It’s official. We are now in summer. Whether you live in Newton or surrounding towns, or you are a visitor from afar, there are a lot of fun activities that you can do in Newton during the summer. Here are some ideas:
Remember to check for any specific schedules, restrictions, or updated information related to these activities before visiting. Enjoy your summer in Newton! Image credit: © alepdaru, 123RF Free Images Spring has sprung in Boston. As flowers bloom and birds tweet, we know that Mother’s Day is just around the corner. How can we honor and show appreciation for the mothers in our lives, women who work tirelessly day in day out and make significant sacrifices to ensure that their children are healthy, happy, and successful? Here are some ideas: Go shopping Is that a surprise? Women love shopping. So instead of laundry, cooking and cleaning, take a load off mom. Get laundry delivery service from your local Boston dry cleaner and eat out so that you can take mom on a shopping spree and help her find the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Take a stroll in the Boston Public Garden Mothers with young children frequently take their children to the local park playground to play and teach them social skills. A stroll in the park will let your mother enjoy it for herself. The Boston Public Garden is a beautiful and relaxing place to spend some time with your mother. You can take a leisurely walk around the park, admire the flowers, and enjoy the scenery. If your mom already has a home care companion who takes her to walks, then you can take her to a museum. Visit a museum If your mother is an art lover, the Museum of Fine Arts is the perfect place to spend the day. You can check out the latest exhibits, admire the works of famous artists, and even take a guided tour. How about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum? This museum is a must-see for anyone interested in art, culture, and history. The museum has a vast collection of art, including works by famous artists such as Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Raphael. Besides art and culture, Boston has a variety of other museums that can be of interest to mom. Take her pick! Take a cooking class together Many cooking schools in Boston offer classes where you can learn to make a delicious meal with your mother. It’s a fun and interactive way to spend some quality time together and learn some new culinary skills. Well, if your mother loves food but not cooking, then you can simply treat her to a special Mother’s Day brunch and enjoy some quality time together. Take a day trip Mother probably stays home a lot and spends most of her time in the neighborhood. How about taking a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard? It’s just a short ferry ride from Boston. Spend the day exploring the island’s quaint towns, beautiful beaches, and scenic landscapes. Or take a Boston Harbor cruise. Enjoy the beautiful Boston skyline and the scenic harbor with a Mother’s Day brunch or dinner cruise. Enjoy a show or concert If your mother loves Broadway shows or live music, dance and theatre performances, treat her to a night out and enjoy a Boston Pops concert, Boston Ballet, comedy club or jazz performance. Mother’s Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and thank mothers for their hard work, dedication, and unconditional love. It is also a chance to celebrate the special bond that exists between a mother and her children. By taking the time to show our gratitude and appreciation for our mothers, we can strengthen our relationships and create meaningful memories. Boston has a little something for everyone when it comes to celebrations and holidays, but none tops St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you’re new to the city or a long-time resident looking for new experiences, St. Paddy’s has it all– even if you don’t like to drink. Why Boston?
