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3 hr 30 min
Spot humpback, fin, and minke whales aboard a high-speed vessel with expert aquarium naturalists
Reserve
1 hr 20 min
Cruise Boston's streets then splash into the Charles River aboard a WWII amphibious vehicle
Reserve
1 hr
Relive the pivotal 1773 rebellion with costumed actors, replica vessels, and hands-on history.
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
The moment the amphibious vehicle drives into the Charles River for skyline views.
See the iconic gold-domed building from a unique land-based perspective.
Start your tour at this massive landmark in the heart of Back Bay.
Learn about the historic battle site during the narrated land portion.
Cruise by the oldest botanical garden in the United States.
Boston Duck Tours offer an interactive land-to-water experience that complements the relaxing nature of classic Boston Harbor sightseeing cruises. Families choosing between these boston boat tours for kids often find the amphibious vehicle more engaging for younger children while the harbor cruise offers superior panoramic waterfront views.
| Feature | Top pick Boston Duck Tours | Boston Harbor Cruises |
|---|---|---|
Vehicle Type |
Amphibious vehicle | Traditional sightseeing vessel |
Engagement Style |
Guided narrative with driver interaction | Audio commentary and observation |
View Perspective |
Street-level landmarks to harbor splash | Open-water panoramic skyline views |
Weather Sensitivity |
Open-air; weather dependent | Indoor and outdoor deck options |
Boarding Locations |
53 Huntington Avenue | Long Wharf |
Primary Audience |
Families seeking educational entertainment | Sightseers and history enthusiasts |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Families prioritizing high-energy engagement should secure their boston boat tours for kids tickets for the Duck Tour, while those seeking calm harbor sightseeing cruises are better served by traditional boat operators.
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Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
53 Huntington Avenue
Main departure hub for boston boat tours for kids
Take the MBTA Green Line to Copley or Prudential station.
Park at the Prudential Center garage with validation.
Casual, weather-appropriate clothing is recommended for boston boat tours for kids. Since the ride is open-air, bring an extra layer for breezy conditions on the Charles River.
Small bags are permitted on board, but space is limited. There is no formal storage at the 53 Huntington Avenue departure location for large suitcases or strollers.
Photography is encouraged throughout your boston boat tours for kids experience. Guests are welcome to capture the splashdown and skyline views during the aquatic portion.
Boston Duck Tours offers ADA-compliant vehicles at the Prudential Center and Museum of Science. You must call +1-617-450-0068 in advance if a guest requires a wheelchair spot.
Mobile devices are essential for guests wanting to use the GPS-activated foreign language app. Please bring your own headphones for the best listening quality.
These boston boat tours for kids are designed for all ages, featuring an interactive commentary. Kids under 3 can travel for a reduced rate of 11 USD.
Outside food is not permitted on the amphibious vehicles. Water in sealable bottles is allowed to keep guests hydrated during their boston boat tours for kids journey.
Service animals are permitted, but general pets are strictly prohibited from all boston boat tours for kids vessels. Please make alternate arrangements for your pets.
The 5% convention center surcharge applies to all standard ticket rates of 57 USD. Please ensure you have your mobile booking confirmation ready for digital scanning.
53 Huntington Avenue
Main departure hub for boston boat tours for kids
Get directionsBest time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
Mild weather perfect for open-air touring.
Peak season with vibrant activity along the Charles River.
Cooler temperatures and excellent views of changing foliage.
The final weeks of the season offer unique harbor breezes.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
Secure your boston boat tours for kids tickets at least 30 days in advance to get preferred times.
Download the language app and bring your own headset for a personalized experience.
Ensure you validate your parking ticket at the booth to save on garage fees.
The middle seats provide the best view of the Charles River splashdown.
Even on warm days, the air on the water can be cooler than in the city streets.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
Historical landmark with renowned architecture.
Famous for its beautiful courtyard and reading rooms.
A central hub for local events and gatherings.
Observation deck located within the Prudential Tower.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable unless the tour is canceled by Boston Duck Tours. If the water portion of the tour is canceled, a 50% refund will be offered.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
Historic hotel near the departure point.
