I have family visiting for Patriots' Day weekend and the Boston Marathon. Monday will be busy with the Marathon. But Saturday and Sunday offer some opportunities to explore Boston and the surrounding areas. What are your suggestions for activities/places to visit that children 2, 4 and 6 would enjoy and would give a flavor of Boston, Lexington, Concord? There's lots to do but it's been a while since I designed a good "tour" for children. Help!

Children's Museum

Make way for the ducklings & Swan Boats in Public Garden

Franklin Park Zoo or Stone Zoo

Aquarium

Lexington/Concord - see what interests you at the Minuteman historic site:
http://www.nps.gov/mima/

Hands-on animals/petting area at Durmlin Farm in Lincoln
http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Co...Farm/index.php

Huge sculpture park and green area at DeCordova in Lincoln
http://www.decordova.org/

Are the Duck Tours running? We had several kids on our boat that loved it - you get a land tour and water tour, and they let children drive the boats. The kids all got duck whistles, which they really seemed to love. The Public Garden was great too.

Duck Tours should be running by then, however, I've read reports here that they aren't really good for young children as the tours are long and you cannot get off. Since the OP mentioned a 2 year-old, I didn't suggest Duck Tours because of that.

No swan boats that time of year...

Send the parents to explore and babysit one night!

http://www.swanboats.com/schedules.php

Opening Day

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Excellent yk!!!!

Most excellent!!!

Somehow I thought the season for the Swans had been shortened. Is it longer, or is it that I just think it should be longer on weekends into October for the tourists during those heavenly Indian Summers?

I'm usually strolling the Gardens sometime as they are preparing the Swans and thoight it was a bit later.

Go on the Swans! When do Romeo and Juliet arrive and the white duck?

I don't know, gyppie. But I always have the impression that everything *starts* opening up around Patriot's Day.

For the OP, that time period is some magnificent Magnolia blooms in Boston. Just stroll down Commonwealth Ave from the Public Gardens... Here are a few pics I took on last year's Patriot's Day weekend:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...8/IMG_1148.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...8/IMG_1144.jpg

Another cool place to visit is the Arnold Arboretum. I'm sure it'll be full of spring blooms as well.
http://arboretum.harvard.edu/visitors/visitors.html

We had a two-year old on our tour; he was having a blast and tooting his little quacking duck whistle the entire time, so maybe good for kids, but not for adults - lol!

They might like it if you gave them "Make Way for Ducklings" before they go to the Public Garden to see the little statues.

Very good suggestions above, though note that our local zoos are not well kept up and the Franklin Park Zoo is furthermore in a bad part of town. There's also the Museum of Science.

Take advantage of the timing of their visit in Boston, because they will be here for Patriot's Day, there are a lot of activities going on in the Lexington/Concord/Minutement Trail area involving the reenactment of the battle. People are in costume with their muskets, etc and they march with the fife and drums, etc. They also set up the area with "campsites" and children(and adults) can go visit the tents and talk to the different actors in character. It is quite fun and informative. We live in Boston and finally had a chance to attend the annual event that they hold in Lexington last year and it was GREAT. It almost feels surreal to watch, as if you are literally a witness to history. All the above suggestions are also great but they can also do all that at any other time whereas this event only happens during Patriot's Day. They also have a lot of Patriot's Day related events in Faneuil Hall and State House on Saturday and Sunday. I think the cityofboston.gov website will have all that info or at least do a look-up on Patriot's Day.

I grew up in boston and my mom is OBSESSED with the minute man/Lexington/"shot heard around the world" park.... Its a bit of a hike out of the city though but i swear she takes everyone there. They've got a mini museum and some walkways... I haven't been in a while.

Prudential building is always fun... great view

For those ages I think the Children's Museum and Aquarium are great. I know I always loved them as a very young child... they were my favorite spots in Boston. If they hear/read the Make Way for Ducklings story a visit to the statues would be nice, too. The duck tour would be great, too, but you can judge if they have the patience to sit through it.

The history is great, but can be tough for children so young. They often do not understand it all and if reenactments are going on it can be quite scary. We bring 4th graders to a reenactment and seeing the musket and cannon fire can still make a few start to cry... so I imagine it might be tougher with a 2 year old.

I second the note that the zoo is in a bad part of town. I do not recommend going there, really, just because it is risky. Odds are you'd be fine, but is it worth taking the chance?