Does anyone want to share their favorite place to take your kids in Mass? I have been spending way too much time in the house these days! Maybe a place that has a friendly staff? Or fun for the kids to just be a kid?
I'll go first. I love Little Monkey Gym in Lawrence. It is a hike for us to get to but well worth the trip in my book. Also, we love Perpetual Motion in Lawrence but I do have a few issues with them. The staff was not too happy when my son threw the balls from the ball pit OUT of the pit. They also don't have a gate to seperate the young kids play area from the bigger kids area. It is still worth a trip on a day that there is NO PARTIES so call ahead if you ever want to venture out on a roadtrip :)

camp i go to in summer martha vynard

anyone from the northshore area mass

My name is Bret Bondlow and I own a fitness facillity called Compelling Fitness in Hanover, Ma. I specialize in training kids/adults with autism, MR, Downs, ADD. I am a personal trainer but prior to training I worked about 10yrs with kids and adults with special needs in a variety of settings. My goal has always been to develop a facility for these individuals because the opportunities are few if any. Please feel free to check out my website www.compellingfitness.com I look forward to talking with you and thank you for having me part of the group. bret

We went to the zoo today. i forgot about the zoo - we a members so we can go on a whim. Even though it's cold today we spent time in the Tropical Forest building and watched the gorillas and snakes. The tigers and lions were out and active. They have a butterfly building and merry go round. A play train that rides around the zoo - This is the Franklin Park zoo - our favorite out of the affiliated zoos.
Carso loves the Boston Public Library - he loves books as does his sister - so that is a cheap, big deal trip for us. Just things I thought of today...
Of course we also went to the Square One Mall in Saugus. It has a Disney store, Build a Bear store and Kay Bee Toy Store all grouped together. My kids LOVE it.

Thanks for sharing some great ideas! We just took Dylan bumper bowling and he was having a hard time with the candle pin size ball but still had a blast. I want to check out the cape ann lanes Cathy. Maybe we can meet up there sometime? I don't mind driving since he loves the car. I am going to check out the places in RI when I have a chance. Keep the ideas coming please!

Hi, I live in MA too but down in SE Ma and just 5 mile from Providence RI. There are Lots of great places in and around providnce that are great for families.
The Pawtucket Redsox are SO MUCH cheaper than Boston and the parking is a heck of a lot easier. If you are willing to walk 2 or 3 blocks you can even park for free. The PawSox are really geared for families and the kids can get the photo taken with "Paws" the Pawsox mascot.
Another fun thing is the Providence Bruins. Again much cheaper to go to the games and parking is close by and a lot less expensive too... maybe like $8.00 to park
IN downtown Providnce there is also a reptile zoo www.regalreptiles.com that is a blast for kids who like that stuff. There is also the Children's museum which is also right downtown.
Roger Willimas Park zoo is beautiful and in the park they have a carousel, playground, paddle boats and even an electric boat that will give you a ride around the ponds in the park.
Also the RI School of Design Museum has special kids program monthly on either Saturday or Sunday mornings, I forget which.
Hope this helps if you are looking to do a day trip or even an overnight.
Hotels in Downtown Providence are expensive BUT you can travel to my town Seekonk just 5 miles away and we have a bunch of hotel and motels that are much less expensive.

We've been to perpetual motion = usually it's been very empty when we are there. We like that it had swings - Carson loves to swing. We've also been to Indoor Playground in Woburn, MA - www.indoorplayground.com. Always crowded, a lot of parties and it's usually kids that are a bit older 8 to 10 yrs old. Carson isn't real strong on his feet so it's hard for him to explore b/c the kids are exploding with energy and just don't want to wait for a little, motor challenged kid to climb up into the big tree. That said, if you could go in the a.m. or some time where there are not a lot of bigger kids running around (hahahahaha).
My kids have discovered Chuckie Cheese - enough said.
Also we like Cape Ann Bowling Lannes In gloucester, ma (I think www.bowlingis fun.com...not sure). they have a ramp for bowling (put ball at top and it rolls down). Great for small kids, low tone kids, kids in chairs, etc.
We are young family - so my things are focuses on little kid things. Of course any mcdonald's that has a play area (yes, germs - but I have to let that go...)
Cathy