Nantucket with kids: Shearwater Excursions Harbor Cruise

A great introduction to island boat cruises for families, Nantucket’s Ice Cream Harbor Cruise is operated by family-run Shearwater Excursions. Only one hour in length aboard the adorable Minke, the harbor cruise departs from Straight Wharf multiple times daily in the summer season, and true to its name, it includes ice cream! More importantly, it takes you past the harbor and around the coast to views like this:

nantucket-harbor-cruise

We experienced the harbor cruise on a sunny Monday in June with Toby (age 6) and my nephew Homer (age 2). Both dug into their ice cream (brought in by Nantucket’s famed Juice Bar in each guest’s choice of flavor…and yes, adults get some, too) before we’d even left the dock, and were ready to focus on the sights of the harbor by the time we’d steered clear of the luxurious yachts and colorful fishing vessels and made our way along the coast. We were captained by Shearwater Excursions owner Captain Blair Perkins’ son Max (21), who’s been on the water with his family since age nine, and who was a wealth of information on the island, sailing, and, of all things, soccer…a family passion we shared.

The tour takes passengers past the busy harbor and Children’s Beach to the Brant Point Light and Jetties Beach, then back around through open water (during which the kids were invited to steer, much to Toby’s excitement). It was the perfect length for young kids, a beautiful day to be out on the water, and we learned a lot about the island we’d been playing on for the past few days.

Minke-harbor-cruise

If you have early risers, be sure to book one of Shearwater’s Morning Coffee Cruises, which instead of ice cream, serves coffee, muffins, and juice boxes for the kids. A great way to start the day for anyone, this sort of activity is gold for parents who wonder what on earth to do with the kids who wake up early in a (late-sleeping) town like Nantucket!

Tip: Older kids may prefer Shearwater Excusions’ Seal Cruise or Whale Watch!

Date last visited: June 2011

Cost: $30 per person

Hours and cruise times: Cruises depart daily at 10 am, 11:15 am, 1 pm, 2:15 pm, 4 pm, and 5:15 pm. (The early and late ones fill up fastest!)

Website: www.explorenantucket.com

Reservations: Make reservations by calling (508) 228-7037.

Directions: The Minke is docked at slip #1011 on Straight Wharf. It’s easy to find at the end of Main Street.

Summer in the Berkshires: Tanglewood Amphitheater

An afternoon or evening spent enjoying live music in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater at Tanglewood is a great addition to any family vacation in western Massachusetts. Tanglewood is located in the picturesque town of Lenox in the heart of the Berkshires. On a recent visit, we packed our cooler with sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fruit salad, and strawberry shortcake and picnicked the night away while listening to “A Prairie Home Companion”.

Tanglewood-boston-pops

Tanglewood hosts all kinds of events, and is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It is also one of the few truly kid-friendly music venues I’ve been to. The lawn is huge, with plenty of room for energetic kids. The atmosphere is relaxed, and no one seems to mind if their picnic gets interrupted by the occasional soccer ball or wondering toddler. Show times are conducive to young kids too–“A Prairie Home Companion” started at 5:45 and ended with a sing-along at around 7:30/8:00.

Tip: To get the most out of your visit, show up early. We arrived at 4:00 for a 5:45 show, and had plenty of time to eat and explore before the show started. In anticipation of bedtime, we brought pajamas, and ended a blissful evening with a quiet ride home, complete with two sleeping kids in the back seat.

Date last visited: July 2, 2011

Distance from the interstate: Tanglewood is about 10 miles off of I-90/Massachusetts Turnpike.

Hours of operation: Tanglewood is a seasonal venue and operates from June through September. Check out show times and dates on the Tanglewood website.

Admission or ticket prices: If traveling with kids, I strongly recommend getting lawn seats (as opposed to the covered seats in the Koussevitzky Music Shed), which are $21. Kids under 2 are free. An unexpected plus: onsite parking is convenient and free!

Food services: Boxed dinners and picnics can be purchased online ahead of time, and there are two eateries on site (the Tanglewood Café and Grill) but the best (and probably least expensive) way to eat at Tanglewood is to bring your own picnic. People come armed with coolers, lawn chairs, blankets, and even candles for a more romantic dinner.

