New Year's Eve Weekend 2024 in Boston is bursting with New Year activities, day and night! First Night Boston photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism.
New Year's Eve Weekend 2024 in Boston: First Night & Noon Year's Eve
Polar Express trains are coming to towns all over New England for Christmas 2024! Essex Steam Train Railroad photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins.
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Holiday magic means it's time for the best things to do in Boston for December 2024! Taunton Christmas Lights photo by Samina Quareshi for the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
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Concord's Colonial Inn is one of Greater Boston's coziest restaurants open on Christmas 2024. Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
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The fun is popping out from everywhere with these top attractions and kid-friendly things to do in Boston! Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum photo by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
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Things are lighting up with these must-do Christmas events around Boston! Festival of Illumination at the Southwick Zoo. Photo by Heart Lover 1717/ Flickr 2.0
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Fun things to do in Boston with teens include seeing priceless works of art at Boston's museums. Photo courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts
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Jump into fun with the top indoor playgrounds and play spaces in Boston! Photo courtesy of Boston Playground
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Indoors and out and about, there are so many thing to do in Boston with kids before they grow up! Photo courtesy of the Rose Kennedy Greenway website
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Teatime meets playtime in Beverly. Photo courtesy of the Children's Piazza
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Big league fun awaits at Boston's top attractions for kids. Photo courtesy of Fenway Park
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Don't sweat the weather, because the best indoor water parks in New England are waiting for year-round fun! Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort
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Take flight at Story Land in New Hampshire, one of the top New England theme parks for kids and families! Photo courtesy of the park.
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Playing in fall foliage is one of the most beautiful and fun things to do with kids in Boston in the autumn
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Free, fun activities can be as simple as blowing bubbles on a sunny day
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Hiking is just one of many things to do in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, but it sure delivers great views!
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Pizza and bowling are up everyone's alley in Somerville and Salem. Photo courtesy of Flatbread Pizza Salem/Facebook
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Step into family fun in the Merrimack Valley. Photo courtesy of the Salisbury Beach Partnership.
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Peek inside a rainforest at Providence's Roger Williams Park Zoo.
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The Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial. Photo courtesy of the National Parks Service
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Who you lookin' at?! The Tropical Forest at Franklin Park Zoo. Photo by Don Crasco/Franklin Park Zoo
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Try a little freeze dancing, robot style! Photo courtesy of Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels
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Science experiments and STEM activities for kids entrance children with their
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New England sleepaway camps get kids out into nature. Photo courtesy of Night Eagle Wilderness Adventure Camp
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No messy, dripping fingers when you eat watermelon on a stick.
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A water park, beach activities, and more await at Coconut Bay's all-inclusive resort in St. Lucia.
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Holiday Sing-Along with Phil Berman & Sarah Nolan. Photo courtesy of the event.
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30+ Things To Do over February Break with Boston Kids: In-Person and Drop-Off Activities

Photo courtesy of the Harvard Museum of Science and Culture
Photo courtesy of the Harvard Museum of Science and Culture
1/28/22 - By Caitlin Dowling

An exotic winter getaway may not be in the cards this February break, but families can still plan an epic staycation right here in the Boston area. Our favorite winter vacation activities include family-friendly outings and drop-off programs. The Blue Man Group bring back their popular February break week matinees; the USS Constitution's Lego Maritime Festival is back in person this winter break, and Powisset Farm has special school break campfires. You can even get a jump start on maple sugaring. And if you're still needing virtual distraction, let the kids take a piano, guitar, or pop singing lesson. Hey, we New Englanders know how to make the most of winter, right?

Our Boston Winter Fun Guide is packed with even more ideas for outdoor and indoor activities to keep kids busy with and (since we all need a break) without mom and dad. Or if you're ready to load up the car and make a run for it, check out our Boston Getaway Guide!

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Winter vacation day adventures, photo courtesy of Puddlestompers
Winter vacation day adventures, photo courtesy of Puddlestompers

In-Person February Vacation Activities

February Vacation Drop-Off Programs

Newton – February 21-25; Wellesley – February 22-25, 2022
Kids can get out exploring the wonders of the wintry season on their day off from school. The February Vacation Program is a four-hour drop-off program in Newton and Wellesley. Each day kids learn about a different wintry nature topic through hands-on exploration, active movement, outdoor play, crafts, stories, games, and songs. READ MORE

Lego Maritime Festival

Saturday, February 19 - Sunday, February 27, 2022
Calling all Lego brick fans – the USS Constitution Museum presents its popular annual Lego Maritime Festival. Get ready to build throughout the February school vacation week with fun activities designed for all ages. READ MORE

Blue Man Group's Winter Break Matinees

Monday, February 21 – Tuesday, February 24, 2022
Blue Man Group Boston brings zany creativity and daily matinees to February School Vacation Week. READ MORE

School Vacation Fire Pits at Powisset

Dover – February 21, 2022
Families can cozy up for a warm, fun School Vacation Fire Pit day at Powisset Farm. A family ticket includes two hours at a private firepit for six people (farm hosts light the fire), private picnic table seating, wood for burning, roasting sticks, and a kit for making six s’mores. Guests can also enjoy views of the farm and wander the StoryWalk before warming up by the fire. READ MORE

