How can you have a fun April school vacation week without breaking the bank? If you’re in New England, it’s easy.
Greater Boston is full of fun, fascinating and affordable (often free) activities to make this break feel like one you went all out for. Consider these budget-friendly adventures. Your kids – and your wallet – will thank you.
The Freedom Trail: Chances are, your kids (and you) have never walked the entire Freedom Trail in Boston, or even a decent part of it. There’s a reason why visitors to the city flock to it; it’s interesting, fun and very pretty.
The Freedom Trail’s 2.5-mile walking path begins at Boston Common (though you can pick it up at any point) and brings you up close to 16 historical sites like the Old North Church, Paul Revere House, famous cemeteries and the Bunker Hill Monument (climb it if you dare!)
Tickets for guided tours are reasonable – $17 for adults and $8 for children – but try it the budget friendly way: Ask each family member to study the trail section you plan on taking, choose a site they are interested in, research it at their age-appropriate level, and assign them the job of giving you the tour of that spot.
Pack a picnic lunch and eat on the grassy Common or Rose Kennedy Greenway. For a special treat, pop into the Boston Public Market (https://bostonpublicmarket.org/) and buy a local-sourced lunch for your picnic, or grab some Red Apple Farm fresh made cider doughnuts; affordable and totally New England.
Boston From Up High: Bring the family to the top of the Prudential Tower’s View Boston observation deck. While adult tickets clock in at $29, kids are just $13 (5 and under free). You’ll take in indoor and outdoor observation decks, interactive exhibits and more.
Best of all, the kids will get the best view of Boston – and beyond – they may have ever seen. Bonus fun: Have each child choose a Boston landmark they’d like to spot and then encourage them to find it on the skyline.
Shipping is free: The USS Constitution, America’s oldest commissioned warship that is still afloat, sits in the Charlestown Navy Yard in all its glory.
What’s extra cool about that? Touring the historic ship and its accompanying museum is totally free.
Yes, they ask for a donation in kind since they are a non-profit, but no one is denied entry. Old Ironsides was commissioned in October of 1797, and served in just about every battle from then until the Civil War.
On board, you and your kids can learn about how such ships engaged in battle back then, why those wars happened and yes, a lot about defending what was then a very new nation.
Their website has fun – and free– games and apps for kids of all ages to download ahead of time, a great way to get familiar with what you’ll be experiencing. Want to extend the fun? Meander around the Navy Yard where you’ll see the maritime industry in action.
Love that dirty water: Okay, so it’s (thankfully) not so dirty anymore, but the Charles River truly does make one want to sing “Boston: You’re my home.” Walk the Charles River from the Hatch Shell to the bridge across to Cambridge, looping back past the Museum of Science (where you can make a stop should you wish).
You’ll see sailboats, rowing teams in training, birds, cherry blossoms and more. You’ll be in the mix with joggers, dog walkers, sightseers and folks just out for fresh air. You’ll come across playgrounds to frolic at, historic buildings to wonder about and feel very much a part of the center of the city.
It’s busy, boisterous and fun: The Charles is said to be one of the busiest recreational rivers in the world. The walk is flat and doable for just about any age.
The Swan Boats: One of Boston’ most iconic activities, the Swan boats could charge a fortune and still sell out. But lucky us: They vowed to keep the prices down and have. For just $4.75 for adults and $3.25 for children, you’ll be paddled around the Public Garden pond in the same way the Swan Boats have been doing it since 1877 – by a pedaling driver.
It’s practically required to read “Make Way For Ducklings” ahead of time. And while you could spring for a posh lunch with the cash you saved, you can also treat the kids to some of the classics served off of carts around the Public Garden. Now that’s authentic Boston.
