How to Plan a Pre-Christmas Family Getaway in Boston

December is a magic time for family travel to Boston. The city is aglow with lights covering the trees in the Common, Public Garden and length of Commonwealth Avenue. Shops and boutiques along Charles and Newbury Streets are decorated for the season, filled with tempting gift ideas.

Treat the kids to a Christmas Holiday Tour with Old Town Trolleys, where costumed character guides tell stories of past and present holiday festivities while traveling through the streets to view beautiful displays. Bundle up warmly to stroll under brilliantly lit trees in the Public Garden on your way to the Frog Pond, where you can join the skaters.

For warmer skating, visit Boston Children’s Museum for Snowmazing! Polar Playground, where kids can slide on the sock skating rink and build an igloo. Flurries of Fun are periodic half-hour, drop-in, winter-themed programs and activities for kids.

Boston hotels also go all out for families, with spacious rooms and suites and holiday decorations such as gingerbread houses and dazzling lobby Christmas trees.

For the best location for admiring the lights in the Public Garden, choose a room overlooking them from The Newbury Boston. Locations don’t get better than this, bordering the gardens, Newbury Street’s shops and the lighted trees of Commonwealth Avenue’s promenade. Suites can be keyed off to make a two-bedroom family suite, and corner suites can be paired with an adjoining double queen guestroom for family groups.

To revel in classic Boston elegance, book a spacious room — most are suites with sofas and cushy chairs — at The Eliot. Sliding doors give parents some privacy in the adjoining bedroom, and there’s space for the whole family to gather in the stylish sitting room. Set amid the prestigious “brownstones” of Commonwealth Avenue, the hotel’s next-door neighbor is The Harvard Club of Boston, where those staying at The Eliot can enjoy breakfast as guests in the club’s members-only dining room. Experiences don’t get any more Boston than that.

© Marriott International

Sheraton Boston, with sweeping views over Back Bay and the Charles River, not only offers family-sized rooms, but has also just launched a Goodnight Moon suite especially for children. Adjoining a king room for parents, a room for kids is decorated in Goodnight Moon-themed décor. The hotel just celebrated its 60^th anniversary with a $100 million renovation.

When reserving rooms for family travel, it’s a good idea to call the hotel to confirm the rooms connect in a way that’s suitable for your children’s ages.