McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

If you’re already making the trip to Concord for the planetarium shows or the hands-on space exhibits, the playground out back is a solid bonus for the little ones. It’s geared toward preschool and school-age kids, so a good chunk of the visit naturally spills outside when attention spans hit their limit. The whole facility is wheelchair accessible and the restrooms are kept clean, which honestly matters more than people admit when you’ve got young kids in tow. Worth knowing ahead of time: the space museum is the real draw here, and the outdoor play area works best as a wind-down after you’ve done the exhibits.