Staying Warm in a New England Winter: Tips to Make Your Boston Vacation Cozy and Cool
We’re still a month off from USA Guided Tours Boston beginning our full- and half-day guided bus tours, showing you the best of Beantown. If you’re visiting during the New England winter, you’ll really appreciate the heat of our climate-controlled buses — plus the fact that you don’t have to hop-off and on into a polar vortex! From the Faneuil Hall Marketplace to Harvard Square, from the Charles river to Back Bay, our expert tour guides will give you the lowdown on Boston’s must-see attractions.
Visiting during winter has its challenges, however: in particular, staying warm when the mercury plummets. Nothing some good food and drink — with a little bit of exercise — can’t fix, so here are some top tips for making the most of your winter holiday in Boston!
On the first February weekend, you’ll find most Bostonians focused on sunnier climes for a far different reason than the weather; in case you haven’t heard, a little game called Super Bowl LIII happens on Sunday, February 3rd, and the New England Patriots will be taking on the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
While many bars and restaurants will have great viewing parties, I’ve got to give a special nod to one of my favorites: Chelsea Station. I know co-owner Mike Sheridan personally — fun fact: we met while watching March Madness in a bar across from TD Garden a couple years back! Set in an old firehouse, the restaurant has a sophisticated yet comfortable feel, with an American fusion menu to match. They have a fabulous Super Bowl viewing party planned, including half-price appetizers and a prize drawing.
Don’t worry, though: we’ve got plenty of possibilities for the rest of the month, too. In the heart of the Financial District, the Langham Hotel serves its iconic Snowflake Tea until February 7th. Featuring its own tea blends and Boston-themed sandwiches like maple-cured salmon on Boston brown bread, you can’t find a more sophisticated experience around town. There’s even a children’s version with PB&Js and gingerbread pops! (P.S. The menu switches to a special Valentine’s Day menu on the 8th, with a sumptuous dessert of strawberries dipped in Valrhona chocolate.)
If tea isn’t your thing, few hot beverages evoke winter as much as a warm mug of hot chocolate, and Boston has plenty of ways to enjoy this winter delight. Try L.A. Burdick’s gourmet drinking chocolates, boasting single-source cacao and delicate blends to satisfy your palate. Or perhaps sample the hot chocolate flight at celebrated restaurant Met Back Bay. Its delicious variations include dulce de leche and peppermint (all of which can be spiked if you want a little extra warmth!).
(I promised to keep you mostly indoors, but I should mention that hot cocoa also features at Boston Common’s iconic Frog Pond ice rink — voted best outdoor rink in the nation!)
If you find yourself needing a warmer winter jacket, consider hitting Back Bay’s Prudential Center — known to locals as “the Pru.” You’ll find all the high-end shopping and dining you could want, including a branch of Eataly, the fabulous Italian marketplace, and the Skywalk Observatory: the city’s highest vantage point for 360-degree views of the city and beyond.
As you gaze cozily over the snow-frosted streets, just remember that our USA Guided Tours Boston buses will be navigating those avenues — and the famous Big Dig! — soon, ready to show you the best of Beantown in the comfort of a heated van come March. After sampling all the winter events on offer, you’ll already be planning your return visit!
Sara Murphy | USA Guided Tours Boston Blog Contributor
We’re still a month off from USA Guided Tours Boston beginning our full- and half-day guided bus tours, showing you the best of Beantown. If you’re visiting during the New England winter, you’ll really appreciate the heat of our climate-controlled buses — plus the fact that you don’t have to hop-off and on into a polar vortex! From the Faneuil Hall Marketplace to Harvard Square, from the Charles river to Back Bay, our expert tour guides will give you the lowdown on Boston’s must-see attractions.
If tea isn’t your thing, few hot beverages evoke winter as much as a warm mug of hot chocolate, and Boston has plenty of ways to enjoy this winter delight. Try L.A. Burdick’s gourmet drinking chocolates, boasting single-source cacao and delicate blends to satisfy your palate. Or perhaps sample the hot chocolate flight at celebrated restaurant Met Back Bay. Its delicious variations include dulce de leche and peppermint (all of which can be spiked if you want a little extra warmth!).
