Looking for fun things to do in Boston during February vacation week with your kids and teens?
Winter break week begins on President's Day Weekend (President's Day takes place on the 3rd Monday during February) when public schools in Boston and the rest of Massachusetts begins a week-long holiday.
Fun Things to Do during Winter Break Week in Boston
- Small Group Freedom Trail History Walking Tour - See iconic historical sights
- New England Aquarium - Includes all exhibits
- North End to Freedom Trail Food & History Tour - Discover what makes Boston special
Although some families head north to ski for the week and others seek out warmer temperatures in the Caribbean, there are lots of special family-oriented activities going on in Boston so it's a great time to be here - plus you'll save on low hotel rates.
We've rounded up 28 fun things family-friendly activities and events to keep everyone entertained over winter break.
Boston's weather during February can be tricky - frigid and snowy one day, sunny and 50 degrees (or higher) by the next morning - so our suggestions include a mix of outdoor and indoor attractions plus some fun walking tours.
Article contents:
- Fun things to do indoors
- Family-friendly walking tours
- Save with discount tickets
- Outdoor adventures & sports
Top photo: Ice skating on Frog Pond in Boston Common - Beacon Hill mansions in the background
Indoor Fun for February Vacation Week
1. Explore Sea Life at the New England Aquarium
Need the perfect indoor activity for Winter Break week in Boston?
Spend a day at the New England Aquarium watching colorful sea anemones in the Giant Tank, observing the different habitats, and getting up close to a lobster at the tidal pool.
At this family-friendly venue, you'll see all ages gazing at the circling sharks, watching aquarium staff specialists feed Myrtle the Green Sea Turtle, and laughing at the antics of over 60 penguins as they frolic next to the Giant Ocean Tank.
Plenty of other exhibits provide enough to do to fill a whole day - especially with the giant IMAX theater next door.
The aquarium usually attracts lots of fans during the winter vacation week, so save time by getting your skip-the-line tickets online in advance.
Or if you're visiting other Boston attractions as well, use a Boston CityPASS for free skip-the-line admission - you may even benefit from low winter rates!
2. Visit the Franklin Park Zoo
Although Boston's Franklin Park Zoo may not be the obvious spot for a winter break visit, many animals such as the zebras, lions, tigers, wildebeests, ostriches, and others will be out and about, especially on warmer days (ie, above the 32 degree freezing mark).
You'll also see most of the tropical forest animals such as gorillas, lemurs, pigmy hippopotamuses, ocelots, birds, and more, plus farm animals. Sometimes even the kangaroos will be out and frolicking.
What if you get chilly? No worries - head inside to the tropical forest and soak up the 72 degree warmth, which is what makes the zoo an attractive destination during winter months.
Bird's World will also feel comfy. Indoor dining at the Giddy-Up Grill is available when you get hungry, and don't forget to also check for special events and educational programs throughout the winter.
Get your tickets online before you go.
3. Enjoy Interactive Immersive Art at WNDR Boston
Winter Break Week gives you the perfect opportunity to explore WNDR Museum, Boston's innovative immersive attraction near the Theatre District in Downtown Crossing.
If you're expecting paintings hanging on walls, though, that's not what you'll find.
Instead, what you'll experience is a space filled with 20+ interactive installations designed to stretch your perceptions. The family-friendly venue appeals to all ages,with several experiences that are especially attractive to younger kids while teens may prefer others.
Insider's tip: WNDR can get quite busy during school vacation week. Timed-entry tickets do help with the crowd flow but with younger kids, you might want to book one of the first time slots of the day.
Location: 500 Washington Street, Downtown Crossing, Boston
Nearest T station: Downtown Crossing
Find out more about WNDR Boston
4. Score Some Strikes at Boston's Coolest Bowling Alley
Tucked away in a high-rise parking garage on the western edge of Boston's elegant Back Bay neighborhood (50 Dalton Street) as well as in trendy Seaport (60 Seaport Boulevard, Suite 225) are Kings bowling alleys.
