Boston Activities in Winter, or Anytime
Just because there’s a chill in the air or snow on the ground doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of incredible ways to explore Beantown. In fact, we’d argue that winter is a great opportunity to see new sights or try new activities that you typically wouldn’t in the summer months. Whether you live in Boston or are just visiting, you’ll find a wide array of fun winter activities around the city, fit for groups large and small.
But which to choose? We’re here to help. From exploring Boston’s museums to delving into its storied history, these group activities are perfect for team building events, birthday parties, alumni reunions, and more.
1. Ice Skating on Frog Pond
Lace up and hit the ice at the Boston Common Frog Pond. Each winter the city sets up a temporary outdoor skating rink, and it’s a popular spot that offers rentals and beautiful city views. Plus you’ll find an array of cartoon-like frog sculptures around the pond. Look inside the bucket of the fishing frog.
2. Embark on a Museum Scavenger Hunt
You can’t go wrong with a trip to one of Boston’s world-class museums. But whether you’ve been through the museums in the past or the experience is brand new, you can take your group’s experience up a notch with museum scavenger hunts from Watson Adventures.
- At the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, you can go mad for art, solve a murder mystery or devilish whodunit, enroll in wizarding school, and more.
- At the Museum of Science, Boston, your group might discover the stranger side of the museum or catch a twisted killer.
3. Warm Up with Hot Chocolate
Treat yourself to a steamy mug of rich, delicious hot chocolate around the city. It’s the just the thing for warming up after a chilly trip skating or exploring. You might go European at L.A. Burdick in Back Bay or try a Vietnamese coffee-and-cocoa concoction at Reign Drink Lab in South Boston.
4. Root for the Bruins
So you’ve gone ice skating at Frog Pond and warmed up with some cocoa. Now watch the pros take to the ice at a Boston Bruins game. You might also grab a bite to eat near TD Garden before or after the game.
5. Get Fishy at the Aquarium
Escape the cold and dip into the New England Aquarium, featuring penguins, sea turtles, and a giant ocean tank. Enhance your underwater adventure with our Swimming with the Sharks Scavenger Hunt, which highlights strange facts and little-known secrets you might miss on your own.
6. Cruise in the Harbor
Experience Boston’s skyline from the water on a sailing with Boston Harbor City Cruises. Bundle up on deck or stay snug inside as you enjoy food and beverages alongside a heaping helping of breathtaking views.
7. Spill the Tea Party
Drink in the history at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Live actors, interactive exhibits, and replica 18th-century sailing vessels bring the start of the Revolution to life.
8. Explore the Boston Public Library
Spend a cozy afternoon visiting the historic Boston Public Library. Enjoy art, architecture, special exhibits, and of course a good book. The library also offers events all year long, from cooking and crafting classes to book clubs and lectures.
9. Turn Up for Trivia Games
For a truly weather-proof experience, enjoy a wide array of trivia games just about anywhere—at home, in the office, in a rented ballroom or restaurant space, or Zooming in from multiple places at once. And with audio and visual components, scavenger hunt rounds, and creative photo challenges, as well as many different themes, these aren’t run-of-the-mill pub-trivia games anyone could throw together.
10. Get to Know Isabella Stewart Gardner
Discover the eclectic collection of art and artifacts at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Housed in a Venetian-style palace, this incredible museum (site of the greatest art theft in history) includes a breathtaking garden courtyard that stays green all year.
Let Watson Adventures host your next group activity in Boston!
Looking for more ways to explore Boston? Explore dozens of unique Boston scavenger hunts and team building activities from Watson Adventures.