25 things to do in Boston this winter for under $25

After the holiday chaos and December rush, the realization that winter is here can set in. But if you’re preparing to shut yourself in for the rest of the season in Boston, you’re on the wrong track, even if you’re on a strict budget. Grab your coat and get out. Here are 25 things to check out this winter, all $25 or less.

1. Slip and slide

You’re never too old for sledding. Check out 40 great hills around Boston and unleash your inner child. In need of a sled? Head to your local hardware store — or just flip over your trash can lid.

2. Rise to the Top after a snowfall

You’ll want to time it before the snowplows do their thing in the city streets, but what better view of Boston might there be following a snowstorm than at the Top of the Hub? You can either do the skywalk observatory ($15 adults/$10 children/$13 students and seniors) or you can warm up with the restaurant’s warm chocolate cake ($10) and a cup of coffee or tea. Before venturing out into the urban winter wonderland to see it from above, call 617-859-0648 for up to the minute details. The skywalk will close for events and inclement weather.

3. Grab a spoon

Make the most of brisk days. Warm up inside and out with a bowl of hot soup. From lobster bisque to traditional chicken noodle, there’s a flavor for everyone. For suggestions, check out Boston.com’s round up of soups around the city or a list of 16 recipes for a chilly day.

4. Lace up your skates

Test your ice skating skills on America’s oldest public park’s ice skating rink, just as Wally the Green Monster Red Sox mascot and Frog Pond Freddie did last winter. The Frog Pond is open for another season of city skating. Glide alongside local residents or visitors as you train for Olympic gold or just enjoy a romantic evening out with your special someone. Admission is $5 per person, and children under 13 are free. Skate rentals are $9 and $5 for children under 13. Tuesdays are college nights, where students with a college ID only pay $2 for admission.

5. Tour some architecture

The Boston Public Library offers free tours highlighting architecture and art by renowned architects and artists. The tour lasts about an hour. They leave from the lobby of the McKim building at the Dartmouth Street entrance. Check the website for days and times.

6. Watch some college hockey

The NHL lockout is finally over, but that doesn’t mean New England hockey fans have to break the bank to satiate their puck-and-ice needs. College Hockey East is still going strong as theBoston College Eagles , last year’s NCAA Division I National Champions, remain a top team in the nation, with ticket prices starting at just $10. Crosstown rivals over at Boston University, sell tickets starting at $15. Tickets for Harvard and Northeastern games also start at $10 and $15 respectively.

7. Climb some rocks

If you are craving the adventures of the outdoors, indoor rock climbing might be a good option. At Rock Spot Climbing in Boston, you can learn how to climb the faux rocks and how to belay a climber. Rates start at $12, and discounts are available for different groups and occasions. The best part: it is open from 10 a.m. to midnight everyday to give you plenty of time to learn the ropes.

8. Go antiquing

If you aren’t exhausted from holiday shopping, check out the Cambridge Antique Market. More than 150 dealers are set up across five floors selling everything from furniture to clothing to toys. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

9. Do the downward facing dog

Fight the cold of winter. Warm your muscles from the inside out with a yoga session. Try a single class at Bikram Yoga on Lincoln Street, in the Back Bay or at Harvard Square for $22 for adults, $16 for students or seniors. Maybe you want to kick it up a notch with a more challenging yoga experience. Try a walk-in class at The Yoga Studio. Ninety-minute classes are $15, and a two-hour session is $20. Sadhana in the South End offers one month of unlimited yoga for $30 ($24 for full-time students).

10. Ski the night away at Blue Hills

OK, so it’s not exactly buckling up and facing the terrain at Jay Peak, but a mere 20 miles from downtown Boston, Blue Hills Ski Area in Canton offers a close alternative for those nights when you can’t resist fresh powder, yet can’t blow off work for a trip up north. Ski from 5-9 p.m. Monday through Friday for just $20, and 5-9 p.m. weekends and holidays for $25.

11. Sail away

Float on over to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center for the Northeast’s largest boat show, held Feb. 22 – March 2. The annual New England Boat Show gives you the chance to get a good look at the newest boats from the region’s top dealers, as well as boating accessories. Boating seminars will also be held throughout the event. Tickets are $15 and children 15 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult.

12. Catch a classic at the Brattle

Cambridge’s Brattle Theatre shows week-long runs of cutting-edge, classic, foreign, and independent film. The historic building has developed a cult following among locals, who have been coming since it started showing movies in 1953. The 250-seat theater blends nostalgia with eclecticism – one week featuring Terrence Malick films, the next showing the area premiere of a Russian director, and the next hosting a Bugs Bunny film festival – at $10 for general admission and $8 for students and matinees for a single feature.