For those uninitiated, Boston has a massive Irish population (about 23% of its citizens identify as Irish!). Originally emigrating from persecution in the colonial era, Boston’s had a long-standing history of Irish origin. Immigrants escaping the potato famine in the 19th century further built the Irish population, and Boston quickly became a hub for Irish Americans. Things To Do on St. Patrick’s Day So, what can you do on St. Patrick’s Day in Boston? We’ve got 5 great ideas for you to get the most out of our rich Irish culture. The Southie Parade and Road Race Whether or not you are Irish, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Road Race are great ways to celebrate Irish heritage and enjoy the area. This is a fun activity, away from the familiarity of the slides and swings at the playground, that children will enjoy. This year, the parade and the road race take place on Sunday, March 19th. The parade starts at 1 pm, and the road race starts at noon. Both events are on a first-come-first-serve basis, so be sure to grab yourself a good spot by getting there early! While you are there, be a good neighbor and shop local. Visit the local drug store, gift shop, bakery or book store and buy a little souvenir or whatever. If you want to run in the race, we recommend registering early. All proceeds from the Southie St. Patrick’s Day Road Race go towards the Boston Boys and Girls Club. Enjoy Irish Culture If you’re not too keen on parades and would rather enjoy some more traditional Irish celebration, why not check out some traditional Irish dance and enjoy some Celtic music? Enjoy some music, food, and drink any day of the week during Lansdowne Pub’s St. Patrick’s Week, or catch some traditional Irish music at The Burren. If you’re looking for dance, Ned Devine’s hosts step dancers at 1 pm. Be sure to wear green — some Boston dry cleaners in the North End may offer special discounts for dry cleaning or alterations for your green costume. Get Some Traditional Irish Food It’s not Paddy’s without some good Irish food and a Guinness! Boston’s extensive selection of traditional Irish pubs offers some of the best Irish food you can get in the States, and enjoying a pint with a good meal is essential on St. Patrick’s Day! Alongside great entertainment, sit and relax with some great food and beer from Lansdowne Pub, The Black Rose, The Kinsale, or J.J. Foley’s Cafe. Alternatively, you can organize a cookout in the backyard, weather permitting. A propane heater might be needed. Explore Heritage Trails For a calmer daytime experience, Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail celebrates the city’s rich Irish history and provides a beautiful scenic experience bound to enchant anyone looking for a relaxing stroll through time. Visit Irish monuments, buildings, and other historic locations on a guided tour, or walk the city yourself to peruse each location at your own pace. It’s perfect for those with senior loved ones — rather than hiring home care services, you can take your elderly loved one to a walk down memory lane. Tours cost roughly $15 for adults and $12 for students, children, and seniors. Stop by a Celtics Game Of course, it wouldn’t be Paddy’s in Boston without celebrating our local basketball team– the Celtics! While St. Patrick’s Day games are usually sold out, feel free to enjoy a game any time of the year to show off your inner Celtic spirit. Just make sure you wear plenty of green! Valentine’s Day is a fun and festive time to celebrate love. While Valentine’s Day is commonly used to celebrate romantic relationships, it can also be a good day to spend time with family and friends and celebrate the love you share for each other. If you’re wondering how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved ones, here are some family-friendly fun activities for you to consider. Decorate Your Home
Decorating your home in pink and red is a great way to start. Make decorating an enjoyable activity by putting on some light music and having kids help with hanging up the decorations. You can even make Valentine’s Day crafts with your kids, friends and relatives who share your knack in making heart tassel charms, sequin pins, tissue paper wreaths, air-dry clay hearts and the like. Another sweet way to decorate is to get some colorful post-its from your neighborhood drugstore and write kind loving notes to each other. You can use these to decorate by sticking them on the wall, the fridge, the kitchen table, or just keep them for a bad day. Spread Love Through Gifts Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, candy hearts, and cards are inexpensive gifts that can make a big impact on Valentine’s Day. You can also often find fun toys, salty snacks, and other small Valentines-themed items throughout the first two weeks of February. These are cute gifts to give to kids or other family members to spread love. Your local drugstore is a great place to find festive gifts for your family members, even at the last minute. Shop local helps spread love to your local community too! Spend Time with Family Valentine’s Day is a good day to spend time with family looking back on the memories you share. With elderly parents, you can look back on old photo albums from weddings, births, and other family milestones. If you’re unable to spend time with a parent, share albums with another relative or pass albums along to home care aides who offer companionship to your elderly loved one. If you have kids who are old enough, you can also reminisce on old memories with a Valentine’s Day theme, looking back on old home videos or baby books with some heart-shaped snacks. We all remember fun times in the kitchen at home. How about making Valentine’s Day cupcakes or candy together? Be sure to prepare plenty of coloring, frosting, powdered