Hello, I am Kerry Richards, and I live in South Shore, MA, with my two boys, ages 3 and 4.5. As a lifelong resident of the South Shore and now a mom, these are some of our favorite places.

When it comes to playing, which is what we love to do the most, there are many great local playgrounds, such as Kids at Play (Marshfield) and Hanover Playground. Some of our favorite libraries include the Hanover Library, Hingham Library, and Hanson Library. We have also attended several events and playgroups at Over the Moon Parenting (Norwell).

In the warmer months, we love visiting the local beaches, ponds, and hiking trails. These include a long-time family favorite, Nantasket Beach (Hull), Rexhame Beach (Marshfield), Humarock Beach (Scituate), Little Sandy Bottom Pond (Pembroke), Gray’s Beach (Kingston), Ames Nowell Park (Abington), and Wampatuck State Park (Hingham).

We also like to visit our furry barnyard friends at the local farms, like Weir River (Hingham), Hidden Acres (Plymouth), and Pony Town (East Bridgewater). In the spring, we enjoy Cross Street Tulip Farm (Norwell); in the fall, we like apple picking at CN Smith (Bridgewater).

Now that my kids are past the baby stage, they attend birthday parties at fun play places like Starland (Hanover), Billy Bees (Kingston), Sky Zone (Kingston), and Nova (Plymouth).

On the weekends, the kids stay busy playing sports through Super Soccer Stars and various town leagues. They also take group swim lessons at places like Plymouth Fitness, Weymouth Club, YMCA, or the Boys & Girls Club Marshfield (outdoor pool). When it comes to grabbing a quick bite to eat while on the road, there are, of course, many Dunkins, Starbucks, and Marylous around where I will get an iced latte and the kids a small snack. For breakfast, we will sometimes get pancakes from Buppa’s (Marshfield). A favorite dinner place of ours is Poopsies (in “Pemfield”), where the kids play the nostalgic Pacman machine. There are also food truck nights at Forge Pond Park (Hanover).

When it comes to me personally, I enjoy yoga, hiking, spa visits, shopping, coffee, the gym, and visiting a local brewery or winery with a friend or a museum. For yoga, which I highly recommend everyone try for improved health and wellness, I like to take classes at YogaSix (Kingston), Holding Space (Pembroke), and Whitman Wellness Center. For additional exercise, I like to go to the gym at Planet Fitness or Anytime Fitness. In the summer, I enjoy standup paddleboarding through SUPYo on Hingham Harbor, and attending The Marshfield Fair or the Levitate Music Festival. I also like shopping at Derby Street (Hingham), Hanover Crossing, The Shipyard, or The Plaza.

Lastly, when it comes to occasional holiday travel, we LOVE going to Cape Cod, which is less than an hour away! The South Shore is the perfect place to live and raise a family. It is close to the city of Boston, near the islands and Cape Cod, and has a little bit of everything for everyone, from nature trails to shores. It is just a wonderful community!