Winter in Boston with kids might not be everyone’s first choice, but for our family, a February road trip was the perfect fit. Being within driving distance made it easy and budget-friendly, and we were even able to use our credit card rewards to cover four free hotel nights (more on that in an upcoming post!).This visit also lined up perfectly with our middle child’s study of the Revolutionary War in school, offering him a chance to see firsthand what he had been learning about. It’s always a win when travel and education come together!
Day of Arrival
We had three full days in Boston, and we made the most of every minute! One of the first things the kids noticed from our hotel window was a cool slide for tubing—of course, we had to check it out! Winter in Boston brings plenty of fun seasonal activities, and this one was a hit. Located at Harpoon Brewery in the Seaport District, it’s a sledding hill made from shipping containers with three lanes. For just $10 per person, you can go as many times as you want. It was the perfect way for the kids to burn off some energy after our long drive!
After tubing, we went next door to Yankee Lobster Company where the kids proceeded to order anything that wasn’t related to seafood (they don’t know what they’re missing!). I had the best clam strips I’ve ever tasted, and my husband raved about his swordfish. One thing to note: seating is extremely limited, and it’s first come, first served. If you plan to visit, try to get there early—by 4:30 pm, the place was packed, even in February! It’s easy to see why—it’s a Zagat-rated “Best in Boston” and it was even featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
Day One
Being New England in the winter, we had to be a little flexible with our plans for the day. Our first stop? Harry Potter: The Exhibition. This was a bit of a splurge at around $35 per ticket, but since Boston is the only U.S. stop for the exhibit—and it’s only here until April 25, 2025—we couldn’t pass it up.
The kids (and let’s be honest, my husband and I too) had an absolute blast! We chose our Hogwarts houses, saw our names projected on the Marauder’s Map, checked out tons of movie props and costumes, walked through Hagrid’s hut, sat at Professor Umbridge’s desk, and even “played” Quidditch. The whole experience took about an hour, but for us, it was totally worth the price
After the Harry Potter exhibit, we headed to the Museum of Science, which is just a short walk away—about 12 minutes if the weather is nice and you’d rather not move the car to another garage. Winter in Boston with kids means finding a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, and the Museum of Science was a great choice for staying warm while still having fun. I knew it would be a good stop, but it ended up being even bigger and more engaging than I expected.
Our kids love science museums, and there was no way we could see everything in one visit. They took part in a hands-on workshop where they designed and tested flying objects, explored a variety of exhibits, and watched a 4D bug movie (which we highly recommend—it was a blast!).
In total, we spent five and a half hours at the museum—much longer than any of our past science museum visits. By the end, I was completely exhausted, but the kids had so much fun and were genuinely disappointed when we had to leave at closing time!
Museum tickets are approximately $31 for adults and $26 for children ages 3-11. The Museum of Science is also part of the ASTC Passport Program, which means if you have a membership to another participating science museum, you might be eligible for free admission for up to four people. Be sure to check your membership details with ASTC to see if you qualify for a discount or free entry!
For dinner, we headed to Ciao! Pizza and Pasta in Chelsea, MA. This spot has earned lots of recognition, landing on Yelp’s Top 100 Pizza Spots in America and Canada and The Food Network’s Best Pizzas in America’s Biggest Cities. It definitely lived up to the hype!
Our kids are super picky and would have preferred a basic cheese pizza, but the options here were a bit more sophisticated, made with all fresh, high-quality ingredients. We ordered the Margherita Pizza for them, and my husband and I shared the Pollo Arrosto. The pizza was fantastic! Even our youngest—who usually isn’t a pizza fan—announced at dinner that it was the best he’d ever had. Our middle child devoured five slices and begged to go back every day after.
On top of the delicious food, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. It’s safe to say we’ll be making a return visit next time we’re in Boston!
Day 2
We kicked off our day with a quick stop at the Bunker Hill National Monument, a great little spot to share some history with the kids. One of the best things about winter in Boston is that many of the city’s most iconic historical sites are open year-round, and since February is the off-season, they’re often less crowded.
