Family Activities

A day at Southwick’s Zoo brings fun and adventure for the entire family! Discover the over 850 animals that call Southwick’s Zoo their home. Dine at one of the many food venues in the park or make your reservation at Galliford’s Restaurant & Tavern, the full-service restaurant here at the zoo.
After lunch, continue exploring the zoo! Visit the EARTH Discovery Center to hear from one of our Earth Educators about the many ambassador animals. Explore the 35-acre Deer Forest and feed the fallow deer, journey through the North American Exhibit on the Woodlands Express Train to see the elk forest, and glide high above the sky on the Soaring Eagle Zipline! So much, so close…Your adventure begins at Southwick’s Zoo!

At Crab Apple Whitewater, members of their family join every rafting trip to ensure a comfortable, exceptional experience for members of your family. In Massachusetts, there are trips just perfect for families. The Fife Brook section of the Deerfield River features Class I to III rapids, exciting but family-friendly, through mild whitewater for 2.5 hours followed by a hearty meal at the Mohawk Trail base camp, with a patio overlooking the river. And kids love the Funyaks option, where they can fire giant squirt guns from inflatable kayaks as they float through five miles of the lower Deerfield River. The Funyaks hold one or two; the self-bailing rafts hold six to seven paddlers. Spend the night in a nearby hotel or motel recommended by Crap Apple.

Check out some more great things to do while visiting Plymouth County, MA!

A walk through the streets of picturesque Plymouth will show you right away why it’s a family-favorite vacation spot. Kids love going on board the Mayflower II and leaning over the nearby barrier to get a peek at Plymouth Rock. At the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, interpreters are happy to answer questions as you explore life in a 17-century English village and a Wampanoag homesite. Sometimes children can help scrape out a dugout canoe or play with a Pilgrim child’s toy. At the Plimoth Grist Mill, you can see how corn was ground. At the harbor, go on a pirate cruise, whale-watch, or take a harbor cruise aboard a paddlewheel boat. There are arcades, ice cream shops, family-friendly restaurants and the Edaville Family Theme Park a short drive away. Please visit our website to learn more about these activities and others to prepare for your trip to Plymouth.

Step inside a wetu on the Historic Patuxet Homesite and discover the history and heritage of the Indigenous People who have lived here since time immemorial. Watch Plymouth Colony come to life as you traverse the English Village and interact with historical performers portraying 17th-century residents. Climb aboard national treasure, Mayflower II, and learn about the journey of the Pilgrims. Visit the Plimoth Grist Mill to learn about the importance of corn in the 17th century and today. Ask questions, lend a hand, and jump into activities as you travel through time and our sites. Named the Best Open-Air Museum in the USA in 2024, 2025, and 2026 by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

It’s not surprising that a city known for so many families – the Adamses, Quincys and Hancocks – would have activities and attractions popular with families. Visiting the Adams' Homesteads and Presidential Library. (In the Stone Library, you’ll find the Mendi Bible given to John Quincy Adams by the Amistad enslaved people.) Walk to the Abigail Adams Cairn, the site where she and John Quincy watched the smoke and fire from the Battle of Bunker Hill. From the Quincy RiverWalk, you can launch your kayak. Shop or dine in stylish Marina Bay, with incredible Boston skyline views. Hike or bike (or ski) in Blue Hills Reservation, take a harbor cruise, or climb a lighthouse in the Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park.

Everywhere you turn at Old Sturbridge Village in historic Sturbridge, MA, there is a shop, store, farm or home designed to draw families into life in a rural 1830s New England village. Watch the blacksmith or printer at work, see how food was cooked at a kitchen hearth, help with animals at the Freeman Farm. See how wool was prepared for spinning and how lumber was cut for the village in the sawmill. Kids will love visiting heritage-breed chickens, cows and pigs, riding in a horse-drawn wagon and checking out the graffiti on the original schoolhouse desks. There are nature walks, covered bridges, bakeries and souvenir shops, and dining is casual and delicious at the Bullard Tavern or Ox & Yoke Cafe. (Afterward, stop by the Village Scoop Shop across from the playground.)

