Curing winter doldrums: a weekend family getaway with teens to Four Seasons Boston

What do you do with two active teens on a winter weekend in Boston? Our family was about to find out… In honor of National Family Week, Four Seasons Hotel Boston had sponsored a Twitter contest to “Find Felix.” You had to guess where the adorable teddy bear mascot, Felix, was located at the hotel each day of that week. The winner would be invited to take his family on an overnight “Kid-Kation.”

So every day that week, our family would watch for Felix on Twitter, wondering what fun he was up to and making our best guess. From the fitness center to the kitchens to the pool, Felix was on a grand tour of this magnificent property… Then our son, 12-year-old Eamon, actually won—and now it was our turn. Our family of four was thrilled to take a break from suburbia and enjoy a fun-filled weekend in the city.

Four Seasons Hotel Boston is located in the heart of the city with so many activities right at your doorstep: iceskating on Frog Pond at the Public Garden, enjoying the shops on Newbury Street, taking in a show at the nearby Theater District. The hotel has lots of (complimentary) amenities that appeal to kids—backpacks (or sling bags for teens) at check-in filled with activities and games; Saturday cookie making classes; a family movie library; swimming pool with special kids’ robes and slippers—so it’s the perfect family weekend destination.

Our adventure began with a show (the one and only Radio City Rockettes!) in the Theater District followed by lunch at a nearby restaurant. There are so many to choose from: upscale like Avila and Teatro; or family-friendly Vapiano and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. Then it was time for some R& R. Eamon and Evan, 11, had a ball biking the Tour de France on the Xtream Bikes at the hotel’s fitness center, followed by a splash in the pool and a soak in the hot tub. Mom and Dad had fun, too: grabbing a workout and relaxing together by the pool. It was great just to decompress and spend some quality time together—something we don’t often get to do in our hectic lives.

The highlight of our day was a visit to our room from the Four Seasons “Ice Cream Man.” We all loved making our own sundaes—yum. The boys believe the Ice Cream Man is likely the most popular member of the staff. (Sorry, Felix!) It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

After a glorious sleep, our family started the day with brunch at The Bristol Lounge. The restaurant’s view of the Public Garden is delightful, and so are the offerings at the bountiful breakfast buffet. While the kids tucked into the waffles and bacon, I savored the sumptuous Croissant French Toast. The omelet station was a favorite for my husband, but who can resist chocolate croissants?

We strolled around Copley Square, then headed back to the warmth of the hotel and a final dip in the pool. Everyone agreed that our Kid-Kation was just the right remedy to cure the winter doldrums. We left refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated.

Read more about Boston in Four Seasons Magazine.