Saturdays have always been the day to go out. Growing up, Saturdays meant shopping and lunch with my mom and grandparents. My daughter happily now wakes up every Saturday morning asking to “go on a venture” and it’s so special to me to now get to make these memories with my own family.
Below are some of our favorite places to go on family date days in Central Mass:
Barnes & Noble
If there is something I hope to instill in my children, it’s a love of reading. There isn’t anything that makes me happier than seeing my children playing with their books. One of our favorite places to go is Barnes & Noble. My daughter loves to sit on the floor and read books before picking out something for herself to take home. As a bonus, we also hit Starbucks for a special drink or cake pop treat!
Trampoline Parks
The trampoline park has been a new joy that we have discovered. Launch in Westborough has toddler time on Sunday mornings. Toddler Time at Launch can get a bit crazy (like line-out-the-door crazy), so if you are looking for a weekend activity I would suggest getting there before the doors open. Launch also has an arcade section and a climbing structure with slides if you’re looking for additional things to do.
Altitude in the Apex Plaza is a traditional trampoline park with multiple jumping areas and foam pits. My daughter loved jumping and running around, and I loved the nap she took after. Double win! You will need grip socks, but as long as you’ve been to one of these parks you do not need to buy their brand of socks which is also a win! Altitude has toddler time every weekday from 10am to 2pm.
Kidz Central
Located on Route 20 across is Kidz Central, one of our favorite places to go! It is located inside Spirit Central and has various open gym times as well as tumbling and gymnastic classes. The open gym, or mini monster time, is ideal for children aged 10 months to 7 years. Miss Amy is amazing (IYKYK) and has obstacle courses, bubbles, balls, trampolines, and even sometimes inflatables for children to bounce, climb, and have fun! We love going to Mini Monster Time in the summer to burn off energy when the weather outside isn’t cooperating.
Local Libraries
If I have a day off during the week or looking for things to do, I am always checking out our local library! I love that the library often has events and classes for children (even my toddler and infant!) that are during the day and at night. We love story time, crafts, and singing songs to give us something fun and exciting to look forward to. If you are unsure of which library to go to, we have a few great roundup posts of libraries that can be found here in Central Mass and Southern Central Mass.
Ecotarium
Do not sleep on the Ecotarium if you are looking for something local for you and your family to do and a place to explore! We are fortunate enough to have a family pass ($125/year for 4 people) and my children both love the Ecotarium. Babies, toddlers, and children alike can enjoy climbing the rock wall, exploring the various centers and exhibits, and visiting the animals. My daughter loved walking to find the river otters and the bubble exhibit outside. The family pass also includes a discount for the gift shop, and exclusive invitations to try new exhibits before opening to the public. It’s a perfect family date activity.
Klems
This was the first year we took our daughter to Klems in Spencer, right around the holidays. She enjoyed the popcorn (mommy did too!), walking around to see the Christmas lights, and exploring the store in general. A trip down the pet aisle was needed to see the birds, frogs, and fish! Bonus: if you need to do some shopping you can get some things off the list while letting your child happily snack away!
Solomon Pond Mall
Growing up, this was usually where I went on “a venture” as my daughter calls it. This is easily one of her favorite places to go to. Emma is a shopper, but also loves the carousel! The old-fashioned carousel is opened daily and is accessible to infants and children alike. It’s even easy enough to hold onto a toddler when 9 months pregnant and not be uncomfortable! We love riding the carousel and getting a balloon before leaving to wrap up our shopping trips!
Luv 2 Play
It is a newer addition to our date-day adventure list! While it is small, there is a lot to do that is great for kids of multiple ages. I love that they have small arcades and a small kid’s carousel that younger and bigger kids can enjoy! Another plus is a smaller section for crawlers and a bigger play area for older toddlers and children. My daughter loved going down the slide and playing in the ball pit while my son crawled around the infant area and rode the carousel!
Build a stuffed animal
Even though it is a hike from our house in Charlton, there isn’t anything that can beat the magic that Build-A-Bear brings! If you have a stuffed animal lover like I do, make sure to sign up for the birthday rewards program! You can bring your child to create a birthday bear and pay their age! Your child is sure to have the best time stuffing their bear, warming up its heart, making a birth certificate, and even bathing the bear before going home to be loved! Plus, the bear home box doubles as a coloring activity to add some extra fun for your child.
Brush It Off
Located in Sturbridge, Brush It Off is a great place to have some creative fun with your children! While adults can enjoy an alcoholic beverage while they paint, children are sure to enjoy creating a masterpiece of their own! We have done open studio time when my daughter was 1 and were able to choose from over 400 ceramics to paint with some starting as low as $5! There are also over 300 adult paintings you can be guided through and plenty of pre-sketched kid’s canvases to enjoy. Brush It Off also has an area for resin pouring, ceramic paints they’ll fire off in the kiln, and much more! If you are looking for a place to host a birthday party they have rooms for splatter painting, mega glitter, neon signs, and more!
Secret Garden
The secret garden is one of our favorite places to explore on a nice day! While the location is tricky, as it’s hidden in the middle of Shrewsbury, you can explore the .4-mile trail, and can be guaranteed every visit will be different. The secret garden is part of Chief Joseph’s home that is decorated with inspirational quotes, statues, benches to sit and enjoy, sculptures, and even a free library! Enjoy the wind chimes with the blowing breeze and pack a picnic lunch to let your children explore a truly magical place tucked away in the middle of a busy bustling area of central MA!
While there are hundreds of places to enjoy a family date day, these are just a few of our family favorites! Where do you love to go with your child(ren)? Share with us or tag us at @centralmassmom on your next family date day adventure!
