Children’s Attractions
1. Boston Children’s Museum
This pioneer in hands-on learning fills two former wool warehouses on the Boston waterfront. Children can scale a three-story climbing sculpture, explore the magic of soap bubbles, or join in short plays and shows on KidStage.
300 Congress St. • 617 426 6500 • Open 10am–5pm Sat–Thu, 10am–9pm Fri • Adm • www.bostonkids.org
2. Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill, CT
Children are awestruck by more than 500 dinosaur tracks preserved beneath a geodesic dome. Life-size dioramas re-create scenes from the Jurassic and Triassic eras.400 West St. • 860 529 8423 • Open 9am–4:30pm daily (exhibit center Tue–Sun only) • Adm • www.dinosaurstatepark.org
3. Roger Williams Park and Zoo, Providence, RI
You can ride the carousel or take a boat ride on the lake in this sprawling park, but save time for the zoo – one of the country’s best, with naturalistic settings.1000 Elmwood Ave. • 401 785 3510 • Open 9am–4pm daily • Adm • www.rwpzoo.org
4. New England Aquarium, Boston
Kids will love the acrobatics of the harbor seals, the antics of more than 80 penguins, and the shark and ray tank.Central Wharf • 617 973 5200 • Open Jul–Aug: 9am–6pm Sun–Thu, 9am–7pm Fri–Sat; Sep–Jun: 9am–5pm Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm Sat–Sun • Adm • www.neaq.org
5. McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord, NH
Kids are encouraged to reach for the stars at this space exploration center named for astronauts Alan B. Shepard and Christa McAuliffe.2 Institute Dr. • 603 271 7827 • Open 10am–5pm Mon–Thu, Sat & Sun, 10am–9pm Fri • Adm • www.starhop.com
6. Six Flags New England, Agawam, MA
Some of the fastest, tallest, wildest, and most gut-wrenching thrill rides in the country await at this amusement park by the Connecticut River.Rte. 159 • 413 786 9300 • Open Apr–Oct, call for hours • Adm • www.sixflags.com
7. Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, MA
This complex in the birthplace of basketball celebrates the sport with footage of games, star players’ memorabilia, and interactive exhibits for the kids.1000 W. Columbus Ave. • 413 781 6500 or 877 4HOOPLA • Open 10am–4pm Tue–Fri, Sun, 10am–5pm Sat • Adm • www.hoophall.com
8. Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT
A 1911 carousel, a 1927 roller coaster, and an antique trolley maintain the feel of an old-fashioned amusement park.186 Enterprise Dr. • 860 583 3300 • Open May–Oct, call for schedule • Adm • www.lakecompounce.com
9. Mystic Aquarium, CT
The 70 exhibits of this striking aquarium display 12,000 fishes, invertebrates, and marine mammals from more than 425 species.55 Coogan Blvd. • 860 572 5955 • Open daily, Apr–Oct: 9am–5pm; Mar & Nov: 9am–4pm; Dec–Feb: 10am–4pm • Adm • www.mysticaquarium.org
10. Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, Waterbury, VT
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield never thought business should be dull, and the factory tour of Ben & Jerry’s is a real hoot. The goal, of course, is the tasting room at the end, where you might even sample new flavors in development.
Top 10 Carousels
1. Flying Horse Carousel
Beachfront Dare carousel is one of New England’s oldest.Bay St., Watch Hill, RI • 401 348 6007 • Adm
2. Fall River Carousel
Built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. in 1920.Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA • 508 678 1100 • Adm
3. Shelburne Museum
Vintage 1920s carousel operates outside the museum’s Circus Building (for further details see Shelburne Museum, VT).
4. Crescent Park Carousel
Charles I.D. Looff showcase.700 Bullocks Point Ave., East Providence, RI • 401 435 7518 • Adm
5. Bushnell Park Carousel
Three-row hand-carved wooden carousel.Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT • 860 232 6710 • Adm
6. Flying Horses Carousel
1876–8 Dare Co. model.Oak Bluffs Ave., Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, MA • 508 693 9481 • Adm
7. Slater Memorial Park
1895 carousel includes a camel, a giraffe, a lion, and two chariots.Pawtucket, RI • 401 728 0500 ext. 252 • Adm
8. Story Land
Unusual early-20th-century German carousel.Rte. 16, Glen, NH • 603 383 4186 • Adm
9. Heritage State Park
1929 carousel with 20 standing horses, 28 jumpers.221 Appleton St., Holyoke, MA • 413 538 9838 • Adm
10. Lighthouse Point Park
1916 carousel with 72 original figures.2 Lighthouse Point Rd., New Haven, CT • 203 946 8327 • Adm
