Three days of family fun in Boston

Amazing Freebies Worth Pursuing: The Freedom Trail; posing on the Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings statues in the Public Garden; self-guided tours of Harvard's campus in hopes its beauty will inspire the kids to study hard; admission to the Fogg Art Museum for kids under 18; family-friendly Friday night movies at the Hatch Shell in warmer months; picnic lunches on Boston Common; admission to the Museum of Fine Arts for kids under 17 on weekends and after 3 p.m. on weekdays; admission to the Isabella Stewart Garner Museum for kids under 18.

Home Away From Home
The kid- and pet-friendly Colonnade Hotel is located in Back Bay near the Prudential Center. The hotel offers great family packages including free overnight parking (practically unheard of in Boston), late checkout and breakfast. When the kids tire of sightseeing they'll love The Colonnade's rooftop pool -- the only one in Boston. Packages are offered in conjunction with Boston DUCK Tours (April through November), the New England Aquarium or the Children's Museum.

Not only is the Omni Parker House located steps away from some of Boston's most kid-friendly attractions (the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market and the Boston Common) it also boasts a kids' program. Kids can check out the "suitcase of fun" from the front desk filled with books and games while parents are provided with a list of top family attractions, local emergency numbers and a safety/first aid kit which includes a night light and outlet covers. Kids get goodie bags upon check-in and most rooms are equipped with video games. Tip: Sign up for Omni's Select Guest program and you'll receive a coupon for 50 percent off your first stay (weekends only).

If you want to truly pamper your little angels, the Ritz-Carlton is the best Beantown has to offer. Besides babysitting services, strollers and cribs on request, the hotel houses a children's suite featuring a children's bedroom/playroom complete with tot-sized furniture, an entertainment center with television, VCR and stereo, a "Trumpet of the Swan" video and book, arts and crafts center, toys, games and a mini-refrigerator filled with healthy snacks and beverages. Another bonus: You can enrol your kids in the Ritz's "A Day of Social Savvy" program where they'll learn ballroom dancing, table manners, social correspondence and telephone etiquette.

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