Unlike many of the large cities which are vacation and tourist hot spots, Boston offers excellent options in entertainment for younger travelers. Nearly every attraction in Boston offers special kids programs, or is specifically designed to appeal to younger visitors.

One of the best places to take kids is the New England Aquarium. The aquarium features over 15,000 fish and aquatic mammals. A trip to the aquarium is a must for all ocean lovers and people who enjoy observing animals, but is also entertaining for just about anyone. The aquarium is large and can take visitors up to half a day to fully explore, so it is best to plan accordingly and have enough time to take in everything the aquarium has to offer. The centerpiece of the aquarium is an enormous four-story, 20,000 gallon tank, called the Giant Ocean Tank. The tank is available for viewing by walking the spiraling staircase that encircles the tank. Inside, a re-creation of a Caribbean coral reef is displayed. A large diverse array of sea creatures, including sharks, live together peacefully in the tank. Many other exhibits are included in the aquarium. Visitors are able to see tropical and freshwater animals, along with jellyfish, marine mammals, and even an exhibit on the ecology of the Boston Harbor. Two especially entertaining exhibits the Edge of the Sea,where guests can touch sea stars, sea urchins and horseshoe crabs in a tide pool. Then, there is also Discovery, a floating pavilion where sea lions perform. Also connected to the aquarium is the Simon's IMAX Theater. The theater houses an 85-foot by 65-foot screen and shows 3-D films about the natural world.

If aquariums don’t sit well, some kids, who may be a little more daring, and definitely are not scared of heights, may enjoy taking a visit to the Prudential Center Sky-walk. The sky-walk, located on the 50th floor of the Prudential Tower, offers a 360-degree view of Boston. On clear days, guests may be able to see as far away as the mountains of New Hampshire to the north and the beaches of Cape Cod to the south. After a dizzying experience at the windows, kids can take a step back and enjoy exhibits, both visual and audio, that chronicle the city’s history.

After a long day out on the town, taking in a show may be just what the doctor ordered for some restless little ones. An excellent and entertaining show in Boston is the long-running Shear Madness. This comical murder mystery has been running since 1980 and has never put on the same show twice. This feat is due to the audience participation

that makes up most of each show. The theater is transformed into a wacky hair salon, in which audience members get to put on their thinking caps, question suspects, take clues from witnesses, and ultimately find the criminal.

From nature to theater, Boston offers many activities that are suitable and entertaining enough to keep kids from becoming bored. However, while each activity is suitable for kids, each activity also has something to offer for teens and adults. Boston has plenty to offer to keep the whole family happy.