Bring the kids - and the dog! - to the Berkshires for sun, fun, and adventure! Find mountain lakes, many with beaches and public facilities, for swimming, sailing, and fishing. Cool off in an adventure park on a zip line or mountain coaster, then head to one of the local and state parks for a picnic lunch. Hike, bike, or walk a trail under a cool canopy of green. Enjoy outdoor music next to a park or playground, or find hands-on art activities at a local museum. Whether you want to enjoy an outdoor family meal followed by a good book under a shady tree, or you crave all-day excitement, the Berkshires can fill every agenda for the young and the young at heart. To learn more visit us at berkshires.org. Find us on Facebook @Visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts and Instagram @visittheberkshires.

It’s hard to predict which your kids will love more: their time on the Cape, their time on the Vineyard, or their time on the Island Queen, the passenger ferry taking them from one place to the other. They’ll love hanging out on the deck during the 35-minute trip. And they like being able to bring their bikes and paddle boards – and pets! In Oak Bluffs, MA. they can ride the Flying Horses carousel; in Edgartown, MA, there are fun shops to explore; and Martha’s Vineyard’s bike trails and harbors are spectacular. Back in Falmouth, MA, there’s the Shining Sea Bikeway, an aquarium, a Cape Cod Baseball League team, a county fair and beautiful beaches. The ferry has a snack bar and restrooms, and kids 4 and under travel for free.

Concord, MA offers an abundance of family-friendly activities and events that blend history, culture, and outdoor fun. Retrace the steps of Revolutionary War soldiers, literary greats, and more with a walking tour where guides bring the town’s rich history to life. Indulge in Concord’s bustling food scene, take a guided Chocolate Tour of the downtown area, and stroll between locally owned shops. Tour the Orchard House, home of Louisa May Alcott, where fans of Little Women can explore the home where the beloved novel was written and took place. For a scenic outdoor experience, check out the area’s many walking and hiking trails, and don’t miss a visit to Minute Man National Historical Park to hear tales of the first shots of the American Revolution. Between Concord’s many museums, its local charm, and well-preserved historic sites, your family will be begging you to stay longer.

Families love Boston, and it’s no secret why: It’s so walkable, and there’s so much to do, everyone leaves happy. See tea tossed overboard at the Tea Party Ships & Museum, then take in the Children’s Museum practically next door. Visit the Paul Revere House and the USS Constitution on the exciting Freedom Trail, catch a game at Fenway or take a relaxing trip on the famous Swan Boats in the Public Garden (don’t forget to visit the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues while you’re there). There are plenty of playgrounds, a classic carousel, trolley and duck boat tours, street performers at fun Faneuil Hall, seals, penguins and sharks in the New England Aquarium – and you can watch a lightning storm happen indoors in the Museum of Science.

The Art Complex Museum is a cultural destination offering art, history, and natural beauty -all housed in a sleek modern space overlooking tranquil gardens. The museum hosts rotating exhibitions showcasing contemporary artists, American paintings, Works on Paper, Asian art, and Shaker furniture, along with engaging lectures, workshops, and family-friendly programs. Outdoors, the beautifully landscaped grounds invite strolls among sculptures. Free admission makes it an accessible destination for all. With year-round events and special exhibits, every visit offers something new. It's a must-stop for art lovers and anyone seeking inspiration in Plymouth County.

Create lasting memories with included activities designed for all ages at Huttopia Berkshires. Kids love our heated swimming pool with Jiminy Peak views, while families bond over bocce, pétanque, ping pong, and badminton. Evening entertainment includes local musicians, magicians, s’mores nights, and outdoor movie screenings under the stars. Explore nearby adventures like Jiminy Peak mountain biking (3 miles away), swimming and fishing at local state parks, or hiking to spectacular Bash Bish Falls. Our Café-Bistro serves family favorites from morning croissants to wood-fired pizzas, while organized nature activities help children discover local wildlife and learn about conservation.