Contact: (617) 266-1200 or (888) 266-1200

Directions: Tanglewood is located at 297 West Street, Lenox, MA. Full directions can be found on their website.

The New England Aquarium and Boston Children’s Museum

Both The New England Aquarium and the Boston Children’s Museum are perfect half-day activities, especially if the day in question is as cold and rainy as ours was! We decided to spend one afternoon at each, and could have easily spent more time!

rays and sharks

My nephew and niece joined us for our time in Boston, so we had kids aged 8 months to 12 years touring both attractions. We loved the aquarium because it was comprehensive without being overwhelmingly large; only a few signature exhibits dominated, allowing plenty of time to explore the additional dozens of smaller tanks and displays. The aquarium is famous for their penguin habitat, but the highlight for our family was the hands-on sting ray and shark petting tank. This feature gets crowded, but the staff does a good job of monitoring the number of visitors at any one time; all our kids got plenty of chances to touch the marine animals.

At the Boston Children’s Museum, kids enter to see a three-story rope and plank climbing structure twisting its way toward the ceiling, and from there, they hit the ground running. In addition to the New Balance Climb, our older kids spent the most time at the Kid Power exhibits (aimed at kids age 8-12) where they played games of dodgeball on a computer-powered light-up floor, lifted themselves upward by their own power on pulleys and levers, played basketball on funky courts, and challenged themselves on climbing walls.

childrens-museum

The younger members of our group (8 months old, two years old, and five years old respectively) loved the Construction Zone with working mechanisms, building toys, and structural bridges, the community area complete with corner market and barber shop, and the infant play space.

Tip: If you have fair weather, you may want to pair the aquarium with a whale watch (which departs right from the entrance)!

Hours: The aquarium is open 9 am to 5 pm, and the museum is open 10 am to 5 pm, weekdays. On Friday evenings, the museum offers extended hours and discounted prices, and is only $1 from 6 pm to 9 pm!

Admission: Admission to the aquarium is $22 for adults and $15 for kids. The children’s museum is $12 per person (adults and children). If you hold a children’s museum membership card to any museum, be sure to present it! We were given free admission for two adults and two children thanks to our ScienceWorks card from Oregon. Both attractions are also available for discount through Smart Destinations’ using their Go Card USA: Discount Attraction Passes, or with CityPASS (see below for a deal).

Save up to 43% on Boston’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Websites: www.neaq.com and www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org

Directions: The aquarium and children’s museum are located within blocks of one another, on opposite sides of the bay. The aquarium is located at 1 Central Wharf (there’s an easy T stop directly to its door), and the children’s museum is located at 308 Congress Street (right over the Congress Street or Seaport Blvd. bridges).



Boston with kids: walking the Freedom Trail

A must-do when visiting Boston with kids, the Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads to 16 historic sites, every one an important piece of the road to American freedom. I’ve heard of families worrying this tour would be too dull for kids, but we didn’t find that to be true at all! Not every site garners kids’ full attention, but it’s ok to gloss over a few in order to fully investigate the ones that interest your group most. Allow older kids turns navigating along the red brick path and reading aloud about the stops along the way, and you’ll be surprised at how much time they spend learning more.

paul-revere-freedom trail

If you opt to go the self-guided route (which I recommend if you have young kids whose interest may web and wane), you can start and end anywhere, but it’s best to begin at Boston Common. There you’ll find a useful visitor information center, where you can pick up a Freedom Trail booklet with descriptions of the sites you’ll see and a map to mark your progress along the trail.

