If you’re planning a family trip to Boston, I have everything from hotels, museums, dinning right down to shopping recommendations for you! We took a family workcation to Boston, MA in April and it was one of the best vacations we’ve been on in a long time. We spent three days in the beautiful Back Bay area of Boston and took our time exploring the brownstone neighborhoods, shops, museums as well as a few parks. Here is what to do on a family trip to Boston, MA, including what to do if you get a little alone time!
Where to Stay | Four Seasons One Dalton Street
The Back Bay area of Boston is hands down my favorite part of Boston. It’s filled with beautiful neighborhoods, amazing shops on Newbury Street, and the best restaurants. It’s simply a great place to wonder and take in the city you’re exploring. The best part is The Four Seasons One Dalton Street (there are two Four Seasons located in Boston) is right in the heart of the Back Bay area. It’s just one mile from the Museum of Fine Arts, and 16 minutes on foot from Fenway Park, and so close to some of my favorite restaurants.
Our family stayed in one of their beautiful one bedroom suite. The suit has a king size bed, office, 1 bathroom with a beautiful free standing deep soaking tub, and a sofa sleeper. Each room is stocked with a fully stocked refrigerator, IPAD for services, espresso maker and complementary water. The floor to ceiling windows gave us a great view of Boston.
Of course the kid’s favorite part of this hotel was the pool! Located on the seventh floor right across from the spa (which will be open this May) and their fitness room. The pool is really is fantastic, it’s long and one depth across the whole pool. So I wasn’t worried about the kids going into the deep end as there wasn’t one! The seating area around the pool is very comfortable. The most unique element of the pool is that they have underwater speakers so you can clearly hear music while you swim!
A parent perk of our trip was the Friday nights we host Wine Down with Julia and on Saturday nights they host Mixology with Molly in Trifecta. On Saturday and Sundays they also host Trifecta High Tea from 11am to 3pm. You can find out all the details by clicking here.
Museums | Museum Of Science + Gardern Museum
The Museum of Science is an amazing place for families with kids because it’s full of exhibits and activities for you to explore! Both parents and kids are able to learn all about motion, mechanical movement, coding, dinosaurs and so much more! During our visit they had the Science behind Pixar, and let me tell you, it was like going to Disney World university! They showed you the ins and outs of making the characters all the way down to textures and movements. I highly recommend going. FYI bring you own lunch. They do have a great cafe to eat in but you can bring your own lunch which will save on costs.
Isabell Stewart Gardern Museum is a must for any art lover. Yes there is the Museum of Fine Arts right down the road from The Four Seasons, but the Gardern Museum cannot be passed up. The kids were beyond excited when I told them that we were going to a palace (because it is) and the art is such visual therapy for all. Make sure you ask the check in desk for the kids bag where they’re given a sketch pad and scavenger hunt! And they have a beautiful new contemporary art section just above their cafe, make sure you order the crab salad roll!
Where to Shop | It’s For Now
We’re leaving the Back Bay area to show you one of my new favorite stores in Boston, It’s For Now! It’s For Now is located in the Seaport Area of Boston and beyond worth the trip. This fresh, modern, and beyond beautiful store is filled with thoughtfully curated lines and brands that have something for everyone in your life and a story behind their labels. It makes for a deeper more fulfilling shopping experience and there is something for everyone in your life! Whether your shop in store (they have two locations one in Boston and one in Newport) or online, you can shop by impact to find brands and artists you may not have discovered, until now!
I fell in love with everything in the store but as soon as I saw the Jibs Gold shoes, I had to get them! These chic shoes have all the comfort of a sneaker but the look of a modern loafer. The best part is they’re made from sustainable material! Click to here to get your own pair of Jibs.
Best Place for Breakfast | Flour
I have been stalking Joann Chang and her delicious recipes forever! So when I found that they had a location right across the street from out hotel, I did a little happy dance. Make sure to order the homemade pop-tarts, ham and cheese croissant, parmesan chive scone, and of course their brownies! They have a great and healthier kids menu than most places, Colette loved the PB+J! Wesley’s favorite was the banana bread so we bought the cook book and came home and made our own (with our own little twist).
Parks to Visit | Boston Commons + Copley Square
Boston Commons is America’s first public garden and it does not disappoint. With 600 varieties of trees, array of flowers, and of course the original Frosty Ice Cream truck made today’s Boston adventures a walk in the park. Don’t forget to stop and get an ice cream from Boston’s original Ice Cream Truck.
Since the Public Library is still closed to the public, we walked around Copley Square and enjoyed the Trinity Church (where my brother and sister in law married) and it’s beautiful artictecturhe.
Lunch + Dinner | Eataly
With two little kids it’s best to skip the restaurants and hit the markets. Even when we go to restaurants my picky eater either choose pasta with butter or chicken tenders with french fries, and after day one that gets old and it’s just not healthy. So whenever we’re on vacation I hit the closest market or grocery store and meal plan.
Eataly is by far one of my favorite restaurant/market/wine shop all bundled into one location. I purchase items like fruit, veggies, a baguette (for easy sandwiches and snack boards), a few cold pasta salads, pizzas, sandwiches and cheeses that we can keep in the hotel refrigerator and take out when hungry. And their wide variety of wines are perfect for keeping in the hotel room to enjoy when the kids go to bed. But if you want to venture out to a restaurant there is everything you could possibly want on Newbury street.
Traveling During COVID
One thing that really stood out to me was how safe we felt during our trip to Boston. The team at the Four Seasons was exceptionally safe. From temperature checks, sanitation stations, to friendly staff members, I felt comfortable throughout our entire stay at the hotel. And just a note, everyone wears a mask outside in the city, and when sitting at a restaurant you don’t take your mask off until your food comes.
Our workcation to Boston was so amazing, and one we will not forget as a family. We all left feeling connected, relaxed, and cannot wait to come back to make even more memories.
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