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Boston Parents Discover 3 Summer Activities: Water Play, Boat Rides, Lawn Games
Boston parents have multiple seasonal options this summer for children seeking water play, boat rides and lawn games.
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Boston families this July can visit the Frog Pond on Boston Common, which operates as a seasonal splash park during summer months. The site draws parents and children for free water play on hot days.
July marks peak season for several long-running outdoor programs. Free Shakespeare on the Common runs July through August while the Revere Sand Castle Sculpting Festival takes place at Boston Common in July. Harborfest, featuring parades and concerts near Boston Harbor, also occurs in June and July and attracts families of all ages.
Classic water and land rides
Swan Boats in Boston Public Garden operate from mid-April through Labor Day and have served as a family activity since 1877. Boston Duck Tours run an 80-minute amphibious vehicle ride that spends 60 minutes on land and 20 minutes on the Charles River. The New England Aquarium offers whale watching tours that depart from Central Wharf and include a snack bar for children.
Seaport and indoor backups
Lawn on D in the Seaport District provides funky swings, pickleball courts and lawn games such as cornhole and ping-pong. Families seeking year-round options can turn to the Boston Children’s Museum with its three-story climbing frame, the Museum of Science with its electricity show and planetarium, or the New England Aquarium itself. Castle Island offers playgrounds and beach play while the Boston Harbor Islands provide hiking and fort tours.
Parents planning visits should check current operating hours directly with each venue, as schedules can shift with weather. Reservations for whale watching and Duck Tours are recommended on weekends.