After spending $5 million to completely renovate its 326 rooms, this Federal Reserve Building-turned-hotel maintains high standards of excellence with 2 elegant restaurants (Cafe Fleuri and the 4-star Julien), a health club, a heated indoor pool, and radios that greet guests with relaxing music as they enter their rooms. Though recently taken over by new management, not much has changed since this regal building was Le Meridien Boston. Regular rates begin at $295 and go up to $450, depending on amenities and the season; suites run $550-2000. Book Commencement at least 6 months in advance. Take advantage of the hotel's VIB Program for Very Important Babies and their families. The program ensures that families have the important necessities upon arrival, from pre-ordered baby food to unlimited Huggies to special soaps and shampoos just for babies to use of a stroller. Older siblings receive cereal boxes that are great for snacking and a book and city guide filled with puzzles, games, and coupons. The package starts at $315 per room, per night, and is valid Fri-Sun (based on availability).

This large play area has safe and well maintained climbing structures, sandboxes, swing sets and open play areas, making this location very popular with youngsters and parents alike. After you've done Newbury Street, take the kids over to the Clarendon Street Playground. This is the spot where real city kids hang out. Inside the fenced and gated area, you'll find lots of playing possibilities. The equipment is fairly new and the playground is kept reasonably clean. Climbing is the big attraction; several structures invite children of all ages to test their muscles. There are slides (large and small), and bucket and sling swings, a sand area, and a tire swing. Free-use toys galore: Tonka trucks, riding toys and even a few plasma cars. The play surfaces are mostly sand. There is plenty of shade all day. For kids who need to run, the playground has a large open area where kids can play soccer, tag, or a small-scale game of baseball. Watch toddlers around the many steps that lead to this area - when they venture down alone, scraped arms and knees may ensue.
Clarendon street playground is celebrating it's 30th birthday on Monday September 29th 2008 4PM - all welcome for play.

Limelight offers a variety of entertainment opportunities for music lovers of all ages and abilities, from open mic night to karaoke "boxes", as well as family days, children's vocal instruction, song camps, and other family-friendly activities. There is also a studio for recording CDs or DVDs. You may want to consider hosting your child's birthday party here, too. Limelight offers different options, from having an emcee host the party to an instructor give a lesson in singing. Limelight also offers week-long summer camps.

Stony Brook Reservation contains 475 acres of tree-covered hills, valleys, rock outcroppings, and wetlands, and a variety of recreational facilities. Ten to 12 miles of hiking trails and bicycle paths pass through the forested portion of the reservation. Turtle Pond is an easily accessible spot for fishing. The Reservation also features soccer and baseball fields, tennis courts, picnic areas, an ice skating rink, and a pool.

Celebrating over 25 seasons, the Wheelock Family Theatre is a non-profit, professional theater committed to bringing quality theater to adults and young people. Productions include family-oriented dramas, children's classics, musicals, and other original works. While productions are created with families in mind, not all plays may be suitable for all ages. The theater recommends that children 3 and under not attend performances. Classes: It offers classes for kids ages 4 to 17. Offerings include Preschool Movement and Drama, Creative Dramatics, Musical Theater, Shakespeare, Character Study, Auditioning Intensives, Masks and Puppetry, and others. Camps: The theater also offers one-week acting workshops during the February, March, and April school vacations. Each one-week session runs from 9am-3:30pm and is $325. Kids are grouped by age: ages 5-7, 8-11, and 12-17. From their website: Now in its 24th year, this award-winning, non-profit, equity theater operates on the Wheelock College campus. It typically performs three mainstage productions each year --- usually one family musical, a children’s play appealing to all ages, and an adult drama or comedy. Past productions include Pippi Longstocking, Bel Canto, and many others. Staged readings of original works are also performed in the Little Theater on the Wheelock Campus. Although it is an independent organization, the Wheelock Family Theater seeks to offer opportunities for students who may audition for shows, work as volunteers on various projects, or arrange an internship. Students interested in opportunities at the Wheelock Family Theater may contact Charles Baldwin at cbaldwin@wheelock.edu. For further information and a schedule of events, please visit their website at Wheelock Family Theatre.