Kings is not just any bowling alley - it's a premier entertainment center where Boston's sports celebrities stop by to show off their bowling skills and everyone else gathers to see and be seen.
Before around 6pm, Kings is the best bowling alley your kids and teens could ever imagine, and you'll enjoy the laid-back vibe as you hang out there too. The food - mostly elevated casual fare - hits the mark for both tastiness and reasonable prices.
In the evenings, the vibe turns a lot livelier as top equipment, cool decor, sports-filled big-screens, other gaming options, and plush seating make it a popular destination in Boston's nightlife scene.
You can also find outposts of Kings in a few nearby suburban locations including Lynnfield, Dedham, and Burlington as well as in more distant locales such as Orlando. Find out more on Kings' website
Opening hours and age policies for the Back Bay location vary by day including at 3pm on some days, whereas the Seaport location opens at 11:30am daily and is 21+ after 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays - so do confirm details on their website before you go.
5. Watch Disney on Ice - Favorite Family Event
Disney on Ice brings an fantastic show on the ice to TD Garden during February break week. For many families, coming to this event is a winter vacation tradition!
Enter DISCOVERY10 to save 10% on TicketLiquidator & TicketNetwork tickets. Good for purchases made through 12/31/24.
Find All Disney on Ice Show Performances & Tickets
More about Disney on Ice and visiting TD Garden
6. Explore America's Famous Fighter Ship
Take the MBTA Ferry from Long Wharf on Boston's Downtown Waterfront over to Charlestown and go on a free tour to explore Old Ironsides - a.k.a. the USS Constitution, a site on Boston's Freedom Trail.
The active duty Navy crew members who serve as guides will entertain your teenagers (and you) with tales about the 200+ year old ship's history fighting Barbary pirates and defending America during the War of 1812. Even though it's school vacation week, your kids will learn some history without realizing it - and also have a great time.
More about free USS Constitution tours
Check the Constitution's Winter Hours: www.navy.mil/local/constitution
7. Build Your Own Ship at the USS Constitution Museum
Join the LEGO Maritime Festival during school vacation week at the USS Constitution Museum across from the famous battleship, and build your own ship with LEGO and DUPLO bricks. Need inspiration? Check the Museum's "Master of Miniature" model ships.
Cost: Voluntary donation, with "suggested" admission fees of $10-$15 adults and $5-$10 for children
More information: USS Constitution website
8. Get Hands-On at the MIT Museum Feb Fest
The MIT Museum celebrates National Engineers Week each year during the February winter school vacation week by hosting multiple daily activities involving fun hands-on engineering activities, creative workshops, games, gallery tours, meet-ups with students, and lots more.
Especially cool are the hands-on explorations of microscopes, origami, AI, CRISPR, and music.
Most activities are free with museum admission, although some of the workshops have modest additional fees.
Find out more: Website
9. Enjoy Fun Kids Activities at Faneuil Marketplace during Winter Vacation Week
Street performers will be providing entertainment at all sorts at Faneuil Marketplace. Look for circus stunts, comedy, musical performances, magic shows, a juggler on a unicycle, stunts by Wacky Chad, the very talented Kilted Colin stilt performer, and lots more.
A number of these performers have been regulars here for a decade or more, and have groups of devoted fans.
Find out more about Faneuil Marketplace
10. Go for Bubble Tea at Tea-Do
Order your favorite bubble tea at Tea-Do (8 Tyler Street) in Chinatown and grab a table to enjoy it onsite.
Tea-Do's stock of board games seems to have been a victim of the pandemic, but you can always bring your own to enjoy while you sip your tea.
While you're in Chinatown, treat yourself to a wonderful lunch at one of the nearby restaurants.
11. Catch the Action at TD Garden
Between the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Disney on Ice, and star-filled concerts, you'll find an event scheduled almost every night at TD Garden.
For kids (and grownups), nothing beats the excitement of these big events in Boston's premier ice arena. Tickets are usually affordable, and the fun can't be beat!
