20 Awesome Things To Do In Southern New England On February Vacation

Providence Children’s Film Festival

The Providence Children’s Film Festival takes place at several venues within walking distance of downtown Providence, including RISD, the Avon, the Wheeler School, and Brown University. It's eight days of screenings, film-making workshops, and free activities, along with conversations that help deepen the film-watching experience and foster critical thinking skills. 

Skiiing, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing at Wachusett Mountain

Wachusett Mountain in central Massachusetts has a full slate of offerings for school vacation week, including ski and snowboarding classes, games, music, magic, and more. Check out the full slate of activities HERE.

Providence Children’s Museum

The Providence Children's Museum is open daily during vacation week from 9am-6pm with special activities going on all week long. Get up close and personal with a golden eaglewinter, or join astronomers from Brown Univeristy to explore the universe. Just because the kids aren't in school doesn't mean they can't be learning, and they'll be having a great time doing it, too! 

Winter Wonder Days at the Roger Williams Zoo

Hang out with snow leopards, red pandas, and more at Winter Wonder Days at the Roger Willams Zoo in Providence. The indoor giraffe and elephant pavillions are also open for exploration (and relief from the cold). Admission is half price during February at the zoo.

Photo: Gregory Moine/Flickr

Ice Skating

There are several great places to strap on your skates and show your stuff around southern New England, including the Alex and Ani City Center in Providence, the Worcester Common Oval in Worcester, and the Frog Pond in Boston Common. Ice skate rentals are available at all locations.

WinterFest at Old Sturbridge Village

Throughout the school vacation week, Old Sturbridge Village in central Massachusetts will be offering performances, ice sculptures, magic, sledding, sleigh riding, and more. On Saturday, February 21, more than 20 horse drawn sleighs will gather for the Antique Sleigh Rally.

Battleship Cove

Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts is holding a special "Pacific Island Week" during February break. Activities will be offered every day, focusing on the tropical places that the battleships and PT boats spent time at during World War II. Make a hula skirt, dress up like a sailor, participate in a scavenger hunt, and chgeck out the special exhibits.

Great Wolf Lodge

What better way to escape the cold snow and ice than a day or two at an indoor water park? Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, MA is 68,000 square foot mecca of waterslides, wave pools, and more, where they promise "it's always 84 degrees." With other activities such as a rope course, an arcade, mini golf, and laser tag, there's something here for kids of all ages.

Trampoline Parks

Sky Zone is an indoor trampoline park with locations in Providence, Westborough, and Boston. Join a dodgeball game, jump into a pit of foam cubes, or just bounce around in the "open jump." It's a great way for the kids to burn off some energy after being couped up inside all winter long.

5 Wits Patriot Place

5 Wits, located at Patriot Place in Foxboro, is a "cutting-edge, live-action entertainment venue that immerses participants in realistic, hands-on adventures, challenging them to prove they have what it takes to battle a giant squid or save the world." There's nothing else quite like this around...worth checking out for thrill seekers of any age.

Mystic Aquarium and Seaport

A day trip to Mystic, CT is a classic southern New England standby. Check out the Aquarium, a perennial favorite, and the Seaport, which is offering a special "Winter's Aweigh" program. The Mayflower II, a full scale replica of the ship that the Pilgrims sailed to the new world on makes a special appearance this year, in addition to the popular "winter working dogs" exhibit.

Museum of Natural History and Planetarium

Two special planetarium shows are taking place at the Museum of Natural History in Roger Williams Park in Providence this week, "Earth's Changing Climate" and "Solar System Oasis." Plus, museum quests, crafts, a collections encounter and more are being offered this week. 

Monster Jam at the DCU Center

Looking for something a little...louder and intense? Monster Jam returns to the DCU Center in Worcester February 13-15. "These twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over - or smash through."

Disney On Ice: Frozen at the TD Garden

Princesses more your thing? Disney's mega-popular "Frozen" takes to the ice in Boston on the Garden floor February 13-22, with multiple shows a day. Audiences will get to sing along with such songs as "Let it Go," "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" and "Fixer Upper." This show will be a vacation highlight for fans of Olaf, Elsa, and Anna.

Rock Climbing

Rock Spot Climbing, with locations in Lincoln RI, South Kingstown RI, and Boston, offers indoor excitement for climbers of all ages. There are 10,000 square feet of climbing paths, rope walls, and more, all offered at various skill levels. Climb the mountain without the ice and snow!

Sledding

There's certainly plenty of snow around, and there are tons of great spots for sledding around southern New England. Check out some of our favorites in Rhode Island HERE, and in Central Massachusetts HERE.

Biomes Marine Center

Biomes, in North Kingstown, RI, is "New England's only private marine education facility and the most hands-on aquarium in the region." 

Take your family to see the largest collection of New England marine life in the world! From native species, to tropical strays, everything they have can be found right in our own waters. 

Newport Winter Festival Children's Fair

Taking place Sunday, February 15 and Monday, February 16, the whole family will love this 2-day fair on Goat Island with music, face painting, balloon creations, arts & crafts, reptiles and much more! Plus, a Princess Party happens at Ocean Cliff Castle on Wednesday, February 18, and a "Jazz for Kids" concert takes place at GreenVale Vineyards on Thursday, February 19. Get all the details HERE.

Flower and Garden Show Kid's Adventure Zone

This year's Spring Flower and Garden Show at the Providence Convention Center takes place February 19-22, and has the theme "Garden Adventures." Scheduled presentations include storytelling, puppet shows, and animal demonstrations. Also offered are touch tanks, nature discovery tables, and scavenger hunts.

Skiing, Tubing, and Snowboarding at Yawgoo Valley

It was good enough for Gronk, why not join the fun? Yawgoo Valley Ski Area in Exeter RI, offers ski lessons, snowboarding lessons, and Gronk's new favorite activity, tubing! Yawgoo is open extra hours for February vacation, but reservations are recommended.