Family Fun In + Around Burlington Things to Do Near Boston With the Whole Crew

Archer’s Burlington home is in 3rd Ave — a charming shopping destination centered on street life, with distinctive dining options, unique shops and family-friendly fun. It’s anchored by the wildly popular specialty foods store Wegmans and the entertainment hub Kings Dining & Entertainment, with family-fun bowling, billiards, shuffleboard, air hockey and foosball. Other notable stops include Jenny Boston, James Joseph Salon, Twist Bakery Café, Osteria Nino and The Bancroft.

Take the family outside at Mary Cummings Park, bordering Burlington and Woburn. Adjacent to 100 acres of protected conservation and recreation land, the park has well-marked nature trails, a soccer field, a drone flying area, picnic tables, colonial stone walls, large, open meadows, upland forests, extensive wetlands, streams and plenty of parking.

If you and the fam feel the need for speed, then K1 Speed Boston is your jam. With two challenging tracks and electric karts for adults and juniors — there's plenty of fun to be had (and competition, too). Fuel up at the Pit Café with drinks and snacks, then head back to the track to beat your time and earn bragging rights.

Sixteen historic sites make up Boston’s Freedom Trail. Each tour is led by 18th-century-costumed guides, with most tours traveling about a mile and lasting approximately 1.5 hours. The popular Walk Into History tour covers 250+ years of history along Boston’s Freedom Trail — visiting museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship and historic markers that shed light on the American Revolution.

Think you can keep up with your kids, or do you want to show them who’s boss? Test your balancing mettle at It Adventure Ropes Course in nearby Reading. With a four-level ropes course, zip rails and 30 activities (think zig-zag beams, spaghetti hand lines, angled rope ladders, crisscross walks) this course provide plenty of excitement for those looking for family activities. And yes — you’re harnessed in safely, so you can be as brave as you want to be.

Made famous by Henry David Thoreau's 1854 novel, Walden Pond and the woods that surround it beckon explorers to discover the surrounding natural beauty. Don your walking shoes, stop in at the Visitors Center at 915 Walden St. in Concord, Massachusetts, then enjoy this National Historic Landmark.

For more of Archer’s favorite things to do in and around Burlington and Boston, don’t forget to check out his thoughtfully curated list of the best local eating, drinking and doing options — his Favorite Finds. Then plan time to explore this great Massachusetts town, its 3rd Ave home base and its neighboring towns, and book your stay to relax with your family at Archer’s comfortably luxe residence, Archer Hotel Burlington.