Spring weather is just around the corner and if you’re like me, you’re looking forward to warmer temps and you’re itching to get outside and explore with your family. I wanted to share with you a few of our local favorite activities and hopefully inspire you to try something new this season. We are a family of five, including a 10 year old boy, an 8 year old girl and a 2 year old boy — and we all have very different interests! This wide age range can sometimes be a challenge, but these activities are fun for everyone.
- Watch the Marathon! It doesn’t matter if you know someone who is participating or not — you can’t help but feel inspired as you cheer on thousands of runners. This year, the marathon will take place on April 17th. This activity always tops my list because marathons hold a special place in my heart.
Cara’s TIP: It’s fairly easy to park and find a place to watch the race along the route in downtown Wellesley. It’s not quite the same as being at the finish line in Back Bay, but the atmosphere is still super fun and there are plenty of places to get coffee, grab lunch and go to the bathroom (key with young children!).
2. Go for a ride on the Swanboats – Heading downtown for a visit to the swan boats is always a great activity with young children. The train ride into Boston is a fun adventure in itself. The actual swan boat ride is short and sweet, the tickets are inexpensive, and the wait to ride is rarely very long. This year, the swan boats open for the season on April 15th!
Cara’s TIP: It’s just a short walk from the Swan Boats over to visit the Mallards at the Make Way for Ducklings statues at the Public Garden. Don’t miss grabbing a cute picture of your little ones with these famous ducks! If the weather is great and you’re up for a longer walk, you can always head over to the Rose Kennedy Greenway to get some ice cream and take a ride on the Carousel!
3. Boston Public Market – A relative newcomer on the scene (Opened in 2015), the Boston Public Market is an indoor, year round marketplace near the Haymarket T stop where you can find amazing produce, meat, eggs, fish, bread, baked goods, and specialty foods. YUM!
I have always wished I was an amazing gardener and/or chef, but I haven’t focused enough time and energy on these things to really become great at them…..yet. In the meantime, I love to visit the Boston Public Market for an easy way to taste a variety of all the best foods the city has to offer, no gardening or sautéing required. 🙂
Cara’s TIP: Be sure to check out the upcoming events at The Kitchen where there are a variety of activities such as hands on cooking classes, family cooking nights (hello, Taco Tuesday!) and Kids in the Kitchen classes during April vacation.
4. Drumlin Farm Have you ever gotten up close and personal with a newborn goat or pig? Well, here’s your chance. Springtime is the best time to visit Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, Massachusetts because we get to see the baby farm animals in all their cute and fuzzy glory…! Getting a membership to the Mass Audubon Society is well worth the $65 fee, granting you access to Drumlin Farm as well as about 50 other amazing locations in the area.
At Drumlin Farm, you can experience life on a working farm and explore a wildlife sanctuary at the same time. Watch the pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, and cows in the farmyard; see how crops are sustainably grown; walk the trails to observe plants and animals in their native settings; and observe resident owls, a fox, and deer in the native wildlife exhibit.
Cara’s TIP: Be sure to stop at Dairy Joy in Weston, MA on your way home for lunch for some onion rings and soft serve ice cream!
5. Get out the bikes, the scooters, the rollerblades (or the push around buggies)! Boston Magazine has put together this fantastic list of the Best Bike Paths in and around the city and it’s our go-to list for a fun weekend ride. Our favorite is the Minuteman trail, which is 11 miles long running from Arlington to Bedford and is also super flat (great for those that aren’t so steady on a bike just yet).
Charlie is ready to roll….!!
Cara’s TIP, park in Lexington (at the Depot Square Lot) in the morning and head out towards Bedford. By the time you get back, you’ll have worked up a nice appetite and can have lunch in Lexington Center (perhaps at the very kid friendly Bertucci’s within walking distance of the parking lot).
BONUS: Book a photo session with your favorite photographer! OK you know I’m biased, but I couldn’t help mentioning this one. We are heading into some the most beautiful weeks in Boston and there are so many gorgeous spots with blooming flowers. Spring is a truly spectacular time to update your family photos!! Never had professional photos taken before? Read about what it’s like to have a photo session with me or get in touch to find out more!
Cara Soulia is a Boston Newborn & Family Photographer living in Needham, MA. Cara is a mom of three and loves to get out of the house (so her kids don’t drive her crazy with their whining and fighting) and explore hidden gems in and around the lovely city of Boston, Massachusetts.