This 221-foot granite obelisk marks the site of the first major battle of the Revolutionary War, and while the history itself is fascinating, the real highlight for visitors is the chance to climb to the top for sweeping views of Boston. Unfortunately, the monument is only open for climbing on select days, and—just our luck—it was closed the day we visited.
Even without the climb, Bunker Hill still made for a worthwhile stop. The surrounding park is a nice place to walk around, and the nearby Bunker Hill Lodge offers exhibits with artifacts and information about the battle. It even managed to capture the interest of our youngest, who excitedly pointed it out every time he spotted it from the highway afterward—“There’s Bunker Hill! We were there!” If you have history buffs in the family (or kids studying the Revolutionary War like ours), it’s definitely worth adding to your Boston itinerary!
After our quick stop at Bunker Hill, we made our way to the LEGO Discovery Center. When planning activities, we try to find things that appeal to all of our kids (ages 7-13), but sometimes that means mixing it up so everyone gets to do something they love. This was definitely an activity geared more toward our youngest, but there was still something for everyone to enjoy.
The experience starts with creating your own LEGO mini-figure. There are separate bins for heads, bodies, legs—basically a build-your-own station—before you snap a quick photo and head into the main activity area. The first attraction is a small theme park-style ride where you hop in a cart, grab a shooter, and zap the bad guys to rack up points. Naturally, my husband and I turned it into a competition to see who could score the highest, while the kids were just happy to ride and play.
From there, you enter the main activity area, which is packed with things to do. There’s a jungle gym-style play area, a room filled with LEGO models of Boston’s most iconic buildings (plus some fantasy-themed structures), and a vehicle-building station where you can test your creations on racing ramps. The 4D movie theater was a hit—we chose Ninjago—though it definitely had more water effects than your average 4D experience. The kids had fun at first, but by the end, they were pretty much done with getting sprayed.
One of the coolest features was the rocket-building station, where you could design a rocket, scan it, and watch it launch on a big screen. Unfortunately, about half the scanners weren’t working, which was a little frustrating. There was also a separate toddler area, perfect for younger kids, and a VR experience available for an extra fee—our kids absolutely loved that one.
As for food, there is a small café, but seating is extremely limited—you basically have to stalk tables and grab one as soon as someone leaves.
Overall, we had a great time! Our youngest would have stayed until closing if we let him. If you have a LEGO-obsessed kid, this is definitely a stop worth making!
After all that building and exploring, we made our way to the Boston Tea Party Museum. Since the museum operates on timed-entry tours, it’s a good idea to grab your tickets in advance!
Our visit kicked off in a colonial meeting house, where our costumed guide, “Abigail,” welcomed us. Inside, we became part of a Sons of Liberty meeting, led by “Samuel Adams” himself. After some enthusiastic debate, the decision was made—it was time to dump the tea! From there, our group headed onto a replica 18th-century ship, where we each took turns tossing “crates of tea” overboard. (Don’t worry, they pull them back up so the next person can have a turn.)
The entire experience was so well done. The costumed guides were fantastic, bringing the story to life in a way that made history feel exciting and interactive. Our kids stayed engaged the whole time, which says a lot! After the ship, we moved inside for another presentation, where we got to see real artifacts—including an actual tea chest that was thrown overboard during the Tea Party. Seeing a piece of history like that up close was pretty incredible.
To wrap up our visit, we stopped at Abigail’s Tea Room, where we had the chance to sample the same types of tea that were tossed into the harbor back in 1773. My husband and I tried a few varieties, while the kids happily went for hot cocoa and cookies. The whole tour was a hit, and we’d definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Boston—especially if you have history lovers in the family!
By the time we wrapped up at the museum, it was closing time, and we were ready for dinner. We decided to swing by the famous Quincy Market, hoping there would be something for everyone. With so many food options, it seemed like a safe choice.
We were surprised by how busy it was for February—we expected a quieter evening but still had to stalk a table to find a spot to sit. The kids stuck with their usual chicken fingers, while my husband and I went for New England clam chowder, and it did not disappoint. It was warm, creamy, and exactly what we needed after a long day of exploring.
