MY grandchildren's recent visit showed me that Boston is a really fun place for young children. The 3-year-old and 5-year-old are desert dwellers from Arizona, but their itinerary captured a part of Boston that families will find fascinating.
On the Duck Tour whether they were "quacking" at passersby around Boylston Street and the Public Garden or diligently obeying the rules of the "no quack zone," they listened attentively and learned about Boston's role in the founding of our country. What other city can so creatively package entertainment, history, and the excitement of riding in a vehicle that casually drives into a river?
They still hadn't had enough of Boston's waterfront, so on to the harbor (by the T, of course). The luncheon cruise around Boston Harbor was a highlight of their day. While they learned about Boston's history as a city created from the sea, they were captivated by the activity in the harbor: other excursion boats, commuter boats, cargo ships, working dockside cranes, the USS Constitution, and airplanes screeching overhead as they took off and landed from Logan. On a very hot day, the cool harbor breeze and the chance to sit and have an icy drink were especially appealing to the grown-ups.
The Children's Museum, with its interactive play zones, is a perennial favorite for the kids. A four-story maze greets you at the entrance and leads to a magical land where a child gets the chance to play storekeeper, farmer, shopper, construction worker, pilot, and other make-believe roles.
No matter the season, the age of the kids, and the other family members on the trip, there are always new and interesting adventures to discover and enjoy in Boston.
Pat Moscaritolo is president and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
