Brookline, MA is a town on the outskirts of Boston famous for being the birthplace and hometown of John F. Kennedy, our 35th president. It also happens to be a great place to walk around on a sunny afternoon. There are many parks and family-friendly attractions that are all within walking distance. Here is a list of our favorites that Boston kids are sure to love:
1. Be entertained at Puppet Showplace Theater
Your kids will be delighted by these creative and entertaining shows. There are regular programs throughout the week and special programs during school vacation times. I have never heard my kids giggle so hard. To read more about our visit to the puppet theater, click here.
2. Burn off some energy at the Daniel F Ford Playground
This newly renovated naturalistic playground was so much fun. We spent an entire afternoon playing here. The boys went climbing straight up the rope course which led to a slide.
Since Lizzie wants to follow in their footsteps, I watched helplessly as she climbed up behind them. I stood, arms extended full of anxiety until she shot down the slide like a bullet. She was so proud of herself, she went right back for round two.
3. Find a treasure at Henry Bear’s Park Toy Store
With all of the latest and greatest toys from LEGO to Playmobile, this is sure to be your child’s favorite stop. It’s also a great place to find gifts since their friendly staff is so helpful. Their success is apparent with 8 locations open across New England.
4. Get lost in a book at the Children’s Book Shop
Sadly, the Children’s Book Shop did not survive the pandemic. It has closed it’s doors for good.
This small bookstore is filled with books carefully curated to bring your little one’s imagination to life. There is a small play area to keep the younger children busy and cozy corners for kids to cozy up with a new book to get lost in.
5. Take a stroll through one of the many parks
For being in the middle of Massachusetts’ capital, it is amazing how much green space there is for Boston kids to enjoy. The Emerald Necklace is a park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park in New York City. The long thin chain of parks resembles a necklace, which is how it got it’s name. The parks are perfect places for having a picnic, riding a bike or just having a wander.
According to the website, much of Olmstead Park is heavily wooded, but Leverett Pond, forming the western border, presents a beautiful vista. Olmsted planned it this way; he favored open and closed landscapes in sequence to create a varied experience for the viewer.
At The Riverway, look out for Great Blue Herons and old stone bridges
For a map of these connected parks, click here.
6. See the latest offerings at the Public Library of Brookline
Libraries are always a great place for family friendly community events and activities.
7. Have a delicious meal at Brother’s and Sister’s Cafe
I love this coffeehouse and cafe located just a few doors down from the Puppet Showcase Theater. While I can’t resist their falafel or lattes, kids will love their homemade pastries and smoothies. While you can take food to go, they recently renovated their space and it is a beautiful relaxing place to have a meal with friends and family.
Boston kids are lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing indoor and outdoor places to explore and Brookline is a great place to start. I am a country girl at heart, but every time I visit, I find myself thinking that maybe I could live in a city… if it looked like Brookline, MA!
Pin for later-
