A favorite of sports enthusiasts and history buffs alike, Boston is one of the top five tourist attractions in the U.S., according to Forbes. While Boston is no stranger to winters--the city typically gets over 40 inches of snow each year--cold weather doesn't have to mean the end of fun in Bean Town. Winters offer plenty to do for families and adults alike. Best of all: many of them are completely free.
Admission is free to the newly renovated Commonwealth Museum, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Featured exhibits in the fall of 2010 included the significance of African Americans in the Civil War, the Acadian exile in Massachusetts and a display of democracy's impact through the centuries. The newly remodeled facility is particularly geared toward use of multi-media technologies and interactive exhibits. Looking for something a bit more out of the ordinary? You won't want to miss the Museum of Bad Art. The private, community-based collection of odd art in all forms was launched in the fall of 1993 and has grown with donations--often by the artists themselves--over the years. The collection of atypical works can be viewed at the museum's three gallery locations near Boston's perimeter in the Dedham, Somerville and Brookline areas.
Dress for the season and enjoy Boston's wintry outdoors while taking in a bit of its rich history. The Walk to the Sea is a self-guided tour starting at the State House on Beacon Hill and ending at the shoreline after a descent of about 100 feet. You'll see historic points of interest as well as modern urban architecture along the way. A portion of your one-mile journey will even take you over streets once covered by harbor waters. For another chance to mix history with the brisk outside air, tour the Bunker Hill Monument. Built in 1842, the towering structure is 221-feet tall and honors fallen soldiers of the earliest significant battle of the Revolutionary War. A climb of 294 steps to the monument's top will reward you with a panoramic view of the wintry cityscape and harbor.
Boston's official tree lighting illuminates over 80 trees throughout Boston Common, including the city's official Christmas tree. For nearly four decades, the city's holiday tree has been a gift from Nova Scotia, in commemoration of Boston's relief assistance in the aftermath of a munitions ship explosion in Halifax Harbor back in 1917. In recent years, Nova Scotia officials have been on hand to present the tree to the people of Boston at the tree lighting celebration. Past tree lighting events, held annually on an evening in early December, have included musical entertainment, giveaways, live broadcasts from local stations, refreshments, and performances by dance, cabaret and theatre companies. Following the tree lighting on Boston Common, city officials traditionally present the public lighting of Commonwealth Mall.
