Find Fabulous Winter Fun in the Heart of MA

Earth and aerial yoga classes. Photo courtesy of The Heart of MA

There is nothing like a weekend getaway to shake off the post-holiday blues and add a splash of joy to the dark days of winter. The heart of Massachusetts has a ton of winter fun to offer that’s both easy and affordable. These three itineraries will put a smile on your face and a pep in your step this January!

Itinerary 1: Start in North Central Massachusetts with everything you love about winter in New England. Ski and snowboard down iconic Wachusett Mountain, New England’s most accessible ski resort with ideal terrain for all levels, then warm up with hot cider and fresh cider donuts at the mountain’s Bullock Lodge. You can also enjoy quintessential winter traditions like cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, Carlson Orchards or Finnish Center of Saima Park or winter hiking at Wachusett Mountain State Reservation or Leominster State Forest. Bring along the family for a relaxing sleigh, wagon, or horseback ride at Cornerstone Ranch. Skate or ice fish on one of the region’s many frozen lakes or ponds like Asnacomet Pond in Hubbardston. There’s also indoor skating at Fitchburg’s George R. Wallace Jr. Civic Center or Gardner Veteran Arena. Known for its farms and orchards, the region is home to a host of wineries, breweries and cider barns—check out Red Apple Farm & Brew Barn, Thirsty Robot Brewing, or Nashoba Valley Winery. Want to get in out of the cold? Slip and slide through the region’s only indoor water park, Great Wolf New England in Fitchburg. For winter cultural fun, view international art at Fitchburg Art Museum or experience a live concert in the gorgeous Groton Hill Music Center.

Wachusett Mountain. Photo courtesy of The Heart of MA

Itinerary 2: Head southeast to MetroWest Boston for a libations tour of the region’s 14 breweries, 2 cideries, winery, and distillery. Be sure to visit Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers or GlenPharmer distillery for a behind-the-scenes tour and tasting, along with a delicious meal. Or try the warm atmosphere of farm-to-table restaurants like Buttercup and The Farmer’s Daughter, or the unique dining experience at Framingham Station Brazilian Steakhouse where Gaucho Chefs carve meat from skewers tableside in a historic train station. Afterwards, head to Level99 for their distinctive take on mental and physical escape rooms and challenges, or get a little aggression out with axe-throwing at Half-Axe. Like military history? The American Heritage Museum’s immersive exhibits feature antique planes, tanks, and automobiles, plus fascinating stories of veterans from WWI to today. Take in the great outdoors with cross-country skiing or snowmobiling at Hopkinton State Park or ice fishing on Lake Chauncy. Kids swinging from the rafters? Try an aerial class at Earth & Aerial Yoga, let them explore science and nature through play at the Discovery Museum, or get some energy out at Apex’s indoor amusement park, with laser tag, go carts, ropes courses, and more. Arts and culture more your style? Take in a fabulous show at Hopkinton Center for the Arts or atac: downtown arts + music, or a glorious jazz, chamber, and symphony concert by Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra. Be sure to visit the Danforth Art Museum, a jewel box housing 3,500+ pieces of art from the 18th c. to today. Finish off your visit with a wander through the shops and galleries of the Natick or Franklin Cultural Districts.

Danforth Art Museum. Photo courtesy of The Heart of MA

Itinerary 3: Head west to embrace winter in Central Massachusetts. Families love Ski Ward, just minutes from Worcester, featuring nine trails, four lifts and eight tubing lanes. Enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, plus fuel up at the Slopeside Bar & Grill, serving lunch and dinner. A rental shop and snow school makes this an ideal place to learn and have fun. Skate the day away at the Worcester Common Oval Ice Rink in the heart of the city; skate rentals are available or bring your own. Warm up afterwards with a gingerbread hot chocolate or peppermint mocha at Brew on the Grid. Weather not cooperating? Treat everyone to an afternoon at the EcoTarium, with cute creatures to visit, interactive science exhibits, and a planetarium for a fun day of entertainment. An action-packed outing for sports fans is a Worcester Railers Hockey game at the DCU Center, who are also hosting the Harlem Globetrotters, Monster Jam, and Professional Bull Riders this winter!

Whatever your reason, whatever the season, the Heart of Massachusetts has something for you! Plan your next adventure at TheHeartofMA.com.

Ecotarium. Photo courtesy of The Heart of MA