Boston in the Winter

LindsayP101

My fiance and I are thinking of doing our honeymoon in Boston...but in the winter. We're Canadian so we're used to cold, snowy winters...just wondering if this is a good time to travel to Boston (and what there is to do there) or if we should wait until spring?

alithebride

if you should wait or not and if you consider it a 'good time to go' is based on you and your opinion and preference. there are just as many things in the winter as in the summer. which part of winter do you mean? new years or the dead of march?

i can't list everything to do--too long. you can check on tripadvisor and get a few travel books from your library and visit the boston tourist website. what made you think of it for your HM in the first place?

16maybeless

Boston resident and travel writer here. It's snowy and wintry, but it's not undoable. All indoor attractions will be open (the MFA, ICA, etc.) although the courtyards and outdoor areas will not be. Most of water activities won't be open, either (such as whale watching). However, Boston is quite cozy; some hotels have fireplaces, and many restaurants and bars do. There is also ice skating in the Boston Common until February or March, and a Christmas-lights walk through Beacon Hill is my favorite, most romantic winter activity.

Prices will definitely be cheaper in winter. Spring, summer, and fall are kind of one long high season for Boston and prices tend not to vary as much, especially in the summer when baseball and seaside activities are open, and fall when the leaf peepers roll in. Flights should be fairly inexpensive, since Boston is a large hub, but it depends where you are flying out of. Check Kayak's flight matrix to see when prices might be lowest. Hotel prices in Boston are generally expensive, but they won't be as bad as they would be during graduation season, for instance. There are quite a few boutique hotels (Kimpton properties and the like) worth looking into.

You'd be wise to get some sort of travel insurance, though, that covers winter weather. 

LindsayP101

Thanks so much for the responses! We're planning to go end of January 2014 - I'm tossing around a bunch of different cities...but Boston just seems like it would be a cool place to visit. We don't really want to do a week on a beach...so that's where this idea came from.

I'll look into all the suggestions for sure. Thanks again!

erika610

Boston resident chiming in to agree completely with maybeless. The one issue you may run into is you'll be limited to the city. You won't be able to take the ferries and make a day trip to the Cape or up to Salem. 

TinyDancer06

Another New England resident here.  It really depends on what you're looking to do.  As a couple of others have said, a lot of activities are not available in the winter (ferries, whale watching).  Aside from going to the theatre (Boston has a great theatre district), shopping, going to museums, eating, I don't think there's a whole lot to do during the winter months in Boston.  Definitely check around though, I'm sure there are plenty of things I'm not aware of since I live here and just don't look!
If you're looking to just relax, perhaps a B&B outside of the city would be a good fit.  If you're looking for a place with activities in the winter, I'd consider elsewhere...New Hampshire or Maine for winter activities, or further south if you're looking to go someplace a bit warmer (I've heard wonderful things about Savannah, GA, or even a trip to Annapolis or Baltimore) and with more things to do outside.  Good luck!

Xstatic3333

I think it depends a lot on your budget. The things I love to do in Boston in the winter (namely eat and drink) are expensive. The museums are pricey too, but lovely. If you have a high budget and like the city life, I'd say go for it. Make sure to ice skate on the frog pond and get dinner in the North End!

Xstatic3333

Also, the ICA, a great museum, is free on Thursday nights.

[Deleted User]

Boston is fun, been there in the winter, like PP skip going to places like Cape Cod or the islands as every thing tourist is shut down after October until basically May. But Boston itself, lots to do if you don't mind doing some research.

boobyswope

Another Boston resident here. My husband and I were married in Boston in the winter. I think that Boston is very cozy in the winter. While many of the outdoor activities are closed, it can be beautiful just to walk through the Common or Harvard Square with all of the lights and the post-Christmas glow still fresh.

boobyswope

Another Boston resident here. My husband and I were married in Boston in the winter. I think that Boston is very cozy in the winter. While many of the outdoor activities are closed, it can be beautiful just to walk through the Common or Harvard Square with all of the lights and the post-Christmas glow still fresh.