We are going to Boston in November to visit my SIL and her family. We've been there several times at different times of the year and done the usual things (Children's Museum, Aquarium, Science Museum, wandering around Cambridge, Newberry Street, the Commons, etc.).

We are considering a duck tour but that will depend on the weather.

Any other ideas off the beaten path that might appeal to our 6yo DD?

Thanks.

maybe a tour of the USS Constitution. I took my daughters when they were around that age and they still remember it.

Sturbridge Village or Plimouth Plantation are also possibilities.

But somethings are worth second visits - like the Children's museum. Kids that age love repetion as I am sure you know.

The Museum of Science also is worth re-visiting, since they not only have new exhibits, but kids' appreciation of each exhibit or live presentation changes as they mature. Plus, you can catch the Duck tour at the museum!

Plimouth Plantation is great. I even saw it on PBS one night. And nearby is Plymouth Rock (not much to see) and a replica of the Mayflower.

If you go outside the city to Plimoth Plantation, look at adding the Jenny Grist Mill - it is the oldest in the U.. - my kids loved it when they were small -

www.jennygristmill.com

In Boston: Walk down Charles Street (stop for something in the french cafe - Cafe Vanille and go into some of the cute store she might like - Black Ink (www.blackinkboston.com) they have cute and different items and children's toys, etc - or into Rugg Road which has gorgeous paper- don't know if they have a web page butb euatiful papers if she likes art projects, etc.

then walk over the pedestrian walkway to the Charles River - kids get a kick out of walking 'over the highway' sometimes - and you can see the hatch shell, Museum of Science from there and look down the other way to Longfellow Bridge, etc - if is fun just to walk along the Charles if weather is good -

Boston by Little Feet
www.bostonbyfoot.com

has special kids tours

Have you taken her out on Boston Harbor to one of the Islands? George's, etc - some of the offerings end in November, but you can check -
check out if they still run the one that takes you through the locks and into the Charles River - it is fascinating to kids to go through the locks, see the water rise/fall, the bridges open, the train go by, etc -
www.bostonharborcruises.com

and www. bostonharborislands.org

If she likes theater, see if the Wheelock Family Theater is running one of their kid shows -

Franklin Park Zoo is much better than it had been in the past, and has the butterfly exhibit as well

If she likes art, see if the Museum of Art and the Isabella Steward Gardner are running any of their family kid craft/art projects - they are wonderful.

for the Georges, etc -

I felt like a 6 year old girl when I went to the Harvard Museum of Natural History and saw "world famous" glass flower specimens (3000 on display).

http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/permanen...bits/index.php

The museum also features weird taxidermy animals including species which no longer exist, in part because the hunting of them for museum specimens rendered them extinct.

The museum is itself a preserved artifact of the enthusiasm for collecting and discovery in the late 19th and early 20th century scientific community.

It may be more interesting for those of us who remember such musty museums with fondness, but it could be a successful rainy day activity.

I like spending time in the Harvard bookstore, too, and always buy my young friends Harvard pencils and folders, just for fun.

I believe that both the Duck Tours (I'm not sure) and the butterfly exhibit (I'm sure) at the Franklin Park Zoo are closed in November, but the zoo is open and the Rainforest Exhibit is worth a look. Even if it's just to get into the nice warm humid (and smelly) air.

The USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) is undergoing restoration and is not very interesting at the moment. The Constitution Museum is interesting though and has a children's section.

Holiday activities may be up and running depending on the dates in Nov. Frog Pond Skating, tree lighting, window decorations, etc.

Thanks for all the great ideas - keep them coming!

Boston By Foot looks very interesting, too bad they are only open through October - we'll save that for another trip!

I didn't realize the butterfly exhibit closed, but I thought the rainforest closed in August !! Guess best to check the web site but as said, the zoo is worth it even if some exhibits are closed - unless you are going to compare it to some world class zoos, and then you will be disappointed

Have you done the Freedom Trail? When my kids were little, I used to make them little notebooks to take with them on trips - and on each page was a glued photo of a famous statue or landmark or building, etc - and then they'd have to keep their eyes open to find it and write something about it or take their own photo of it with their camera to add to the page -

maybe something like that and look up freedom trail on line - www.thefreedomtrail.org - and pick things and places you will pass (the map is online) and make your own journey that would appeal to her - like finding Mother Goose gravestone in the Granary, that type of thing -

Does she like to climb? Maybe you can still climb the Bunker Hill Monument for a great view and she would have fun just counting the steps -

or, Prudential Skywalk Observatory and historical exhibit - that's a great view -

HOw about trip to Salem or out to Lincoln to Drumlin Farm and see on their website if they have anything interesting / activities for kids while you are here -

www.bostoncentral.com

so now while eating pizza, my son is remembering things he and his sister liked in town -

walking in the North End, looking at all the pastry shops, getting a cookie in this one and a slice of pizza in another and another dessert in another and going up and down the windy streets and the Old North Church and the bell ringing and Paul Revere's House - then walking down to the waterfront and having me tell them for the thirtieth time the story of the Great Molasses Flood and playing on the waterfront (which is even better now with Columbus Park)

Harvard Square

DeCordova Sculpture Park (not in Boston)

Bowling

Sheer Madness or Blue Man Group

Boston Pops for kids: they used to have matinees especially for the kids that were fabulous (and clearly they remember !)

don't forget the children's museum

" didn't realize the butterfly exhibit closed, but I thought the rainforest closed in August !!"

The rainforest exhibit (with gorillas) is one of the zoo's newest and largest permanent exhibits, whereas the butterflies are in a very seasonal giant screen house that can't house temperature-sensitive insects in the fall and winter.