Customer Reviews

Fodor's Around Boston with Kids, 2nd Edition: 68 Great Things to Do Together (Around the City with Kids)

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i am disappointed there is no map in this book, not even any maps showing where the T stops are in relation to the sites or even where family friendly restaurants are in relation to the sites. it even mentions things to do on cape cod and in salem and plimoth with no mention of how far that is from the city of boston. other than that, the book is helpful in determining what to do in boston with kids, but frustrating in that it will take a whole other book to figure out HOW to get there!

Around Boston with Kids is a great companion book to a more comprehensive guide to Boston. It is nowhere near complete enough to be used as a stand-alone guide. For one, there is no map to the attractions, and as a New England native, I can assure you that Nashua, Fall River, and Worcester attractions are nowhere near Boston proper (in fact, they are a cranky-with-kids car ride away). There is no indication of this in the listings, however, so a reader would either have to be familiar with the geography or spend some time with Internet driving directions to get the lay of the land. It would be preferable to look for activities by region and proximity to public transportation, instead of in the alphabetical order they are presented.

That being said, there are some true hidden gems in this book. I'd recommend it to any New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island family looking for some offbeat family-friendly activities. Think of these as occasional weekend getaways instead of a guide of everything to do in Boston proper in a week-long trip. The authors give great advice, including warnings about programs which might be too long for little ones, insider tips about wait times or how to purchase tickets, and kid-friendly restaurants in the immediate area.

Know what you are getting into, and supplement this book with Internet research and other guidebooks, and you are ready to take on some great spots in New England with kids. I'm excited to go explore some new sites, and I don't even have children!

I did a complete review of this book on my blog at(...)

Overall, I loved the specific age recommendations, nearby kid-friendly restaurants (although I too was turned off by the inclusion of chain restaurants), and the categorical groupings toward the end of the book (ideas for tiny tots, animal lovers, rainy days, etc.) This book also included some really fun stuff that I didn't see in other kid-friendly Boston idea lists.

It would have been more helpful if the author included the closest T stop and maps. I also would have appreciated some sample itineraries. But we found this book really helpful.

We like taking our kids for weekend trips so I was excited to have this for a guide to one of our favorite cities. Right off the bat though it recommends chain restaurants. Never a plus in my book. I used it for ideas like the swan boats and some of the more major attractions. I did enjoy the format and for a basic with kids book it is good.

Supremely concise and useful guide to ... yes, things to do in the Boston area with kids. The first edition, at least, is missing only one thing: a map to tell you where everything is.