USS Constitution

The whole trail could take you half a day if you stop to enter the various sites (which you definitely should!) or longer if you also stop for a meal or shopping. The map is useful mostly to alert you to what you’re looking it; the trail is well marked in red brick, so you can’t get lost or go wrong. For our family, the highlights were Paul Revere’s house (which you can tour), the Granary Burying Ground (where many American revolutionaries, signers of the Declaration of Independence, and Ben Franklin’s parents are buried, among others), and the U.S.S. Constitution, moored near the end of the trail (and also open to visitors). In fact, the promise of boarding ‘Old Ironsides’ is what kept Toby (age 6) going for the last half mile or so! Once there, touring the ship is free (though wait times do exist in the middle of the day during high season).

freedom-trail-with-kids

Date last visited: June 2011

Admission costs:The trail is itself is free as well, but you’ll pay small admission prices to visit Paul Revere’s House and the Old State House. (I recommend both, and you can buy a combination ticket.) ‘Walk into History’ tours are also available for $13 for adults, $7 for children if you’d like a guide, but they run 90 minutes and don’t include the whole route (plus may be over the heads of kids 10 and under). Audio guides are great for older kids, however: you can get them for $15 at the Visitor Information Center at Boston Common.

Save up to 43% on Boston’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Tip:A stop at the National Park Service building (across from site of the Boston Massacre near Faneuil Hall) is a must if your kids have National Park Passports to stamp. You can also pick up great maps there.

Website: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

Note: The Freedom Trail has a Kidscore of 85. Learn more about Kidscore.



Boston with kids: Boston Duck Tours

Before visiting Boston, I kept hearing about Boston Duck Tours, and how it was a must-do with kids. Turns out, their reputation precedes them for a reason! This tour is the perfect way to gain an overview of the city while the kids (and adults) are highly entertained. The fun begins as soon as you board your ‘duck’, a W.W.II style amphibious landing vehicle, and are introduced to your ‘conDUCKtor’, who both drives the vehicle and narrates the tour.

boston-duck-tour

The tour takes visitors throughout the city while the conDUCKor points out sights such as the Public Garden, points along the Freedom Trail, Copley Square, the State House, various museums, and historic buildings. Then, well before even young kids can get squirmy, the vehicles drives straight into the Charles River where it floats downstream. The views are wonderful, but even more fun is the amazement of the kids, especially when they’re all given turns at the helm of the ‘boat’.

duck-tour

Our tour, aboard the red, white, and blue (and aptly named) ‘Liberty’, was conducted by ‘Captain Foghorn’, who was lively, funny, and friendly throughout the tour. We were taught how to ‘quack’ at game passersby on the street and other tour vehicles, and the kids were free to blow their ‘quackers’ (duck whistles), which were less annoying than you’d think (but still $4 each). Captain Foghorn peppered his narrative of the city with personal anecdotes, jokes, and current events, keeping adults as entertained as the kids. The total time for the tour is 90 minutes (though a shorter version is available) and all the kids in our group, from age 2-12, called it one of their favorite activities in the city.

duck-tour-quacker

Tip: Plan to arrive at your tour 1/2 hour before departure time, and bring sweatshirts or jackets, as it gets cold on the river!

Date last visited: June 2011

Ticket prices: Tickets are $32 for adults, $22 for kids 3-12, and $10 for under 3. This price seemed steep to me, but after experiencing the tour, I can say it’s worth it! Be sure to get tickets ahead of time online, as they do sell out.

Save up to 43% on Boston’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Hours: Tours depart seven days per week, rain or shine, from mid-March through November. See website for more information or details about the abbreviated tour departing from the New England Aquarium.

Website: www.bostonducktours.com

Directions: When purchasing tickets, visitors have two options of tour start locations, The Museum of Science (1 Science Park) or the Prudential Center in the Back Bay (53 Huntington Avenue). We choose the Prudential Center, and easily found the duck tour booth upstairs, then boarded our vehicle one block away.

As I disclose whenever applicable, our party received complimentary tickets to experience the Boston Duck Tour. While appreciated, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.



Boston with kids: a stay at Marriott’s Custom House

custom-houseMarriott’s Custom House is hands down the most unique Marriott Vacation Club property I’ve ever seen.
Originally built in 1847 as a–you guessed it–custom house for 1/5th of the world’s wealth brought in at the busy harbor, the hotel is one of the most impressive historical buildings in all of Boston, and yet its one-of-a-kind features are seamlessly integrated with Marriott Vacation Club’s commitment to family programs and amenities. My father, with whom we were fortunate enough to share this portion of our trip, put it this way: “You come to Boston for the history, and end up staying in it.”