Artesani Playground Wading Pool, conveniently located along the scenic The Charles River is absolutely fabulous for area families. Includes a number of zero depth fountains from the ground and they have an awesome wading pool with all kinds of waterfalls. The wading pool has lifeguards on duty, showers, changing rooms, a picnic area, and an ice cream truck comes often. There is an awesome playground for toddlers and older kids, and there is even plenty of parking. This truly is a gem. Some important tips:

• There are no concession stands, so bring your own food. An ice cream truck is often parked there, for a sweet treat.
• Parents should probably wear water-friendly clothing, as there is generally alot of splashing.
• Outside of the fenced area, there are numerous amount of geese on the Charles that makes for a fun family activity of feeding the birds.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. Officially opening its doors Friday, June 13, iScream Works serves up Brigham's ice cream and a slew of unique flavors including Rum Raisin, Maple Walnut and Black Raspberry Froyo (frozen yogurt). iScream Works also boasts a few creative concoctions including the Big Dig, Bada Bing and Quack Tracks. Sign up for their birthday club and get a free ice cream cone on your big day. The shop also has coloring sheets for the kids to create while they chow down on the frozen goodness.

Ashmont Grill's Chris Douglass opens his third buzzworthy restaurant, Tavola, in Dorchester on Saturday, Aug. 9. Located on Dorchester Ave. in the new Carruth Building next to the red line's Ashmont Station, Tavola serves up the freshest in Italian family cuisine including pizza, pasta, wine and more. Pizzas are thin crust and well received, as are their small Italian plates and pastas.

The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, a 15-acre ribbon of parks and development, has taken the place of the old, green Central Artery overpass that used to weave through Boston. While we often use the term Greenway to describe what seems to be a single space, the fact is that there are four main designated park areas that comprise the Greenway, each with its own unique features and personality. Take the time you visit them and learn more: The Big Dig buried the highway and made way for the construction of parks, walkways and greenspace from the North End to the Financial District. It's clear that the Greenway could become one of the world's great urban parks. With the announcement of its fund-raising success, the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy which manages the greenway space is on its way to realizing the Greenway's full potential. With the highway gone and the city reunited with its waterfront, Boston has an opportunity unique in the history of the modern city -- to create a grand promenade of parkland through the middle of downtown. People tend to make the space their own, by bringing cricket sets to play. The streets surrounding the Greenway are busy, but the park itself has a surprisingly relaxing atmosphere. Of particular interests to families of young ones is the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Rings Fountain on the Greenway by the New England Aquarium (between Milk St and Congress St). Tall, easy-to-dash-through sprays find an unsuspecting audience of tourists, aquarium go-ers and commuters. Many parents of little ones let them strip down, unprepared to find a new water feature in their travels. The Greenway is named after Sen. Edward Kennedy's mother, who died in 1995 at the age of 104. Rose Kennedy grew up in the North End. One year after her death, the then-Gov. William Weld signed legislation naming the Greenway in her honor. The Greenway is managed by the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Inc.

The Back Bay's only authentic NY pizzeria, featuring thin crust Neapolitan and deep dish Sicilian pizza. Now serving the lowest priced and largest slice of pizza on Newbury Street! Bostone's daily Sicilian slice specials: Monday: Buffalo Chicken Tuesday: Meat lovers Wednesday: Sausage Pepper and Onion Thursday: Barbeque Friday: Spinach Tomato Feta Saturday and Sunday: Potato Bacon Chicken Ranch Delivery from 5:00 p.m. to 1/2 hour before close with a limited delivery area and a $10.00 minimum. Currently delivering within the following area: Berkeley to Hereford and Beacon to Boylston. All other areas can have delivery via Diningin.com