8 Unforgettable Places In Massachusetts That Everyone Must Visit This Winter
The days are short and the nights are chilly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some amazing experiences in Massachusetts this winter. Winter, in fact, is the perfect time to make magical memories. Check out the eight best things to do in winter in Massachusetts for a mix of outdoor and indoor activities to warm you up and get you in touch with the season.
Before you make plans to head to an event, confirm that it’s on for the current year. You’ll also want to check to make sure other destinations are open and to confirm their hours, too.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: onlyinyourstate.com/nominate
1. Attend the Annual Winterfest in Lowell. The magical Winterfest typically feature a full menu of fun, wintry activities, including ice skating and a winter carnival. The winter carnival often boasts such fun attractions as a giant inflatable Snowzilla slide, rides, food trucks, and marshmallow roasting. Other events may include horse-drawn wagon rides, maple sugaring, an all-you-can-eat chocolate festival (!), and a screening of a favorite wintertime movie.
2. Go ride the slopes at Wachusett Mountain. Skiing should be a winter fun no-brainer, but this place in particular has some of the most magical views you'll find anywhere. With a 1,000-foot vertical drop, 2,000-foot elevation, 22 trails, and 8 lifts, Wachusett is the closest big mountain skiing to Boston.
Start planning your wintry adventure on the official website of Wachusett Mountain.
3. Jiminy Peak in Hancock is another amazing choice for a mountain adventure. It's the largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New England, summer home to Mountain Adventure Park and the only mountain resort in North America to generate its own energy using alternative wind power. But that view is enough for me.
For more information, stop by the official website of Jiminy Peak.
4. Go book-hunting in Boston. In order to curl up near the fire with a good book, you'll need to track one down first. The Brattle Book Shop in downtown Boston lets you browse the stacks in a super cool outdoor setting. When you've found the perfect reading material, head on over to L.A. Burdick for one of their famously rich cups of hot chocolate and warm those chilly fingers.
Check out the days and hours and browse the online catalog on the official website of The Brattle Book Shop. Then stop by the official website of L.A. Burdick.
5. Go skating at the Boston Frog Pond. This is a classic activity that hasn't lost any of its charm over the years. Can you think of a better way to spend a leisurely winter day? Skating generally runs from December to March. Confirm to ensure ice skating is open before heading over.
6. The town of Deerfield is gorgeous any time of year, but it really sparkles in the snow. Take a day trip to one of Massachusetts most historic small towns and use the town's historical resources to learn about winters long past. Make sure you visit Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield, too, where it's Christmas (with falling snow) all year around.
7. Take a magical hike through a state park. Great options include Mohawk Trail State Forest (Charlemont), Chapel Brook Reservation (Ashfield), and Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary (Easthampton). Each of these places are especially great places to take in a bit of nature in the colder months, as their beauty isn't just found in flowering plant life.
8. Sift through treasures at the Cambridge Antique Market. If staying warm and nabbing some great deals on rare finds sounds like your idea of a good winter day, then this is a must-visit spot. Forget the mall: this place is HUGE and filled with unique and fascinating vintage wares.
What are your favorite things to do in winter in Massachusetts? Let us know in the comments! Did you know there’s a law in Massachusetts that prevents you from starting your car to heat it up on those bitter cold mornings? Read more about this anti-idling law in Massachusetts.
Address: Mount Wachusett, Princeton, MA 01541, USA
Address: Jiminy Peak, Lanesborough, MA 01201, USA
Address: 9 West St, Boston, MA 02111, USA
Address: Frog Pond, Boston, MA 02108, USA
Address: Deerfield, MA, USA
Address: Cold River Rd, Charlemont, MA 01339, USA
Address: Chapel Brook, Massachusetts, USA
Address: 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA 01027, USA
Address: 201 Monsignor O'Brien Highway, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
things to do in winter in Massachusetts
December 19, 2020
Beth Price-Williams
Where can I go snow tubing in Massachusetts?
Move over summer; we’ve got a ton of fun winter activities here in New England. For non-stop thrills, try a day of snow tubing in Massachusetts. Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Littleton provides an idyllic backdrop for a day of winter fun. Grab a snow tube, and zoom down the hill – over and over – as many times as you want. At the end of your run, take the lift back to the top of the hill, and pick one of the 18 lanes to zip down again. You must purchase tickets online before you head to the snow tubing hill.
Is Massachusetts a good place to visit in the winter?
Winter in Massachusetts can get downright cold and snowy. However, you’ll find plenty of places to visit in winter in Massachusetts, particularly its picturesque towns that take on a magical glow during the coldest season of the year. Feel as though you’ve stepped into a winter scene by Norman Rockwell when you visit Stockbridge. If it looks familiar, that’s because the picturesque town was used by Rockwell as inspiration when he painted. The Berkshires, Wellfleet, and North Adams are all must visit winter destinations. Rockwell, in fact, once lived in the Berkshires.
Which hikes in Massachusetts are best in the winter?
We have no shortage of winter destinations in Massachusetts, and some are best explored on a beautiful hiking trail. Head to Tyringham Cobble, for example, where you’ll find two miles of trails that are dotted with natural beauty, including rock ledges. Slip on your warmest hiking boots for a trek along the 4.4-mile Ponkapoag Pond Trail at Blue Hills Reservation. The trail is open year round, although it’s particularly pretty when sprinkled with snow. Follow the 1.7-mile Walden Pond Loop Trail for a tranquil experience. (The trail does close sometimes if there is too much snow, so check before you go.)
