Top Ten Winter Activities in New England

Shop fresh and local.

Yes, even in when it's cold and snowy you can find some of the best local fresh foods in southern New England at the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market.

Explore art in Rhode Island.

At the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum in Providence, you're bound to see RISD students sketching as you tour the galleries. Along with outstanding art from around the world, you can see furniture, portraits, and paintings by noted Rhode Island artists. Don't miss the large textile collection, which includes fine early American pieces and a unique look at the history of dressmaking in America.

Fly downhill.

Skiing and snowboarding aren't the only ways to get down a snowy hill in winter! And you don't have to take lessons or have special gear to go snow tubing. Here are just a few places to give it a try in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Be part of a Boston sporting tradition.

The Boston Bruins are one of the National Hockey League's original six teams. Founded in 1924, the Bruins have won the Stanley Cup six times, most recently in 2011. Catch a game at the TD Garden. Want a cheaper alternative? The Providence Bruins, Boston's minor league affiliate, play just 50 miles south of Boston in Rhode Island's capital.

Explore Burlington, Vermont.

New Englanders flock to Vermont to ski in the winter, but there's fun to be had off the mountain, too. The small city of Burlington, Vermont is known for its youthful, hip energy. Wander in and out of coffee shops and boutiques in Church Street Marketplace. Take in scenic views of the Adirondack Mountains from across Lake Champlain. Check the time at the Burlington Earth Clock.

Tour the United States' oldest university.

Founded in 1636, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts stands as the oldest university in the United States. Visit one of the country's largest collection of books at Widener Library and discover Massachusetts Hall, where George Washington housed his troops during the American Revolution.

Learn about an American legend in Connecticut.

Visit the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, where Mark Twain (1835-1910) lived for nearly 20 years. Tour the 25-room house, including the third floor room where he wrote the famous American stories, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn."

Learn about marine life.

Five out of six New England states touch the Atlantic Ocean, making this region a great place to explore the ocean and its creatures. Get up close and personal with sharks, seals, sea turtles, eels and more at Boston's New England Aquarium or the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. In Newport, Rhode Island, visit the smaller (but less crowded!) Save the Bay Aquarium.

Follow the Freedom Trail in Boston.

The site of the 1770 Boston Massacre, the home of legendary patriot Paul Revere, and the warship Old Ironsides are just three of the sites you'll see on this 2.5-mile route. Even on a cold day, it's a great way to learn about the American Revolution.

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