4 Fun Places to add to your family’s Winter Bucket List!
How’s that Winter Bucket List coming? Checking off a lot of things, are you?
The lack of snow and warm temps have been a real wet blanket for the quintessential winter fun, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty left to do this season!
Let me share with you a few activities on my personal winter bucket list that. Some are more expensive than others, but what’s life without experiences? Splurge if you’re able, but it’s certainly not necessary to spend a billion dollars to have fun—the seacoast and surrounding area is thick with opportunity!
Taza Chocolate Factory Tours
561 Windsor Street, Somerville, MA (617) 284-2232
I used to love factory tours when I was a kid! Hop in your car and head south over the border and you’ll hit Taza Chocolate Factory where they make 100% stone ground, Mexican-style organic dark chocolate. Learn how they make chocolate from bean-to-bar, see the chocolate-making machines and taste-test samples, of course. Tours here run 7 days a week (no chocolate production on the weekends). On Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30am, they offer the Cacao Scouts Kid’s Tour, a special abbreviated tour for families with children under the age of 10. The public tours are $8; $6 for the Kid’s Tour (kids under 3 are free). Online reservations are required by visiting tazachocolate.com or calling (617) 284-2232.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center
598 Assembly Row, Somerville MA 866-228-6439
If you like Legos even a little bit, you’ll think this place is very cool. With over 12 different indoor attractions/activities, there’s plenty to see and do here. My favorite is the MiniLand that uses over 1.5 million Legos to build some of Boston’s most iconic structures. With interactive sound and lights, you can see mini-figures at the Big Dig, Fenway, Gillette Stadium, Boston Wharf and more. You’ll want to buy tickets in advance as they only let a certain number of people in the museum at one time. For tickets, pricing and hours, visit legolanddiscoverycenter.com/boston.
CoCo Key Water Resort
50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers MA (866) 754-6959
This balmy locale has the cure for my winter ails! The indoor water park has an adventure river, water-filled jungle gym, zero-depth entry pool and play area, indoor/outdoor spa, several water slides and an activity pool (think water basketball, obstacle course). Get there early to get some good seats and be prepared to spend a lot of money on some really bad food and overpriced blender drinks. Full-day Passes $45; Under 48” $35; Spectator Pass $20. Special pricing after 4pm available. Tickets must be booked in advance. For more info, visit cocokeyboston.com.
Ice Castles
24 Clark Farm Road, Woodstock NH 03262
Yes, that’s right. Castles. Made of ice. Open since mid-January, the Ice Castles are giant ice structures started by man and finished by nature. Covering a full acre of land, you feel like you’re actually inside the movie “Frozen” where everything around you is encased in gorgeous blue ice. Embedded in the ice are multi-colored lights making an evening visit pretty spectacular. Prices are $14.95 for kids 4-11 and $18.95 for everyone else 12+. Check out icecastles.com/new-hampshire for hours and additional info.
Now get going! Those Bucket List checks won’t check themselves!