I fear I cannot adequately describe our Eagle Suite rooms (located on the 21st floor) in order to do them justice. (Photos don’t do them justice, either.) Have I stayed in suites as luxurious? Yes. As luxuriously unique? No. Located near the top of the tower just under the clock face, the two suites on this floor conform perfectly to their surrounds and the integrity of the historic building. The floor-to-ceiling windows look out upon a birds-eye view of the Back Bay, harbor, and Beacon Hill, and the high ceilings and quaint nooks and crannies reminded us were not in the average hotel room (as if the view could make us forget!). The balconies of these suites sit under the shadow of massive stone eagle gargoles standing sentinel, and only four stories up, the four-sided clock face itself serves as a Boston landmark.

custom-house-view

The interior of all Custom House suites feature full kitchens, a separate bedroom, dining space, living space, a large bathroom, and full closets. Carpeted steps led between our rooms and around bends molding to the layout of the tower in which we were housed. Every detail was cared for, from the coffee for the full-sized coffee maker, to the full-sized toaster, to the four chairs surrounding a table actually large enough to sit and eat around. The single caveat: suites only sleep four (though roll-aways are available should your party need more sleeping space), so families of five or more will need two rooms.

custom-house-suite

One of the most unique features of this already unique property is the observation deck on the 26th floor. Available only to guests, this deck is the only outdoor observation area of the city, and offers stunning 360 degree views. It’s closed in inclement weather, but otherwise available at guests’ leisure. On the 2nd floor, museum artifacts from the Peabody Essex Museum in nearby Salem tell the story of the building’s history, and guests can explore the Counting Room where commerce once boomed (and armed guards once patrolled the balcony walks above to ensure fair trade). This room is now used for nightly entertainment and the morning breakfast buffet. The hotel also has a decent-sized fitness facility considering the space available (on the 25th floor) and families have access to the indoor swimming pool (and larger fitness center) across the street at the Custom House’s sister property, Marriott Long Wharf.

The Custom House concierge and activities director, Ellen Silverman, does a fabulous job ensuring there’s something for everyone, every day, in keeping with Vacation Club standards. In addition to the MAZE activity room for the younger set (open with parental supervision all day and located on the 20th floor), the Custom House offers a game room stocked with air hockey, pool, and video games (and complimentary washers and dryers!) right behind the clock face on the 24th floor, a private movie theater with frequent showings, a daily craft for all ages, and nightly entertainment that jives with the historical aspect of the hotel. During our visit, this entertainment took the form of an Irish folk singer one evening (we listened to him in the historic Counting Room) and a costumed historical narrator the next.

counting-room

And then there’s the Custom House’s incredible location. Just two short blocks from the State House (on the Freedom Trail route) in one direction, one block from Faneuil Square and Quincy Market in another, and half a block from the New England Aquarium in yet another, visitors can walk nearly anywhere. Great family dining is abundant in a 2-3 block radius. Oh, and if that’s not enough, a T stop is located just outside the door, which we used extensively.

If you’re coming to Boston to learn about the history of the city, and want somewhere luxurious but also convenient and comfortable for a family, The Custom House is where you want to be. I know I’ll be back.

Room rates: You don’t have to be a Marriott Vacation Club member to stay at The Custom House. (And you can use Marriott Reward Points, too!) Nightly rates vary by season and availability, but the weekend low rate the week we stayed was $339.

Directions: The Custom House is located at 3 McKinley Square. We walked the four short blocks from the Amtrak station during our trip, but driving it is easy, too. From 93 North, take Exit 23. Stay left after tunnel and follow signs to the aquarium. At first traffic light turn left following signs for aquarium. Take a right onto State Street. Hotel is 1st driveway on the left. Taxi fare from Logan International is approximately $30.

As I disclose whenever applicable, I stayed at The Custom House with a significantly discounted media rate. While appreciated, this rate in no way guaranteed a positive review.