Disney on Ice: Let's Celebrate

Wednesday, February 23 - Sunday, February 27, 2022
“Mouse-ter of Ceremonies” Mickey Mouse leads a parade of more than 50 beloved characters, from Minnie Mouse to Donald Duck and Goofy and featuring an ensemble of Disney Princesses, including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Snow White, and Tiana. READ MORE

Junior Farmer for a Day

Southborough – February 21-24
Become a farmer for the day during this February school vacation week drop-off activity. Children discover what farming looks like in the winter — from livestock habitats for farm animals to growing food during the cold New England winter months. READ MORE

Stargazing at Gore Place

Waltham – February 24
Calling all young astronomers—go stargazing with an expert astronomy educator at Gore Place. During this hour-long program, kids learn how to identify stars, planets, and constellations.  READ MORE

Bugs Bunny Film Festival

Cambridge – February 18-27
A school vacation treat for kids and fun-loving adults alike, the Brattle’s Bugs Bunny Film Festival has been delighting audiences for more than 25 years. READ MORE

Tap a Tree

Saturday-Sunday, February 26-27, 2022
Nothing beats that first drip from a tap in a sugar maple tree, and nothing kicks off the season quite like hanging a bucket to capture the sap that will turn into maple syrup! READ MORE

Curling on the Common

Daily through February 28, 2022
Families are invited to try their hands at curling on Seaport Common. Sign up to play for free any day through February, or take a class on Saturdays. READ MORE

Hot Chocolate Hike at Appleton Farms

Ipswich – Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays through March 2022
Cozy up to a warm, delicious cup of cocoa after walking through the grounds of Appleton Farms. The farms have over 1,000 acres to explore before heading to the Farmhouse for a delicious treat. READ MORE

Snowy Owl Prowl

Ipswich – through March 2022
Join the Trustees for a family snowy owl prowl, hiking the dunes in search of these magnificent birds. As a family hike, this adventure is shorter and slower than a standard snowy owl prowl, focusing on engaging children along the way.  READ MORE

Imagine Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

Boston – through March 2022
A spectacular and immersive exhibition of the works of Vincent Van Gogh, will take viewers on a unique journey inside the artist’s paintings. Imagine Van Gogh, is an exhibition where one can admire The Starry Night, Irises and Sunflowers, or be drawn into the intimacy of his Bedroom in Arles.   READ MORE

Mediterranean Marketplaces: Connecting the Ancient World Exhibition

Cambridge – through May 2022
Mediterranean Marketplaces explores how the movement of goods, peoples, and ideas around the ancient Mediterranean transformed the lives and livelihoods of people at all levels of society, driving innovations that had lasting impacts—even on the modern world. READ MORE

Great Backyard Bird Count

Your House – February 18-21, 2022
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. READ MORE

Northeast Ski Mountains for Families

Nearby ski areas are welcoming families for safe winter adventures. READ MORE

Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in Boston for Kids and Families

Boston's favorite outdoor skating rinks are back for more winter fun! READ MORE

Best Snow Tubing Near Boston for Families

Find amazing snow tubing within driving distance from Boston! READ MORE

10 Places to Snowshoe with Kids Near Boston

Have a fun winter adventure near Boston on a pair of snowshoes! READ MORE

Winter Hikes and Walks To Take with Boston Kids

Shake off a case of cabin fever by bundling up and heading outside for a winter walk with the kids. READ MORE

Winter Day Trips from Boston for families

Make the most of winter with these day trips from Boston! READ MORE
Virtual music lessons, photo courtesy of Katya Wolf, Pexels
Virtual music lessons, photo courtesy of Katya Wolf, Pexels

Virtual and At-Home February Vacation Activity Ideas

Animation First Film Festival 2025

VIRTUAL – through February 21
The seventh edition of Animation First, celebrating the artistry of French animation, presents seven feature-length films and five short film programs, with a special focus on Swiss animation. READ MORE

Sing with Carnegie Hall

VIRTUAL — through March 12, 2022
Budding singers, and their families, are invited to this virtual, weekly sing-along series, featuring guests artists from around the world. Each week's episode inspires kids to move and sing to classic playtime songs and discover new music from cultures around the globe. READ MORE

Online Guitar Lessons for Kids

VIRTUAL – through June 2022
Learn guitar online with professional experts from the best music schools in the country. Pixical provides gamification, peer learning, and play, along with interaction for the best learning experience. The whole system is designed to make learning fun and interactive. READ MORE

Weekly Pop Singing Class

VIRTUAL – Mondays through March 2022
In this weekly virtual class, students sing their favorite pop songs with an experienced vocal coach. Students are encouraged to join virtually from a stationary computer in a quiet space, bring headphones if applicable, and water. READ MORE

Online Piano Lessons for Kids

VIRTUAL – through June 2022
Learn piano online with professional experts from the best music schools in the country. Pixical provides gamification, peer learning, and play, along with interaction for the best learning experience. The whole system is designed to make learning fun and interactive. READ MORE

Online Art Lessons for Kids

VIRTUAL – through June 2022
Learn art online with professional experts. Pixical provides gamification and peer learning, along with interaction for the best learning experience. The whole system is designed to make learning fun and interactive. READ MORE

67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home

Execute mind-blowing science experiments with stuff you have around the house. READ MORE

50 Snow Day Boredom Busters for Kids: Fun Indoor Activities

Keep kids happily entertained on a snow day before sledding begins. READ MORE

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