There are many ice skating rinks and ponds available for ice skating in Massachusetts in the winter. In Boston, there is the frog pond in Boston Commons where you can rent ice skates. The Charles Hotel in Cambridge has an outdoor skating rink in Harvard Square. Visit Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover for ice skating on the ponds. Other ponds in national parks offer skating, and most towns also have public skating rinks, as hockey is a popular winter sport. Lowell has the John J. Janas Memorial Rink, Holyoke has the Henry J. Fitzpatrick Rink and Marlboro has the John J. Navin Rink. For those family members who do not skate, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and watch your family twirl around on the ice.
A section of the Appalachian Mountains runs through western Massachusetts. These mountains are large enough for ski areas, and there are also smaller mountains found in eastern Massachusetts that offer ski schools. Several ski areas include Nashoba Valley in Westerford, Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Bradford in Haverhill, Otis Ridge ski area in Otis, Blue Hills ski area in Saint Canton and Catamount ski area in South Egremont. Ski areas offer instruction and trails for all skill levels, so everyone in the family can participate.
Snow tubing involves sitting on a large inflated tube and then sledding down a snow-covered slope. There are several parks that have slopes specifically for tubing, so guests don't need to worry about running into skiers or snowboarders. Snow tubing parks in Massachusetts include the Pine Ridge Snow Park in Barre, Butternut Ski Area Snow Tubing Center in Great Barrington, Amesbury Snow Tubing Park in Amesbury, Bordie Mountain in New Ashford and Sam's Golf & Snow Tubing in Charlton. Multiple people can fit on a snow tube, so parents can ride with their children, or everyone can go down the hill individually if they so choose.
Visit one of the 40 museums in Boston and the surrounding area. This is a good choice for those who want to stay out of the cold winter weather. Many of the museums have activities and exhibits that are geared toward families. Some popular choices include the Boston Children's Museum in Boston, the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Davis Museum in Wellesley, Garden in the Woods in Framingham, Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, New England Aquarium in Boston, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Cambridge and the Boston Science Museum in Cambridge.