Day 3
We started our day at the Paul Revere House. Winter in Boston is a great time to explore historic homes, especially when they’re warm inside! Since parking in the surrounding neighborhood is extremely limited—thanks to narrow one-way streets and permit-only spots—we parked near Quincy Market and walked over. It was a short, easy stroll and a great way to take in a bit more of the historic North End along the way.
The house itself was really interesting and informative. It was fascinating to stand inside a piece of history. The tour is self-guided, but there were knowledgeable staff members throughout the house who were happy to answer questions and share more details about Revere’s life. Walking through the rooms, we got a glimpse of what daily life was like in the late 1700s and learned about Revere’s work beyond the American Revolution.
Admission was very affordable at $6 for adults and just $1 for children (ages 5-17), making it an easy and worthwhile stop. While the house itself is small and doesn’t take long to walk through, it’s definitely worth visiting—especially for history lovers!
From the Paul Revere House, we walked a couple of blocks to the Old North Church—the site where the famous lantern signal, “one if by land, two if by sea,” was sent. We expected this to be a quick stop, but we ended up spending much more time here than anticipated. Our youngest got a little antsy at times, but he stayed entertained by exploring the cubicle-style pews, which gave him plenty to check out as we walked around.
The church offers an audio tour, which was absolutely fascinating and provided so much historical context. We also purchased tickets to tour the crypt beneath the church. I expected it to feel a little eerie, but it really wasn’t—just a quiet, historical space filled with stories of the past. The staff shared insightful details about the people buried there, making it a really unique and worthwhile experience.
What’s especially interesting is that this isn’t just a historic landmark—it’s still an active church. We’d love to attend a service here someday, not just for the experience but also to see this incredible piece of history in use today.
After a morning of historical walking tours, we headed back to Quincy Market for a quick lunch. We had hoped to tour Faneuil Hall, but during the winter months, the Great Hall on the second floor is only open Wednesday through Sunday. Instead, we explored the National Park Service Visitor Center on the first floor, which had some interesting exhibits and helpful information. We also checked out the basement area, where a few additional displays provided more historical context. While we didn’t get to see the Great Hall this time, it was still a worthwhile stop!
With the afternoon still open, we decided to check out the Museum of Illusions Boston, conveniently located right next to Quincy Market. This attraction was on the pricier side, with tickets at $38 for adults and $33 for children (ages 5-12), but we figured it would be a fun way to spend our last afternoon in the city.
The museum was filled with mind-bending illusions, interactive exhibits, and optical tricks that had us second-guessing what we were seeing. Some displays were trippy, others were just downright hilarious, and we all had a great time trying to figure them out. It was a fun, lighthearted way to wrap up our trip, and we left with some great memories (and plenty of funny pictures!).
We spent our last dinner at Legal Sea Foods – Boston Harborside, and it was fantastic! The kids were happy with the non-seafood options on the kids’ menu, while I decided to go for the lobster mac and cheese. What I didn’t expect was for it to arrive inside an actual lobster shell.
Our nine-year-old let out a scream of pure shock—think A Christmas Story when the roast duck arrives at the table (if you know, you know). The kids couldn’t stop laughing and were both horrified and fascinated by the whole lobster on my plate. Once the initial surprise wore off, we all enjoyed our meals, and the food, service, and atmosphere were absolutely fantastic. It was the perfect way to wrap up our time in Boston!
Our trip to Boston this winter ended up being the perfect mix of history, hands-on experiences, and just plain fun. From walking in the footsteps of Revolutionary figures to exploring interactive museums and, of course, eating some incredible food, there was never a dull moment. Even in the middle of winter, the city had so much to offer, and we loved seeing it from a different perspective.
While we packed a lot into our visit, there’s still plenty left on our list for next time. Boston is one of those places you can visit again and again and always find something new to explore. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or just looking for a great family-friendly destination, Boston in the winter is definitely worth considering. We can’t wait to come back!
If you’re interested in hearing more about some of our trips you can check out these links for our trips to the Great Smoky Mountains and Charleston, SC.