There only seems to be a UK section on travel so put this in chat.
I have family in Boston we visit every other year for Xmas, but due to covid we haven't been since 2019. We used to go to Stowe, Vermont for a couple nights and the kids (now late teens) would do a days skiing.
This year there is a bit of reluctance to go to Stowe - been there done that sort of thing (though I'd love to go again), and one now gets bad migraines from the ski helmet anyway and is not so keen to just potter around the shops. Any suggestions of a mini break that does not rely on skiing, three hours or less from Boston? Nantucket has been suggested but is that just a bunch of nice shops on quaint streets? We will be doing a day trip to Newburyport which feels similar. Been to NY a few times too.
My resident family generally go to Maine but maybe somewhere on the Cape? Not sure how open it is in winter. I've looked online for 'best places in New England in winter' and Stowe is always top of the list!