Over the winter, it can be easy for children to feel a little stir crazy when cooped up inside. Luckily, there are many great programs, events, and places to visit in the Merrimack Valley that are family- or kid-friendly.
From hands-on educational programs to fun outdoor activities to exciting local attractions and entertainment centers, here are just a few of the experiences that can keep your child amused, entertained, and engaged throughout the winter season.
Educational Programs At The Discovery Museum
The Discovery Museum in Acton, MA, is an educational museum that blends science, nature, and play via interactive programs and exhibits. Here, kids (and their families) can explore the 4.5-acre campus filled with exciting activities to experience, all while engaging in hands-on education. Current exhibits include a Light & Color Gallery, Simple Machines Gallery, Sounds, the Train Room, the Yes! It’s Math! Gallery, and many more.
The museum also features outdoor nature activities and adventures, including the “biggest treehouse you’ve ever seen!” In addition, the museum hosts various kid-friendly special events and programs on an ongoing basis.
Explore The Vast Fruitlands Museum Grounds
The Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA, is 210-acres of indoor and outdoor winter weekend adventures that feature a diverse collection of art, historical exhibits, and miles of nature trails. Its vast landscape collects 5 great historical museums to visit:
- The original Fruitlands Farmhouse,
- The Shaker Museum,
- The Native American Museum,
- The Art Museum,
- And the Wayside Visitors Center
Each area has a diverse range of cultural programs, events, and rotating exhibitions to discover, making it an enriching experience that will keep you and your kids coming back for more and always finding something new to learn. Fruitlands also hosts winter-based activities for all ages, such as the recurring Fruitlands Solstice Strolls through the grounds with earlier hours tailored towards families.
Ski Lessons At Nashoba Valley Ski Area
It can be hard to find outdoor sports-based activities during the winter months. Fortunately, the Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford, Massachusetts, is an excellent, family-friendly local ski area allowing your kids to hit the slopes without having to travel too far.
And, if your child is interested in learning how to ski, Nashoba Valley offers lessons in various programs for kids ages 3 through 17. Options include pre-k ski programs, 6-week lessons, school winter vacation packages, private lessons, adaptive programs, and much more. Advanced youth skiers can also participate in various racing clinics and training programs.
Bowling & More At Wamesit Lanes Family Entertainment Center
If you’re looking for a purely fun day or night out for the whole family, there’s not a much better place to visit than the Wamesit Lanes Family Entertainment Center in Tewksbury, MA. The entertainment center features both tenpin and candlepin bowling alongside escape rooms, gold simulators, cribbage, and a full arcade!
In addition, Wamesit’s on-site restaurant features all your pub favorites, including a full bar (for adult kids 21+, of course), and their patio also features heated Igloo reservations over the winter.
