A Day at the Beach

• At Malibu BeachKinderportrait image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
  
  Malibu Beach and Savin Hill Beach have enjoyed a renaissance with families searching for a safe and relaxed way to spend a day in the sun. With their protected swimming areas, bathhouse and toddler play areas, these beaches offer a lazy escape from the tempo of a city in celebration. For older children no longer thrilled with building sandcastles, nearby ball fields offer other activities and, for parents, there's an added peace of mind to knowing that lifeguards are on duty all summer.
  
  

Boston Children's Museum

• Toddler Play-Spaceenfant 3 image by thierry planche from Fotolia.com
  
  No visit to Beantown is complete without a trip to the Boston Children's Museum. Stimulating and enriching for older children, this attraction also offers toddlers a dedicated PlaySpace in a quieter and more tranquil wing. For little folks who might still be unsteady on their feet, the PlaySpace and waterbed are safe areas to engage in crawling and climbing adventures.
  
  

Ducks, Swans and Zoo Critters

• Swan Boats at the Public Gardenswan image by Dragan Ilic from Fotolia.com
  
  Whatever your toddler's favorite animal, it's likely they'll find one in Boston. The Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in the Public Garden is a perennial favorite with the young and young-at-heart. Visiting these bronze statues is free so, while you're in the locale, catch a ride on one of the magnificent Swan Boats too. A vital part of the Boston experience since 1877, the giant swan-themed boats are pedaled gracefully around the island, under scenic bridges and across the lagoon -- a tranquil way of spending 15 minutes with your enthralled toddler! Need more animal fun? Head to the Franklin Park Zoo -- a 72-acre site arranged as themed "habitats." Explore the wilderness of the African Savannah, the Kalahari Kingdom and the Serengeti or, if all that wildlife is just too exciting, check out the petting zoo instead!
  
  

Puppet Showplace Theatre

• Make a Marionettepuppet and a pencils image by Galaiko Sergey from Fotolia.com
  
  A little off the beaten track, you'll find the Puppet Showplace Theatre, a non-profit dedicated to introducing new audiences to the magic of puppetry. With shows appropriate for all ages, the theater brings a fresh new twist to this ancient art. Children, ages 3 and up, are invited to learn how to make their own shadow puppets or marionettes -- a novel experience for older children in your party! During the summer, show times are Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Call to determine if they will be opening for the holiday or check the online calendar.
  
  

Carousel Rides

• Ride the carouselcarousel image by david hughes from Fotolia.com
  
  Dust off that picnic hamper, pack all your toddler's preferred snacks and head over to the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway carousel. An old-fashioned favorite, the carousel is open for rides every day during the summer. Its proximity to other child-friendly attractions like Faneuil Hall -- home to clowns, jugglers, balloon artists and ice-cream vendors -- makes the carousel a clear destination for those entertaining the under-3 crowd.