[Photo from bostonusa.com]

Pack your jacket, hat and gloves and explore what makes Boston magical in the winter season!

Spend a Saturday afternoon indulging your sweeter side at TheLangham, Boston's most unique Chocolate Bar. Tempt your chocolate cravings at this weekly Chocolate wonderland. Only offered on Saturdays from September through June, the Chocolate Bar is a dessert emporium with over 85 chocolate treats that can't be found just anywhere. Experience this all-you-can-enjoybuffet, which features an array of scrumptious chocolate desserts, including the famous Langham Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding, Truffles, Cotton Candy, Whoopie Pies, and more!

The Boston Common Frog Pond is located right in the center of America's oldest public park surrounded by the extraordinary brownstones of Beacon Hill. The Frog Pond is a special gem of the City of Boston offering a place to enjoy and experience the historic Boston Common throughout the year. In the winter months, from mid-November to mid-March, all age groups of the community and visitors alike share the experience and enjoyment of gliding across the ice and enjoying the winter climate. Whether you are a first-time skater or a future Olympian, Frog Pond enables you to take pleasure in the sport of ice skating, a rich tradition in the City of Boston. Stay warm with hot chocolate from the concessions bar and don't worry about bringing your own skates-rental skates are only $5 for children and $9 for adults! Frog pond makes Boston seem like home and looks magical at night.

If you and your family enjoy sporting events, depending on team schedules, head to the TD Garden, home to the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins and the 17-time NBA Champion Boston Celtics for a game. In addition to ice hockey and basketball games, the 20,000 seat arena hosts world renowned concerts, sporting events, family shows like Disney on Ice, and much more. Pick up your fan gear outside from the street vendors even on the coldest day to blend into the black and gold or green and white atmosphere that the TD Garden sets the tone for. You may even get on the Jumbo-tron or get a picture with Lucky the Leprechaun!

Lovers of the performing arts should be sure to catch one of Boston's annual holiday performances the Holiday POPS concert at Boston Symphony Hall or The Nutcracker presented by the Boston Ballet.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is Boston shopping at its best with more than 100 of the finest shops and pushcarts. You could spend a whole day here with all of the nationally renowned retailers and the Bullmarket-the world's first "fleet" of pushcarts featuring New England artisans and their fabulous wares, each one offering something unlike the last. Once the shopping is done, eat, drink, and people watch at one of the dozens of restaurants and pubs including Cheers, McCormick & Schmick's, Ned Devine's Irish Pub, and Anthem Kitchen + Bar, or grab a quick bite in Quincy Market, which features to-go style and sit-down food vendors from cultures all over the world. Satisfy every family member's craving by having the ability to pick and choose what to get for lunch and congregate in one of the several outdoor cafes, or in the market center consisting of two levels of tables and benches. Even in the winter time, street performers can be found at every turn, displaying musical, magical, or comical talents. Then take in Blink! featuring the music of the Holiday POPS. Blink! is a 6-week state-of-the-art light and sound extravaganza that has transformed America's first open marketplace entirely. This magical new holiday tradition uses over 350,000 LED lights to illuminate Boston's skyline and is a memory that will never be forgotten. The holiday tree located in the Faneuil Hall Marketplaceis the largest in Boston and is there most of the holiday season-a great place for a picture to remember the whole family's trip to Boston.

To get out of the cold, take a day trip to one of the several museums that Boston has to offer. If you have young children, the Children's Museum on the Fort Point Channel is great entertainment and the whole family can participate in some exhibits. For families with children who are interested in science, the interactive exhibits at the Museum of Science and the Omni presentation can take the whole day if your schedule allows. At the Museum of Fine Arts, view spectacular works of art and get lost in the ancient worlds that the Museum's permanent collection features. These are just a few of the things you can do when you visit one of the many museums in the Boston area. Samplings of our museums include the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the MIT Museum and many more!