Spring Activities near Boston We Can’t Wait To Do with Kids

We’re always delighted to welcome spring back to Boston each year. It’s the season when everything comes alive and every day brings a small and wonderful surprise. The city’s green spaces are vibrant centers of color and activity, and it’s the perfect time to get outdoors with the kids to reconnect with nature on a farm or at a park. Here are our picks for the best spring activities with kids around Boston to look forward to this season.

For even more ideas for making the most of the season, check out our Boston spring fun guide.

Spring Activities in Boston

2. Just like us, animals are coming out of hibernation, so take your kiddos to get wild out one of our great local zoos!

3. Join the quest to see whales frolic in their natural habitat on a whale-watching cruise. 

 

Seeing spring in bloom is a great activity for kids. Photo courtesy of the Arnold Arboretum

4. See the gorgeous spring blooms and hike the rolling hills at Arnold Arboretum.

5. Spend a spring afternoon touring Fenway Park and get excited for a new season.

6. Take the kids to one of Boston’s Playgrounds for brain-boosting fun!

Spring Activities Near Boston

7.. Get the first sweet taste of spring at a maple sugaring festival or farm.

8. Explore the hiking trails, observe baby animals, and hop around a natural playscape at Drumlin Farm.

9. Find some holiday joy at an Easter Egg hunt or festival in the area.

10. Visit, feed, pet—and sometimes even hold!—animals at a petting zoo. 

11. Challenge the family to a game of putt-putt at one of these great mini golf courses. Most are open by late spring.

13. Get out for opening day of one of the Great New England theme parks.

14. It may not be time to swim quite yet but you can still pack up the shovels and buckets and spend a day at the beach to dig, explore, and play.

15. Have your cake and sunshine, too: Dine al fresco at a kid-friendly restaurant with outdoor seating. 

16. Explore our beautiful local trails with an easy hike around Boston with your kids.

 

They’ll scream for an oversize cone from Greater Boston’s ice cream stands. Photo courtesy of Kimball Farm

17. Don’t wait until summer to get your first licks in! Visit an ice cream farm stand and treat your littles to a cone. Most open up for the season in the spring.

18. Watch the sheep head over to the baa-baa shop at the 36th Annual Sheepshearing Festival (April 22, 2023).

Spring Activities To Do at Home

19. Surprise your kids with a fun April Fool’s Day prank.

20. Have some family fun in the back yard with 40 classic outdoor games!

21. Get in some hands-on outdoor learning with 20 outdoor activities in nature.

Originally published in 2016 and updated annually