Family-Friendly Rainy Day Destinations North of Boston

They say April showers bring May flowers so we’re here to tell you what you can do in the event of a rainy spring day North of Boston. Here’s a round-up of some of our favorite indoor activities that will inspire, delight and entertain the whole family no matter what the weather brings this season.

In the Game, Peabody

In the Game in Peabody is the North Shore’s family fun center. Featuring a restaurant with a chef-crafted menu, a modern arcade, laser tag, a climbing wall, and a ropes course there’s something for everyone! Not to mention they offer daily and weekly specials to make a day or night out with the family even more economical. Enjoy half-priced apps Tuesday to Friday from 3 to 6 pm, double ticket payout on all games every Tuesday, half-priced games on Wednesdays, an eat-and-play combo deal on Fridays, and more super savings and specials throughout the week. View all their specials here.

Joe’s Playland, Salisbury Beach

What’s better than an arcade at the beach? Joe’s Playland at Salisbury Beach offers a year-round arcade and ice cream stand and Lee’s Seafood, a seasonal seafood stand! Joe’s Playland is filled with new and classic games like skeeball and pinball. If you haven’t tried Wizard of Oz or Plinko, you’re missing out! And, when was the last time you had a good old fashion Air Hockey match? Joe’s delivers nostalgia, delicious eats, and fun for the whole family, which they’ve been serving up for over 100 years.

Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), Salem

PEM wants to make it easy for you and your family to connect with art and culture and their Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center, with hands-on activities, discovery drawers, games, and computer stations, is a great place to start. You can also embark on a treasure hunt of sorts and search for animals or sailing ships in the PEM collection using their complimentary Gallery Discovery Kits. Youth 16 and under are always free at the PEM making for an affordable family-friendly outing year-round. Their Atrium Café offers many delicious child-friendly food options, their key-operated storage lockers are convenient and accessible and they even offer strollers for loan in the coat room. Don’t miss the opportunity to introduce your family to one of the most impressive attractions North of Boston. Check out their calendar of events for family-friendly crafts and activities.

North Shore Children’s Museum, Peabody

Located in downtown Peabody, the North Shore Children’s Museum features hands-on exhibits designed to provide a fun and enriching learning experience for children ages 2-8. Each hands-on experience in the North Shore Children’s Museum explores different themes to tap into a child’s imagination. From building and designing to investigating new materials to reading and engaging in dramatic play, the North Shore Children’s Museum is committed to encouraging learning through play and exploration. The museum’s offerings are accessible and inclusive and its beautifully renovated party room makes for a great private event space. Offering seating for 24 guests, with a capacity of 50 total, as well as exclusive access to a private kitchenette, it’s a great option for birthday parties, corporate retreats, baby showers, and more!

Wenham Museum, Wenham

The Wenham Museum celebrates childhood, interprets history, and explores culture for the enrichment of all generations in the greater North Shore community and beyond. Their renowned train displays impress and delight visitors of all ages! The Bennett E. Merry Train Gallery features 10 operating model layouts—in G, O, HO, N, and Z gauges—with 21 trains that operate with the push of a button. Railroad artifacts, memorabilia, large-scale models, and antique toy trains are also on display. Plus their museum shop is the go-to place for unique toys, learning games, puzzles, and gifts galore.

Real Pirates Salem, Salem

Real Pirates Salem is the newest family-friendly museum in Salem! It’s exciting, thought-provoking and offers an immersive experience for the whole family. Voyage through pirate history with a museum over 300 years in the making! Real Pirates Salem features real artifacts and treasures from the shipwrecked Whydah Gally. From lore to legendary find, see and touch the world’s only authenticated pirate treasure ever discovered – including coins, cannons, and weapons – recovered from the ocean floor by underwater explorer Barry Clifford. Experiences include free photo booth memory moments, interactive stations to test your pirate abilities, and exploration of the Discovery Lab where you can learn about the archaeological preservation process of centuries-old artifacts pulled from the depths!

Kings, MarketStreet Lynnfield

If you’re looking for some big kid rainy day fun look no further than the ultimate entertainment destination North of Boston, Kings Lynnfield. This retro-chic bowling alley has bars, an eatery, and games such as bocce, billiards & shuffleboard. It’s a 21,000-square-foot entertainment facility featuring: space for up to 420 guests, 16 ten-pin bowling lanes, multiple games, a full-service restaurant & lounge, two premium bars, 32 seat outdoor patio, over 50 HDTVs, and a HD projector screens for all the sports action. Plus their private King Pin Room features four private ten-pin bowling lanes, best-in-industry sound, lighting, and music environment, and 1UP Retrocade arcade for the most fun party you could imagine.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of In the Game; Courtesy of Joe’s Playland; Courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum; Courtesy of Wenham Museum; Courtesy of Real Pirates Salem; Courtesy of Kings MarketStreet Lynnfield.