Surviving winter in Massachusetts is not for the faint of heart. While there are undoubtedly some good things about this time of year – fires in the fireplace, hot chocolate, first tracks on fresh powder – there is also cold, wind and ice (along with the dreaded “wintery mix”), and that everlasting feeling that spring is still a very, very long time away.
If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t want to pass every winter weekend sitting in front of the TV (though binge watching Netflix certainly does have it’s time and place). So, short of booking yourself on a month-long tropical vacation, we put together some ideas of things you may actually want to get out and do this winter, both in Boston and around the state.
Go Snow Tubing at Nashoba Valley in Westford
While this winter has been fairly mild so far, there are many spots throughout the state where you can find snow. And while not everyone knows how to ski or snowboard, pretty much anyone can enjoy snow tubing. Similar to old fashioned flying saucers, snow tubing is exactly what it sounds like – speeding down a hill on a bit inflated tube! The biggest snow tubing area in Massachusetts is the Nashoba Valley Tubing Park, about an hour drive from Boston.
Depending on conditions, they have between 8-15 lanes open, which are accessible both during the day and at night. A two-hour pass is $35, and includes tube rental. Nashoba Valley even offers a live webcam, so you can check out the conditions before you go.
Get Your Greens at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston
While the winter landscape around Massachusetts can look a bit barren without leaves on the trees, Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston offers access to beautiful flowers and greenery year-round. Visitors in winter can stroll through the garden’s two sub-tropical conservatory greenhouses where bulbs like camellias, daffodils and other tropical plants are already in bloom – giving the impression of early spring. You’ll find plenty of citrus plants in The Limonaia, or Lemon House,and the Orangerie, an 18th-century-style greenhouse, provides a fragrant, lush environment to enjoy hundreds of plants and flowers on display. On mild days, guests can also stroll the grounds of the 171-acre property.
Guided tours are offered on weekends, while Tower Hill also offers a variety of special events taking place throughout the year. Tower Hill Botanic Garden is open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10am to 5pm in the winter. General admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $5 for children ages 6-18 (children under 5 are free).
Sip Cocktails in a Heated, Neon Igloo on a Rooftop in the Boston Seaport
If you’re driving toward the Seaport in Boston at night during the winter, you can’t help but notice the glowing, neon igloos that are set up on the roof of The Envoy Hotel. The pop-up igloo bar, which is open from November to mid-April, offers the chance to drink craft cocktails (plus beer and wine) in a heated igloo with sweeping views of Boston Harbor and the city skyline from Lookout Rooftop – even when it’s freezing cold out.
One of the most Instagrammable spots in Boston, the LED-lights in the igloos light up in shades of green, blue, red and orange, making for great photo ops. With views overlooking East Boston to one side, and Rowes Wharf and the Financial District to the other, it’s also the perfect spot to watch the sun set. Read more about the full experience at the igloo bar in my recent blog feature!
Take a Snowshoe Tour of deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln
While we haven’t had much snow yet this season, chances are good we’ll get a bit more before spring arrives. If you want to enjoy the snow with a side of art, head to Lincoln to take a snowshoe tour of deCordova Sculpture Park. I love visiting the museum when the weather is nice (especially during fall foliage season), but there’s also something charming about snowshoeing around the grounds in the winter. Assuming there is snow on the ground, snowshoe tours are held every Saturday from January 19 through March 9 at 10:30am and 1pm.
The tour kicks off with a brief overview of snowshoeing with a trained instructor, and then you’ll enjoy a 90-minute guided tour around the grounds. Admission to the museum is also included with your ticket, so you can warm up afterward while enjoying the art displayed inside.
Drink Craft Beer Outside at Notch Brewing in Salem
While lots of local breweries have outdoor beer gardens that they open in the warmer months, Notch Brewing in Salem keeps their beer garden open year round, complete with outdoor patio heaters to keep you nice and toasty. There’s just something about enjoying a cold beer outside in February in New England that is kind of nice, especially on a sunny day. Notch also allows dogs in the outdoor beer garden as well, so if it’s not too cold, you can bring your furry friend.
