Outdoor Activities

Mommy Poppins Boston and the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Kids Outdoors Boston are excited to bring you a new series of guest blog posts on getting outdoors as a family. Kids Outdoors is a free online community for families filled with ideas on close-to-home outdoor activities in the Boston area and expert advice on how to get started. Each month “Outdoors with Kids Boston” author and local mom, Kim Foley MacKinnon, will have new tips and picks for you – enjoy!

Camping out is one of summer’s greatest pleasures. Finding a campsite, setting up the tent, roasting marshmallows, snuggling down in sleeping bags—it’s all a wonderful family adventure. But when you’re a parent with young kids who haven’t camped before or you’ve only got the weekend, you may want to stick close to home.

For kids who love animals, nature, and adventure, an outdoor birthday party just seems right. Even if your young adventurer’s birthday is in the winter, there are good options for outdoor parties. And at this time of year, it almost seems criminal to be indoors when you could be outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

However, planning an outdoor party can be tricky. The weather is always a wildcard, so you want to minimize the variables. This means having a party somewhere you can choose a package and know exactly what you’re getting. It also means that at least part of the party is under cover, so you don’t have to worry about nixing the whole thing if the weather isn’t cooperating. I've found four really fun party places for kids in and around Boston that fit the bill – read on, and starting planning an epic outdoor birthday celebration!