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On the Cheap---Freebies Deals And Discounts on Family Fun
Editor’s Note: While all attempts have been made to make these lists as accurate as possible, times and program availability may be subject to change. Please check information in advance to avoid disappointment.
Gas might be expensive, but a day of family entertainment doesn’t have to be. Check out these special deals on admission to area museums and attractions, and have some fun without breaking the bank:
• Boston Children’s Museum, 300 Congress St., Boston. Admission is just $1 after 5 p.m. on Fridays. 617-426-8855; www.bostonkids.org.
• Children’s Museum of Providence, 100 South St., Providence, R.I. Admission is free the first Sunday of each month and Fridays after 5 p.m. 401-273-5437; www.childrenmuseum.org.
• DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. Visiting the outdoor sculpture park here is free anytime except 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday (the museum’s operating hours). During those times, admission is charged. 781-259- 8355; www.decordova.org.
• Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston. Free laser and light show every night throughout the summer, and a constantly rotating roster of street performers. 617-523- 1300; www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com.
• Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Road, Dorchester. Children under age 2 are always free. Admission is half off the regular price on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m to noon. 617-541- 5466; www.zoonewengland.com.
• Free Friday Night Flicks, sunset, Hatch Memorial Shell, Storrow Drive, Boston. Free kid-friendly movies under the stars during the summer. For a schedule, visit the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation Web site at www.mass.gov/dcr and search under Hatch Shell Events.
• Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. Free admission from 9 a.m. to noon every Sunday. Also on Wednesdays, 3-5 p.m., from September to May. 617-495-3045; www.hmnh.harvard.edu.
• Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave., Boston. Admission is always free for youth under age 17. Free admission for families on the last Saturday of the month. Free for all visitors on Fridays, from 5-9 p. m. 617-478-3100; www.icaboston.org.
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 The Fenway, Boston. Admission is always free for youth under age 18. 617-566-1401; www.gardnermuseum.org.
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Columbia Point, Boston. Admission is always free for kids ages 12 and under. 617-514-1600; www.jfklibrary.org.
• Massachusetts State House Tours, Beacon Hill, Boston. Free tours are available year-round on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advance reservations required. 617-727-3676; www.sec.state.ma.us.
• MIT Museum, 265 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Admission is always free for children under age 5. Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon. Cambridge Public Library cardholders receive free admission in July and August. 617-253-4444; www.mit.edu/museum.
• Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. Admission is always free for children ages 6 and under. Admission for kids age 7-17 is $6.50 on school days, and free on weekends, public school holidays, and after 3 p.m. on weekdays. Adults get free admission on Wednesdays after 4 p.m. All tickets are good for one additional visit within 10 days. 617-267-9300; www.mfa.org.
• Old State House Museum, State and Washington streets, Boston. Admission is always free for children under age 6. Children ages 6-18 are admitted for just $1. 617-720-1713; www.bostonhistory.org.
• Sports Museum, TD Banknorth Garden, Causeway Street, Boston. Admission is always free for kids under age 6; family admission (up to five patrons) is $15. 617-624-1235; www.tdbanknorthgarden.com.
• USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown. Admission to this museum, dedicated to the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat, is by donation. 617-426-1812; www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org.
Discount Tickets and Passes
• ArtsBoston/Bostix – ArtsBoston is a nonprofit arts promotion organization that offers special deals and discounts to performances in the city, with the ArtsBostonJr. Program specifically for family-friendly shows. Get day-ofshow tickets for half-price at Bostix kiosks in Copley Square or at Faneuil Hall. 617-262-8632; www.artsboston.org.
• Boston CityPass – This pass covers general admission to six attractions in the city; it’s valid for nine days and is perfect for vacation weeks or summer break. The pass works at the Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, New England Aquarium, Skywalk Observatory, John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Buy the pass at any of the attractions. Adults, $44 (an $84.95 value); ages 3-11, $24. 888-330-5008; www.citypass.com.
• Family Value Pass – This free Boston Convention Center and Visitors Bureau pass gives you discounts (including two-for-one and second-child-free deals) at dozens of the city’s museums, attractions, tours, shops and restaurants. Print out a pass at www.bostonusa.com. 888-SEEBOSTON.
• Go Boston Card – This pass offers admission to more than 50 attractions, a two-day free pass on Beantown Trolley, and discounts of up to 20 percent at restaurants and shops. Although the price may seem steep (a one-day pass is $54.99 for adults and $34.99 for kids), you can save a lot of money if you pack in the attractions. For example, using the Beantown Trolley as your chauffeur, visit the New England Aquarium and take a Mass Bay Lines Whale Watch for $34 less than if each venue were paid for separately. 866-628-9027; www.gocardusa.com.
• Your Public Library – Most libraries loan passes for Boston-area museums and attractions to cardholders.
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