Winter is full of school breaks for the kids, from holidays to long weekends to February vacation. It’s important to keep them happy and occupied during this time so they aren’t bouncing off the walls or playing on their phones and tablets for too long. Spending time together, treating them to new experiences, and just getting out of the house is invaluable during school breaks. Here are some great ways to keep the kids happy over winter break. Get out of the house and treat your family to some new experiences with these great ideas right here in Merrimack Valley
Discovery Museum
Just because the kids are off from school doesn’t mean they can’t still learn. More importantly, just because they’re learning doesn’t mean they can’t have fun! The Discovery Museum in Acton is chock-full of hands-on learning experiences that will get your kids excited about learning.
Science, math, music, and more are made fun through play-focused, interactive exhibits. Kids can get their hands wet and learn about the properties of water with a sensory experience at the Water Gallery. They can put their engineering skills to the test building structures with materials like giant building blocks and small wooden bricks. Valuable life skills can be learned in the Ship Room, Train Room, and Bessie’s House exhibits. All of this and more can offer your kids an incredible, educational, and fun experience on a day out.
Before you leave, be sure to stop by the Discovery Store for great educational toys that will keep their minds active at home. Puzzles, craft supplies, and science kits will keep your kids occupied throughout the various school breaks.
Wamesit Lanes Family Entertainment Center
Kids of different ages like different things, so it’s important to find something the whole family will enjoy. Wamesit Lanes Family Entertainment Center in Tewksbury offers exactly that! Combining a restaurant, arcade, and bowling alley, there’s something for everyone, grown-ups included!
Play over 60 arcade games, from the latest releases to classics you played in your childhood. Compete against each other, or work together to win tickets to turn in for prizes. Hit the links with the virtual golf course simulators, which feature 90 courses, multiple game modes, and challenges and tournaments. The luxury candlepin and tenpin bowling lanes come equipped with optional bumpers so even the little ones can be part of the family competition. Afterwards, grab a bite to eat at Firewater Tavern where there will be a dish to satisfy every tummy.
Harvard Alpaca Ranch
A lot of kids are animal lovers, so a trip to the Harvard Alpaca Ranch in Harvard is a sure way to put smiles on their faces this winter break. A herd of happy, healthy, adorable alpacas roam the 5.7 acres of beautiful farmland, and your kids will love seeing them.
Kids can learn about alpacas, the amazingly soft wool they produce, and how the ranch works to stay green and sustainable. Set up an appointment to tour the ranch Friday through Sunday and meet these wonderful, wooly creatures. The tours are free of charge, though a suggested donation of $5 per child and $10 per adult helps keep the ranch running for future visits.
Commemorate the experience with something from the Alpaca Shop. Your child can pick up a cuddly alpaca plush, or another animal made with soft alpaca wool to snuggle up with on the ride home. You can also pick up mittens, hats and other goodies that will keep the kids warm throughout the winter.
Wilson Farm
Want more farm fun, even in the winter? Wilson Farm in Lexington is open year-round except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. They love seeing the little ones and the kids will love exploring the farm and taking a trip to the award-winning bakery. There they can find mouth-watering, homemade treats like cookies, cakes, brownies, and other goodies.
Throughout the year the farm hosts a wide variety of family-friendly events, many of which are free! In December, the kids can meet Santa or the Grinch, participate in gingerbread house-building workshops, or indulge in hot chocolate and fresh-baked cookies. In February, there are special weekends hosted by the Mass Audubon Society where kids can learn all about birds. Events like these will help make winter breaks memorable and strengthen family bonds for years to come.
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Little Women is one of the most beloved coming-of-age stories for girls and boys alike. If this classic novel is a story your child adores, you should visit Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House in Concord. It’s the family home of the book’s author, Louisa May Alcott, and is even where much of the story takes place. You and your kids will feel like you’ve stepped onto the pages with a guided tour of the house. You can reserve timed entry tours to ensure you get the time and day you want, but walk-ins are also accepted.
In December, you can even buy tickets to be part of an old-fashioned Christmas at the Orchard House. This beloved, family-favorite living history event lets you visit the Alcotts and their neighbors for some festive holiday fun. The tastefully-decorated Orchard House and a chance to interact with some of their favorite characters will surely light up your child’s imagination and give them something to tell their friends when they return to school from winter break.
Mill No. 5
When you need a day out during winter break, a trip to Mill No. 5 in Lowell can be a great experience. There are a bunch of different shops that will appeal to the kids, and you can all even get some holiday shopping done together!
They can find cool, unique art and decor at Hive & Forge for redecorating their rooms over the break. If your kids love anime, Sci-Fi, and other geeky stuff, Pop Cultured is where they can find toys, manga, and other cool merchandise of their favorite shows. Readers big and small will find a great book to curl up with at Lowell Book Company. Afterward, you can all snack on baked goods and hot cocoa at Coffee and Cotton before heading home.
This year, don’t stress about keeping the kids occupied during winter breaks. Instead, look at all of the great, family-friendly activities Merrimack Valley has to offer. You and your kids will be able to plan outings together that will create lasting memories they’ll cherish as adults.
