I have a 4 year old and a 1 yr old that will be traveling with me and my husband while he's at a Conference in Boston in late September 2004. The kids and I plan on flying down to Virginia to visit my parents during the conference but afterwards, we will fly up to Boston to see the sights, etc. with my husband.

We already have read a lot about the city and have visited once before. We plan on going to the Children's Museum but wonder if anyone has any other suggestions including kid-friendly dining places.

Also, I'm interested in going to Salem, but wonder how it would be with taking the kids.

Also, any suggestions on places to stay outside of Boston as we are also thinking of driving out and exploring Massachusetts...would Cape Code, Martha's Vineyard, etc. be ok for our family to go to?

thanks for your help!

The Science museum is another fun place for kids (there's a preschool area for under 5's which looks great), as is the aquarium. There is a great playground in Boston common that the 4 year old will love- if it's warm enough you might want to pack a swimsuit- there are some water fountain type things that the kids can play in.

As for kid-friendly eating places, we've eaten at Legal seafoods at Copley Place mall with our (then 2 yo and 4yo) and had no problems. I hear Jasper White's summer shack (also at Copley Sq) is quite child-friendly (loud and casual).

Have a great trip

I would suggest Cape Cod over MV for kids - if you get good late Sept weather it might still be beach weather. Many of the more tacky but kid-appealing attractions close soon after Labor Day, though (arcades, bumper boats, trampoline farms, etc.) There is a petting zoo in Brewster - don't know when it closes. MV is reat, especially in Fall - but not as much for kids to do.

I recommend against trying to find an "outside of Boston" base and trying to do Cape Cod as a day trip - too long in the car.

In Boston, kids would also like the New England Aquarium and Museum of Science. September is a good time to visit museums since school trips have usually not crowded-up the museums yet.

Heartily recommend the Duck Tour..it takes you on a tour of Boston and the Charles River. the Captain usually gives the little ones a chance to drive the boat and are very comical.... it is definetely a "must do" also there are the Swan Boats in the Public Garden. it won't be worthwhile going to Salem...it's very tacky and it's a bit too far for the little ones..

The Franklin Park Zoo is not a world class zoo but it is fine for kids. My children enjoy it and I take our elementary school on a field trip there every year. They have a playground and a petting area. Castle Island is a good place to enjoy the outdoors, run around, have an ice cream, and watch the planes. There is a halfway decent playground by the Aquarium. Don't remember the name but it is to the right as you leave the Aquarium. Walk a short distance and you will be there.

I had a 1 and 4 year old not too long ago and am a Boston resident (kids are now nearly 3 and 6). This is what I would advise, considering car time with a 1 year old and boredom potential for both kids: While in Boston definitely do the Children's Museum, Aquarium and Museum of Science. They each can be the perfect afternoon activity or morning activity. I'd possibly tool around on the MBTA water taxi from Boston Harbor to Charlestown (goes right by Old Ironsides) for the kids. Fare's cheap and they'd love the ride. Even the Franklin Park Zoo if you've got the time. Post Boston, I would make a short trip to Concord (it's just a 30 minute ride but you feel so out-in-the-country) and stay at the Colonial Inn (semi-nice, very old and historic and right in town-very child friendly). Concord's got loads of open spaces, canoeing (South Bridge), playgrounds, farms (Verrill), petting zoos (there's one out in Lincoln-Drumlin Farm is the name) and a quaint village filled with child and family friendly restaurants.

I think the Cape is awfullly ambitious with a 1 year old (traffic can be a nightmare for any age) and if you don't know the inside scoop on some highlights that aren't tacky that the kids would enjoy they're awfully hard to find.

Salem's okay....lots of references to the witch trials, historic port with some old ships and lots of colonial homes. Nathaniel Hawthorne's House of Seven Gables is there too and the Peabody-Essex Museum is lovely but this isn't exactly stimulating stuff for the kidlets. If you're interested in heading north and beaching it, I'd suggest Rockport or Gloucester (Wingersheak Beach is nice or Crane's or Plum Island). They are two very scenic, historic ports with lots to see and do.

The Public Garden has the swan boats and the Make Way for Ducklings statues. If you are not familar with this classic book by Robert McCloskey (sp?), buy it/borrow it before your trip and read it to your kids. Its a charming story about a family of ducks making their way from the Charles River up Charles Street to the Public Gardens. After getting the kids familar with the story at home, bring the book with you on your trip and take the kids on a picnic in the Public Garden, ride the Swan boats and play on the statues. You can sit and read the book again and it will be as if you are sitting in the middle of the illustrations. Bring a camera as there are lots of photo ops. You'll have a relaxing day and the kids will love it. I did this with my kids at this exact age and the older of the two still remembers even though she's nearly a teenager now.

If they need a bit more activity, cross the street to the Common and head toward the Frog Pond. There's a decent playground nearby. And when they're pooped, put them in the stroller and head for a lovely walk down Newbury Street for some window shopping.

Enjoy Boston, its a great city.

Make sure you stay in a hotel with a pool. Nothing like a pool for kids on vacation.

PS - Kids at this age don't need museum after museum. Take them to the Children's Museum and that should be plenty.