February break is almost upon us, and even if you’re not jetting off to warmer climes there is still plenty of family fun to be had right here on the North Shore, from animal tracking to medieval castles. We’ve rounded up some ideas for making the most of the week below.
Visit a Castle for Free, Hammond Castle, Gloucester
In Gloucester, explore the enchanting and quirky medieval-style estate of the Hammond Castle Museum where kids are from Feb. 16 to 20. Younger children can follow an animal-themed scavenger hunt and older children can explore their digital panel featuring original games inspired by John Hays Hammond Jr. and his contemporaries’ groundbreaking innovations. On Feb. 18 get tickets to a KPop Demon Hunters-themed musical experience from 5:45pm to 8pm.
Glide Across The Ice
For some classic outdoor winter fun, strap on your ice skates and go for a spin at the outdoor rink at MarketStreet in Lynnfield. Practice your gliding, then warm up with some hot chocolate and a seat by the fire. Or if you are up for a drive to Boston take a whirl around the rink at Frog Pond on Boston Common open daily with skate rentals.
Go on a Hot Chocolate Quest
Do you prefer a rich hot chocolate? Something with a touch of cinnamon and a generous dollop of whipped cream? Whatever your preference, the North Shore has something for you. So spend the week trying as many as you can trying to the figure out where the best hot chocolate is served. There may be no right answers, but it will be awfully fun trying to figure it out. We’ll get your quest started with this round-up of some of our favorites.
Maple Story Hour at Appleton Farms, Ipswich | Feb. 17
Learn all about the process of maple sugaring with this special family-oriented event geared for infants to children age 6, with free tickets for children under 2. They will read books about maple sugar, visit some maple trees that are tapped and visit the sugar shack, and learn how they harvest the sap and turn it into the maple syrup. Then visit the snack bar or farm store for maple-flavored baked goods and jugs of syrup to take home. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. thetrustees.org/place/appleton-farms
Animal, Legos, and More at the Wenham Museum, Wenham | Feb. 14-20
February break at the Wenham Museum kicks off with an eye-popping display on February 14 and 15 – LEGO World: WonderRealms. Created by the talented builders of the New England LEGO Users Group (NELUG), LEGO® WonderRealms features enchanted forests, futuristic skylines, pirate coves, steam-powered frontiers, and more. From Monday, February 16 through Friday, February 20, there are live, interactive science presentations each day from live animals to high-energy experiments. Throughout the week, young artists can also take part in Create & Craft, the museum’s popular drop-in crafting activity, offered daily February 16–20.
Ocean Voyages at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem | Feb. 16, 19, 20
Get ready to set sail on the open seas during February School Vacation Week at the Peabody Essex Museum. Step inside a giant inflatable whale – Nile, the life-size inflatable humpback whale, visit the ships and figureheads in our Maritime art gallery, and enjoy themed art making. Then spend some time exploring the rest of the fascinating and engaging museum. pem.org
Animal Tracking at Breakheart Reservation, Saugus | Feb. 18
Become a wildlike spy on this one-mile walk where participants will learn how to spot the signs that an animal has passed through the woods and what these indicators tell us about what the animals do when we are not around. Details online at mass.gov/doc/breakheart-winter-programs/download
Launch Family Entertainment, Woburn | Feb. 16-20
Get out all of your energy at Launch Family Entertainment with hours of jumping games, laser tag, and more. During February school vacation (16th – 20th), the Woburn Launch location will welcome guests into its space with an exclusive in-park promotion. Every guest to visit a participating Launch venue during February vacation week will receive a promotional flyer unlocking three special offers to be used throughout the year. Available promotions include discounts on birthday party bookings, Free Small Pizza with Any Supercharged Ticket, and Free One-Hour Jump Pass – details here.