A winter wonderland
New England winters can be quite cold and relentless, especially in a port city like Boston. Although many summer activities, such as fishing and sailing, are months away, there are still a number of things to do in Boston during the winter. From ice skating to feasting on steaming bowls of clam chowder, there are some pastimes that only cold weather can provide.
Ice Skating
Boston Commons is this city's scaled-down version of Central Park in New York. It dates all the way back to 1634, however, making it more than 200 years older than its Manhattan counterpart. On what is known as the "Frog Pond" in the Commons, there is a wintertime ice skating rink run by the city. The rink is open from November until mid-March and every day of the week starting at 10 a.m. Admission is $4 for adults, and children skate for free. The rink also offers skate and locker rentals.
Frog Pond at Boston Common
175 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02108
617-426-6220
bostoncommonfrogpond.org
Live Music
The feel of an intimate warm crowd and live music is always a delight on frigid winter nights. The legendary Middle East Restaurant & Nightclub, just across the river in Cambridge, has been putting on concerts since 1975. It has won numerous "Best of Boston" awards, including Best Club for Rock 2004 to 2007 by the Boston Phoenix, and Best Live Music Venue 2008 by Citysearch. The venue itself is made up of three separate performance spaces, ranging in capacity from 70 to 550 people. The Middle East is a block from the Central Station subway stop on the "T" Red Line.
Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub
472 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-864-3278
mideastclub.com
Indoor Sports
Boston is one of the nation's classic sports towns. Although the world-famous outdoor Fenway Park is on winter break, across town the warm TD Garden arena is in full swing. From November all the way to April, both the Boston Celtics of the NBA and the Boston Bruins of the NHL play their regular season home games at the Garden. In typical Boston style, the arena is located in the heart of the city outside the North Station stop on the "T" Green Line.
TD Garden
100 Legends Hwy.
Boston, MA 02114
617-624-1000
tdgarden.com
New England Clam Chowder
There are some delicacies that can only really be appreciated in the wintertime, and New England Clam Chowder is one of them. If there's one place to escape the cold and enjoy a warm bowl of the stuff, it is at the Union Oyster House, situated on Boston's historic Union Street. Established in 1826, this eatery declares itself the oldest restaurant in Boston. Their clam chowder has received numerous awards, most recently, Best Boston Clam Chowder, Citysearch 2008. The Union Oyster House is just around the corner from the historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace and is open every day except Monday, starting at 11 a.m.
Union Oyster House
41 Union St.
Boston, MA 02108
617-227-2750
unionoysterhouse.com
Tags: Middle East, Oyster House, Union Oyster, Union Oyster House, Best Boston