USA TODAY NETWORK – New England
Narragansett students roller boogie back to the 1980s for fundraiser
The gymnasium of the Narragansett Middle School was transformed into a neon 1980s-style roller-skating rink for a fundraising event on Feb. 7.
Looking for a way to entertain the kids over February vacation?
While most children look forward to the annual week-long break from school, finding things for them to do at home while the harsh New England winter rages on outside can be difficult. Luckily, Massachusetts has plenty of indoor activities that can provide fun for the whole family, including everything from historic museums to adventurous rock-climbing spots.
Here are five indoor activities in Massachusetts to try with the kids over February vacation this year.
It might be cold outside, but athletic kids can still ice skate over break at one of the state’s many indoor rinks. Spots that offer public skating include Bridgewater Ice Arena in Bridgewater, Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis, New England Sports Village in Attleboro and Warrior Ice Arena in Boston.
Schedules and pricing for each rink can be found on their respective websites.
Children who love science can learn about sea animals at New England Aquarium, an aquarium at Boston’s Central Wharf that has operated for over 50 years.
Animals like sea lions, penguins, turtles and seals can be seen across a dozen exhibits, including Amazon Rainforest, Penguin Colony, Science of Sharks and a touch tank with sharks and rays. The aquarium also has a theater with educational short films, a gift shop and three dining options.
During February vacation, special offerings include Olympics-themed activities, igloos and lawn games on the front plaza, specialty hot chocolate from the Central Snack Bar and a new penguin documentary in the Simons Theatre.
Standard tickets to New England Aquarium cost $34.95 for adults, $25.95 for children ages 3-11 or $32.95 for seniors ages 60 and over, though tickets are $5 more expensive for non-New England residents. Admission is limited, so buying tickets online is recommended. Timed entry is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, though the aquarium will be open until 6 p.m. each day during February break.
Need to get the kids’ energy out? A trampoline park is the perfect place, and luckily, both Sky Zone and Altitude Trampoline Park have multiple locations in Massachusetts. Along with giant trampolines, both parks have foam pits, basketball hoops, dodgeball matches and various obstacle courses for kids to explore, as well as food and drink options for when they get hungry from all the bouncing.
Single-day tickets start at $27 at Sky Zone and $22 at Altitude, with higher prices for longer jump times. Prices and addresses for specific locations can be found here for Sky Zone and here for Altitude.
Take a day trip to one of Boston’s many museums for the perfect educational activity over the school break, including the Museum of Science or Boston Children’s Museum.
The Museum of Science is not only for children, but it has many kid-friendly exhibits, including dinosaur models, a playground, an engineering design workshop and the interactive Hall of Human Life. Tickets cost $33 for adults, $28 for children ages 3-11 or $29 for seniors ages 60 and above. The Museum of Science is open at 1 Science Park daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Located at 308 Congress St., Boston Children’s Museum is the second oldest children’s museum in the world. Exhibits include an obstacle course, a performance stage, a workbench, an art lab and a construction zone. Additionally, February vacation week is National Engineer’s Week at the Children’s Museum, allowing children to explore what it is like to be an engineer through various activities and challenges.
Boston Children’s Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Tuesday, with tickets costing $24 per person.
Adventurous kids can try their luck at climbing a rock wall at Rock Spot Climbing, a New England-based chain of rock climbing gyms with four locations in Massachusetts – Malden, Brookline, Dedham and South Boston. In addition to various climbing walls of different heights and difficulty, the climbing gym offers various youth programs and toddler sessions for the little ones.
Rock Spot offers daily passes at $35 for adults and $33 for those under 23 or over 65. Daily passes must be purchased 48 hours in advance, and punch passes and memberships are also available. Hours for each location can be found online.
This story was updated to add a photo and new information, and because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.
