Boston Children’s Museum
add photos$1 Friday Nights sponsored by Target are offered every Friday from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
25 Reviews for Boston Children’s Museum
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'10, '11, '12
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"Stay the whole day "
My sister lives in Boston, so I've gotten to taken my son as a 2, 3, 4 and 5 year old. It's fun every single time. He's all boy, so the construction zone and the recycle shop are two of his favorite areas.
Tips:
- If you're a MA resident, check and see if your library is one of the 180 libraries who participate in the Half Price Discount Program.
- Friday nights from 5-9pm are $1 admission
- Half off admission ($6 per person) from 4-5pm Saturday – Thursday.
- Lunch is expensive and the lines at Au Bon Pain and the Milk Jug are usually LONG! Pack a lunch, there are lots of tables outside along the river. Otherwise, the Au Bon Pain next door does accept phone orders, so call ahead and get your order in before the rush. 617-542-0412
- If you're up for a little stroll, head over to flour (12 Farnsworth St., Boston MA 02210). It's a delicious cafe with freshly baked goods and organic sandwiches. Treat yourself to an oven-baked asparagus and potato torte or chicken and brie sandwich. Then finish it all off with a slice of boston cream pie of course!
- Start with the top floor and work your way down. Most folks start at the beginning and work their way up.
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"Best kids museum on the East Coast"
This place has something for everyone. If you have toddlers, escape to the under 3 yo space. The plays are fun too, sit up front if you think your kids might want to participate in the show, they usually ask for 4-5 volunteers. Go early when it opens, or end of day- after 3 if you want to avoid the big mid day crowds.
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"Premium Playtime"
I just visited this museum in July with my 9 year old daughter. I am not from Boston but found that I was able to use my Burlington, Vermont ECHO Membership to gain free access to this museum (savings = $24.00). So make sure you ask about reciprocity if you have a membership to your hometown museum.
I can’t say enough about this amazing museum. From the moment we walked in we were both visually drawn in. Immediately past ticketing, in the Atrium, kids can’t help but want to head straight for the three story climbing sculpture. My 9 year-old had no problem weaving in and out of the spaces and making her way to the top. But I saw kids of all ages mastering the task.
After that we spent several hours wandering through the museum seeing 3 floors of exhibits that included a very cool Arthur & Friends town setting, Kid Power, Peep’s World (sand and water tables), The Construction Zone and the new exhibit: The Wizard of Oz. Personally, I was glad that I had only taken my my 9 year-old daughter. I felt like the museum was a bit too juvenile for my 12 year-old son.
There are a few things worth noting that we observed but didn’t take advantage of. On the second floor there is a special Play Space designed for kids 0-3. There is a very cool Countdown to Kindergarten exhibit. From the mock school bus to the model classroom, this area is sure to help with the transition for the first day of school. On the first floor there is a large lunchroom. You can bring your own lunch or buy from the adjacent Au Bon Pain.
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"Wonderful!"
I was taken here planty of times as a child and quite pleased to see how awesome it still is as an adult. Much to my happiness, my daugther loves it as much as I did and we try to make the trip every couple of months. Some exhibits are changed every few months while others are updated with the same concept from when I was a child, however, you'll never tire of anything. A MUST-SEE!
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"Fun for all ages!"
We love going to the Boston's children museum, they have plenty of fun activities to do! And, you are not just standing around waiting to go, the parents love to do the activities too! You get to learn how some things work, and how to make different things, VERY cool. They also have a really good jungle gym that the kids get to climb through!
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"Children's Museum"
Ive taken my children to the children's museum several times and they absolutely love it. I also enjoy it myself because there are many interesting activites to do and you always learn something new. The only thing I do not like about it is that you have to go into the city but we just take the train in. It is also really affordable and I swear we learn something new everytime. I would highly recommend taking your children there.
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"Huge and fantastic"
There's nothing not to love about this museum. From the great location on the Boston waterfront to the multi-level maze of exhibits, both kids and parents will enjoy spending a day (or more!) here. The 4-story climbing tower is the main attraction upon walking in, but it can get crowded on a busy day. There are water play areas, art spaces, and plenty of exhibits for imaginative play. Depending on your child's attention span, you can easily need more than one day to see everything.
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"Loved it!"
This museum is a gem. Three floors with good variety of activities. It's great for toddlers as well as older children. Everything is hands on. Every room is a new adventure for the kids. It's huge so there is ample room for the kids to play. This place is seriously AWESOME now. Excellent place to take your kids that will tire them out in no time flat.
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"A must visit!"
This museum has something for all ages. There's a special baby/toddler room where kids over a certain age are not 'allowed'. There are a variety of exhibits and some that change too. The shows are great and there are arts and crafts to do as well.
You can get a library discount card or if you belong to another Children's Museum, you can usually get a discount when purchasing your tickets. For a family of 4, the cost would be pretty steep, but you can definitely make a day of it!
Make sure to visit Flour (a bakery a couple blocks away) as well while you're there. There's also the Boston Fire Museum that is close too but only open on Saturdays!
