Looking for urban adventures that won’t break the bank? Searching for authentic experiences to entertain your kids, grandkids or summer guests?  The Whaling City has something for you! Start your weekends early by heading to New Bedford each Friday from July 9 through Aug. 27.

Hit the cobblestone streets of historic Downtown New Bedford for an afternoon packed with activities, museums and delicious foods at family-friendly restaurants.

Each week, our Family Friendly partners will feature different family activities. You can visit www.ahanewbedford.org for any updated info on changing programs.

Here’s a sampling of the fun that awaits:

• Head to the Ocean Explorium (174 Union Street) for hands-on science experiments as well as tanks filled with jellyfish, seahorses and a live coral reef.
• Too hot to trot? Hit the pool at the YMCA (25 South Water St.) with a family day-pass.
• Take a tour of the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum (396 County St.) Built in 1834, this garden is the stuff dreams are made of.
• Feeling adventurous? Head out of Downtown and visit the animals at the Buttonwood Park Zoo (425 Hawthorn St.), named one of the finest small zoos in the United States.
• Kids can get on board a real working whaling ship model, see monstrous whale skeletons, and real whaling harpoons and artifacts from the 19th century at the New Bedford Whaling Museum (18 Johnny Cake Hill).
  Scheduled Programming:
  July 9, 1pm - Scrimshaw
  July 16 - Art Contest
  July 23 - Art Contest
  July 30, 1pm - Melville Bookmarks
  3pm - New Bedford Symphony Orchestra Winds: Down to the Sea In Ships
  A musical celebration of all things nautical in honor of Herman Melville’s birthday on August 1. Features the outstanding wind and brass players from the NBSO in a concert of unique pieces, some arranged especially for this performance, with the common focus of sailing, fishing, and the Sea.
  August 6 - Signal Flags
  August 13, 1pm - All Aboard
  August 20, 1pm - Scrimshaw
  August 27, 1pm - Azorean Weaving
  3pm - NBSO Winds: Winds of Change
  A Program of Music for Winds from Four Centuries. Explore the glories of wind repertoire from the 18th Century to the present with the outstanding wind and brass players from the NBSO as they present exceptional representatives of wind repertoire from Mozart’s time to 2005!
  
• Head to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (33 William St.) for a family-friendly tour of the city’s historic district, held each Friday at 2:30pm.
• The New Bedford Art Museum (608 Pleasant St.) will have family tours and kid-friendly talks each Friday.
• ArtWorks! will host “Families Creating Together” workshops on Fridays from noon to 2pm.  
  
  With so much to do everyone is sure to have worked up appetites!
  Head to one of dozens of family-friendly downtown eateries who understand that you are on the go!  
• Grab some paninis and homemade ice cream from Café Arpeggio (800 Purchase St.)
• Stop by Destination Soups (141 Union St.) for a bread-bowl of thick New England chowder.
• Hit up the Green Bean (740 Purchase St.), a hip downtown café with homemade baked goods, fresh squeezed juices & smoothies, soups, sandwiches and espresso drinks.
• Sit outside and sip on a Dels Frozen Lemonade, and enjoy the fresh baked bread and specialty sandwiches at On a Roll (149 Union St.)
• If the kids like Mexican, head to No Problemo (813 Purchase St.) for fresh tacos and extra cheesy burritos.
• The JuiceBox (285 Union St.) has healthy, natural and delicious smoothies, sandwiches and decadent desserts.
• Freestone's (41 William Street) also promises a quick menu for kids, and The Celtic Coffee House (42 North Water Street) has just opened a brand new ice cream parlor in the historic district.
• And if pizza is the food of choice there’s Brick (163 Union St.) & the newly opened Pizan’s (29 Union St.). Both offer creative toppings combos & of course everybody’s favorite---cheese! At Pizan’s you can get pizza by the slice or a whole pie as well as gelato for a sweet treat to end your meal.
  

And remember:
Whatever adventure you choose, New Bedford is the place to be on Family Friendly Fridays!