni Theater as well as the Hayden Planetarium.
You might get your hands on a baseball at a Red Sox game or the Sports Museum of New England (tel. 617/624-1234;).
The allure of seeing people the size of ants draws young visitors to the Prudential Center Skywalk (tel. 617/859-0648;). And they can see actual ants -- although they might prefer the dinosaurs -- at the Harvard Museum of Natural History (tel. 617/495-3045;).
Older children who have studied modern American history will enjoy a visit to the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum (tel. 617/929-4523;). And kids interested in cars will like the Larz Anderson Auto Museum (tel. 617/522-6547;).
Middle-schoolers who enjoyed Esther Forbes's Johnny Tremain might get a kick out of the Paul Revere House (tel. 617/523-2338;). Young visitors who have read Robert McCloskey's classic Make Way for Ducklings will relish a visit to the Public Garden, and fans of E. B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan certainly will want to ride on the swan boats (tel. 617/522-1966;). Considerably less tame (and much longer) are whale watches.
Note: The Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum (tel. 617/338-1773; www.bostonteapartyship.com) closed indefinitely after a fire in late 2001. Its centerpiece, the brig Beaver II, is a full-size (110 ft.) replica of one of the three merchant ships that were raided during the colonial uprising in December 1773. Call ahead to see whether the ship and its accompanying museum have reopened; they make an entertaining stop on the way to or from the Children's Museum. The season runs from March through November.
Walking Tours--Boston By Foot (tel. 617/367-2345, or 617/367-3766 for recorded information; www.bostonbyfoot.com) has a special program, "Boston By Little Feet," that's geared to children 6 to 12 years old. The 60-minute walk gives a child's-eye view of the architecture along the Freedom Trail and of Boston's role in the American Revolution. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and a map is provided. Tours run from May through October and meet at the statue of Samuel Adams on the Congress Street side of Faneuil Hall, Saturday at 10am, Sunday at 2pm, and Monday at 10am, rain or shine. The cost is $6 per person.
The Historic Neighborhoods Foundation (tel. 617/426-1885; www.historic-neighborhoods.org) offers a 90-minute "Make Way for Ducklings" tour ($8 adults, $6 children, free for children under 5). The tour follows the path of the Mallard family described in Robert McCloskey's famous book and ends at the Public Garden. Reservations are required. Every year on Mother's Day, Historic Neighborhoods organizes the Ducklings Day Parade.
