If you like animals, this a really cute way to spend an hour (or more) for $5. We arrived at the end of the day, and saw the whole museum/zoo are in about 45 minutes - but absolutely could have spent more time. Indoors they have several educational areas and some live native animals with medical needs or with protection status - snakes, rodents, a skunk, some owls. They also have some taxidermy animals and exhibits on animal sounds. We didn't check out the gift shop this time around, but made a bee lline for the outdoor animals after we made the rounds inside. We loved the otter the best - but there were some beautiful owls, and other birds, a fox, a deer. This museum is very family friendly and wholesome - but we were not the only childless adults there to see the animals! It is also obviously very convenient to hiking and a great bonus to a hike. read more

See all

Had a wonderful hike and got to see animals before the trail great hiking spot for all ages I agree with Abigail read more

See all

Great little museum to take the family with a nature center and a great hiking trail next door. We only walked around the outside portion of the museum where the nature center is and to our delight there were owls, otters, and eagles to see. While the indoor museum does have a small entrance fee, you can view the outdoor exhibits for free. Our 2 year old had a great time running along the trail to see the animals. There is also a well maintained trail that is family friendly as well. Plenty of parking in a large lot. read more

I've now visited the indoor museum and the otters are back - definitely makes it a 5 star place to visit in my opinion The indoor museum is free to Mass Audubon Members. Inside there are 2 owls - one baby and one full grown, rats, mice, opossum, snakes, bees, fish - and cool exhibits too. read more

See all

What a find! My daughter and I have come to the Blue Hills for years for Hiking and we didn't know about this place. Now it is the first and last stop we make on every trip to the Blue Hills. We even got a membership to help support it... We love the exhibits and all the animals. The staff is great and super friendly. This place is an amazing gem and a must do if you are visiting the Blue Hills. read more

See all

It's often important to get introduced to the location you're visiting, and I found the Trailside Museum a great place to do so for Blue Hills Reservation in terms of location, information presented and staff helpfulness. The museum is the center for public interpretation of the reservation and a convenient place to enter as it has ample parking and 716 Shuttle MBTA shuttle access about a 15 minute hike from the top of Great Blue Hill where you can access the Skyline Trail, climb Eliot Observation Tower, and visit the Weather Observatory. Outside, there are spaces for wildlife that could not survive without human intervention, and inside, there is more such wildlife and information on the hills' human history. The interior is well-themed for children but was not un-interesting to engage with as an adult. While I was at the museum, my camera batteries died, and my day's plan to document the visitable history of the Blue Hills would have been completely ruined if not for one but TWO staff members finding me batteries (By the time I was done in the museum I'm sure they wished they had given me the ones to the frog machine). It was a huge help, and it seemed like they really want people to enjoy their visit to the reservation. The only caveat was that I would return them when I returned from hiking, but I returned too late to give them back directly! I did put them in a box outside labeled "Passport to Nature" though, so hopefully the batteries were found and the staff knows their generous help was appreciated! Enjoy! read more

Blue Hills Trailside Museum - The museum was originally built in 1898 as a house for the park superintendent. - Museums Near Me - Milton, Massachusetts

After Years and Years and Years of coming to the outdoor portion of this little zoo I finally paid the 2 whole dollars to go through the inside exhibit and I was sad I had not done it before. The place is very much made for children with low displays and animals to look at and learn about but it was entertaining enough for two adults as well. Bring the kids check out the animals and go for a hike. Spring is here!! read more

Blue Hills Trailside Museum - Back entrance - Museums Near Me - Milton, Massachusetts

I took my Saturday recreation group here and the kids really enjoyed it. We spent a lot more time here than I expected we could, especially considering the size of the museum. I actually had a flashback to when I was a kid and realized I had been here before! I have thought about this particular museum that I went to as a kid, but could not remember what or where it was and then bam! It hit me while looking at the bee exhibit. For me to remember the place from age 4 or 5 means it must have been a great experience when I was a kid! I will say that it's not a zoo and you're not going to feel like the animals are living in luxury, but the museum obviously takes good care of the animals and has a focus on education. I highly recommend attending the live animal presentation. It's good for all ages, even teenagers could get into it, but it's probably best for ages 4 -12. There's a wide variety of trails near the museum as well. We took the mile-long hike up to the observation tower, which was a great view! read more

The outdoor exhibits are in horrible condition. I can understand if they are animals that are injured and can't be returned to the wild, but give them better homes. The otter's display is concrete, crumbling, without any toys, or great shade. The snowy owls are tucked in the back and have to be incredibly hot. They are not an indigenous bird to this area and should not be on display in our heat. Overall, it was a very sad site. I would have expected a museum associated with the Audubon society to have a higher standard of comfort and care for the animals. read more

