Vacation Week Fun North of Boston

For many of our local towns, the February school vacation week takes place from February 20th through February 24th. It’s a chance for families to reconnect, escape from the house, and shake off winter’s cabin fever, and for staycations and vacations! If you’re visiting North of Boston this February School Vacation week, staying put to explore your own backyard, or in search of activities to keep the kids busy, our local businesses are stepping up to make sure families are entertained and educated the whole week through!

Here’s a round-up of activities to enjoy this February school vacation week North of Boston:

February 18 & 19: Lego Train, Wenham Museum

Calling all LEGO fans – the Wenham Museum is excited to welcome the LEGO Train back to the property this February! Come see a rainbow-colored, L-gauge model train speeding along a brick track as it races by soaring skyscrapers, country cottages, mountainside ski slopes and much more.  The LEGO Train is designed with the highest degree of precision (and a sense of humor!) by the New England LEGO Users Group (NELUG).

February 18–20: School Vacation Week Fire Pits and Winter Craft, Long Hill

During school vacation week, warm up with friends and family around a fire pit at Long Hill in Beverly! Your ticket, valid for 6 people, will give you access to your own personal fire pit for 2 hours. You will be provided with firewood, chairs, and a complimentary s’mores kit for your whole group. All the materials needed for a special wintery craft will also be included.

February 21: Barn Babies, Wenham Museum
Prepare for cuteness overload! Cuddling some adorable baby animals is the cure for cabin fever and pandemic fatigue. Barn Babies will be at the Wenham Museum with baby chicks, bunnies, goats, piglets, kittens, puppies, and more! Make this the best day of your February Vacation Week by spending it with these loveable furry and feathered friends.

February 20–24: Welcome Home Days February Vacation, House of Seven Gables
The House of the Seven Gables is bringing back their Welcome Home Days this February School Vacation. Each day of the week the House of Seven Gables will be offering free admission to particular local towns’ residents. Check to see what days correspond to which town.

February 20–24: February School Vacation Week at Peabody Essex Museum
Join the Peabody Essex Museum as they officially relaunch PEM’s Being Well initiative through a series of special programs for kids and families this February School Vacation Week! Through drop-in art-making activities, family-friendly tours and workshops for all ages, they’ll explore different ways to “be well.” Learn about featured exhibitions that navigate social, emotional, cultural and environmental forms of wellness. Featuring guest artists Shelagh Keeley and Jenny Oliver of Modern Connections and art therapist Laura Menucci.

February 20–24: February Farm Camp, Appleton Farms
There is no better place to spend winter farm days than in exploring in the snow and learning to love the outdoors in all seasons at Appleton farms! This program is for kids looking to make friends, explore the forests and fields of the farm, and learn about life in New England in winter, including learning about a type of winter farming – maple sugaring! Every program will include an outdoor adventure of hiking, snowshoeing, or other farm explorations. This is a school vacation camp drop-off program running Monday-Friday 9 am-3 pm February 20-24.

February 20–25: Family Snowy Owl Prowl with CraneOutdoors

Wide-open coastal sites are the location of choice for wintering Snowy Owls; common perches are dunes and salt hay staddles. In winter’s past, these owls have been frequent visitors to the Crane Wildlife Refuge. Join CraneOutdoors for a family snowy owl prowl as you hike the dunes in search of these magnificent birds. As a family hike this hike focuses on engaging children in the natural world (note that standard Owl Prowls are also available for adults).

February 20–24: Kids Eat Free at Woodman’s of Essex
Our classic local seafood spot reopened earlier this month and they’re treating all kids to free kids meals, no adult purchase required! Head on down to Woodman’s and let the kids indulge in fried fish bits, chicken tenders, a grilled cheese, or a hot dog! Kids 12 and under.

February 21–26: Activities at the North Shore Children’s Museum
Have you visited the North Shore Children’s Museum in Peabody yet?  This accessible and inclusive museum features hands-on exhibits designed to provide a fun and enriching learning experience for children ages 2-10. There calendar is packed with activities for school vacation week including a magic show with Tom Foolery, yoga, and storytelling.

February 22: Kids Craft Day Featuring Tie Dye, Smolak Farms

Join Smolak Farms for one of their most famous February break activities: Tie Dyeing! Tickets are $20 (per child and one adult) and include a donut, 3 tie dyeing coloring bottles, a canvas bag to dye, a small hot chocolate, and animal feed to give to the friendly farm animals.

February 23: Make Your Own Pizza, Smolak Farms
The kids can learn how to stretch, pound, and spread your lunch into the perfect shape by joining Smolak Farms for their make-your-own pizza party! And for dessert, they can also decorate your own cookie! Tickets are $25 (per child and one adult) and include a glass of fresh lemonade, pizza dough and all of the toppings needed to make the perfect pizza, instruction by their head chef, a sugar cookie and all of the toppings you need to decorate it!

February 24 – February 26: Family Farm Chores at Appleton Farms

Join Appleton Farms for their special, hands-on Family Farm Chores program held on Saturdays and Sundays, and now also on Friday afternoons! Get on your muck boots: your whole family will get to be farmers together! Help feed the rabbits and goats and collect eggs from their chickens. This is an immersive, hands-on experience best suited for families—adults and children alike will get to try their hand at a variety of tasks.

February 24: First Annual Crane Beach WinterFest
Nothing is more magical than Crane Beach in the wintertime! Bring the whole family out to celebrate the season at Crane Beach. Enjoy the serene winter landscape of one of New England’s most treasured coastal destinations while enjoying the band and a hot chocolate with s’mores around a warm glowing fire. Cap off the evening with a visit to the Beach Store for your favorite gear and a star-soaked view of Crane Beach after sunset! Activities include live music, fire pits, and outdoor games. Food, beverage and alcohol vendors will be onsite.

February 25 & 26: Maple Stroll at Appleton Farms
Visit the historic maple stand and sugar shack at Appleton Farms and learn all about maple sugaring, its history at the farm and in New England, and how you can try your hand at it at home! Experience a leisurely stroll on their country farm roads and past several historic landscapes to their Appleton maple grove. You’ll learn some of the history of maple sugaring as well as the science behind what makes maple sap run in the trees, plus you will see firsthand how the farm turns the collected sap into their delicious Appleton maple syrup!

Photo credits: Hero Image: Courtesy of North Shore Children’s Museum; Courtesy of The Trustees, LongHill; Courtesy of Wenham Museum; Courtesy of The House of the Seven Gables; Courtesy of The Trustees, Appleton Farms; Courtesy of Woodman’s of Essex