We’ve listed family-friendly venues that appear to be open as of February 11, 2021. Many require advance registration, and information may change at any time, so PLEASE check for more info before leaving home.
Think of this list as just a starting point for your search for things to do! No matter what activities you choose, be sure to mask up, keep a safe distance, and have fun.
And if you’d like more great info like this, sign up for weekly kid-friendly updates from an active mom living near you.
OUTDOOR Activities
Zoos/Museums
WWI Memorial Park – N. Attleboro
- Outdoor animals, playground, huge slide. Free, drop-in.
Natick Community Organic Farm – Natick
- Walk around and see sheep, pigs, rabbits, goats, and more. Free, drop-in.
NRT Sheep Pasture – Norton
- Free to drop in and walk their trails, see website for details
Drumlin Farm – Lincoln
- $, Reserve online
Franklin Park Zoo – Boston
- $, Reserve online
Capron Park Zoo – Attleboro
- $, Check opening status before leaving home
Blue Hills Trailside Museum – Milton
- Outdoor exhibits include hawk, eagle, deer, red fox
- $, Reserve online
Animal Adventures – Bolton
- Animal rescue center with indoor and outdoor exhibits
- $ Reserve online
deCordova Sculpture Park – Lincoln
- $, Reserve online
Tower Hill Botanic Garden – Boylston
- $, Reserve online
Old Sturbridge Village – Sturbridge
- Outdoor strolls through 19th-century village for half the normal price
- Daily horse-drawn wagon rides
Outdoor Ice Skating
NOTE: Ice Skating on ponds and lakes may pose a great risk, and Community Kangaroo is never able to provide guidance on the safety of any location at any time.
- Larz Anderson’s Jack Kirrane – Brookline
- Kelly Outdoor Skating Rink – Jamaica Plain
- Needham Ponds – Check for updates from Parks & Rec
- Turner Pond – Walpole
- Bolton Town Common – Bolton
- Yardley-Wood Rink – Easton
- Finberg Field Rink – Attleboro
- Lovey’s on Arcade Pond – Whitinsville
- Froggy’s – Norwood (130 E Cross St)
- Heritage of Sherborn (with meal reservation)
Skiing/Tubing
- Blue Hills – Milton (Ski)
- Ski Ward – Shrewsbury (Ski/Tube)
- Nashoba Valley – Westford (Ski/Tube)
- Wachusett Mountain – Princeton (Ski)
- Weston Ski Track – Weston (Cross-Country Ski)
Sledding
- See our map for over 50 recommended sledding spots!
Outdoor Mini-Golf
- McGolf in Dedham appears to be open through the winter! Call ahead & bundle up!
Our Favorite Hikes
- Purgatory Chasm – Sutton
- Noon Hill – Medfield
- King Phillip’s Rock – Sharon
- Cranberry Bog – Bass Pro in Foxboro
- Del Carte – Franklin
- Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary – Norfolk (Boardwalk open, restrooms & buildings closed)
- See our activities map for dozens more (Filter by “Hikes“)
Our Favorite Playgrounds
- WWI Memorial Park – N. Attleboro
- Sherborn Playground – Sherborn
- Fayville Playground – Southborough
- D’Amico Playground – Wrentham
- See our activities map for dozens more (Filter by “Outdoor Playgrounds“)
StoryWalk® Locations
- Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough: (hiking trails) Several readers loved this walk; follow the link for more info before leaving home.
- Del Carte Reservation in Franklin: (<0.5 mile path/trail) There is a nice playground for a wide age range, then find the story by walking across the causeway. Stay on the path along the water for the first few pages until the story clearly leads you away.
- Wolbach Farm in Sudbury: (3/4 mile trail) A boy scout recently installed cases for year-round walks. As of January the book was “The Wish Tree”.
- Hopkinton Public Library: (back wall of library) The library displayed the book “While We Can’t Hug” in December and pledged to continue it as long as weather allowed. Last confirmed in mid-January. Adjacent to the parking lot.
- Shrewsbury Story Walk: (paved path) “Snowmen at Night” was the January story, located at 430 Lake Street. Follow the link for a printable puzzle to fill out along the way.
- Lane Property in Foxboro: Books in cases are updated several times throughout the year.
- Westwood’s Lowell Woods: (0.3 mile hiking trail) A new walk focused on diversity and inclusion just began this month with the book “All Are Welcome”. During non-school hours, park behind Hanlon Elementary School (790 Gay Street, Westwood) and find the entrance up a small hill. New books every 6 weeks through June 2021.
- Rehoboth’s Blanding Library: (library garden) “Now It Is Winter” was up in the month of January.
- Bradley Lessa Playground in Stoughton: (Nature Trail) A storywalk has been maintained here and frequently updated for several years.
INDOOR Activities
Museums
- Children’s Museum Easton – Easton
- Acton Discovery Museum – Acton
- New England Aquarium – Boston
- Museum of Science – Boston
- Museum of Fine Arts – Boston
Playplaces
- Jam Time – Natick/Norwood/Maynard
- Xtreme Craze – Foxboro (Reopening Sat 2/13)
- little seeds – Plainville
- Kidz Wurld – North Attleboro
- Rock On Adventure – Norwood
- The Edge Indoor Skatepark – Taunton
Indoor Mini Golf
- Trombetta’s Farm – Marlborough
- Monster Mini Golf – Norwood
Indoor Ice Skating
- Rodman Arena – Walpole
- Bridgewater Ice Arena – Bridgewater
Indoor Family Swim
- Goldfish Milford (Sundays only)
Bowling
- North Bowl – North Attleboro
- Ryan Family – Millis
- Pinz – Milford
- Kings – Dedham
- Needham Bowlaway – Needham
- Kidsports – Stoughton
- Bowlero – Shrewsbury
Arcade
- Dream Machine – Walpole Mall (Readers report this as open and not busy)
- Xtreme Craze – Foxboro (Reopening Sat 2/13)
- Ryan Family – Millis
- Pinz – Milford
Art / Painting
- Pottery Place @ Park Street Books – Medfield
- The Painting Place – Wellesley
- Whimsy Arts & Crafts – Framingham
- Plaster Fun Time – Dedham/Framingham
- Art Signals Studio – Maynard
- Brookline Clayroom – Brookline
- Just Claying Around – Bridgewater
Movie Theater – Rent Entire Theater
- West Newton Cinema – Newton (movie or video games)
- TCAN – Natick (movie)
- Showcase Cinemas – Dedham/Foxboro/Newton/N.Attleboro
- West Boylston Cinema – W. Boylston
Movie Theater – Standard Viewing
- Showcase Cinema – Dedham
- Showcase Cinema – Foxboro
- Showcase Cinema – North Attleboro
- Showcase Chestnut Hill – Newton
- AMC – Framingham
- (Regal Bellingham is closed)
At-home Ideas
Sign up for our weekly e-news for fresh ideas each Thursday morning from moms in the Boston suburbs!
The moment you sign up, we’ll send you a link to the master list of at-home ideas from our past 12 months of newsletters. Enjoy!
Plan Ahead
- Community Kangaroo’s Summer Camp List: We’ve tracked down every summer camp we could find, and we’re listing dates/times/ages to make your planning a bit easier!