Great place to check out before you hit the trails of the Blue Hills Reservation. There's an adorable river otter doing tricks for you, a couple of graceful deer, some birds of prey, turtles, and other wildlife to gaze upon There is also a gift shop if you want to purchase anything Blue Hills related (I assume because I usually only stop by to check out the animals and rest rooms). Oh yeah, there are clean rest rooms so that you can relieve yourself before your trek through the wilderness. It's fun and it's free so be sure to stop by and walk around before you begin your hike. read more

Blue Hills offers a great hiking opportunity if you don't want to travel to NH or VT. You can spend a quick hike an hour or two starting from the Trailside Museum to Eliot Tower and back. Or more adventurous, hike the Skyline from the Trailside to the other end, east at Shea Rink, which would take you about 4-9 hours depending on your pace. Eliot Tower offers a great view of the Boston skyline. It brings into prospective the size of Boston and relative distances of the Pru to the Hancock Tower for example. The Red dotted trail offers a more rugged and rocky hike, while the Green dotted trail is more flat and wooded. Some spots are wide and flat and great to take in the fresh woodsy air. read more

Beautiful peaceful walk of fresh air. The people are friendly and getting to the top was so rewarding. The view of the city is spectacular and finally the walk back was quick and smooth. read more

We had been to this little museum a handful of times - usually before or after hiking. There are some animal exhibits outside and a bunch inside. Everything is very appropriate for kids and the people who work there know their stuff and they clearly have a passion for the animals. After a few visits, we decided to do my son's eighth birthday party there. It was a great price compared to a lot of the other birthday parties around Boston and we like the museum, so I decided to book a party! We did an owl party, so the kids got to meet two owls, make owl puppets, and learn all about owls. The parents were as interested as the kids! The naturalist, Perry, really knew how to engage the kids. None of them seemed bored and they all had lots of questions about the owls. They do have some regulations for the parties there - no balloons or candles - but I don't think anyone really missed them. I highly recommend not only visiting the museum, but their birthday parties as well. It's affordable and the kids can get up close and personal with animals. read more

I've gone there more times than I can count, over my 25 years in the Boston area. My father first took me and my brother there after we emigrated to Boston in 1989 from the USSR. We always loved nature and missed it, and this museum helped us feel better about our new homeland. It's called "museum" but it's also a small and wonderful zoo. They run all kinds of nature programs for kids and adults. They rehabilitate animals. I once found an ailing crow and called the Museum for instructions, and with their instructions rehabilitated the crow and it flew away. The museum store sells nature-related things that make good gifts, for others or for yourself. If you have a chance, definitely go. read more

I love this place. The museum itself is well maintained and all the animals that dwell there seem loved and cared for with respect for the wild creatures they are. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, many are volunteers happy to be working with such beautiful raptors. The hiking around this area is also fantastic and is low grade enough for the whole family to enjoy. read more

Go here to escape. Bring your kids or your friend. The staff is friendly and the outdoors expansive. They have many learning experiences and interactive displays. There are live animals to admire. read more

I have had my kids birthday parties here two years in a row. It's a great little venue, the staff is wonderful, and you can pick an animal to make an appearance for a presentation. The space is great and I recommend it to anyone with younger kids (seems like 3-7 really love it). read more

I got a membership here to help the animals, but found out that it didn't help the animals and that there were no public programs to attend as promoted in their pamphlets. Additionally, I heard that the otter was purchased illegally, and is not an injured animal. I don't understand how this business works. Not recommended read more

This museum of regional ecology, and its generous adjoining outdoor cul-de-sac of live rescue animal exhibits, are happily wedded to forge a genuinely lovely, well-loved, and well-tended local gem. We've lived just north of here for years, and have long enjoyed swims in Houghton's Pond and walks in the Blue Hills, yet, somehow, we never quite noticed this modest but mighty museum until some pals hosted a recent kids' birthday party there. The animals outside are healthy and well cared-for, and seem to deal well with visitors (the river otter likes to show off and do back flips). Exhibits within are packed with detail, and accomplish the subtle feat of appealing to a range of ages and interests. I've got a sweet tooth for botany and cool tidbits about how ecosystems thrive and interact, and - while shepherding my toddler - managed to sate my craven curiosity to supreme satisfaction. Highly recommended to folks who like to explore and to learn. read more