48 Hours in Boston: Where Luxury Meets Family-Friendly Fun
By Kristen Oliveri
Boston has always held a special place in my heart. From my days as a Northeastern Husky to now traveling with my own family, it’s been incredible to watch the Seaport transform into a vibrant destination where luxury, ease, and family fun coexist beautifully.
This trip reminded me why Boston is such a perfect Northeast getaway — especially with kids in tow.
Stay: InterContinental Boston
Perfectly positioned along the waterfront and walkable to nearly everything, the InterContinental delivers that sweet spot of elevated comfort with kid-friendly convenience.
What we loved:
• Personalized kids’ birthday amenity and welcome note
• Indoor pool, gym, and spa — ideal for families
• Beautiful breakfast buffet with à la carte favorites (avocado toast, eggs Benedict + more)
Kids’ pluses: pool access, easy on-site dining, relaxed atmosphere, and the Boston Children’s Museum right across the street. This is the kind of place where you can truly settle in and exhale.
What To Do (All Walkable)
Everything you need is right outside the door. No car required.
• Boston Children’s Museum — endlessly interactive and engaging
• Museum of Ice Cream — whimsical, colorful, pure joy
• New England Aquarium — penguins, ocean tanks, touch experiences
• Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum — history brought to life (in a fun way!)
Pro tip: plan one anchor activity per day, then build everything else around it.
Where To Eat
Traveling with kids means balancing convenience, quality and cravings.
Our favorites this trip:
• Shake Shack — quick bite between activities
• Sorelle Bakery — coffee, pastries, easy breakfast
• Smith & Wollensky — elevated lunch on arrival (huge portions!)
• Ocean Prime — perfect celebratory dinner
• Nebo — authentic Italian with excellent gluten-free options
What to order at Nebo, in my humble opinion includes the amatriciana pasta, veal Milanese, broccoli rabe with chili flakes, and classic margherita pizza for the kids, paired with a Sicilian white or rosé.
On our short list for next time:
• Trade (Greek)
• Lucca (Italian in the North End)
And because real life still happens on vacation, Trader Joe’s is walkable for snacks, fruit, and easy in-room meals.
A Little Parent Time: The Spa
I carved out solo time for a massage, and it was wonderful. My therapist focused on my neck issues using craniosacral techniques, gentle, supportive, and deeply relaxing. The spa feels mid-level in terms of amenities, but the pricing is fair and there’s a steam room onsite, which was a lovely bonus. Because parents deserve a moment, too.
For a 48-hour family escape, Boston delivers thanks to the walkable neighborhoods, the incredible food options, the world-class museums, the no-stress logistics and the understated luxury. You truly can park the car and forget about it.