Four stars if you're under the age of seven and have a serious turtle fascination. Hissing…read morecockroaches aside, all of the living exhibits are those shelled wonders and rabbit race underdogs. Still, the environments created around said turtles are whimsical, educational and awe-inspiring for the little 'uns. An extra star for free admission to YMCA members, and for the enjoyable outdoor space, which includes a chicken hutch, active gardens, stone circles for pagan worship (I kid, or do I?) and about a billion chipmunks. Seriously, it's like Alvin attained Beiber status and all the teen chips are swarming for an autograph. Excellent programming and festivals throughout the year - even a Corn Fest! - and, as mentioned, completely free for YMCA members. Solid way to knock out an hour or two if your spawn is being a terror. Or obsesses over turtles. Or both.

A weekend go to in our household - is it raining? Great, come here in look at turtles! Hatchlings…read morein the fall, a mix of box turtles, snapping turtles and other shelled friends throughout the year. Is it sunny? Even better, come here and walk through their trails. They have a cute story book trail for little ones and other ways to enjoy some easy jaunts through the woods. Free admission to YMCA members, we also love their annual events like Corn Fest every summer.

Great museum but the gift shop employees are bizarrely rude for no discernible reasonread more

Now my kids are 8 and 3 years old…read more We still adore the Museum of Science and find their membership valuable. Looking forward to the new wing (currently under construction).

Feels like so long ago we were hiking up the tower. I mentioned to my Dad that my legs weren't…read morefeeling the best and I needed to go slow. He felt bad so he waited for me half way up and then all of a sudden I got a burst of energy and sped past him. He was shocked and said I waited for you and then you left me in the dust. When we got to the top it was fun to look around the city and see the ocean. Lots of history here and we are so grateful for the memories made. Staff is very friendly and really takes pride in their museum. It's kept up well and very educational. Thank you

Great place to start your visit, best and least expensive place to park. The views from the…read moremonument are spectacular. Not an easy walk to the top. Also at the base there are shaded areas to sit with great views of the harbor and also an elevator to take you to commercial street. When you first come in there is a gift shop and a art museum on one side and a Provincetown museum on the other. The people that work there are extremely friendly and knowledgeable not only about the history but also things to do in the area

A museum filled with an endless amount of national and international treasures, each with its own…read morestory. Let me just start by saying this museum is HUGE so expect to spend the entire day here to see every single exhibit and piece available. The jewels has to be my favorite part of the museum, alongside the beautiful sculptures from Greek history. Tour guides, multiple shops, restaurants and very friendly customer service to give you recommendations on where to begin once entering the great hall! If you're in Boston, you MUST give this place a visit and you'll leave perplexed with the level of importance many pieces carry! I see something new everytime I come in here! The gift that truly keeps on giving.

Great collection. They have a few Van Gogh landscapes (including a rendition of the wheat field)…read moreand their Monet collection is medium-sized and varied. John Singer Sargent's work can be found all around Boston, and the MFA holds the largest collection of John Singer Sargent in the world. Considering that he painted the ceiling murals that you see when you walk in, I think that's very fitting. I was able to catch the Winslow Homer exhibition-- walked in and bought my general admission ticket to the museum. The Homer exhibition was at no additional cost, but did require an additional timed ticket. They had spots open for the next slot, so all four of my friends and I were able to go see it together. One of us accidentally forgot to get the additional ticket at the general admission desk, but an employee in front of the exhibit was nice enough to do the computer work to issue us a ticket there. $30 for general adult admission is a higher price compared to similar art museums around the world, and it would have been nice if there were more ways to get a discount (such as expanding the list of universities they offer student admission for or being part of more city tourism passes). I spent an efficient four hours in there and saw almost every corner of the museum. The price tag means I'll skip it next time I'm nearby, but I still think it's a must visit for first timers.

Excellent site to visit! Beautiful views! We had a great docent lead tour. Our guide shared lots…read moreof details and did a great job trying to answer our group's many questions! Learning about the different architectural phases of this property was very interesting. The Secret Staircase is special! Gift Shop was a fun stop! Friendly staff. They have their own parking lot with ample and FREE parking while you visit. Now that's a plus. Everywhere else in Salem is paid parking, including the Peabody Essex Museum (park and hike!) Highly recommend visiting The House of Seven Gables if you are in the area.

What a great experience!…read more We had the tour to ourselves. The snow turned everyone away. The house is super interesting and our guide was great! If you are in the area, highly recommend a tour. Side note: we used our library card and received 50% off of admission.

