10 Awesome Places to Visit Now through the Spring (mostly outdoors)
10 Awesome Places to Visit Now through the Spring (mostly outdoors)
By Renana Kehoe, Parent Tours
December 14, 2020
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We’ve been hiking a thousand times this summer and we talked about every single type of tree, leaf, and bug out there! Now we’re looking for something different but still safe to do. Below are some of my favorite places to visit with kids (mostly outdoor with one exception). So bundle up and go see some awesome things!
This is truly a hidden gem so usually there are not many people here. Not only are the colorful graffiti-covered rocks guaranteed to brighten your day, but the many playful cartoon characters here make for a great spotting game with the kids. If you are able to hike to the top, there is also a beautiful view of the city. While this is not stroller friendly, there is a parking lot and no fee to visit! More info
This is about an hour away from Boston but definitely worth the drive. They somehow masterfully sculpted these trees and bushes into these amazing animals—including my favorite type of animal: gummy bears. In addition to the awe-inspiring animals, they also have beautiful flowers all over the garden and a large area for kids to run around. Plus, your ticket to the gardens includes admission to the Newport Mansions. They are closed now for a couple of months but will reopen early in the new year. More info
Another hidden gem. This place is perfect for visiting some animals, especially with little kids—it’s not too large, there is rarely anyone there if you go on the weekends, it’s stroller-friendly, and free to visit. Since this is an active school, be sure to check the website to make sure there are no visitation restrictions that day. More info
Sometimes you just want to experience something different and Halibut Point offers a breathtaking experience that just makes you forget about everyday life even if just for a few minutes. There is plenty of hiking and amazing views, but if you keep walking towards the water, you are able to stand on large rocks and watch the waves surround you in the most beautiful, transformational way (while staying dry!). Walking on the rocks may be hard for very young children so bringing a baby carrier is helpful. More info
deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum
This museum keeps showing up on every list I compile of the best places to visit—and for good reason. Not only are the grounds spacious, providing plenty of room for kids to run around and for social distancing, but the sculptures on view are some of the most beautiful works of art around, created by world-renowned artists. No matter what kind of art you like—abstract, representational, metal, colorful—there is something for everyone. More info
A few years ago, the city commissioned several graffiti artists to come together and transform this space underneath the highway into a marvelous, colorful collection of murals. In the gray of winter, being surrounded by these gorgeous paintings will put a smile on anyone’s face. Meandering through the space and discovering each mural as you walk around also adds to the experience. This is stroller-friendly and there is a parking lot for a small fee. More info
If, like me, you miss traveling and want to feel like you are in another place (or even another time), a quick visit to this site may satisfy a bit of wanderlust. The architecture itself is astonishing and the castle-looking structure sits on the grounds of a small park. This is a quick visit and not an activity that takes a whole afternoon/ morning. There are other parks nearby to visit as well. More info
This is not an outdoor space, but the galleries inside this museum are very spacious (the building complex used to be a factory) so there is plenty of room to social distance even when visiting with young kids who like to run around. In recent years, Mass MOCA has had phenomenal exhibitions on view, including artist Nick Cave’s installation (pictured here). They also have a huge selection of Sol LeWitt’s wall drawings which are a must-see. More info
Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
The sculpture garden features many of our favorite characters from Dr. Seuss books including The Grinch, Yertle the Turtle, and even Dr. Seuss himself. No tickets are required to stroll through the garden. You can download a map in advance or access the interactive map on their website to make sure you visit all your favorite characters. More info
Full disclosure: I was skeptical when I first read about this, but it’s actually pretty amazing as you can really see several footprints that were preserved in the rock. There is a short hike to get to the footprints themselves and if you are able to continue hiking further down, there are little beautiful rock islands that emerge out of the water. More info
Renana Kehoe is the Founder of Parent Tours, offering art and museum tours for parents with their babies.
Note: some pictures included here were photographed pre-pandemic.
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