Best Beach Towns: What to do with kids in Nantucket, MA

Beachside vacation living on Nantucket, MA

It’s no secret that Nantucket, Massachusetts is a destination beach town for families. It’s been listed in the same breath as Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod as a premiere summer playground for decades. We were lucky enough to see this idyllic island getaway from a local’s perspective, and suggest the following activities, beaches, and shops for families visiting with kids (some may surprise you!):

Where to Play: If you’re visiting with young kids, everyone on-island will point you in the direction of Children’s Beach, located at the end of Harbor View Way, and for good reason. Protected by the harbor, the water is calm and lends itself to easy wading, splashing, and sand castle building. Plus, it boasts a great playground right on the sand and is close to shops and restaurants. Also within walking distance from town, however, is Jetties Beach. With rolling sand dunes, a snack shack, another playground (they’re onto something here!), and both protected and unprotected surf, our kids felt there was more to explore (and loved walking the sandy boardwalk over to the shack for ice cream cones).

When you’re ready for a break from the beach, be sure to check out the Whaling Museum (13 Broad Street). There’s a staffed room just for young kids to try activities and games, and lots of interesting exhibits for the older set (some might be disturbing if you have a whale lover in your group).

Then if you really want to get off the beaten tourist path, head down Madaket Road just past the dump (yes, you read that right) to Turtle Pond. (With older kids, you can easily bicycle here from town.) Are there really turtles here? You bet. And they’re huge. Bring pieces of raw chicken (yes, you read that right, too) to dangle on string as bait, and they’ll rise to the surface to nibble. Needless to say, kids can’t get enough (but keep little fingers out of reach of turtle mouths!).

There are also many walking and home tours offered by the Nantucket Historical Association. Most won’t hold the interest of very young kids, with the exception of the church tower at the First Congregational Church (62 Centre Street). Kids can climb 94 stairs to the top of the tower, which affords beautiful views of the entire town (and most of the island).

Calvin and Nate ready to feed turtles at Turtle Pond.

 

Where to Shop: There’s lots of fun shopping in town, but if you want to keep kids interested, head to The Toy Boat (41 Straight Wharf) and buy a traditional wooden boat (they have everything else you can imagine, too) to sail on nearby Children’s Beach.  Then head to Bookworks (25 Broad Street) to pick out some titles about the island’s maritime history.

Where to Eat: We loved Cap’n Tobey’s Chowder House (20 Straight Wharf) for fast service and a kid-friendly atmosphere. Be sure to stop by The Juice Bar (12 Broad Street) during afternoon or after-dinner strolls through town; they have the best ice cream (and a great selection of Nantucket Nectar juices).

Where to Stay: As hotel prices can get crazy on Nantucket, we opted to stay in a home rental. Most are rented by the week, and there’s an abundance to choose from (reserve early and consider a fall getaway for reduced rates). Our favorite vacation home rental company with a nice selection on Nantucket: Home Away.

Looking for a West Coast beach town? Check out our Great Beach Towns article on Laguna Beach, CA and Bandon, OR!

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation

Between a rock and a hard place at Purgatory Chasm!

198 Purgatory Rd.
Sutton MA

This pit stop submitted by Pit Stops for Kids reader Sonia Beshiri. Thank you, Sonia, for your submission!

Purgatory Chasm State Park runs for a quarter of a mile between granite walls rising as high as 70 feet (just outside of Sutton, MA). It’s a great place to climb natural rock formations, and it’s completely free! There are trails as well. You just need your sneakers/bug spray/sunscreen/water bottle/snack! You can also have a picnic or use their BBQ pits (you’d have to provide the coals). There’s a pavilion for shading, ice cream truck (when we went) across the street, a playground, and more walking trails. I saw forest rangers too. The place gets lots of traffic when there’s great weather.

Extra Tip: This pit stop isn’t for the faint at heart; I saw 3-4-year-olds practically sprinting across the rocks better than I did!

Date last visited: May 2010

Distance off the interstate: Just off Route 146. (Approximately 7 miles from the MASS Turnpike/I-90.)

Admission Prices: FREE

Hours of Operation: Sunrise to sunset daily

Food Services: Picnic and BBQ space on-site.

Bathrooms: On-site.

Website: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/purg.htm

Directions: Take MASS PIKE (Rte. I-90) to exit #10A in Millbury (rte 146 South). Take Rte 146 South to exit # 6 in Sutton, Purgatory Rd. Take a right onto Purgatory Rd. Reservation entrance & visitor center is ¼ mile on your right.
View Larger Map