Did not get to visit yet. Closed until February 4, 2025. Looks well cared for from the outside.read more

Seasonal Musuem…read more This year, the Old Ordinary was open from June 12th through September 1, (2007), Tuesday through Saturday, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission: adults, $3; children, $1. After Labor Day, the museum will be open by appointment. Really excellent value if you love New England History. Eleanor Roosevelt called Hingham's thoroughfare "the most beautiful Main Street in America." It has a mile or so of wide, tree-lined Main Street with homes that get progressively older as you get closer to the center of town. The Old Ordinary is a wonderful place to visit. It only costs $3.00 and there's are a variety of well-informed tour guides to walk you through the house and explain the rich history of Hingham. You can see house construction, fabric, furniture, toys, tools, clothing, advances in fireplaces, etc. progress as you travel through the rooms. Awesome state of the art kitchen and woodwoodworkshop. There was a quilt and embroidery exhibit when I went through, with examples on loan from the Old Derby school (down the street), one of the first coeducational schools in America, including an example of a rare and beautiful blue and white double anchor patterned quilt. Girls had to do a sampler to graduate, and boys had to make a wooden toy/piece of furniture. You will find a small tavern that qualified the house as an "ordinary" where Daniel Webster is reported to have stopped by for refreshment and conversation on his way through town on occasion. I was struck by how small the space was and that the revolution surely ignited in little places such as that. There are many artifacts including a 1722 Bonner map of Boston, a grandfather clock made by Hinghamite, Joshua Wilder, and Lincoln memorobilia as it is thought (hoped?) Abraham Lincoln may be descended from the Lincolns of Hingham. I believe I read somewhere that Abe never knew his ancestry, though. Nevertheless, there is a statue of him erected just outside the Old Ordinary on the green. Very good day trip.

This wonderful house museum was built in 1688 and expanded twice, all before the Revolutionary War…read more Tours last about an hour, but could last so much longer, there is so much to learn from the knowledgeable guides. They talk about the architecture, the owners, the furnishings, and what it was like in the 17th to 19th centuries in this historic town. Make sure you hear the pirate story! The museum is open seasonally, so make sure to check the website of the Hingham Historical Society or call in advance if you want to be sure. The museum also closes on very hot days. There is a nominal entrance fee if you are not a member.

The RISD Museum is worth a visit. I'm sharing photos of the pieces that stood out to me most. I…read morestarted in the RISD student galleries, which were full of impressive work. my favorite was a floor installation that looks like a woven rug but is actually made entirely of salt. So many pieces made you stop and think, "How did they do that?!" I visited the whole museum, but my favorites were the Costume & Textile galleries, the exhibit on kingfishers in art and poetry, the European Grand Gallery with its oil paintings and the 18th/19th‑century American rooms in Pendleton House. I also loved how the museum's architecture fits together like a puzzle across several older buildings and street entrances. That was a surprising add-on to the visit. Extra tip: street parking is nearly impossible. Check their website for the free weekend parking lots (within walking distance) they make the visit much easier.

I get to visit the RISD Museum for free as a Brown University student!…read more Had fun spending a morning walking through the exhibits on all the floors. There was a room dedicated to costumes and textiles from different cultures around the world! As a sewist and costumer, this was very fun for me to have the room to myself and go through the drawers (everything was behind glass). I want to say I was here for roughly 2 hours and saw everything and took lots of photos.

This was a great day spent viewing the collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner. So many great pieces…read moreall over the museum, floor to ceiling, and the most beautiful courtyard that I couldn't stop taking pictures of. There were 13 pieces of art that were stolen back in 1990 and still haven't been recovered. As you're walking around, you'll notice that some places have empty frames where the works are art were displayed before they were stolen. The museum is housed over 3 floors of the "palace", the newest wing on the ground level has the gift shop, a cafe, a coat check, and the living room with comfy seats if your dogs are barking. Well worth the visit if you're in Boston!

I liked the museum, but I wish there had been a clearer overall explanation of what was going on. I…read morealso would have appreciated more info about each art piece, even though it did feel more authentic having everything displayed across the walls. The space itself is a beautiful building to walk through, but I did feel a bit lost at times even with a map, since I wasn't totally sure what I was looking at or the full context behind it. They also offer a temporary exhibit but it was completely different than the rest and was a photography exhibit that was not appealing to me. They also have a small gift shop that is very expensive. Still a really interesting and unique visit overall.