Whether you prefer the great outdoors or the warmth of the great indoors, winter in Boston is brimming with hot entertainment options
Frog Pond Ice Skating Rink
Since 1998, this venue in the heart of Boston has hosted thousands of eager ice aficionados, offering skate rentals, sharpening services and the Frog Pond Café, serving hot cocoa as well as snacks. The Skating Club of Boston Skating Academy even hosts private, semi-private and group skating lessons starting at $40.
Boston Common, 617-635-2120, bostonfrogpond.com
Boston Celtics
A young Celtics squad, including point guard Isaiah Thomas (pictured), squares off against the Detroit Pistons (Jan. 6), Indiana Pacers (Jan. 13), Phoenix Suns (Jan. 15), Chicago Bulls (Jan. 22), Denver Nuggets (Jan. 27) and Orlando Magic (Jan. 29).
TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, 866-4CELTIX, nba.com/celtics
Boston Bruins
Watch the Bruins, led by center Patrice Bergeron (pictured), as they fight toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals (Jan. 5), Toronto Maple Leafs (Jan. 16), Vancouver Canucks (Jan. 21), Columbus Blue Jackets (Jan. 23) and Anaheim Ducks (Jan. 26).
TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, 617-624-BEAR, bruins.nhl.com
Sculpture Park Snowshoe Tour
The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 20 miles west of the city, hosts snowshoe treks across its extensive grounds every other Saturday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Upcoming tours take place January 16 and 30.
51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, 781-259-8355, decordova.org
Blue Man Group
Escape the winter chill at this popular Theatre District attraction. Part concert, part performance art and all fun, the Boston Blue Man troupe has been up to its furious drumming, paint-splashing antics since 1995.
Charles Playhouse, 74 Warrenton St., 800-BLUE-MAN, blueman.com
Community Ice Skating @ Kendall Square
Kendall Square, Cambridge’s high-tech playground, boasts daily skating, as well as skate rentals and weekly lessons. Sign up for the third annual Ice Bocce Tournament (pictured) on January 25.
300 Athenaeum St., Cambridge, 617-492-0941, skatekendall.com
Shear Madness
The longest-running play in U.S. history, the Boston edition of this hilarious, interactive whodunit is still going strong. Help solve a murder mystery in a wacky salon along with the talented cast.
Charles Playhouse Stage II, 74 Warrenton St., 617-426-5225, shearmadness.com
Outdoor Skating under the Rotunda
Located under the domed archway at the Boston Harbor Hotel, this relative newcomer to Boston’s outdoor skating scene is perched right on the waterfront and features a fine view of Boston Harbor.
70 Rowes Wharf, 617-439-7000, winteronthewharf.com
Kings
Get active and enjoy 16 alleys of 10-pin bowling at this Back Bay entertainment complex that also features billiards, shuffleboard, skee ball, air hockey, a full-service bar and a restaurant serving pizza, burgers, sandwiches and more. Diners who call ahead for an “Eat Then Bowl” reservation even get priority on bowling lanes.
50 Dalton St., 617-266-2695, kingsbowlamerica.com
Blue Hills Ski Area
The closest ski area to Boston—or any major U.S. city, for that matter—is located just a few miles south of downtown. Glide down 16 trails or the Old Ironsides Terrain Park and enjoy recent improvements like the increased snowmaking capability, better lighting for night skiing, new rental equipment and an expanded beginners’ section.
4001 Washington St., Canton, 781-828-5070, bluehillsboston.com
