“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” Edith Sitwell
The above quote could not be more true. Once winter hits, we are more apt to stay inside, cuddled up by the fire, watching movies or reading a good book and munching on comfort foods; all in an attempt to warm our souls from the blustery days that await us outside our front door. Until this weekend, we have experienced an exceedingly mild winter. Today our sleepy little street is snow covered with bitterly cold temperatures (2° F to be precise) and terribly windy. When winter finally arrives, how do we stay active and keep from becoming a recluse?
We are somewhat envious of the snow bunnies that spend their weekends heading north to ski or snowboard. Unfortunately, we tend to enjoy the warmer months and can sometimes come to despise the few colder snowier months we experience here in New England. Instead we try to find ways to get our minds and bodies moving, get some fresh air and beat the doldrums of winter. Here are some to-do ideas for those who like us, would rather be soaking in the sun than trudging through snow.
Living in close proximity to Boston, we have the luxury of being close to a walking city filled with museums. Now mind you, during the winter those walks can become a challenge. If you choose to venture in just to visit a museum you will have no problems as most are equipped with parking and access to public transportation. However, if you plan on making a day of it and want to grab a bite to eat while you are in city, that can become more of a challenge walking distance wise with some museums.
Our go to favorite in the winter months is the New England Aquarium http://www.neaq.org. You can purchase tickets online and skip the lines at the ticket counter. They have the Simon Imax Theatre and show amazing movies, some in 3D. There is a parking garage located in the building next door (as well as a stop on the blue line). If you wish to venture out for lunch or dinner you have a choice of a few restaurants all located on Long Wharf and all a short walk from the aquarium. Our two favorites are Legal Seafood http://www.legalseafoods.com/restaurants/boston-long-wharf-63 and the Chart House http://www.chart-house.com/locations/boston/.
A few minute walk from Long Wharf is Faneuil Hall http://faneuilhallmarketplace.com. Here you can shop, dine and take in sidewalk acts (weather permitting of course – but you’d be surprised how many do come out to entertain). Also, during the week of MA February vacation they offer free family movies http://faneuilhallmarketplace.com/event/movies-at-the-marketplace-february-school-vacation/2019-02-21/.
Another spot steeped in history, smaller museums and a lot of up and coming restaurants is the Witch City aka Salem, MA. Like Boston, Salem offers a wide variety of spots within walking distance of one another. Parking can be trickier in Salem than Boston and although the commuter line passes through, it can be a bit of a hike to some of the attractions/museums.
We enjoy the Peabody Essex Museum http://www.pem.org. Not only is it located in the heart of historical Salem it is a short walking distance from Pickering Wharf, the Salem Common, other museums as well as many shops and restaurants. A few notes about the PEM; be sure to check them out online before your visit. They offer tickets online which is a bonus. It is a smaller museum and changes exhibits more frequently than some others. Before you visit be sure to get the dates of anything you wish to view so that you do not miss them.
A great event that we have our eyes on coming this February to Salem is the “So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Event”. A little heads up for our fellow chocoholics out there. There will be chocolate samplings at many of the businesses in town as well as ice sculptures to take in as you walk around http://salemmainstreets.org/festivals/salem-so-sweet/.
A great spot in both the summer and winter is the Castle Hill on the Crane Estate http://thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast/castle-hill-crane.html. Unfortunately, they close the great house after the holidays until April. However, you can still walk the grounds and there are some events that are held during the winter months. They offer sledding for the kiddos. You can walk down to Crane Beach and try to spot the Snowy Owl. In February they are hosting a “Fire & Ice at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate”. This is a new event that includes a bonfire and ice sculptures and requires tickets in advance http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/special-events/fireice.html.
In Lincoln, NH the Ice Castles opened up this past week. This is one that we have not experienced and have had on our list to visit for a while now (thinking that this winter will be the year to finally check it off). The photos that we have seen from family and friends who visited look amazing. Tickets are required in advance and all sales are final so be sure to plan your trip accordingly. http://icecastles.com/new-hampshire
Old Sturbridge Village is open weekends during the winter http://www.osv.org. This is a great outdoor living museum. Here you walk outside to different dwellings and visit 19th century New England. You are able to interact and ask questions of the those who ‘reside’ in the village. They offer dining choices on the grounds, and in January and February they are celebrating the “Winter Warmth and Cheer” event.
If shopping is your forte; you must visit Market Street, Lynnfield, MA http://www.marketstreetlynnfield.com. This is a newer outdoor shopping area. Not only does it have an abundance of stores (some that are pet friendly), there are many restaurants and some interactive activities as well. Firstly, they have an area that is transformed into an outdoor skating rink during the winter months. There is also Kings Dining and Entertainment http://www.kings-de.com/lynnfield that offers bowling in addition to food and beverages. And they have Skeleton Key http://skeleton-key.com/lynnfield which offers themed game rooms where you have to solve puzzles/crack codes to get to a treasure at the end.
Our last mention is for those of you who would rather stay inside all together and not venture out into the cold but want to get out of the house. The Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury, MA is something that may interest you http://www.blueoceanhall.com/index.php. They offer many events from concerts, to comedians, to winter festivals. Some are general admission, some you can pick your seat and some you walk around the two floors of the hall. They offer light fare food choices but if you would rather have a sit down dinner, there are two other choices all owned by the same conglomerate.
In the same building as the music hall is Seaglass http://www.seaglassoceanside.com/. The dining room in Seaglass has large windows that look right out over the ocean for amazing views while you dine. They are considered an upscale casual restaurant and their focus is seafood (although they do offer other options like beef, chicken, duck, etc…). Across the street is Capri http://www.capriseaside.com/. The dining room in Capri is cozy with a couple of fireplaces. Their menu is delicious Italian food and pizzas.
Winters can be harsh and sometimes feel very long. Other than booking a trip somewhere warm it can be hard to feel motivated to get out of the house especially on the super cold days. We hope that we have offered some inspiring activities to help pass the winter months. We would love to hear your suggestions as well.
Just remember there are only 58 days until spring…but who’s counting?
D & C
Mt. Esty Manor 