Winter Family Fun Itinerary
WINTER FAMILY FUN: 14-Day Itinerary
When the snow starts to fall, journey into a six-state winter wonderland with skiing, dogsledding, snowmobiling, and other outdoor adventures. In between, top museums and attractions (including a teddy bear factory) provide warm-ups that young and old will love.
DAYS 1 & 2: CONNECTICUT
Learn more about visiting Connecticut
Lodging ideas: New Haven Hotel (New Haven), Hotel Zero Degrees Danbury, Watershed (Norwalk) Marriott Hartford Downtown
Ease your family into winter by exploring the great indoors at Hartford’s Connecticut Science Center, a nine-story building with 165-plus hands-on exhibits, a 3-D digital theater, and Connecticut’s only year-round indoor tropical butterfly habitat. In nearby Windsor Locks, the New England Air Museum delights aviation fans with three hangars filled with artifacts of airborne awe, from biplanes to supersonic jets.
On day two, a must-visit is New Haven’s IT Adventure Ropes Course, the largest of its kind in the world. Norwalk’s Stepping Stones Children’s Museum is tailored for kids 10 and younger, while animal lovers of all ages can marvel at critters of the land and sea at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, and Mystic Aquarium.
DAYS 3 & 4: RHODE ISLAND
Learn more about visiting Rhode Island
Lodging ideas: Aloft Providence Downtown, Homewood Suites by Hilton Providence Downtown
Located in the heart of Rhode Island’s biggest city, the Providence Rink is not only a great spot to lace up rental skates but also New England’s only place to drive ice bumper cars. For a different kind of family-friendly ride, head to nearby Lincoln to explore winter trails on Sunset Stables’ friendly horses.
Skiing and snowboarding newbies can warm up for bigger mountains later in this trip by spending a day at Exeter’s Yawgoo Valley Ski Area: Its 36 acres and 12 trails are beginner-friendly, and there are learn-to-ski programs and rentals, plus a snow tubing park (and night skiing!). Round out your last day in Rhode Island with a one-of-a-kind meal aboard Newport’s Grand Bellevue dinner train, which offers station-side dining in winter.
DAYS 5 & 6: MASSACHUSETTS
Learn more about visiting Massachusetts
Lodging ideas: Deerfield Inn (Deerfield), Great Wolf Lodge (Fitchburg), Hampton Inn & Suites (Greenfield), The Old Mill Inn (Hatfield), Publick House Historic Inn (Sturbridge)
At 430 acres, Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook in Worcester is the largest urban wildlife sanctuary in New England. Rent snowshoes to venture out on your own or join a guided walk, then retreat to the cozy EcoTarium science and nature museum, where kids can spend hours on the interactive exhibits and travel to the stars at the recently renovated planetarium.
A short drive west on I-90 takes your family back in time at Old Sturbridge Village, a 200-acre living history museum that re-creates New England life in the early 1800s. Moving on to Springfield, the young and the young-at-heart will thrill to the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, devoted to children’s book author Theodor Geisel, and the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in Hatfield, a sprawling tropical conservatory filled with nearly 4,000 living jewels.
DAYS 7–9: VERMONT
Learn more about visiting Vermont
Lodging ideas: Jay Peak Resort (Jay), Smugglers’ Notch Resort (Jeffersonville), Sterling Ridge Resort (Jeffersonville)
There’s usually still snow on the ground when Vermont’s maple syrup scene starts heating up. See how it’s done at Montpelier’s Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, which has been “sugaring” for eight generations. For a different kind of sweet experience, tour the Vermont Teddy Bear factory in Shelburne before heading up to Burlington’s ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, where highlights include a replica shipwreck and live-animal exhibits of fish, frogs, and other critters.
Less than an hour from Burlington is Smugglers’ Notch, which balances supportive instruction for beginners (as young as 2½) with diverse terrain for all ages and abilities. At Jay Peak, 385-plus skiable acres are complemented by indoor fun such as a climbing gym, ice skating, and the Pumphouse indoor water park.
Treat your kids to the oohs and aahs that only adorable animals can provide. The Vermont Reindeer Farm is home to the living inspirations for Santa’s sleigh ride, as well as mini donkeys, mini goats, ponies, deer, chicken, and ducks. At Eden Ethical Dog Sledding, meanwhile, high-energy Alaskan huskies are raring to take you and your family on a dogsled adventure across 140 privately owned acres.
DAYS 10 & 11: NEW HAMPSHIRE
Learn more about visiting New Hampshire
Lodging ideas: Bretton Woods Vacations (rentals), The Chandler at White Mountains (Bethlehem)
As New Hampshire’s premier winter playground, the White Mountains boast excellent downhill action at places like Bretton Woods, Cannon Mountain, and Loon Mountain, and cross-country skiing at Jackson XC Center. But non-skiers will find lots to do, too. Willy Wonka dreams come true at Littleton’s Chutters, where the “World’s Longest Candy Counter” offers a rainbow of confections in all shapes and flavors. Take a sleigh ride tour of The Rocks, a forest reservation and Christmas tree farm set on a 1,400-acre historic estate in Bethlehem, or unleash the excitement of dogsledding at Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel in Jefferson.
No winter visit here would be complete without a visit to the Northeast’s biggest peak, Mount Washington. The best way for families to enjoy this natural wonder is from a cozy Mount Washington SnowCoach, which climbs more than 4,000 feet via the twisting and turning Mount Washington Auto Road to deliver stunning mountain views.
DAYS 12 & 13: MAINE
Learn more about visiting Maine
Lodging ideas: New England Outdoor Center cabin rentals (Millinocket), Sunday River (Newry)
Founded in 1982, the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket introduces travelers to Maine’s wide range of backwoods adventures. In winter, the center’s Registered Maine Guides can lead you on a half or full-day ice fishing expedition or a high-octane snowmobile tour (passengers must be at least 9 years old). A gentler outing awaits at the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center, which offers snowshoe rentals and the chance to spot 30-plus wooden gnomes tucked into its 50km groomed trail system.
Set aside a day to play in Bethel: Warm up with some skating at Bethel Community Ice Rink, then go skiing and snowboarding across the eight peaks of Sunday River Resort. Linger to experience the magical Sunday River Après Aglow, a forested trail glittering with thousands of lights, or—if you’re in Maine during the first half of December—check out the sparking holiday scene of Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude on your way down to Massachusetts.
DAY 14: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Learn more about visiting Boston
Lodging ideas: Boston Marriott Copley Place, The Godfrey Hotel, Hilton Boston Park Plaza
Bring your camera to Boston Common’s Frog Pond, one of New England’s most iconic spots for ice skating; rentals are available, as are snacks and hot chocolate at the pond’s café. Then set off for the waterfront and your choice of three top indoor attractions for families: the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science, and the Boston’s Children’s Museum. Or hop in the car to experience Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum, one of the nation’s largest art museums, whose wide-ranging collection of art, artifacts, and architecture is guaranteed to fascinate all ages.
Want one last hit of outdoor fun? Appleton Farms in Ipswich is a lovely working farm that welcomes winter visitors with snowshoe rentals and miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. On maple season weekends, stick around for syrup-making demos and tastings at the property’s Sugar Shack.
Itinerary created in partnership with Yankee Publishing. DATTCO Coach & Tour is Discover New England’s transportation partner.
