Top 20 Winter Break Ideas: Day Tripping + Staying Local!

February turned March winter vacation is finally here for New Hampshire families. What are you planning to do this week? Here are some fun ways to spend the week with the kids:

It’s Seacoast Kids Calendar’s Top 20 Picks: 2023 Winter Break Edition!

1. First be sure to always check the daily Seacoast Kids Calendar page. There are so many fun daily events listed there (we couldn’t possibly list them all here!) Take your pick and get out of the house and do something nearby and new every day!
2. Have you checked out Snapology’s new home in Dover? It’s brand new and open for your children to come explore! They have several Creative Play Hours happening over break so be sure to add this to your list!
3. There’s a few Winter Fests happening this week. On Saturday Feb 25th from 8-5 in North Hampton Parks and Recreations Winterfest.  As well as Winter Fest at LL Bean (Tuscan Village in Salem, NH location.)
4. Junior Gym has several open gyms (including drop off open gyms + regularly scheduled gymbabies) every day during the week of school vacation. Reservations required ahead of time!
5. Bowling fun for everyone! If you are looking for candlepin Exeter Bowling Lanes is your place! Bowl-O-Rama is a great family friendly establishment and Pinz in Portsmouth offers bowling (and ax throwing for kids 16+.) If you’re closer to Amesbury check out Gametime Lanes! 
6. What about an indoor water park? See our full guide water slides you can get to easily here!
7. There are several indoor plays options all around the seacoast too. Many of these favorite spots have extending their hours just for the vacation week. Check out SKC’s Guide to Indoor Plays over NH Winter Break.
8. Visit one or two of the many nearby museums. See the latest exhibits on our Museum Guide!
9. Want to send the kids to a fun and engaging School Vacation Camp? Check out SKC’s Winter Vacation Camp Guide to find one for you!
10. With all the freshly fallen new snow around us on the seacoast there are so many traditional winter wonderland activities to have fun at. Check out our Sledding and Skating Guides and get out there before it melts! Wanting the kids to try skiing? Consider a lesson or tubing at nearby McIntyre in Manchester. There’s also Family Snow Shoeing at Flag Hill
11. Relief Parenting is open for vacation week with a full schedule of classes and open plays. You know what’ really sweet is with the big kids off from school littles get to show off the fun they have during the week at Relief. Bring a big sibling (ages 6+) to *Class for FREE with a younger sibling! Ages 5 and under sibling rate is available *Applicable classes: Sing, Sign & Play, Toddler & Me Yoga, Sing & Play en Français, Creative Movement, & Fairy-Tale Tea Time.
12. There’s Surprise Pop Up Family Events happening in Portsmouth! Here’s two happening with Sages Entertainment and Center for Wildlife in Portsmouth over NH’s vacation week.
    

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    Worth the Trip?

13. New dates and times added for NH Winter Vacation Week (through Sunday, March 5th): Have you been to the Ice Castles yet? Check these beauties out before they are gone for the 2023 season! Oh and if you go we have a special promo code for you to get 15% off your tickets!!
14. The Butterfly Place just opened back up for the season. Go pretend you’re away in the warm tropics and enjoy all the beauty flying around.
15. Maple Days at Old Sturbridge Village. Happening Wednesdays – Sundays, February 22nd – March 19th. Looks like a great history experience and be sure to stay tuned for more local sugar shack tours opening up around here in March!
16. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is a great spot to check out with the kids. They have some special activites going on over MA vacation week and they are open during regular hours for NH.
17. Roger Williams Park Zoo is 1/2 price admission through the end of February. A great was to stay outdoors and visit animals over vacation.
18. Reserve an igloo and dine at Davis BBQ! Enjoy the best BBQ around. Reserve a free outdoor heated igloo, see the winter barn animals and plan your 2023 Davis Farmland trips! Igloos and admission to the winter barn are free with your drink/food purchase! Igloos hold up to 6 people.
19. Blue Man Group in Boston added performances throughout the MA February vacation week with some overlap with the NH break on 2/24 – 2/26 and 3/3-3/5.
20. New England Botanic Garden Yeti’s The Yetis are back! A fun-filled winter scavenger hunt and adventure awaits you. Explore the gardens and meet all fifteen colorful, furry, friends. Going on daily!

What are you doing for winter break? Tell us about it in comments.

Looking ahead for summer camps? Check out our School Vacation/Summer Camp Guide.

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