Find Tickets for TD Garden Events
12. Visit the Museum of African American History
To celebrate Black History Month, visit the Museum of African American History (MAAH) (46 Joy Street in Beacon Hill). Current exhibits focus on great African American jazz musicians and selections from the museum's permanent collection.
For more information and tickets (which much be purchased in advance, visit the Museum of African American History website.
13. Be Dazzled by the Annual Bugs Bunny Film Festival in Cambridge
Brattle Theatre's annual Bugs Bunny Film Festival brings all your favorite Looney Tunes characters to the big screen - and your kids are sure to love it too.
The festival runs for several days during Boston's Winter Break Week, and tickets are affordable, especially if you choose a matinee. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
More info: Brattle Theatre website
More movie theaters in Boston and Cambridge
14. Laugh at the Funniest Act in Boston at the Charles Playhouse
Get ready to laugh until you cry at Boston's favorite ongoing comedy act, Blue Man Group. Shows take place almost daily at the historic Charles Playhouse in the Downtown Theatre District, just one block from Boston Common.
Find Schedules & Get Your Tickets
Find more shows in Boston's Theatre District this month
15. See Boston the Fun Way on a Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Trolley
With 14 stops and a route that passes by close to 100+ attractions and other points of interest, the Old Town Boston Trolley provides the best way to see the city's top sites - and get off and explore them whenever you want.
You'll even get a few bonuses with your ticket, such as free admission to Dreamland Wax Museum and to the Old State House (a historic site/museum on the Freedom Trail where you can see actual bits of tea left over from the Boston Tea Party) plus a bunch of other interesting exhibits.
Choose a 1-, 2-, or 3-day ticket.
16. Get Your Fill of Pizza on this Tour of the Italian North End
The whole family will enjoy this pizza and walking tour around Boston's charming North End neighborhood. You'll sample pizza at 3 of the neighborhood's famous pizzerias, visit the Old North Church where Paul Revere hung his lanterns to warn about movement of British troops ("one if by land, two if by sea ...") on the night before the American Revolution started, and even visit historic Clough House where you'll get to see how chocolate was made in the old days - and then sample the chocolate!
Save with Discounts, Attraction Passes, & Winter Hotel Rates
17. Get Discount Tickets to Top Events & Attractions
Discount tickets from Groupon can give you big savings. Why pay more if you can save?
18. Save with Boston Discount Cards
Choose from 3 different discount passes to give you big savings on top Boston attractions, cruises, and tours. Once you buy the card, you get free admission to included activities. Choose the pass that fits your needs best:
Go Boston Cards: Save up to 55% with a 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, or 7-day card good for 40+ activities including Boston Children's Museum, Fenway Park Tour, Blue Man Group (3-, 5-, & 7-day passes), Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, & more
Go Boston Explorer Pass: Choose 3, 4, or 5 attractions, get discounts, & build your own pass good for up to 30 days.
Boston CityPASS: Save 46% on 4 top Boston attractions: New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Skywalk Observatory (closes in April - so see it while you can!), and your choice of a Boston Harbor Cruise or Harvard Museum of Natural History. Visit at your own pace - cards are good for 9 consecutive days.
19. Find Cheap Rates on Boston Hotels
Boston hotel rates drop to their lowest points during January and February - so take advantage of these savings. Use this hotel map to find the cheapest rates - just enter your travel dates to see what's available:
Booking.comMore about how to save on Boston hotels
Outdoor Adventures & Sports
20. Spin Around the Ice on Frog Pond
Frog Pond on Boston Common turns into the city's most popular ice rink from November to March, thanks to its convenient location and a zamboni that smooths the ice every hour or so.
Rates are reasonable, and you can bring your own skates or rent a pair right at the rink.
Don't know how to skate? Rent a "Bobby Seal" to hang on to while you learn how to stay on your feet.
More about where to ice skate in Boston
21. Have Fun at the Children's Winter Festival & Winter Camp on Boston Common
A fun Winter Camp for kids sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation takes place on Boston Common throughout school vacation week with free ice skating (including rentals) and lots of other fantastic activities each day.
