GREATER BOSTON | NORTH OF BOSTON | SOUTH OF BOSTON | CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS | CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS | WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
STATEWIDE
The Trustees of Reservations – April Vacation ideas for family explorers
GREATER BOSTON
Boston Marathon
April 15 The oldest marathon in America and the largest single-day event in New England. Cheer the runners along the 26.2 mile course from Hopkinton to Boston’s Back Bay.
The Sports Museum at TD Garden
The Sports Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational institution that has served Boston and New England for more than 30 years. Located on Levels 5 and 6 of the TD Garden, The Sports Museum preserves and showcases the distinctly rich sports heritage of New England through an unparalleled collection of artifacts, multi-media, works of art, and interactive exhibits – and uses all of that to help build character and teach the values of leadership, respect, and cooperation to our youth.
Hours: Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission: Adults: $10 Children (10-18) and Seniors (60+): $5 Children under 10: Free Library Members: Free. Visitors may purchase admission tickets at the TD Garden Box Office, located on the west side of the North Station platform, next to the Boston Bruins Pro-shop. If the Garden Box Office is closed, you can purchase tickets in the Pro-shop. The Museum’s entrance is located at The Premium Club’s private entrance also located on the west side.
Fenway Park
Visit the park where the Babe pitched, The Kid hit, Yaz dazzled and today’s stars still thrill Red Sox Nation. Fenway Park Tours provide a 50 minute historic walking tour of the ballpark, guided by an official Fenway Park Tour Guide. Fenway Park Tour tickets are sold at the Red Sox Ticket Office on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to availability. Fenway Park Tour tickets are sold at the Team Store on Yawkey Way when the Ticket Office is closed. Please allow adequate time to purchase tour tickets as sales conclude 15 minutes prior to tour time. All tours and areas are subject to availability and tours are handicap accessible.
Hours: NON-GAME DAYS: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily; tours run every hour on the hour until 4 p.m. GAME DAYS: 9 a.m. – three and a half hours prior to game time; tours run every hour on the hour until three and a half hours prior to game time Batting Practice Tour: Begins three and a half hours prior to game time; an extended tour
Admission: Adults: $12 Seniors: $11 Children (3-15): $10 Group tours are available (minimum of 40 people). Please contact the tour office at 617-226-6666 for more information.
The Hall at Patriot Place
The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is an exciting, innovative and interactive, modern museum experience for all ages. The Kraft family long considered the best way to honor the greatest Patriots of all time while simultaneously preserving Patriots history. They scored a touchdown when they opened The Hall in September of 2008. From a 45-foot wide panoramic projection screen that plays a signature film produced to emotionally connect the fans and the region to the Patriots, to a geodesic dome housing a Snow Bowl exhibit, to massive ceiling projection screens in the Patriots United Grand Hall presented by Waters Corp., to touch screens that take you into the most memorable moments in team history, The Hall experience is one you don’t want to miss. Your Hall experience is sure to be one you’ll tell your friends about. The Hall also offers a relevant education program for school groups at an amazingly low admission fee and there are reduced rates for non-school groups of 15 or more that book in advance. So make your trip to Patriot Place complete by being our guest at The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon.
Hours: Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.Saturday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.Sunday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Admission: Adult: $10.00 Seniors/Active Military: $7.00 Children (5-12): $5.00 Under 5: FREE!
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
Holiday Inn Boston-Bunker Hill, Somerville:
Guests can enjoy discounted tickets to Somerville’s LEGOLAND Discovery Center just for booking a stay at the hotel. In addition to fun at LEGOLAND, the hotel’s Sports Deck features an oversized, indoor, heated pool, a 12’ rock-climbing wall, foosball, bumper pool, table tennis, and a half basketball sports court. To top it off, the hotel is located just a short distance away from Boston’s favorite attractions, and offers free shuttle services for guests to the TD Garden, The New England Aquarium, and The Museum of Science.
April 13-21: Double-header “Dive-In Movies” at 5 and 7 p.m.
April 14: Carb up at the hotel’s restaurant, Draft, at a pasta buffet beginning at 5 p.m.
April 15: Guests can fill up at Draft’s breakfast spread and build their own runner’s survival kit in the lobby beginning at 5 a.m. Guests can also create their own signs to cheer on their favorite runner from 6 to 11 a.m. After the Marathon, guests can enjoy dinner and drinks at Draft, where Samuel Adams’ Boston 26.2 Brew will be on tap.
April 15-19: Guests can upload their best action shot from the Pool & Sports Deck to Facebook or Instagram and tag @HolidayInnBostonBunkerHill on Facebook or @HolidayInn_BBH on Instagram for the chance to win a large cheese pizza from Draft
April 16-20: Pop-up vacation week activities including a hot chocolate station or lemonade stand (depending on the weather!) and activities such as LEGO building, arts & crafts and family board games
SKYBOKX 109 Sports Bar & Grill, Natick:
April 16-20: Kids eat free with an accompanying adult
April 14: Breakfast will take place from 6 to 10 a.m. for all guests
April 15: Breakfast will take place from 6 to 10 a.m. Guests can also create signs to cheer on their runner from 6 to 11 a.m. and build their own snacks bags with fillings such as fruit, granola bars and water bottles beginning at 6 a.m.
NORTH OF BOSTON
Verrill Farm
School Vacation Cooking Classes with Chef Kevin Grades 1-5. Novices and aspiring chefs leave with skills and tips for preparing meals at home. Food prepared in class is packaged ‘to go’ at the end of class. $25 per child. Registration and prepayment are required. To sign up, call 978.369.4494.
