It's February vacation next week and if you are stay-cationing in the Boston area we are here to help! Our agents are experts on the towns they live and work in and many of them have raised families here, so who better to ask for suggestions to keep both kids and parents entertained? Here are some of their recommendations for activities you can enjoy this vacation and beyond. Many of these are outdoors and require pre-booking, so check the weather and their website before you set off.
The Trustee of the Reservations are hosting some fun Feb vacation week activities at select locations, including Fire Pit Picnics, Snowshoeing, and a Family Owl Prowl. Don’t miss the self-guided walk through the Enchanted Forest in Harvard, or head to deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln to get up close and personal with the outdoor art installations - tickets go on sale one week in advance. At the end of the week head to Fruitlands Museum in Harvard for a day of family fun at Winter Fest - start with the 5k road race to work up an appetite for the chili and mac & cheese contests!
If the weather stays fair, take a walk in one of our many nearby state parks and reservations. The Middlesex Fells in Winchester, Minute Man Park in Concord, Great Meadows also in Concord, and Willard Woods in Lexington are all good places to explore. Or head into the city and take a stroll through Boston Common and the Public Garden, or along the Rose Kennedy Greenway (don’t forget to say hello to the seals outside the Aquarium!).
On the subject of animal adventures, both Stone Zoo in Stoneham and Franklin Park Zoo in Boston are open to visitors year-round and there are plenty of animals on exhibit – the snow leopards at Stone Zoo are a particular favorite this time of year when they are most active. Non-members need to purchase their tickets in advance online.
For more sporty pursuits, why not try snowtubing? Ski Ward Ski Area in Shrewsbury and Nashoba Valley Snow Tubing Park in Littleton both offer tubing in specific timeslots - advance booking required. Some height/age restrictions apply - best for ages 6+. Or why not try your hand at curling? Head to Boston’s Seaport, which has been transformed into Snowport for the season - it’s free and you can book a slot up to a week in advance. Keep an eye out for Betty the Yeti while you are there!
If you prefer to be indoors, our favorite kid-friendly museums include Museum of Science, Boston Children’s Museum and New England Aquarium for an undercover day out. If you don’t want to travel into the city, Discovery Museum in Acton is open all week with special activities (reservations required), and the all-new Concord Museum also has some family activities planned. Also Peabody Essex Museum in Salem celebrates their Being Well initiative with special workshops and family-friendly tours for vacation week.
Finally, put a fun spin on eating out by booking a table in an igloo! A few restaurants adopted this during covid and it’s one of the pandemic legacies we are glad to have stick around. The Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington offers igloos for up to 6 people for brunch, lunch or dinner. For an igloo with a view try 75 on Liberty Wharf in Boston’s Seaport or Mile Marker One in Gloucester.
If you have other suggestion for fun things to do, please let us know! Whatever you decide to do, we hope you enjoy some family time together