So... doing laps around the Burlington Mall is getting a little tiresome. Check out these ideas for getting out of the house fast!

STORY TIME

Barnes & Noble Story Times
Mon 10AM Peabody
Tues 10:30AM Burlington
Thurs. 10:30AM Saugus
Friday 6:30PM Burlington & Saugus
Friday 7:00PM Peabody
**Friday March 21 meet Clifford in Burlington
**Friday April 18th Meet Madeline in Saugus
Call stores for character dates as they change monthly.

Borders Story Times
Every Saturday the Borders on Route 114 in Peabody and at Wayside Commons in Burlington offers a children’s story at 10:30AM.

Join them at either location on Saturday, March 22nd at 9AM for an Easter Egg Hunt in the children’s section. Young children may search for eggs full of candy, toys, or a chance to win a special prize.

Pottery Barn Kids, Burlington Mall
Story time every Tuesday from 10-10:30

Reading Public Library
Peter Sheridan shares his repertoire of children’s music. No sign up is necessary. Infant & toddler sing-a-long will be offered at 10:15AM:

March 7

March 21

April 4

April 18

Also at the Reading Public Library

On Thursday, March 13th from 3:30 - 4:15 join them for “Sing, Move, Create and Groove” for kids ages 4 – 7.

Mother Goose Lapsit, every Monday from March 3 - April 14th for ages 2 and under, 9:30AM-10:45AM, conference Room

Drop in Evening Storytime every Tuesday from March 4 - April 15th for ages 4-7, 6:30PM-7:00PM, conference Room.

Bear Rock Café

Music by Ed Morgan, a local children’s performer every Thursday from 10AM – 11AM.
 

Parks and Indoor Play Areas

• Kid's Playground is a great place for families to go year round, offering a huge play area suitable for children up to age 12. Children will enjoy playing on safe, state of the art equipment and activities featuring New England’s largest configuration of Tubes n’ Tunnels, Kids Interactive Village,  New Climb & Crawl Rock Adventure, Toddler area, and so much more! Kids play in a safe environment while parents can sit and relax or be a kid again! Kids Playground also hosts special events monthly, Birthday parties, and offers special rates for play groups.   No outside food or drink is allowed; a full lunch menu (pizza, soda, juice, etc.) is available at the snack bar.  Located just off Route 128 (I-95) in Woburn, it’s easy to get to.  Visit their website for rates, times, and directions.
• IMAJINEthat is a unique 12,000 square foot interactive educational playspace. At IMAJINEthat, families can create and learn together in a safe and educational way. IMAJINEthat's "Imajination Stations" include a child sized grocery store, a stuffed animal hospital, a HUGE dinosaur climbing structure, and an arts and crafts area, just to name a few!  Visit their website for additional information or call (978) 682-5338.
• Halibut Point State Park, located on Gott Avenue in Rockport, MA offers picnic areas with scenic ocean views, walking trails and wildflowers hikes and tidal pool areas for the little ones to play with water, sand and maybe some hermit crabs!

Dinning Out Ideas

• The Sylvan Street Grille in Peabody (found between the North Shore and Liberty Tree malls) hosts "character brunches" on Sunday mornings. This "all you can eat" buffet style brunch is sure to fill the adults while entertaining the kids. The buffet runs from 9 AM to noon every Sunday. Characters are there on certain Sundays only.
• Jasper White's Summer Shack restaurant in Cambridge is the place to take the kids when you are craving clam bake style seafood. The kids get balloons, can view the lobsters and crabs in the tanks, and can pick from a kids menu that includes corndogs. Summer Shack is where the old Aku-Aku was on Alewife Parkway in Cambridge. Just drive to the end of Route 2, keep going straight and the restaurant is on the right, just after the Alewife T station.
• Kimball Farm in Westford offers 40 flavors of ice cream, farm animals, a 9 hole pitch & putt golf course, adventure golf, bumper boats, driving range, country store and a grill area. You find Kimball Farm on Route 110 in Westford (minutes from 495). They also have a location on Route 225 in Carlisle, but they only have ice cream at that location.

Day Trips With The Little Ones

• The Stone Zoo, located at 149 Pond St., Stoneham, features a new Touchable Barnyard, with domestic farm animals including sheep, goats and miniature horses. Former zoo exhibits have been replaced with new updated habitats. Hours: Oct. 1-March 31, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for children ages 2-15 and $2.50 for senior citizens. For information call (781) 438-5100.
• Endicott Park in Danvers offers a large playground, animal farm and nature hiking path. Picnic tables are available throughout the grounds. Bathrooms and soda machines can be found in the main building. Parking is $2 to $3 for non-Danvers residents.
• The Boston Children's Museum, 300 Congress St., Boston, is open Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday until 9 p.m. Exhibits include Construction Zone!, for children ages 4-10; the New Balance Climb, and Kidstage, featuring participatory plays. Kidstage shows take place Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Friday, 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 6:15 and 7:15 p.m.; and Saturday/Sunday, 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. For more information call the museum's What's Up? line at (617)426-8855; or visit online at www.BostonKids.org.
• Minute Man National Historical Park, 174 Liberty St., Concord. (978) 369-6993, (617) 484-6156, North Bridge Visitor Center; Minute Man Visitor center and "Minuteman", statue; North Bridge, where "the shot heard 'round the world" was fired;, exhibits, tours, and talks.
• Explore Walden Pond and its surroundings with a park interpreter Saturdays at 9 a.m. through Nature Walks for Families. Walks are approximately 1 hour, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Wear walking shoes and bring insect repellent. Meet in front of headquarters building, Walden Pond State Reservation. For information, call (978) 369-3254. Walks are free, but parking is $2.
• The Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Drumlin Farm allows the whole family to experience life on a working New England farm, complete with pigs, horses, cows, and more. Take a hayride along the farmyard trail and enjoy the sights and sounds of farm animals and baby animals in season Stop by the Audubon Shop before you leave and pick up something special to remind you of your visit. Special programs held daily. Hours March through October: Tuesday through Sunday, and Monday holidays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Drumlin Farm is located on South Great Road, Lincoln. Call -781-259-9807
• The Butterfly Place in Weston, MA is an indoor living environment which has been carefully designed for the propagation and development of some of nature’s most colorful living creations. This wonderful man-made habitat is contained within a 3,100 sq. ft. glass atrium building towering to a height of over 27 ft. at its peak. Within this atrium’s living butterfly environment can be found a variety of colorful plants and shrubs, each of which has been selected as a source of nectar for the butterflies.
• The Freedom Trail in Boston - See the historic sites that make Boston one of the most interesting historic cities in the country. Visit their website to take a virtual tour before you go and to find out about guided tours.

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