Upscale lodging in the Back Bay district.
Boutique style hotel near Copley Square.
The amphibious vehicles that idle on Huntington Avenue trace their lineage to 1942, when the DUKW was designed to land troops and cargo on beaches without ports. Boston Duck Tours adapted that wartime hull for civilian use in 1994, and the splash-down into the Charles River became a city ritual. Boston boat tours for kids tours grew from that one idea: a vessel equipped for cobblestone and current alike. Water explains Boston better than any street grid. The town was founded in 1630 on a peninsula joined to the mainland by one narrow neck. Wharves did the work highways do now. Long Wharf, begun in 1710, once reached half a mile into the harbor, and ships moored within sight of the Old State House. On the night of 16 December 1773, about a hundred men boarded three ships at Griffin's Wharf and emptied 342 chests of tea into the water, an episode now reconstructed aboard the brigs Beaver and Eleanor. The harbor children sail today is a repaired thing. For most of the twentieth century it carried the city's untreated sewage. A 1985 federal lawsuit forced the cleanup that produced the Deer Island treatment plant, whose egg-shaped digesters are visible from nearly every outbound deck. Water quality recovered. In 1996 Congress established the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, gathering 34 islands and peninsulas into one park. Fort Independence still holds Castle Island, fortified in some form since 1634; the present granite citadel dates to 1851. The Harbor Islands ferry network and the sightseeing fleet now share the same channel markers. Offshore, the seabed rises into Stellwagen Bank, a glacial moraine designated a National Marine Sanctuary in 1992. Humpbacks, finbacks and minke whales feed there on sand lance through summer and deep into autumn, which is why whale watching sits alongside the city's land itineraries rather than apart from them. The USS Constitution, launched in 1797 and still a commissioned warship, lies at the midpoint of that view, berthed in Charlestown where she was built. Amphibious vehicle, moored brig, whale-watching catamaran, sunset cruise: the range is the point. A single Boston boat tours for kids tour can carry a civics lesson, a natural history lesson and a harbor sightseeing cruise past the same Boston landmarks. Children tend to remember the water, and the water, in Boston, is the archive.
"The harbor children sail today is a repaired thing."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You begin on the pavement at 53 Huntington Avenue, where a conductor in a weathered captain's hat scans Boston boat tours for kids tickets and waves your group up three steps into an open-sided hull mounted on wheels. The engine turns over with a diesel rattle. You roll past the Hancock Tower's mirrored flank, the gold dome on Beacon Hill, the swan boats in the Public Garden. Then the street simply ends at a ramp, the driver calls for a quacking countdown, and the vehicle noses into the Charles River with a slap of water against the sill. Children lean out. The skyline reorders itself from sea level. Later you cross the inner harbor on a steel deck instead of a hull on wheels. You take the rail on the upper level, where the wind is loudest and the narration clearest. You pick out Deer Island's digesters to port, Fort Independence low and grey to starboard, and the lighthouse on Little Brewster beyond. A crew member hands a pair of binoculars to the smallest passenger aboard. Arriving inside the 09:00–17:00 window keeps the boarding queue short and the upper-deck rail free. On the return leg the harbor sits in low light, the ferries run home, and someone small sleeps against your shoulder with a plastic whale clenched in one fist.
The attraction is open daily from 09:00–18:00.
Yes, wheelchair accessible vehicles are available at the 53 Huntington Avenue location by calling +1-617-450-0068.
Adult tickets are 57 USD, plus a 5% convention center surcharge.
Tickets are generally non-refundable unless Boston Duck Tours cancels the experience due to weather.
Dress for the weather as the tour takes place in an open-air vehicle.
Yes, items like large luggage, alcohol, and weapons are strictly prohibited.
You can reach the 53 Huntington Avenue address via the MBTA Green Line or paid parking garage.
Outside food is prohibited, but water in sealable bottles is encouraged.
No, only service animals are permitted on the tour vessels.