25 Places to Go and Things to Do For $25

By Maria Olia



A tight family budget doesn’t mean that you and the kids have to hibernate this winter. Here’s a rundown of local activities that can be done for $25 or less -for a family of four. Because cheap fun means you
can have more fun!

Note: It is always a good idea to call or check the website of your destination to confirm hours and rates before you head out.

1. Get Thee to the Library. Your local library likely has lots more to offer than books- story times and sing-alongs for the preschool set, movie screenings, afterschool workshops for school age kids, and perhaps
best of all for frugal families- free and money-saving passes to local museums and attractions. (Free)

2. Don’t just show your kids the world, show them the universe at the weekly public open night at Boston University’s Coit Observatory (725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-353-2625) The program is held every clear Wednesday evening from 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. You will be gazing at the stars and planets, and dress warmly, the telescopes are outside! (Free)

3. If you have a kid who is a sports fanatic, the New England Sports Museum at the Bank North Garden is a great destination. Check out Ted Williams’ locker, the Beanpot Trophy and the Celtics’ championship banners. Open daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m., but not during Garden events. Admission is $6 adults, $4 children ages 6-17 and family admission is a deal at $15. ($15 for a family up to five)


4. The New Bedford Whaling Museum (18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, 508-997-0046, is an amazingly interesting museum. On Saturday January 9 and Sunday January 10, the museum will be free for the museum’s 14th annual non-stop (nearly 25 hour!) reading of Moby Dick, Herman Melville’s classic seafaring yarn. (Free)

5. You can usually find something in an art museum to interest kids, but most kids are wired to make art-not look at it. Mark your calendars for the last Saturday of every month when the Institute of Contemporary Art (100 Northern Ave., Boston, 617-478-3100) sponsors “ Family Play Dates” which feature themed children’s art-making activities, performances and films along with free admission for up to two adults with children 12 and under. (Free)

6. Seek out smaller museums where admission is already low. Regular admission at the MIT Museum 265 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-253-4444) in Cambridge is just $7.50 for adults and $3 for kids. Geeky fun for kids and parents that love science, technology and architecture. ($21 for a family of four)

7. It will be difficult to drag your preschooler away from the Children’s Museum in Easton (9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton, 508-230-3789) where families have a wonderful time learning and having have fun together. Admission is a straightforward $6 per person age 1 and over. ($24 for a family of four)

8. Trail walks, animal encounters and lots of hands-on activities can be found at the South Shore Natural Science Center (48 Jacob’s Lane, Norwell, 781-659-2559) Admission is $5 adults, $3 children ages 2-15. ($16 for a family of four)

9. If you have a houseful of “Little Women” fans a visit and guided tour of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House (399 Lexington Rd., Concord, 978-369-4118) is a delight. Admission is $9 adults, $5 children ages 6-17. ($25 family rate for 2 adults and up to 4 children)

10. Road Trip! The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (125 West Bay Rd. , Amherst, 413-658-1100) celebrates the work of beloved children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle and the art of picture books in general. Remember the Poky Little Puppy? Through February 28, 2010 visit “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Picture Books.” Your kids will be inspired- so be sure to stop bythe drop-in Art Studio too. Admission is $9 adults, $6 children under age 18. Family admission rate of $22.50 for 2 adults and 2 youth. ($22.50 for a family of four)

11. Interested in stamps? Check out the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History (235 Wellesley St., Weston, 781-768-8367), post haste! Admission is $8 for adults, but kids under age 16 are free. ($16 for a family of four)


12. Along with inquisitive minds, most kids have inquisitive hands, which is why arts and crafts are such favorite activities. At the Fuller Craft Museum (455 Oak St., Brockton, 508-588-6000). Kids can explore textile, woodwork and metalwork. There are regular monthly workshops and free guided tours every Saturday at 2 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under. ($16 for
a family of four)

13. Let’s play! The Wenham Museum (132 Main St., Wenham, 978-468-2377) is a celebration of childhood- dolls, model trains and toys from the 17th century to today. Admission $7 for adults, $5 for kids ages 1-16.
($24 for a family of four)

14. Bowling is not only “retro-fun”, it’s cheap! Fairway Bowling (721 Worcester Rd., Natick, 508-653-5820) has kid-friendly candlepins and 32 lanes, so you rarely have to wait. (From $14 a lane including shoe
rental for up to five bowlers)