Garden in the Woods
Fee admission, free parking, guided walking tours on the half-hour. There will be special storytelling with tree themes by well-known area storytellers. There should also be a visit by a costumed tree character. The Society plans to give a limited number of saplings to families in celebration of Arbor Day. Special tree-themed scavenger hunt. Information on sustainable gardening, butterfly gardens, rain gardens, idea gardens, water gardens, and more.
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
See where the Alcott girls performed “theatricals” for friends and family! Rehearse a skit based on a scene from Little Women, play theater games, and improve your own acting skills! Suitable for ages 8 – 12.
Cost$100 for all four days or $30 per day (Members, $80 & $24 respectively). Space limited to 15 participants.
Pre-registration & pre-payment required; please phone 978.369.4118 x106
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SOUTH OF BOSTON
Plimoth Plantation
Specially scheduled hands-on activities for the whole family to enjoy!
Liberty Week at Battleship Cove
April 16-20. All activities and workshops are free with paid, discounted admission. $18 adults, $11 children 4-12, & free to children under four.
Five Water Street, Fall River, 508-678-1100
Plymouth Center for the Arts
Spring Vacation Art Camp. For artists ages 6-18 years. Check website for class information.
South Shore Art Center
April Adventures in Art Enjoy creative art-making featuring projects in printmaking, clay, watercolor, and multi-media. Come join the fun!
CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame
The Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame has recently opened and expanded their display of game worn major league uniforms of current MLB managers! Each of the 7 jerseys on display are from former Cape Cod Baseball League players including the very first Red Sox jersey worn by new Manager Bobby Valentine, (Hyannis, 1967) Joe Girardi Yankees jersey (Cotuit, 1978 ) and John Farrell Toronto Blue Jays jersey (Hyannis, 1981).
Heritage Museums & Gardens
Sandwich
Green Briar Nature Center
Sandwich
Cape Cod Children’s Museum
Mashpee
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
Ecotarium
Family entertainment, and many vendors of environmentally-friendly foods, products and services, as well as all of the regular museum attractions: the indoor and outdoor exhibits, Explorer Express Train, and digital planetarium shows. Admission is half price for everyone. Regular train and planetarium fees apply.
Mass Audubon: Brook Meadow Sanctuary
Spring Vacation Week Program – Exploring the Sanctuary Monday –Friday (9-3pm) Explore the Sanctuary with Instructor for children ages 6-11 years
Old Sturbridge Village
School Vacation Week Activities at OSV: Enjoy expanded hands-on and interactive activities throughout the Village, along with family-friendly performances and entertainment. Meet the new arrivals at the farm (every day) and on Monday (Patriots Day), take part in martial activities.
Southwick’s Zoo
Open for the Season – April 6th (10-5pm) Home to hundreds of animals including Earth Discovery Center, animal rides, deer forest, and the Purple Peacock Gift Shop and more.
Tower Hill Botanic Garden – Movers and Shakers – April vacation week programs
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Today, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is home to nearly three hundred inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Located on the picturesque banks of the Connecticut River, the new museum is a fitting shrine to the game Dr. Naismith invented more than a century ago. The landmark structure is one of the world’s most distinctive monuments punctuating the Springfield skyline and stirring the spirits of basketball fans everywhere. Hundreds of interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, and shooting contests. And of course there is enough basketball history to impress the world’s most avid sports fans! After decades of growth, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2009. It has evolved from its humble origins to become Hoops Heaven…the earthly home of the game’s immortals.
Hours: Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission: Adults – $16.99 Seniors (Ages 65 & Above) – $13.99 Youth (Ages 5 to 15) – $11.99 Children (4 & Under) – Free
Special Discounts Show your AAA Card or your Big Y Express Savings Club Card and save on Admission. (Discounts cannot be combined. For more information, please call 413-781-6500). 3-Day
Pass Hall of Fame Three Day Passes Pay For Two Days, Get the third day FREEAdult 3-Day Pass – $31.98 (save $15.99) Youth 3-Day Pass – $21.98 (save $10.99) Call 1-877-4HOOPLA for more details
The Volleyball Hall of Fame
In 1971, the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce established an ad hoc committee for the purpose of promoting Holyoke, Massachusetts, birthplace of volleyball, as the future home of the Volleyball Hall of Fame (VBHF). In 1978, the committee incorporated as Holyoke Volleyball Hall of Fame, Inc., a nonprofit corporation established for the purpose of planning, promoting, establishing and maintaining a living memorial to the sport of volleyball. William G. Morgan, inventor of volleyball at the Holyoke YMCA in 1895, was honored posthumously as first inductee of Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1985. Douglas Beal, coach of 1984 U.S. Men’s Gold Medal Olympic Volleyball Team, served as keynote speaker for induction ceremony. The Volleyball Hall of Fame, opened to the public on June 6, 1987. A two-day volleyball tournament was hosted by the Volleyball Hall of Fame to celebrate the grand opening.
Hours: Open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m. or by special pre-arranged appointments.
Animagic – Museum of Animation Special Effects/Art
View technologies from the movies like The Matrix, X-Men, Predator & Chicken Run. See a real Academy Award. Make your animation movie. Call for appointment.
Hancock Shaker Village
Baby Animals on the Farm. Visit the new lambs, piglets, calves and chicks filling the famous Round Stone Barn. You’ll see the heirloom gardens come alive, and experience the wonders of Spring with our heritage breed animals. Lend a hand with farm chores, explore the historic buildings, and romp around with some new fuzzy friends! Open Daily 10am – 4pm.