Boston with a toddler in January
 

Hi there! We are planning to tag along on DH's business trip in January to Boston. We'll probably be there about 10 days or more and will be staying downtown in a Residence Inn or something similar. Can anyone recommend any indoor activities? I've been to the aquarium before and will definately take my 3-yr-old son there, but am a little stumped on the rest. Any tips on getting around with a stroller? Subway vs. driving/parking? Children's Museum? Here in MN, we have a couple of indoor parks, and some malls have play areas... anything like that in Boston? What do local moms do for outings in the winter? I'd really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

The children's museum will have completed its reonovations by then. It is located just across Fort Point Channel from the Downtown area (financial district). It's a short walk, across a bridge from South Station.

There is also a Science Museum in Cambridge, just across the Charles River from Beacon Hill. There's a subway station nearby here too.

In the Back Bay area there are two indoor shopping centers, connected by a indoor walkway over Huntington Avenue. They're called Copley Place (I think) and The Prudential Center, and they have all kinds of shops and restaurants, all indoors and are reachable by both Back Bay and Prudential subway stations) There's also an observation deck on top of the Pru.

If you're from Minnesota, you'll have no problem with our winter weather!! Good luck.

Most kid-friendly shopping malls are more suburban things in Boston area. The ones in Back Bay feature more upscale shops with little to interest little kids.

Unfortunately, there is not a Residence Inn type hotel that I know of that is immediately downtown. Although I am the prime cheerleader here for staying right in downtown, for that amount of time with a 3 year old, I might even suggest a slightly more suburban location, rent a car, and let your husband commute into city each day - you could drive him to train/subway and then keep the car. That would open up more possibilities for Boston in winter.

Depending on weather, strollers are tough in winter in Boston. While great improvements have been made recently for access for those with disabilities (curb cuts, pavement - the same tyhpe of things that are stroller-friendly), you still have the issue of snow banks, slush, ice - all that winter yuckiness you are well familiar with.

In Boston, in addition to above mentioned museums, try skating at Frog Pond (Boston Common). Boston Common and Public Gardens provide enough running around room.

Gail's right, the malls in Boston don't have many kid friendly areas. The only mall I know of that has a play area for children is the Natick Mall (I think it's now being called the Natick collection). It's about 15 miles west of the city, they've been adding quite a few new stores such as Nordstrom and Neiman's so it might be worth a visit.

The Children's Museum and the Museum of Science are good bets. The MOS is right by the Galleria Mall, you could have lunch there and kill some time.

My toddler considers the kids section of the Barnes& Noble Bookstore in the Prudential Center as a play area (we always come away with at least two or three books too), but the above posts are right about the downtown malls not having designated play areas.
I personally think that isn't a problem though. Kids can improvise with their surroundings when they play, and the best surroundings are in town, IMO.

That said, the Atrium Mall in Chestnut Hill does have a kids play area, and free covered parking underground. It is located just outside Boston on Route 9. From Back Bay, just head outbound on Huntington Avenue and keep going! Not to be confused with the Chestnut Hill Mall nearby.

Thank you guys so much! That is exactly what I was looking for! I'll be checking here until we leave, so if anyone thinks of anything else, let me know.

re: Ralphie's post, I just wanted to say that I think the observation deck at the Pru is closed. (Does anyone have more current info?)

When I was little growing up in Brookline (adjacent to Boston), my mother would take us to the Children's Museum, the Aquarium, and the Science Museum. I can still remember pieces of some of those trips, and I couldn't have been more than five years old! She also took us to the art museums: Harvard has a great collection with a variety of interests, and of course there's the MFA and the ICA. If you're interested in art, you can inspire your son, too! And don't forget the library: the main branch of the BPL at Copley Square has a great children's section.

Closer to your dates, check out Boston.com to see what kid-friendly shows might be in the area at that time!

re ggreen's post. Good childrens suggestions.

Pru center website *implies* that its skywalk observatory is open.
http://www.prudentialcenter.com/shop...tail.php?id=64

The nearby Hancock tower is the one that closed permanently shortly after 9-11-01, I believe.

Good to see that the Pru observatory is still open to the public. I must have gotten mixed up in my memory with the John Hancock tower! :)