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"HUGE Children's Museum"
WOW! This is by far the biggest Children's Museum I have ever been to. It is three stories, so it can be a bit overwhelming. My toddlers loved the bubble exploration area, water play area and my young toddler enjoyed the area devoted just to little ones. That area also has a nice area for nursing mothers. They also have rotating exhibits and unfortunately we just missed the Curious George Exhibit. Check for military discounts... at the time we went, our whole family got in free because my husband is active duty. We went on President's Day weekend and it was busy.
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"Should Visit!"
When we were in Boston for a business trip, we stopped here. It was WONDERFUL. Everything is hands-on. My children climbed, played with water, pretended to fly planes, starred in a little video, and much much more. Additionally, Target provides a discount for families if you go on a certain day. Check out the Children's Museum's website for more information. If you are in the area, this is one place you don't want to miss!
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"Great Friday Night!"
On Friday nights, they have a deal of only $1 per person! So much to do here and the kids could stay in each room forever! There is something for everyone. Highlights include: the water room, construction room, bubbles, and Grandmother's Attic. Very exciting for all ages.
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"Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!"
We loved our day at the Children's Museum so much we bought a membership at the end of the day! So much for the kids to do that we didn't even get to everything and we were there for 5 hours (1 hour for lunch). I felt like there was a lot for my 1yo to do as well. No restaurants within the museum, so I would probably pack a lunch for us next time and sit outside and eat. There are a few restaurants nearby, so you don't have to walk far. I would also take the "T" next time as it's only a block and a half away. There is parking across the street but is $12. We had a fantastic time and my kids are still talking about it, we will be back for sure!!
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"A real go-to spot for locals and visitors"
We used to live in the Boston suburbs and made regular trips in town for this museum. A little pricey if you're doing a single trip, but if you're planning a few trips over the course of a year, the membership is a GREAT deal. Plus, you can count on everything within the museum being included -- no additional charges for any exhibits or activities.
Little ones love the dedicated room for 0-3s. Lots of opportunity for pretend play, climbing, and adventure in a safe, confined room. They even have storytellers and music at times (check the schedule). A crawlers-only section was a huge hit with my littlest one...soft toys, mirrors, and baby-safe fun.
Other parts of the museum let kids explore sound, wind, recycling, building, bubbles, motion, and more. Areas for bigger kids can be a bit crowded at times, but there always seems to be enough to do. Regular craft and building break outs let your little one engage in a guided creative activity with something to bring home, at no extra charge.
For the bold explorers, a 3-story climbing structure dominates the middle of the museum. What fun!
On-street parking is tough, but there's discounted parking at one of the nearby garages. Be sure to take in Flour bakery and cafe (right across from the discounted garage) -- a treat for the grownups as well as kids!
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"Highly recommended"
This is a great place for kids and families. We first went here when our boys were 3. They love it each time we go. Try to get your library passes to save on ticket prices, or some other form of discount. Friday nights are only $1.00 after 5:00pm!
Parking is usually around $10.00 if you find a lot close by. The museum is a short walk from there.
There are so many different things for the kids to do, and it's safe! There are 3-4 levels, which you can access by stairs or elevator.
You could spend 2 hours, or 4 hours, and have a great time!
Not only are there different exhibits to look at, much of it is hands on for the kids. And, they have climbing and jumping activities so the kids can work off some of their energy.
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"Children's Museum"
This museum is a must see if you are in the area. We spent an entire day here and saw almost everything. There is so much for the children to do and see and play with. We especially loved the bubbles. I highly recommend this museum. The exhibits change, so the next time you go back it can be a new adventure
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"Definitely worth a visit!"
There are lots of hands-on and interactive exhibits to explore at the Boston Children's Museum. Compared to kids' museums that our family has visited recently in the So Cal area, I was very impressed with the exhibits that BCM had to offer. We didn't even have a chance to see all of it! It is very family friendly and educational as well. The highlight for my son was the golf ball ramp exhibit in the Science Playground. There are a couple of food options right outside the museum, including Au Bon Pain and the Hood Milk Bottle Stand.
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"Exciting and entertaining"
The Children's museum is always a blast. We go with tickets from the library that decrease the price, so I recommend checking with your local library to see if they have tickets available. I have 4 kids ranging from 7-13 and they all enjoy the museum and the hands on activities. They are learning with out even realizing it! Make sure you bring your camera, you will want to remember the smiles on their faces forever!
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"Great place to visit"
this place is great for the kids. It is one of the best children's museum I have ever been too. The best thing is that Friday nights after 5pm its only $1. It is also open the day after t-giving. Its a great place to visit in the city of Boston. They have a play space for infants/toddlers as well.
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"Must Not Miss This When in Boston"
We spent an amazing Sunday afternoon at BCM (2009). Tip: start at the top / third floor and work your way down... definitely save the climbing structure for just before you leave. Very family friendly, so much to see, play, learn! When I asked our 4 yo son what his fav part was: "All of it, Mommy, all of it!"
Returned in 2010 with Dad ~ enjoyed T ride, yummy breakfast at Clink (former jail; cool place, pricey) then spent entire Saturday here.
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