There are loads of activities taking place in Boston near Back Bay, Copley Square, Newbury Street, etc. I d recommend The Midtown Hotel, Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers, The Lenox Hotel and The Colonnade Hotel. I ve been to Boston once during the holidays and it really does give New York a run for its money.
Pickings are mighty slim for Christmas Day. This area closes right up on Dec. 25th. You could get theater tickets for Christmas Eve and the 26th, though. Try ArtsBoston.org. Chinatown might be open. Churches (I like Trinity Church in Copley, it s beautiful). Ice skating at the Frog pond on Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day. The Public Garden, Boston Common, and Comm Ave Mall are all lit up with lights. The outdoor parts of the Freedom Trail are open. Gardner Museum is open Christmas Eve, they have great decorations up in their courtyard. Movie theaters are always packed on Christmas. As to hotel -- it depends on your budget. The better the hotel, the better the concierge will be. Sometimes they can arrange special activities just for you. (My nephew and I spent Christmas in London once. THAT place closed down for 2 days, even the Tube was closed. But the Concierge arranged for my nephew to help cook christmas cookies with the chef in the hotel restaurant.) Make sure you line up your Christmas Day dinner and lunch in advance. Only the hotels and Chinatown are usually open. Good luck.