Art Lovers
Cambridge Art & Culture Immersion
A curated journey through Cambridge's artistic treasures
2 days9 stops
All ItinerariesFamilies
Family Fun Day in Cambridge
Dinosaurs, robots, splash pads, and ice cream — all in one day
1 day
7 stops
Easy
Spring through fall (splash pad open June-September)
Overview
Cambridge is one of the best cities in America for families. In a single day, kids can see real dinosaur fossils, interact with robots, splash around in a riverfront park, and eat ice cream from a legendary shop — all connected by the Red Line. This itinerary is designed for kids ages 4-12 but works for all ages.
Your Day
9:00 AM30 min
Breakfast at Clover Food Lab
7 Holyoke St, Harvard Square
Fast, affordable, and kid-friendly. The egg and cheese breakfast sandwich is a winner. Veggie-forward menu that kids surprisingly love.
Insider Tips
- •Counter service is quick — great for antsy kids
- •The fries are made from local potatoes
9:45 AM1.5 hours
Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford St
Dinosaurs! The museum's fossils, minerals, and legendary Glass Flowers captivate all ages. Kids love the Great Mammal Hall with its life-size taxidermy.
Insider Tips
- •Free for MA residents on Sundays 9am-12pm
- •The mineral room has glowing rocks under UV light
11:30 AM30 min
Rub John Harvard's Shoe
Harvard Yard
Quick stop for the classic tourist photo. Kids love the "three lies" story about the statue. Walk through the beautiful Yard.
Insider Tips
- •Ask kids to guess the "three lies" — it's a fun game
- •Don't actually rub the shoe — students say it's bad luck!
12:15 PM45 min
Lunch at Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage
1246 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge institution since 1960. Enormous burgers named after celebrities, packed with character. Cash only, long lines — but worth it.
Insider Tips
- •Cash only!
- •Burgers are huge — one is often enough to split
- •Named-after-celebrity burgers change with the news
1:30 PM2 hours
MIT Museum
314 Main St, Kendall Square
Robots! Holograms! Interactive exhibits! The MIT Museum is hands-on heaven for curious kids. Arthur Ganson's kinetic sculptures are mesmerizing.
Insider Tips
- •Free for kids under 18
- •The holography room needs time for eyes to adjust
- •Allow time for the hands-on exhibits — kids won't want to leave
3:45 PM1 hour
Magazine Beach Splash Pad
Memorial Dr at Magazine St
Let the kids burn off energy at the splash pad (summer) or the open fields. Great views of the Charles River and Boston skyline.
Insider Tips
- •Splash pad runs June through Labor Day
- •Bring towels and a change of clothes
- •Pack a blanket for riverside picnicking
5:00 PM30 min
Ice Cream at Toscanini's
899 Main St, Central Square
The New York Times called it "the best ice cream in the world." Unique flavors like burnt caramel and B3 (brownies, brown butter, brown sugar).
Insider Tips
- •B3 is the signature flavor — a must-try
- •They do flights of small scoops for indecisive kids