Exploring Boston with kids How about mixing a little history with business? Your family can amuse themselves while you are in meetings by walking the Freedom trail or hanging out in the lively Boston Commons and Faneuil Hall. For sports fans just about any weekend offers a sporting event. If you don't feel like staying in the city for the weekend, there's lots of small quaint towns like Marblehead just minutes outside Boston. • What to See • More information Things to Do with The Kids in Boston Harvard University Museum of Natural History 26 Oxford Street Phone: 617-495-3045 Open: Mon-Saturday-9 AM- 5 PM; Sunday-1-5 PM Admission: $5 adults, $4 students and seniors, $3 children This awesome facility actually houses four museums: The Botanical Museum, the Museum of Zoology, Mineral & Geological Museum and The Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology There are many interesting displays that will hold the interest of all ages. Website: http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/ Puppet Showplace Theater 32 Station Street, Brookline 617-731-6400 Tickets: $6 The puppet Showplace stages programs of favorite fables, ethnic legends and folk and fairly tales from around the world. They are produced for children b professional puppeteers year-round in a lovely theater that seats 120. Historic puppets and puppet posters are on display, puppet-making workshops are offered and toy puppets are for sale. Call for schedules and reservations. Franklin Park Zoo Northeast section of Franklin Park 617-442-2002 Open: April-October - weekends 10 AM-6 PM; Nov-March-daily Admission: Adults $7, Children (2-15) $4, Under 2 Free, Seniors $6 Franklin Park Zoo contains new exhibits for cheetahs, snow leopards, and lions. Another exciting feature is the African tropical forest exhibit where more than 50 species of animals are cared for in their natural habitat. This is a great day trip and educational as well. Website: http://www.zoonewengland.com/ Children's Museum 300 Congress Street. Museum wharf 617-426-8855 Hours: Tues-Sun 10 AM-5 PM; Friday-until 9 PM Admission: $7 adults, $6 children (2-15) & seniors, $2 children age 1 The children's museum is an amazing hands-on experience for kids and mom and dad too! Touching is encouraged in this unique and fun museum. You will be able to dress-up, create bubbles, explore different cultures and last but not least the climbing sculpture a giant maze designed for children. A must do adventure when visiting the Boston area. Spectator Sports For the sports enthusiast, it doesn't get much better than Boston. Visit Fenway Park April-September and see the Red Sox in action (617-267-8661). The Boston Celtics play at the new Fleet Center November- April (617-523-3030). Hit the ice from October through April and cheer on the Bruins (617-227-3223). From Foxboro Stadium, watch the New England Patriots play football (800-543-1776) More Information Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau 800 Boylston Street Prudential Center Boston, MA 02199 617-536-4100 - Compiled by Lisa Bailey