The Boston Children's Museum is on Congress Street near the intersection of Sleeper Street in downtown Boston. The museum opened in 1913 and caters to children from birth through age 10 years. All of the exhibits at the museum are kid-friendly, encouraging children to touch, participate and interact. An example is the Construction Zone exhibit, in which children can touch a jackhammer, ride a Bobcat construction vehicle, build bridges and structures with a large set of blocks and power toy vehicles and machines in a mock construction site.
The Boston Children's Museum is open everyday with the exception of some holidays. As of October 2010, the cost of general admission is $12. Visitors can bring along their own lunches to eat on the premises or dine in the on-site cafe. The museum does not have its own parking area, but discounted lots are available for patrons in the Farnsworth Street and Stillings Street Garages.
The Freedom Trail consists of 16 different attractions located in the Boston area that have historical significance to the United States or to Boston. The trail ends north of downtown at the Bunker Hill Monument and USS Constitution, but the majority of the areas of interest are in the general downtown vicinity.
The tour begins at The Boston Common, constructed in 1634 and the oldest public park in the United States and then winds past the Massachusetts State House, which was built in 1798. Other stops along the trail include the oldest public school in the United States, the Boston Latin School and the Old South Meeting House, where Sam Adams and his fellow Sons of Liberty met to discuss events of the day that preceded the Revolutionary War.
Each of the stops along The Freedom Trail has its own hours and days of operation. Historical talks are featured at some of the attractions. The majority of the locations on the trail do not charge admission.
The Public Garden is located between Arlington, Boylston, Charles and Beacon Streets in downtown Boston. Built in 1837, the 24-acre garden features 40 varieties of plant life displayed along winding pathways that circle a large lagoon. Self-guided audio tours and maps are available from the City of Boston to help you identify the varieties of plant life you encounter during your stroll.
From April through September, Boston's well-known Swan Boats sail on the Public Garden lagoon. These large wooden, paddle-boats shaped like massive swans first made their appearance at the Gardens during the 1870s and became extremely popular with Victorian society. For a modest fee (only $2.75 for adults as of 2010), a paddleboat driver takes you around the lagoon on a 15-minute ride.
The Public Gardens are free to tour and are open year-round. The nearest parking is available at the Boston Common Underground Parking Garage.