A huge assortment of free fun activities awaits you on Boston Common from 11am - 2pm on Thursday, February 18 when the Children's Winter Festival brings 45 foot long Toboggan Tunnel mountain adventure (like 2 long slides), a 3-car trackless train, and logs of hands-on games to the nation's oldest public park.
Look for other things as well: free giveaways from Disney to celebrate the release of Frozen 2, hot tea from David's Tea, a Zumba class for the whole family, and activities organized by the Girl Scouts, and more fun activities from other local organizations.
22. Go High Fashion on Newbury Street
Let your teen step into the world of glitzy designer fashions on Boston's famed Newbury Street in Back Bay.
Only about 8 blocks long, Newbury Street sports not only famous designers but also a good selection of affordable discount stores - try H&M for the perfect trendy and non-spendy combo.
For more practical options, check out the many sports gear stores on Newbury and nearby Boylston.
And great news: During winter break week in February, you'll find plenty of deeply discounted sale prices on Fall and Winter fashions.
More about Newbury Street shopping
23. Hit the Slopes near Boston for Skiing & Snowboarding
An hour's drive or less brings you to ski areas in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire for an afternoon or day of downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, ski lessons, snowboarding, tubing, and more. A bit farther away, you'll find even more options, including ski resorts in the Berkshires.
24. Make a Snowman or Go Sledding on Boston Common
You need a snowy day (or at least some snow already on the ground) for this one - but if the weather cooperates and we get a fresh snowfall during February vacation week, head over to Boston Common and make a snowman.
Or even better, go sledding down the Common's hills and slopes. You can buy an inexpensive plastic sled at most Boston CVS and Walgreens drugstores, as well as neighborhood hardware stores (try Charles Street Supply at 54 Charles Street in Beacon Hill).
25. Hit the New England Ski Resorts for Even More Winter Sports
Winter break week is when everyone takes advantage of school holidays and heads to ski resorts in Vermont, northern New Hampshire, or Maine, so if this is your plan, book accommodations as far in advance as possible to get your first choice. But if you're making last minute plans, no worries - check out some of the smaller less-famous ski areas. You'll find lots of ideals in our guide to New England ski areas.
26. Catch a Show in the Theatre District
For a splurge, let your teen experience the excitement Boston's thriving Theater District by going to a matinée or evening show.
With everything from Broadway to Disney to ballet - plus lots more - there's something for everyone. To make your teen feel really grown up, go for a meal before or after your show.
See what's scheduled at all the Boston theaters during February
27. Go Behind the Scenes at Fenway
Even though the Red Sox don't start playing until April, you and your kids can get a fascinating behind-the scenes view of the famous ball park by going on a Fenway Park Tour.
Your guide will take you to different spots and regale you with interesting information about Fenway history, famous Red Sox players, and even current updates about the current team.
Get free tour admission when you have a Go Boston card.
After the tour, stop by Bleacher Bar overlooking the field for a Fenway Frank, or walk over to Tasty Burger for the best shakes in town (try the "Green Monster").
28. Get the Real Scoop on Harvard & MIT
Find out what student life is really like at two top Boston universities, Harvard and MIT, on a student-led campus tour.
Bonus: You'll also learn a little about the history, architecture, and culture at these famous schools. And if you like the way the campuses look in February, you'll LOVE them during Boston's spectacular spring and fall seasons.
More to Do in Boston during School Vacation Week in February
More Things to Do in Boston in February
More Articles about Fun Activities for Kids & Teens in Boston
- Fun indoor, outdoor, and special event activities for kids in Boston
- Find out about the favorite of the 10-and-under crowd
- Stay warm & have fun with these indoor winter activities in Boston
- Embrace the cold with these outdoor Boston winter activities
- Visit the Make Way for Ducklings statues in the Public Garden
Need a Boston Hotel or Apartment?
Use this handy map from Booking.com to find the perfect place to stay. Just enter your dates to find what's available, see the best rates, and make your reservations.
Booking.com