13. Free Wednesday nights at the MFA

Find shelter from the frigid winter weather and get a chance to check out some timeless pieces of artwork at the Museum of Fine Arts. Every Wednesday afternoon, the MFA offers free admission to patrons of all ages after 4 p.m.

14. Listen to live music

There is nothing like beating the cold than at a concert at one of Boston’s many music venues. Check Boston.com’s listings of upcoming concerts in the area. The Pixies (pictured) will perform at the Orpheum on Jan. 8. Tickets start at $20 for some area shows.

15. Learn to salsa

Add some spice to this typically tame season with a little salsa; salsa dancing that is. The Havana Club in Central Square hosts beginner and intermediate salsa lessons on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m.-10 p.m. (no partner required). And if you really want to heat things up, hang around, mingle, and dance with the people you meet at the club until 2 a.m. Price of admission is $12 and includes lessons, the after-party, and coat check.

After a $118 million expansion and renovation the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum reopened to the public in 2012. The events leading up to the opening were star-studded, but these days, the average Bostonian is visiting the massive and varied art collection amassed by Isabella Stewart Gardner. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $5 for college students and free to anyone under 18 or named Isabella.

Pictured: “Anders Zorn: A European Artist Seduces America”

17. Ring in the Chinese New Year

Friday, Jan. 31, is the official Chinese New Year. Chinatown celebrates in style with the Lion Dance parade. Kung fu groups dance as the lion makes its way to all the restaurants along the route to “eat’’ a meal from each place. 2014 is the year of the horse. Plan a full Chinatown adventure with Boston.com’s guide.

18. Take a swing at history

Boston takes its sports as seriously as anywhere in this country, just as seriously as it takes sports history. The Sports History Museum on the fifth and sixth levels of TD Garden, home of two of Boston’s teams, is a must-see on any New England sports fan’s list. See the shoes that Adam Vinatieri wore in the Patriots’ first Super Bowl win, Larry Bird’s locker, and more. General admission is just $10, children (10-18) and seniors $5, and children under 10 enter for free.

19. Comedy showdown

ImprovBoston aims to make patrons laugh, but what if the patrons could choose the laugh they like better? That is the idea behind the Cambridge theater’s show Cagematch and Sketch Cagematch. Two groups perform for 22 minutes, go head to head with another group. The audience then votes which scene they like better and the winner returns the next week to take on a new opponent. Losers stay home. Cagematch includes just the art of the scene and is every Saturday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students.

20. Relax with some jazz

Mellow out with some jazz at Beehive, a South End jazz club featuring up-and-coming local jazz musicians. Expect a night out with food, drink, and smooth music. But it’s not the only one. Check out JazzBoston’s list of jazz venues around the city for more.

21. Indulge in a hot treat

It’s the perfect season for sipping some delectable hot chocolate. And Boston has a variety of offerings. Looking for a genuine Italian cup? Head to Cafe Vittoria in the North End. Want something with more of a kick? Enjoy a cup of Mexican hot chocolate at Simon’s Coffee Shop in Porter Square. Check out more hot chocolate hot spots.

22. Exercise your green thumb

Get in touch with your horticultural side at the Boston Flower and Garden Show, $20 general admission. Running March 12-16 at Boston’s Seaport World Trade Center, the show will feature programs on urban gardening, competitions among local amateur florists, and showcases of professionals’ designs, as well as 48 lectures and more than 200 vendors.

23. See chocolate being made

Tours of the Taza Chocolate factory give visitors an inside look and historical context of how it makes its Mexican-style, organic dark chocolate. Admission is $5. Located in Somerville, Taza has extended its regular tour schedule for the holiday season. The best part might be the new factory store. Book tours and get more information online.

24. Take a hike on Battle Road

Get a sense of history and nature this winter at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, where Revolutionary War enthusiasts often take to reenactments. Take a tour of the Wayside House or walk along the Battle Road where the opening battle of the Revolutionary War took place. Feeling a little adventurous? Grab a pair of snow shoes and get off the beaten path.

25. Enjoy Boston Restaurant Week

If you think you can’t afford some of the most alluring restaurants in the city, such as this buffalo mozzarella from Mamma Maria, think again. Boston Restaurant Week returns for its biannual appearance on the calendar, awarding patrons a discounted chance to try some of Boston’s best chefs. This year’s winter edition will be held from March 16-21 and 23-28. Lunch varies from $15-25 and dinner from $28-38