Having landed in the U.S. last fall as an international student, the universal warning I got was to brace up for my first New England winter. Coming from a tropical country which never gets snow, my imagination of the Boston winter had an element of excitement—the reason being winter sports!
My first experience was the skate night at UMass Boston’s Clark Athletic Center ice skating rink in December. It was an elating experience gliding on the ice with my new buddies. Since then, it has been the weekend ritual to explore and hunt the various recreational winter sport activities in and around Boston. Few of them have exclusive student offers, thus not requiring deep pockets.
Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton, Mass.
Blue Hills Ski Area is the closest skiing area in the Boston metro area; am affordably priced, year-round recreational area for hikers and nature lovers. A 309-foot vertical drop skiing and snowboarding area. They also have lessons for kids and adults, costing around $35 per four hour slot on weekdays.
Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Princeton, Mass.
Although it is a 64-mile drive taking just over an hour to reach, it is a mighty 1,000-foot vertical drop with 25 trails skiing area. The weekend “ski train” service from Boston is a crowd-puller. What’s more exciting? You can see the Boston skyline from the summit, absolute eye-candy. The only downside is the steep price for single sessions.
Crotched Mountain Ski Area, Bennington, N.H.
This place offers skiing, snowboarding and NASTAR, a ski racing program. “Midnight Madness” night skiing until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights with slope-side bonfires and concerts is the main attraction with lighted slopes and terrain parks. Something more important to us—they offer discounts for college students. It is a two-hour drive to get there which is absolutely worth it.
The hills of Brookline, Mass.
Hands-down, one of the best places in town for sledding are the hills of Brookline. The steep slopes of Corey Hill Outlook Park on Summit Avenue offer prime views of the city, while Larz Anderson Park features inclines of all intensity levels. Amory Park is for those scared of high speeds, where the hills are a bit more manageable. So, hop on to the toboggan and let it slide!
Ice skating in Boston
As thrilling as it sounds, snow skiing requires training sessions for the ski areas before you take a glide on your own. This is where the easier of the two options scores: ice skating. From amateurs to pros, you can find skaters of all levels on any given day in a rink. Note: It’s much more fun when done with a group of friends.
Look out for the skate nights at UMass Boston’s Clark Athletic Center, as is it absolutely free for UMass Boston students to book one-hour slots and skating blades. Also, free food and other fun activities, making the night vivacious.
Boston Common’s Frog Pond
The rink right in the heart of Boston Common is a magical expanse of ice in the middle of the city. Passes are $6 and skate rentals are $12 in case you don’t own a pair. What’s more special? Great hot chocolate, coffee and Belgian waffles at the Frog Pond Pavilion snack bar. Don’t know how to skate? Rent a Bobby Seal and hang on to it as you glide across the ice.
The rink at the 401 Park, Fenway
Another great place to spend an entire evening. With student concession of 50 percent of the full price, the place is situated alongside the Trillium Brewpub, which has a heated seating area on the outside, and Time Out Market Boston, which is a paradise for the foodies out there.
So, why stay indoors on those safe spring semester nights when you can have fun and burn some calories at the same time?