Moms Can-Do’s: Higgins Armory + More

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Michelle Johnstone, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Grab the kids and head to the Higgins Armory this week before its integration with the Worcester Art Museum on Dec. 31st.

Looking for fun things to do during the week? Creative spots for last-minute outings? Fun events especially for little ones? We'll bring you our 5 favorites in the region every Tuesday, and they're all within an hour's drive of home. Check out this week’s winter break fun!

Armory!

Take the little ones to say goodbye to an American treasure—the only museum dedicated solely to armory in the western hemisphere and a staple of Worcester childhood—Higgins Armory. Before the museum closes its doors on December 31 for integration into WAM, take one last visit. Throughout winter vacation from 10 AM-4 PM, head over for a chance to join in on interactive activities, workshops, crafts, presentations and so much more. 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA. (508) 853-6015.

Barnyard Fun!

Head to Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol, RI for a special Christmas Eve treat. Today, they will be hosting Christmas at the Barnyard. Spend the morning seeing rare-breed livestock, hunting for eggs, helping cook, and more at this 18th century Rhode Island farm. 1 Coggeshall Farm Road, Bristol, RI. (401) 253-9062.

Block Party!

Can your child build the tallest tower of them all? Find out at the Providence Children's Museum's Block Party! Photo: Roy Luck/Flickr

Head to Providence Children’s Museum this Thursday for a day-after-Christmas Block Party celebration! Kids are invited to explore the museum’s collection of bright and colorful blocks. They can be mixed and matched to build room-sized block cities, create awesome structures, and more. 100 South Street, Providence, RI. (401) 273-5437.

Lantern Walk!

This week, take the kids on a fun lantern-lit tour or holiday stroll through Historic Newport. This Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 4:30 PM, the Newport Historical Society will be hosting lantern-lit tours of the area to teach participants about holiday traditions of days past. Similarly, they will also be hosting holiday strolls today, Saturday, and next Tuesday at 11 AM. The holiday stroll event features a costumed interpreter—FUN! Both tour options depart from Brick Market: Museum & Shop, 127 Thames Street, Newport, RI. (401) 841-8770.

CSI!

Fight the post-Christmas woes with a trip to a Worcester treasure for a fun, self guided activity. The EcoTarium needs you and your kids’ help solving a fun, family friendly CSI mystery! This year’s mystery involves a wildlife poacher’s camp that has been discovered on the grounds of the EcoTarium. Parents and kiddos will have the opportunity to crack the case between 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA. (508) 929-2701.

Related Slideshow: Winter Activities

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Tubing at Ward

Ski Ward in Shrewsbury has something for the everyone in the family—snow bugs and otherwise. Get your thrills and relive your childhood while you tube down the hillside. If tubing isn’t your thing, pack your skis or snowboard and hit the slopes; Ward has 3 terrain features. After the snow fun comes to a close, make sure to grab a hot cocoa or adult beverage and bite to eat to round out the day!

1000 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA. (508) 842-6346.

Photo: Aline D./Flickr

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Sleigh rides

If a sleigh ride through the snowy New England countryside doesn’t warm the heart, nothing will. This weekend, take your significant other (or the whole family) to Sweet Brook Farm in Williamstown for a good old fashioned sleigh ride. This nostalgic wintertime tradition lasts about 45 minutes, and even includes a hot cocoa pit stop at a cabin in the woods.

508 Oblong Road, Williamstown, MA. (413) 884-4246.

Photo: Pete Markham/Flickr

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Yankee Candle Village

Let your worries disappear and take in a little retail therapy…while buying gifts for you! Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield is synonymous with Christmas…they start their Christmas countdown on December 26th. If the weather isn’t quite wintry enough outside, snow will surely be falling in the indoor village. Learn how to make a candle, peruse over 400,000 candles, munch on holiday goodies, and make light hearted memories that will last a lifetime—all so close to home.

25 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield, MA. (877) 636-7707.

Photo: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism/Flickr

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Stockbridge

Stockbridge, MA is a quintessential New England town that was made famous by Norman Rockwell. Take a breather from the stress of the holiday season and take a trip to this iconic town. View the streets of Rockwell’s picturesque hometown and take in the winter chill before heading to the Norman Rockwell Museum. The museum features the largest collection of the painter’s original works in the world, his supplies, reference materials, personal memorabilia, and more.

9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA. (413) 298-4100.

Photo: Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism/Flickr

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Christmas By Candlelight

Old Sturbridge Village is a New England classic year round. At Christmas, there is no better place to enjoy an old fashioned celebration than right at OSV. Christmas by Candlelight is the perfect event to get away from the sometimes hectic holiday season. For 3 special weekends in December, visitors are invited to enjoy roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, sleigh rides, Victorian carolers, Mrs. Cratchet’s Christmas dinner and more at this one of a kind event.

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA. (800) 733-1830.

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Edgartown

There is nothing more romantic than a holiday getaway to the sea. This weekend, escape the holiday frenzy and head to Edgartown, MA on Martha’s Vineyard for the town’s 32nd annual Christmas in Edgartown Celebration. Enjoy complimentary holiday massages, raffles, horse drawn carriage rides, the annual lighting of the lighthouse, food sampling events and more.

Edgartown, MA.

Photo: Edgartown Board of Trade

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Wine

Take the bite off the winter chill this weekend and take a drive to Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton. The winery hosts tasting events everyday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For just $5.00, you will receive a free tasting glass and samples of up to five different wines. Some favorites include Strawberry Rhubarb Wine, Holiday Special Cranberry Apple (new release November 2013), and New English Cider. While you’re in store, make sure to grab a couple of bottles—they make perfect holiday gifts for anyone (yourself included!)

100 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton, MA. (978) 779-5521.

Photo: Liza31337/Flickr

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Ice skating

Pull out the ice skates and revive your childhood dreams at the ice skating rink. There is something so magical and invigorating about gliding over a fresh sheet of ice. Why not take a short, close-tohome getaway to the Worcester Common Oval Public Skating Rink? Spend a few hours out on the ice, and afterwards grab a hot chocolate and take a drive around the city to see the holiday lights.

455 Main Street, Worcester, MA.

Photo: Elvert Barnes/Flickr

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Theatre

Watch the magic of the holiday season unfold before your eyes at one of Worcester’s performance treasures. The Hanover Theatre is loaded with great holiday performances during December. Join the Theatre for family favorites like A Christmas Carol and others. Make sure to call the box office for tickets ASAP—these shows are sellouts year after year.

The Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA. (877) 571-7469.

Photo: Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism/Flickr

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Music

Head over to Mechanics Hall on Main Street for great musical and dance performances like The Nutcracker—a Worcester family tradition, Worcester Holiday Pops featuring area colleges, and more!

Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street, Worcester, MA. (508) 752-0888.

Photo: Gabriel Saldana/Flickr