With a rotating list of session beers on tap, Notch offers a beer to please every palate. And if you get too cold outside, there are plenty of communal tables (and skee ball) inside the brewery’s taproom. (As an aside, if you happen to go on a Saturday, I strongly recommend popping over to The Cheese Shop of Salem – just a 5 minute walk up the road – to experience their Epic Grilled Cheese Pop-up. Starting at 10am until they run out, it’s one of the best things you’ll ever eat – I promise! Check out more fun things to do in Salem in my Insider’s Guide on the blog).
Indulge in the Saturday Chocolate Bar at The Langham Hotel in Boston
Winter is the best time of year to indulge, making it the perfect time to visit the Saturday Chocolate Bar at The Langham Hotel, Boston in Post Office Square. Featuring over 100 desserts, the chocolate bar offers a fun variety of goodies, including an interactive donut wall (perfect for Instagram photos). It also features an ice cream cold stone and a bunch of toppings to mix your own frozen concoction, along with dark, milk and “Langham pink” chocolate fountains for dipping fresh fruit, marshmallows and more. Kids can enjoy a dedicated Kids Section, offering cookies and milk, brownies, Rice Crispie treats and other favorites.
The Chocolate Bar is available on Saturdays this winter through March 23, 2019 and offers seatings at 11am, 11:30am, 1pm and 1:30pm.
Escape to the Cape With a Luxury Hotel Getaway in Chatham
While the masses tend to flock to Cape Cod in the summer, winter is actually one of my favorite times to visit. While many hotels, shops and attractions are only open seasonally, Chatham is one of the towns that tends to have a lot open year round. And that includes The Chatham Bars Inn, one of my all-time favorite hotels. Open Thursday-Sunday during the winter, rates are much lower than they are during peak season – and you’ll likely have much of the place to yourself.
The beach is beautiful to walk even during the winter, and on mild days, you may even find a few people out on the golf course. The Inn has a gorgeous spa with an outdoor hot tub – and you can even splurge for one of the Spa Suites, which offer a huge bathtub, sauna and steam shower right in the room, along with a seating area and fireplace. While you can easily stay on-property the whole time, you can also take advantage of the complimentary shuttle service downtown to walk around the shops and grab a drink or bite to eat.
Ski Wachusett Mountain in Princeton
While many advanced skiers drive up to the mountains in Vermont or New Hampshire in the winter, you don’t need to leave the state of Massachusetts to hit the slopes. Wachusett Mountain is the highest mountain in eastern MA, and is only about an hour drive from the Boston area. The mountain offers more than 25 trails, eight lifts and a 2,006 foot summit. With both day skiing and night skiing offered, as well as lessons, it’s a great spot for those learning to ski, as well as local skiers who want to stick a little closer to home. The mountain is known for having great snow conditions, and also offers a nice variety of food and beverage options. You can save a bit by buying tickets online before heading to the mountain, and season tickets are also available.
Enjoy a Day at the Museum (There’s Lots to Choose From!)
When it’s cold outside, visiting one of your local museums is a great indoor activity – and Massachusetts has a ton to choose from.
If you’re in the Boston area, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has several interesting exhibitions this winter, including Ansel Adams In Our Time (through Feb. 24, 2019) and Frida Kahlo and Arte Popular (opening Feb. 27 – June 16, 2019). I also recommend checking out William Forsythe: Choreographic Objects at the Institute of Contemporary Art, or visiting the always-stunning courtyard at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Looking to entertain the kiddos? Head to the Museum of Science in Cambridge, or the Boston Children’s Museum in Fort Point Channel.
There are a ton of great museum options outside of Boston as well. The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge offers an incredible selection of the artist’s original paintings, along with exhibitions focused on American illustration. The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem offers incredible exhibitions of both Asian art and Maritime art. And the Concord Museum in Concord offers a fascinating history of the Revolutionary War, along with the literary history of famous residents such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
What are your favorite winter activities here in Massachusetts? Let us know in the comments below!
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