sugar, and other fun ingredients! Dress Festively Wear pink and red at home or work and take pictures to celebrate Valentine’s Day! You could even buy fun accessories like feather boas or bead necklaces and do a family photoshoot. If you enjoy throwing parties, have a pink and red themed party. Valentine’s Day parties are a great way to put your festive decorations and pink and red attire to good use. If you’re throwing or attending a party where you plan to wear pink or red, some Boston dry cleaners offer Valentine’s Day discounts for pink or red garments and household items. Get your garments and table linens cleaned before your party to look your best! Enjoy Valentine’s Day with plenty of fun, laughter, good food, music and dancing, and don’t forget to show your love. Take advantage of local stores and discounts to get in the community’s Valentine’s Day spirit too! How many times have you tried to develop an exercise routine but failed, simply because it’s just really boring? You might have tried running in the past, but abandoned your efforts due to sheer lack of willpower. Developing and sticking to an exercise routine can be tough. But making your routine a family activity, and having a specific goal in mind does wonders for your motivation. If you’re looking for a fun, healthy, activity that gets the whole family outdoors, why not train together for the Boston Marathon? Why Should I Be Running?Cardiovascular exercise is a fundamental part of building a healthy lifestyle. But why is it so important? Research shows that just 10 minutes of running a day can drastically lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Did you know that running can also prevent knee and back pain as you get older? By integrating running into your daily routine, you’re less likely to experience arthritis and back problems that come with age. These wonderful benefits aside, it is also particularly good for maintaining a healthy weight and building fitness levels. Just make sure to check in with a healthcare professional if you suffer from any chronic injuries. Running is not only great for your physical health but does incredible things for your mental well-being too. Running is great for upping your energy and boosting your mood. It helps maintain focus and has even been known to help you sleep better. How To Make Running FunRunning can get lonely and monotonous. It can also be discouraging when you can’t see an immediate improvement. But there are some proven tricks to making running fun. These include setting realistic and specific goals to work towards and getting your whole family involved! Make A Marathon GoalSaying that running is good for your health just isn’t enough motivation to build a habit. You need to be able to set a realistic goal and hold yourself accountable for it. That’s where marathons come into the equation. Signing up for a marathon like the Boston Marathon is the perfect way to set a running goal. Marathons are great events, as they usually provide a few distances to choose from, depending on your fitness. If you’re still a newbie, sign up for a half marathon to get a feel for it. As you build your confidence, you can work your way up to a full marathon. Marathons are also great for the whole family. They’re social events where people gather to cheer you on and show support. There’s usually an air of excitement and encouragement that makes the whole process a lot easier. Plus, they’re outdoors which makes for a safer COVID-friendly family activity. Even your elderly loved ones can be involved, by enrolling them to keep track of everyone’s progress, and acting as cheerleaders. Taking part in family activities reduces the need to hire home care aides for companion care. Train TogetherNow that you’ve set a specific goal for a specific date, it’s time to make running a family activity. This makes exercising less lonely as you have other people working with you towards your goal. It’s also a great bonding activity, as you cheer each other on and spend quality time together during training. It’s essential that kids spend some time outdoors to get exercise and fresh air. If you’re doing it together as a family, you’re setting a great example and encouraging your kids to lead healthy lifestyles. Plus, you can hold each other accountable. It’s harder to skip a training session when the whole family is relying on you to show up. Running Fun With Family: How Should I Start?In order to make running a family activity, you have to start slow. If your kids are younger, or you’re starting from a low level of fitness, start with very short distances. Once you’re able to run a short distance without struggling, you can increase your training miles. You should also vary your training activities so that you don’t get stuck in a rut. You might run around the block one week and do a trail run the next. Treadmill running can also be a good addition to your training schedule. But you might be wondering how to make treadmill running fun. The secret here is to build a great playlist and focus solely on running to music. It’s recommended that you don’t listen to music if you’re running around the block as your eyes and ears should be aware of any traffic. The only drawback to running or most other exercises is that you’ll end up with a lot of sweaty clothes to wash — just kidding. You can always use a nearby laundry service to take care of it. Go for The Boston MarathonAll it takes to make running fun is making it a family activity, and setting a realistic goal. If you live in Massachusetts, the Boston Marathon is the perfect event to aspire to. This historic running event attracts thousands of visitors every year and is a celebrated sporting activity for the whole family.
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