14 Best Outdoor Things to do with Kids in Boston: Summer 2023

Happy Summer! Now that your kiddo is done with science fairs and math tests, it’s time to celebrate the sunny weather. Warm temps mean plenty of time to play outside, and June’s the perfect month to bond with your little one. Fam-friendly Boston is our specialty, and we’ve got the perfect activities for you to check out this season.

By Kenneal Patterson

Splash it out at a public splash pad

Where: Various locations

Cost: FREE 

What: It’s heating up in Boston, and there’s no better way to cool down than to splash around with your lil tadpoles. Let your kiddos play at the North Point Park Spray Deck, the Christian Science Plaza Children's Fountain, any of the seven Fountains at The Greenway, the interactive water playground area at Government Center, or the Boston Common Frog Pond Spray Pool, which is set to open later this month. 

Enjoy a family night out 

Where: Various locations 

Cost: FREE

What: It’s fun for the kids and parents alike. Thursdays on the Lawn at the Loring Greenough House invite all families to enjoy live music, food trucks, and kids activities (plus a beer garden for the grown-ups when the kids are off playing!) Over at Cambridge Crossing, CX Summer Nights welcomes you to three installments of fam-friendly (and pet-friendly) concerts, along with local brews, food trucks, lawn games. 

Wander down Newbury Street

Where: Back Bay

Cost: FREE

What: Open Newbury Streets returns this July with fun for all ages. The street is completely shut down and car-free so that pedestrians can walk around freely! It’s a fun and safer way for kiddos to explore the city. 

Discover nature with The Boston Nature Center

Where: Mattapan  

Cost: $10-100

What: Throughout the summer, the Boston Nature Center invites all adventurous children to explore the natural world! Early Explorers activities include hands-on crafts, outdoor walks, and sing-alongs; Pond Explorers teaches kiddos about creatures that live in the water; Geology Walk shows you the area’s coolest rocks; and Drawing our Animal Neighbors helps kids learn more about the critters and creatures around them.  

Take a trip to Cider Hill Farm 

Where: Amesbury, MA 

Cost: FREE

What: The long drive is worth it. Take a day trip to Cider Hill Farm and explore the natural world. You can pick your own strawberries during the mid-June Strawberry Festival or attend a “buzz-worthy” celebration of birds, bats, ladybugs, and other critters at the Pollinator Festival. 

Spend a day on Memorial Drive 

Where: Riverbend Park, Cambridge

Cost: FREE

What: Memorial Drive Recreation Sundays are back for the season, which means the street is shut down for everyone around the city to enjoy the riverfront. Bring your kids for a fun day of roller-skating, cycling, running, or strolling. 

Watch an outdoor movie 

Where: Jamaica Plain

Cost: Varies 

What: Three, two, one, action. Enjoy a summer series of the very best outdoor movies, from Disney favorites to classic comedies. See Friday Flicks at Boynton Yards, outdoor movies at the Loring Greenough House, Pride Month movies with Seabiscuit, and of course the CX movie nights (Shrek, anyone?). 

Learn history with a walking tour 

Where: Various locations

Cost: Varies

What: Are you and your kiddo a history buff? Learn the history of some of Boston’s best spots with a walking tour of Jamaica Pond, a tour of Roslindale Garden, a historic tour of Chestnut Hill, and a stroll down Innovation Trail. 

Ride on a swan boat 

Where: Downtown

Cost: $3-4.50

What: It’s one of Boston’s most famous attractions. The Boston Public Garden Swan Boats invite people of all ages to enjoy the beauty of summer while gliding on the water. 

Soak up sun at a beach 

Where: Various locations

Cost: FREE

What: What’s summer without a beach day? Boston’s got some of the best beaches in all of New England, so make sure to lather up sunscreen, bring a beach ball for the kiddos, and take a family trip to the shore!

Visit a kid-friendly museum

Where: Cambridge

Cost: $10-15

What: Okay, sure, this one is inside. But the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Boston Children’s Museum, the Discovery Museum in Acton, and the Museum of Science all have entire worlds hidden behind their doors. Explore sea creatures, cool rocks, ancient peoples, and more. Plus, check out a cool art display in Wellesley (better known as Ribbit the Exhibit) and introduce your kids to sculpture art with 18 frog-tastic copper statues. 

Pro tip: Get free tickets if you sign up for a local library card. 

Party at an outdoor festival 

Where: Brookline

Cost: FREE

What: Enjoy a celebration for the whole family. The Juneteeth Block Party includes kiddo-friendly fun like bounce houses, face painting, dance parties, and live music. The three-day Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival is a sight to behold, and you and your kids will both be awed by the sandy creations. Plus, grab a slice at the Boston Pizza Festival (extra cheese, please!).  

Learn to skate

Where: Various locations

Cost: FREE

What: Tony Hawk who? Bring your kids to skateboard lessons in Boston this summer and learn the coolest tricks in the city. On June 21, or Go Skateboarding Day 2023, GOSKATE hosts free lessons at multiple public skateparks. If you miss the event, you can take a lesson at any time. 

Dance and sing at an outdoor concert

Where: Various locations

Cost: Varies

What: Outdoor music? Say less. There’s no better way to shape a youngster’s mind than to introduce them to the best tunes.Check out Bluegrass and Folk with Mount Auburn’s late june concert, KIDZ BOP live this July, and free Boston Landmarks Orchestra Concerts at the Hatch Shell all summer. Plus, if your two-year-old is already showing signs of being a music prodigy, bring them to the outside Music for Tots at The Boston Synagogue and sing along to your favorite Jewish songs.

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Photo by @cityofboston

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