History, art, science and fun are the stars of these outings! Take a trip to one of these beloved Boston-area museums where learning becomes fun. They’re guaranteed to keep you busy year-round.

Children’s Museums

Children’s museums are plentiful in New England! Try the Boston Children’s Museum, Providence Children’s Museum in Rhode Island, The Discovery Museums in Acton and The Children’s Museum in Easton. Everything at each of these museums has a fun learning component, and kids learn best by doing.

Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston; 617-426-6500; bostonchildrensmuseum.org. 

Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, R.I.; 401-273-5437; childrenmuseum.org. 

• The Children’s Museum in Easton, The Old Fire Station, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton; 508-230-3789; childrensmuseumineaston.org. 

The Discovery Museums in Acton, 177 Main St., Acton; 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org. 

Concord Museum

Explore Native American life, see the famed 1775 Revere lantern, learn how a clock works and study nature with Henry Thoreau. Children of all ages will enjoy the newly designed family guide and intriguing artifact hunts. Cambridge Turnpike at 200 Lexington Road, Concord; 978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

If you’ve read The Very Hungry Caterpillar not once, not twice, but a thousand times to your kids, then head to this wonderfully accessible museum. While the three galleries – one with Carle’s works and two others with exciting, rotating exhibits – are fun to explore, the hands-on and special programs really get kids excited. 125 W Bay Road, Amherst; 413-658-1100; carlemuseum.org.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Children love this museum for its fascinating glass flower and gemstone exhibits, and mounted and standing specimens of marine life, mammals and birds from around the world. 26 Oxford St., Cambridge; 617-495-3045; hmnh.harvard.edu. 

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

This world-class art museum makes time for kids. The Family Art Cart here is full of interactive activities created for children ages 4 and up – sending them off among the museum’s masterpieces to piece together puzzles and sketch favorite artworks. Avenue of the Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston; 617-267-9300; mfa.org.

Museum of Science

The great thing about the Museum of Science is that your age doesn’t matter. There’s plenty to interest and inspire everyone. From the snap, crackle and pop of the electricity exhibit to giant dinosaur fossils and a computer area that lets you operate a robot, this museum never disappoints. 1 Science Park, Boston; 617-723-2500; mos.org. 

Compiled by Boston Parents Paper staff.