Best Things to Do in Boston in January
Top 10 Boston activities for January
Looking for interesting things to do in Boston in January?
Outdoors, winter sports hold center stage at TD Garden, Fenway Park, local ice rinks, and ski slopes.
Indoors, Boston cultural venues, restaurants, and nightlife provide lots to do, and two big wine events add extra warmth.
January always feels like the coldest and snowiest month of the year in Boston. But the sky is luminous, even when cloudy, and as the month goes by, you may even notice that the days get a tiny bit longer.
If you're planning what to do in Boston in January, here are some activities to consider.
10 fun things to do in Boston in January
1. Enjoy the NHL Winter Classic and the Hockey East Doubleheader at Fenway
Big events for hockey fans are the 2010 NHL Winter Classic on January 1st, Hockey East Doubleheader (Boston University vs Boston College men's teams on January 8th, and Northeastern University vs University of New Hampshire women's teams), plus public skating events at Fenway Park.
See the Boston Events Calendar for January 2010 for details.
And be sure to get yourself some Boston Bruins Winter Classic apparel - you'll enjoy wearing the winning colors for a long time.
2. Immerse yourself in more hockey . . . plus basketball
Prefer to enjoy winter sports inside? TD Garden, conveniently located adjacent to North Station, provides an almost non-stop schedule of Boston Bruins hockey games and Boston Celtics basketball games during January.
For most fans, attending as many of these games as possible tops the list of things to do in Boston in January.
Schedules and ticket information:  Boston Bruins - Boston Celtics
If you're staying in Boston, you can easily get to TD Garden on the T (Boston's subway) - just take the Green or Orange Line to North Station, and enter directly from the station.
If you're planning a visit to Boston for a game, you can pick a hotel near the Garden and check out nearby Boston sports bars and nightspots.
Driving? You'll find a number of parking garages nearby. Rates vary, but some are reasonable.
3. Bundle up, and go outside
Go ice skating on Frog Pond in Boston Common, or cross Charles Street to the Public Garden and "skate" across the frozen Lagoon - no actual skates required!
4. Head for the ski slopes
Several downhill and cross country ski areas are located near Boston, less than an hour outside of the city. True, you won't feel like you're in the Alps - but they are convenient, great places to learn, a lot of fun, and among the most popular things to do in Boston in January.
Just a little farther away in the Berkshires, you'll find even more possibilities, including some luxury ski resorts for romantic weekends.
More about Massachusetts ski areas near Boston
5. Capture some winter scenes
Right after a snowfall, the city can be at its most beautiful. Bundle up and go out with your camera to photograph the seasonal beauty.
6. Eat, drink, and be merry
Q. What are good things to do in Boston in January when weather gets really, really miserable? You know . . . howling winds, sub-zero windchill, and lead-gray skies?
A. Stay inside and feel miserable - no, wait! That's the wrong answer! The right one is to eat, drink, and be merry. The weather outside may still be lousy - but you'll no longer care.
How to do this? Here's the easy 3-step process:
1. Eat - Make reservations in one of Boston's warm and inviting Italian restaurants.
2. Drink - Participate in one of the Boston wine festivals underway this month - the Boston Wine Festival gets January off to an exciting start, and the Annual Boston Wine Expo toward the end of the month gives you the chance to sample wines from the best wineries from around the world. Check the Boston Event Calendar for January for details.
3. Be merry - Do Steps 1 and 2, and you'll feel quite merry.
7. Get theater tickets
The Boston theater season flourishes during the winter, with all kinds of wonderful shows and productions. Start your evening with dinner in a Theatre District restaurant, and stop by one or 2 nightlife spots afterwards.
8. Go gallery-hopping
January can be the coldest month of the year, but we still need exercise and fresh air. In fact, after all the recent holidays, exercising is one of the best things to do in Boston in January!
Back Bay is my favorite neighborhood for walking during this time of the year because it's flat - unlike, for example, the icy slopes of Beacon Hill - and along the commercial stretches, shop owners keep the sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Even so, you need to build in some warming-up breaks.
Gallery-hopping around Newbury Street art galleries is a great way to combine walking with plenty of escapes to warm interiors (you can also sneak in a little Newbury Street shopping on the side). You'll see lots of wonderful art as well - and who knows, maybe you'll fall in love with something that you have to bring home with you.
9. Plan a cruise
January is the month when cruise bookings are at their highest. Going on cruises from Boston is convenient, since you can park right at the cruise terminal or even take the T. From the Port of Boston, you can cruise to the Caribbean, Europe, or along the New England and Canadian coasts; these departures begin in April.
If April seems too far away, simply find the cruise of your dreams with a departure date of tomorrow, and fly to the departure city. As a bonus, you may even find a great last-minute rate - compare free quotes from several agents through CruiseCompete to find the best deals.
10. Look forward to spring and the return of the Red Sox
Spring and the opening game of the Boston Red Sox season at Fenway more or less coincide at the beginning of April. It's never too soon to begin planning. With all Red Sox home games sold out since 2003, you'll want to start early to make sure you get the best choice in tickets and seats.
If you're coming from out of town, don't forget to make reservations at a hotel near Fenway Park.
Need more ideas about fun things to do in Boston in January?
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