Forget teleportation and invisibility. When asked what superpower they'd prefer, next to time travel, most Americans said they'd love to fly. We may never soar through the air unaided, but ziplining can give us the sensation we dream about. If you're ready to live out your superhero fantasy, head to these ziplining spots near Boston.
Charles River Esplanade Playground
Woman Adventure Zipline Adrenaline by mariimaccarii is licensed with Pixabay License
Kids needn't leave Boston to discover the fun of ziplining. The Charles River Esplanade Playground, near the Hatch Shell and Arthur Fiedler Footbridge, features a small zipline that sends kids out along a rail and back to the launching platform. This exciting feature sits alongside a rock climbing wall, a futuristic climbing spiderweb, a kid-powered merry-go-round spinner, an enormous disc swing, and heaps more. Developers designed the park for middle schoolers, but younger, and older kids enjoy this modern inner-city playground.
Location: Charles River Esplanade, Boston.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Cost: Free.
Jackson Square Playground
Jackson Square Playground is another cool local playspace with a zipline. This time it's in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, less than a minute's walk from the Jackson Square T station. The basketball and tennis courts, outdoor fitness equipment, and, of course, that zipline make it more appealing to older kids than Charles River Esplanade Playground. The zipline features ropes attached to a pulley on an inclined track, giving this zipline a bit more pace than your average playground zipline. Small kids aren't forgotten, though. They love the unique Wall-holla, a high hollow wall with multi-level passages modeled after ant tunnels.
Location: Southwest Corridor Park, Boston.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily.
Cost: Free.
Larz Anderson Park
Larz Anderson Park in Brookline is a fantastic community park and only a 20-minute drive southwest of Boston. Its zipline adds a modern touch to the playground and features classic play equipment like metal slides and monkey bars. Visit during winter to enjoy the outdoor ice-skating rink. Pack a picnic basket and enjoy your lunch under the shade of the trees near the playground when the weather warms. You can also enjoy a stroll by the gardens and check out the onsite car museum. The zipline is awesome fun for the young and young at heart, no matter what the weather.
Location: Corner of Goddard Ave. and Newton St., Brookline.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: Free.
TreeTop Adventures
TreeTop Adventures in Canton, 25 minutes south of Boston, has ziplining and so much more. The park has 10 obstacle trails with zip lines, rolling logs, ladders, and tightropes. Beginner to expert ratings helps you decide which trail through the trees suits you best. The park also features practice ziplines close to the ground, making you feel comfortable before you soar. A friendly staff is also on hand to teach you how to move through the trails safely and help you with harnesses.
Location: 200 New Boston Drive, Canton.
Hours: Approximately 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. Hours change regularly, so check the schedule online. The park also opens by appointment for groups of 40 or more during the week.
Cost: General admission three-hour pass costs $61/$65 for adults 12+ and $53/$57 for ages 7-11 (weekday/weekend and holiday). Discounts apply for last-call and glow-in-the-park tickets.
Exxcel Gymnastics and Climbing
Voted a family favorite by the readers of BostonParents Paper, Exxcel Gymnastics and Climbing in Newton, a 25-minute drive from Boston, is great fun for kids. The 15,000-square-foot facility hosts confidence-building classes and birthday parties for active children. With a 100-foot zipline, indoor climbing wall, 60-foot spring tumbling strip, and more, your kids’ll love pushing their bodies to the limit here. The friendly employees ensure everyone plays safely and gently encourage nervous kids to step outside their comfort zones.
Location: 88 Wells Ave., Newton.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Cost: Varies for parties and classes.
Beantown Adventure Ropes Course
A furniture store is an unlikely place for ziplining, but Jordan's Furniture in Reading is no ordinary retailer. With an IMAX theater and the Beantown adventure ropes course, this is one furniture store the kids’ll want to visit. A zipline is the jewel of the standard course, designed for adults and kids of at least 48 inches. The 70-foot-long wire complements other fun obstacles, such as rope ladders, cargo nets, and zig-zag beams. Smaller kids can't zipline, but they can have fun on the LittleIt course, which offers less challenging obstacles closer to the ground.
Location: Jordan's Furniture, 50 Walkers Brook Drive, Reading.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: $15 for the standard course and $10 for the little course.
Boundless Adventures
Boundless Adventures is a little further than the other ziplining facilities we've mentioned, but after it received a Best of Boston 2021 award, we couldn't overlook it. It's an easy drive to Berlin, 47 minutes west of central Boston, and this massive outdoor playground. Boost your confidence on the practice line before tackling one of the nine courses. There's a path to suit all kinds of adventure seekers with four different difficulty levels. Along the way, you'll encounter rope bridges, leaps of faith, and, of course, zip lines. There are 16 zip lines, giving you plenty of opportunities to soar.
Location: 154 River Road West, Berlin.
Hours: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday during fall. Hours change each season.
Cost: Advanced reservation general admission three-hour passes are $65 and $60 on Fridays. Discounted value/off-peak two-hour tickets are also available. Same-day tickets incur a small surcharge.
The team at North End Mazda has shared where they love ziplining, but we'd love to hear from you. Have we missed any of the top ziplining spots in the local area? Let us know by giving us a call at 888-635-6479 or visiting the dealership.
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