Are you in Concord on a summer weekend and wonder what to do to keep your young children happy and busy? You're in luck, because kids of that age are fairly easy to please without
going very far. Here are suggestions for the 3-5 year age group from five members of the Concord Discussion List, parents and/or grandparents all. Thank you, Enid Carr, Anita Tekle, Pam Ressler, Rick Beinecke, and Cynthia Nyary!
North Bridge is always nice, those trees up by the visitor center
that you can walk through and hide in are a lot of fun, also the
labrynthic gardens behind the visitor center going down the hill.
And the ducks and the geese.
My kids love playing in the bushes
around the Buttrick Mansion (at the North Bridge) and troll hunting there.
Go to Walden Pond for a dip, though it can be crowded early on summer weekends.
Rent a canoe and go to the North Bridge by boat.
The rivers are a great attraction, and my kids did then (and still do) enjoy picnics by
the river, watching the canoes and ducks go by. Don't forget to bring along
food for the ducks!
Fairyland/Town Forest
The walk around Fairyland Pond at the Town Forest (opposite entrance of High School on Walden Street at Thoreau Street) is gentle, and we
always see snakes and frogs and chipmunks and other things which usually
make 3-5 year olds happy.
Orchard House
Orchard House may not be the best for this age unless you want to do their special
programs for the very young. The tour is fun for much older kids
but the little ones can get restless.
Playgrounds
Both the Emerson (between Stow, Everett, Thoreau, and Hubbard Streets) and Rideout (on Laws Brook Road) playgrounds are marvelous for that
age and have first-rate playground equipment.
Emerson Playground has a sprinkler system that operates on a
periodic basis in the summer (there's usually a sign indicating the times
when it is on/off).
Drumlin Farm
My kids LOVED to go to Drumlin Farm in Lincoln at that
age. Lots of animals, working farm, and not too much walking for the little
ones. They sometimes have special programs that you may want to check on.
You can also stop at Dairy Joy on Rt. 117 in Weston after Drumlin Farm (they used to
have great clams and lobster rolls, I don't know if they still do).
Discovery Museum
In a pinch, specially if it rains, head over to the Acton Discovery
Museums on RT 27 - there's one just for the little kids and it is a
blast! It's a great
experience for kids of that age -- very hands-on. It can be crowded on
weekends in the summer, though, and they limit how many kids are there at
once, so call ahead to get a handle on the best time to come.
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Splash with the Ducks
Orchard House
Drumlin Farm
Discovery Museum