24 Hours in Boston With Toddlers

We just got back from a short family trip to Boston with a cheap $103 roundtrip JetBlue flight so that we could earn 75,000 points during the recent Points Match promotion ($1200+ value!!). For some reason, rooms were pricey in Boston during the time of our visit, so we redeemed our free night certificate from the IHG credit card that we pay $49 annually for in order to get a free room at the Intercontinental Boston for a $697 value.

We arrived in Boston mid-morning, and we began our outings around noon, starting with lunch at the Barking Crab, which is less than a 5 minute walk from the Intercontinental. The food was fresh and our personal favorite was the lobster roll—it was amazing! I also really enjoyed the fried scallops. The ambience of the Barking Crab was lively and fun. It sat right next to the seaport and gave a lovely view of the Boston Harbor which made for a very relaxing lunch. Once we had gotten our fill, we went next door and explored the Boston Children’s Museum. It was the perfect place for toddlers. My children loved the Raceways room which housed the John Hancock Science Playground. They got to explore the laws of motion by rolling golf balls along a bunch of various tracks. Adults and children can gain admission to the Boston Children’s Museum for $16 each, while anyone under the age of one is free. We visited on a Tuesday, but on Fridays between 5-9 PM they have a Target Fridays deal where admission is only $1!

We stayed at the museum throughout the afternoon and decided that it was time to enjoy the sunshine outdoors. Right across from the Intercontinental was the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. We enjoyed a mile and a half of parks and beauty through the heart of Boston. It included a splash park, the Greenway Carousel, and a scenic walk to the north end with the Dewey Demonstration gardens, Rings Fountain, and Harbor Fog statue to catch our attention along the way.

The little ones were getting tired from our fun day around Boston, so we decided to start winding down the night. We caught some free entertainment at Faneuil Hall Square in the form of a few street performers and enjoyed the shows before making our way to dinner. We had dinner nearby at the historical Union Oyster House, which is the oldest restaurant in America. The building dates back to the pre-revolutionary days and has been serving oysters since 1826. I enjoyed the Union Oyster House, but I honestly have to say that the Island Creek Oyster Bar by Fenway Park is without a doubt, my favorite spot for oysters in Boston.

My daughter’s nickname is Lulu so it felt fitting to end our little visit to Boston with Lulu’s Sweet Shop. They offer homemade desserts and ice cream of all kind. We decided to go with the cupcakes and ice-cream, and both were delicious. After a fun-filled summer day outdoors in Boston, we were exhausted called it a night pretty early. I love that Boston is kid-friendly and only a 45-minute hop from us by plane. It remains one of my favorite US cities to spend time in during the summer, and I am happy that the little ones seemed to have enjoyed it as much as I have.

What are your favorite places to visit for a quick trip with kids?

Full disclosure: I did receive complimentary tickets to the Boston Children’s Museum and complimentary cupcakes at Lulu’s Sweet Shop courtesy of Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism. All opinions and stories are my own.