Things to do
Grouped by type. Distances are driving miles from 51 Catherine St.
Two rules for outings: Matilda naps in the early afternoon, so morning outings home by lunch work best. And parking: the zoo, Arboretum, and suburban spots are easy and free or cheap. Boston Children's Museum, the Aquarium, and Museum of Science are downtown, expensive, and a hassle to park. Plan accordingly.
Splash pads + water: call 311 or check boston.gov to confirm any municipal splash feature (Billings, Stony Brook) is running before you drive over. They sometimes open late in the season. Week 1 has no at-home water backup; the backyard slide does not go up until Saturday June 20.
Playgrounds + parks
Parkman Playground
58 Wachusett St, Boston, MA 02130 (JP/Roslindale border)
Closest playground we use. Good for after pickup or before dinner.
Boston Parks page
Jamaica Pond
507 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain (boathouse)
Flat 1.5-mile loop around the pond. Boathouse and ducks. Not fully shaded, bring hats.
boston.gov
Boston Nature Center
500 Walk Hill St, Mattapan
Mass Audubon site. Boardwalks through wetland, stroller-friendly. Open 10 AM to 4 PM.
massaudubon.org
Larz Anderson Park
23 Newton St, Brookline
Open lawns, playground, pond. Picnic-friendly.
brooklinema.gov
Billings Field
LaGrange St, West Roxbury
Fenced-in playground with a splash pad. Local, zero-stress option for after pickup or before dinner. Call 311 or check boston.gov to confirm the splash feature is running before you drive over; municipal pads sometimes open late.
Adams Park (Roslindale Village)
4225 Washington St, Roslindale
Saturday Farmers Market 9 AM to 1:30 PM with live kids' music. Walking distance.
Libraries
Closest is Roslindale branch, 0.5 mile from home. All free. Note: BPL branches close for Juneteenth (Fri Jun 19).
BPL Roslindale branch
4246 Washington St, Roslindale
Closest library. Story time in the mornings.
bpl.org/roslindale
BPL Connolly Branch (Jamaica Plain)
433 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
The closer of the two JP-area branches.
bpl.org/jamaica-plain
BPL Jamaica Plain (main, South St)
30 South St, Jamaica Plain
Bigger JP branch. 10:30 AM story times.
bpl.org/jamaica-plain
BPL West Roxbury branch
1961 Centre St, West Roxbury
Bigger kids' section, easier parking.
bpl.org/west-roxbury
Brookline Library - Putterham Branch
959 W Roxbury Pkwy, Chestnut Hill
Short drive. Hosts kid programs like Reading Rocks, summer reading kickoffs.
brooklinelibrary.org
Brookline Library - Coolidge Corner
31 Pleasant St, Brookline
10:30 AM story times most weekdays.
brooklinelibrary.org
Water + splash
Backyard water slide / pool
Chris sets up the inflatable slide and pool Sat Jun 20. Easy default for any hot day after that.
Stony Brook spray deck
95 Turtle Pond Pkwy, Hyde Park
Free spray park, good for a hot afternoon. Bring towels and a change of clothes. Call 311 or check boston.gov to confirm the splash feature is running before you drive over; municipal pads sometimes open late.
mass.gov
Houghton's Pond, Blue Hills
840 Hillside St, Milton
Sandy swimming beach. Lifeguards in season. Bring water shoes.
mass.gov
Walden Pond, Concord
915 Walden St, Concord
Beach and swimming. Reserve a parking pass online ahead of time, the lot fills.
mass.gov
Indoor museums
Boston Fire Museum
344 Congress St, Boston (at Farnsworth St)
Open Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM, free. Interactive vintage fire equipment.
bostonsparks.com
USS Constitution Museum
Building 22, Charlestown Navy Yard (267 Constitution Rd, Charlestown)
Indoor museum plus the ship itself outside on deck, both indoor and outdoor. Not a pure rainy-day option. Call ahead for preschool programming.
ussconstitutionmuseum.org
Boston Children's Museum
308 Congress St, Boston
High-energy indoor play. Perfect age for both girls.
bostonchildrensmuseum.org
Museum of Science
1 Science Park, Boston
Big indoor option for a rainy day. Plan around naptime.
mos.org
Discovery Museum, Acton
177 Main St, Acton
Hands-on kids' museum, perfect age for both girls. Has a large outdoor component, not ideal for a rainy day. Easier on a weekday.
discoveryacton.org
Animals
Franklin Park Zoo
1 Franklin Park Rd, Boston
Buy advance tickets online for Plan-Ahead pricing. Open 9 AM to 5 PM.
zoonewengland.org
Walks + nature + hiking
Arnold Arboretum
Peters Hill gate: 99 Bussey St, Boston. Mendum St gate: Mendum St at Fairview, Boston.
Flat, easy loop, best walking option closest to the house. Stroller-friendly. Mendum St gate most reliable for parking.
arboretum.harvard.edu
Blue Hills Reservation, hiking trails
695 Hillside St, Milton (Great Blue Hill trailhead parking)
Ross's pick. Multiple trail options for all levels. The Skyline Trail and lower loop trails are doable with a 2-4 year old. Houghton's Pond (840 Hillside St, Milton) is nearby for a swim after.
mass.gov/blue-hills
World's End, Hingham
303 Martin's Lane, Hingham
Carriage paths along a peninsula, open, scenic, manageable for toddlers. Maintained by The Trustees. Parking fee. A good half-day outing for Ross and the adults.
thetrustees.org
Middlesex Fells Sheepfold
Lower Sheepfold parking, off Fellsway West, Stoneham (or use 4 Woodland Rd, Stoneham for main lot)
10-acre open field. Picnic, run around, Babes in the Woods family walks.
friendsofthefells.org
Live shows
Puppet Showplace
32 Station St, Brookline Village
Tiny puppet theater. Check the schedule for a kids' show.
puppetshowplace.org
Farms (pick-your-own)
Parlee Farms, Tyngsboro
95 Farwell Rd, Tyngsboro
Strawberry picking opens mid-June. Small barnyard. Bring sun hats and water.
parleefarms.com
Carlson Orchards, Harvard
115 Oak Hill Rd, Harvard MA
Call ahead to confirm mid-June berry availability before you drive out. (Phone unverified, check carlsonorchards.com.)
carlsonorchards.com
Coastal day trip
Island Creek Oysters, Duxbury
401 Washington St, Duxbury (raw bar)
Coastal outing, oyster farm and shore. Better with one adult per kid.
islandcreekoysters.com