15. Movies on the big screen are still special. The Capitol Theatre (204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, 781-648-4340) and its sister cinema the Somerville Theatre (55 Davis Square, Somerville, 617-625-5700,
www.somervilletheatreonline.com) show first-run family friendly films at bargain pricing- just $ 7 for adults, $5 for kids for weekend matinees. ($24 for a family of four)


16. Snowshoe and discover winter walking wonders at Gore Place (52 Gore Place, Waltham, 781-894-2798). Seasonal backpacks that include binoculars, a magnifying glass and activities are available for $5 rental. Adults and child snowshoe rentals are $5 per pair. ($25 for a family of four)

17. Visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo (1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence Rhode Island, 401-785-3510), which has all your kid’s favorite zoo animals- elephants, giraffes and penguins. Roger Williams offers discounted, half-price admission rates in January and February of $6 adults and $3 for kids ages 3-12 ($18 for a family of four)


18. Small, local zoos have a lot going for them on a warmish winter day. Both the Capron Zoo (201 County St., Attleboro, 508-222-6202, www.capronzoo.com) and Buttonwood Park Zoo (425 Hawthorn St., New
Bedford, 508-991-6178, http://bpzoo.org) are open year-round, are manageable in size and make for an inexpensive outing. Capron Zoo rates are $5.50 for adults, $3.75 for children ages 3-12 (and less for Attleboro residents). Buttonwood Park Zoo rates are $6 adults, and $3 for kids ages 3-12. ($18.50 at Capron, $18 at Buttonwood for a family of four)

19. The Museum of Fine Arts (465 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-267-9300) celebrates Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 18 with free admission for all and fun film, art activities, and musical performances throughout the day. Note, the MFA will host several community days throughout 2010, dates to be determined, that are worth checking out. (Free)

20. For the feel of summer in the middle of winter, there is nothing like strolling through the greenhouses of the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens (106 Central St., Wellesley, 781-283-3094). The greenhouses are open daily and admission is free, but donations are welcome. (Free)


21. You can still connect with nature in winter. Massachusetts Audubon sanctuaries are located throughout the state and offer year-round access to hiking and walking trails. Many sanctuaries have a Nature Center and/or offer year-round nature-related programming. Pricing varies by Nature Center. Drumlin Farm in Lincoln admission is $6 non-member adults and $4 non-member children ages 2-12. ($20 for a family of four)


22. Explore pathways and trails at any of the more than 100 special places that are part of The Trustees of Reservations, which is dedicated to local land preservation and offers educational programs for all ages. (Trail admission is free)


23. Skate rentals and admission fees for a family of four can easily top $25 for a family of four even at your town rink. But The Charles Hotel Ice Skating Rink in Cambridge (One Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-765-4515,) offers family pricing for two adults and two kids ages 12 and under which includes skate rentals for $10 and $10 family admission. ($20 for a family of four)


24. Some of the best things in life really are free. In Boston, the Freedom Trail (15 State St., 617-242-5642,
 the Arnold Arboretum (125 Arborway, 617-524-1718, www.arboretum.harvard.edu) and the U.S.S. Constitution (Charlestown Navy Yard, 617-242-5670,  are always free. Watching the street performers at Faneuil Hall (617-523-1300) is free and always loads of fun. The Museum of African American History (46 Joy St., Boston, 617-725-0022,  is always free too, but a $5 per person donation is appreciated.

25. Thrifty parents know that some of the area’s favoritefamily-friendly museums offer free admission times each week. The Boston Children’s Museum (300 Congress St., Boston, 617-426-6500) is $1 on Fridays from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. The Harvard Museum of Natural History (26 Oxford St., Cambridge, 617-495-3045) and the adjoining Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology (11 Divinity St., Cambridge, 617-496-1027) are free to Massachusetts residents on Sunday mornings from 9 a.m.-noon and on Wednesdays during September-May from 3 to 5 p.m. The MIT Museum (265 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-253-5927) is free on Sundays from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. The Museum of Fine Arts (465 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-267-9300) is
free every Wednesday from 4 p.m.-9:45 p.m. The Worcester Art Museum (55 Salisbury St., Worcester, 508-799-4406)  is free every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. And the Fuller Craft Museum (455 Oak
St., Brockton, 508-588-6000) is free on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m.