Boston Outdoor Winter Travel Guide
Boston Outdoor Winter Travel Guide
For outdoorsy travelers, winter in Boston is no reason to stay inside. A snowy backdrop and brisk temperatures are simply an excuse to bundle up and enjoy all that the city has to offer. I've put together a Boston winter travel guide for those looking for outdoor activities that shine when the snow starts to fall.
Pack your extra pair of mittens, don your warmest hat, and head out to enjoy winter in Boston!
Ice Skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond
There may be no more quintessential Boston winter experience than spending an afternoon ice skating on the Boston Common Frog Pond. Open daily during the winter (typically November through March), the Frog Pond has skate rentals, skating lessons, and even "skating seals" (really cute seal-shaped balance aids for skating newbies). And if you're thoroughly chilled, the on-site Frog Pond Café has warm-your-bones comfort food and drinks, including mac and cheese, soup, and hot chocolate.
Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing at the Weston Ski Track
Just 13 miles west of Boston, the Weston Ski Track has 15 kilometers of expertly groomed trails ready for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. They even light up the trails at night, so you can join fellow night owls (literal and figurative) for wintry explorations against the backdrop of a starry sky.
Snowshoeing on the Esplanade, Boston Common, or just the city streets
After a big storm, there's (almost) no limit to where you can go snowshoeing in Boston. I always like to head to the Esplanade for city and river views; other popular spots include the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Jamaica Pond. Don't have your own snowshoes? Check out local outfitters who rent both snowshoes and cross-country skis, then get moving.
Nothing makes me feel like a kid again than a good, old-fashioned sledding afternoon. After a big Boston snowstorm, you'll see locals and visitors alike making tracks for Flagstaff Hill on the Boston Common, where the winter sleds are as colorful and plentiful as summer kites. Want a (relatively) less-crowded spot? Boston Magazine has compiled their 21 favorite sledding spots in and around Boston, with other options including Alexander Kemp Playground in Cambridge, Marine Park in South Boston, and Titus Sparrow Park in the South End.
A thrilling snow tubing afternoon can be the best antidote to cabin fever. Head an hour north to Amesbury to New England Sports Park for a day of zipping down their gigantic hill at breathtaking speed. Admission covers a three-hour block of unlimited tubing, with blocks designated for early birds (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), afternoon visitors (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.), and late-afternoon tubers (5 p.m. to 8 p.m.).
There's also an on-site pub with a rollicking stereo system that gets piped outdoors: You haven’t lived until you've tubed down a monster hill listening to fist-pumping '80s hits!
Want even more Boston travel news and updates? Subscribe to the About.com Boston travel newsletter and get all stories delivered right to your inbox!
For outdoorsy travelers, winter in Boston is no reason to stay inside. A snowy backdrop and brisk temperatures are simply an excuse to bundle up and enjoy all that the city has to offer. I've put together a Boston winter travel guide for those looking for outdoor activities that shine when the snow starts to fall.
Pack your extra pair of mittens, don your warmest hat, and head out to enjoy winter in Boston!
Ice Skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond
There may be no more quintessential Boston winter experience than spending an afternoon ice skating on the Boston Common Frog Pond. Open daily during the winter (typically November through March), the Frog Pond has skate rentals, skating lessons, and even "skating seals" (really cute seal-shaped balance aids for skating newbies). And if you're thoroughly chilled, the on-site Frog Pond Café has warm-your-bones comfort food and drinks, including mac and cheese, soup, and hot chocolate.
Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing at the Weston Ski Track
Just 13 miles west of Boston, the Weston Ski Track has 15 kilometers of expertly groomed trails ready for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. They even light up the trails at night, so you can join fellow night owls (literal and figurative) for wintry explorations against the backdrop of a starry sky.
Snowshoeing on the Esplanade, Boston Common, or just the city streets
After a big storm, there's (almost) no limit to where you can go snowshoeing in Boston. I always like to head to the Esplanade for city and river views; other popular spots include the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Jamaica Pond. Don't have your own snowshoes? Check out local outfitters who rent both snowshoes and cross-country skis, then get moving.
Nothing makes me feel like a kid again than a good, old-fashioned sledding afternoon. After a big Boston snowstorm, you'll see locals and visitors alike making tracks for Flagstaff Hill on the Boston Common, where the winter sleds are as colorful and plentiful as summer kites. Want a (relatively) less-crowded spot? Boston Magazine has compiled their 21 favorite sledding spots in and around Boston, with other options including Alexander Kemp Playground in Cambridge, Marine Park in South Boston, and Titus Sparrow Park in the South End.
A thrilling snow tubing afternoon can be the best antidote to cabin fever. Head an hour north to Amesbury to New England Sports Park for a day of zipping down their gigantic hill at breathtaking speed. Admission covers a three-hour block of unlimited tubing, with blocks designated for early birds (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), afternoon visitors (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.), and late-afternoon tubers (5 p.m. to 8 p.m.).
There's also an on-site pub with a rollicking stereo system that gets piped outdoors: You haven’t lived until you've tubed down a monster hill listening to fist-pumping '80s hits!
Want even more Boston travel news and updates? Subscribe to the About.com Boston travel newsletter and get all stories delivered right to your inbox!
