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Winter activities to get the whole family excited

Get out and embrace winter with these cool activities the whole family will be on board with

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winter activities for families people on frozen lake
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When the shopping, wrapping, hosting, and celebrating ends, the winter doldrums really start to kick in. It gets dark super early and then there’s the cold weather. The tendency is to hibernate on the couch streaming your favorite shows until the first signs of spring. Remember though; we’re not bears, and when you keep kids inside for too long, well, as parents we know what happens. It’s not pretty.

So, avoid the doldrums and the insanity when the kiddos go stir crazy. Embrace winter instead. Yes, it’s cold and the sunset comes way too soon, but that doesn’t mean you and the family can’t enjoy the wonder the season has to offer. With these winter activities for families, you will undoubtedly find inspiration to gear up and head outside. Don’t worry if you’re not a huge fan of the cold. There are some cool indoor activities, too.

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Outdoor winter activities for families

family having fun tubing in winter
Yan Krukau / Pexels

January and February always seem earmarked for the cozy blankets, hot chocolate, and a good book. That makes for an amazing afternoon especially when you need to recharge, but enough of those and you start to get a bit antsy. For kids, that tends to come much sooner. Children don’t seem to mind the temperature as much as adults. Maybe that’s why they start to dislike coats when they become tweens.

This winter try and find a balance between those couch days and heading out to savor some family time together. Remember how much fun winter was when you were little? Now is the perfect time to make winter a season the family looks forward to with these outdoor and indoor activities.

Hiking

If you think about it, winter can be the best time of year to take a hike. It’s not excessively hot. There aren’t any bees, wasps, hornets, or mosquitos and there’s plenty of parking in the trail lot. Winter is a perfect time to get the family outside and explore a hiking trail.

Check the weather and choose one of those bright sunny days. Then, pick an appropriate trail for your kids. Plan on getting an early start. You don’t want to get caught in the middle of the trail when it gets dark. Be sure to layer up. Layers can be removed if anyone gets too warm on the hike. Just like a warm weather hike, pack snacks and plenty of water. Wear boots or waterproof shoes with traction.

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Tubing/sledding

Flying down a snow-covered hill in an inner tube or sled is an amazing feeling. Kids will be thrilled about an afternoon of tubing. Gliding down and walking back up the mountain is a wonderful way to shake off the winter doldrums and get those steps in. If your town has a snowstorm and an awesome hill nearby, pull on the snow pants and grab the sled for some family fun. Hot chocolate afterward is a must.

Ice skating

This is another ideal winter activity the whole family can lace up the skates for. Depending on where you live, you may be able to enjoy a day of skating on a frozen lake or pond. Otherwise, outdoor rinks are always up and running during the winter months. Indoor rinks offer public skates year-round.

So, see what rinks in your area have on the schedule. If you’re lucky enough to glide on a frozen lake or pond, make sure it’s safe to do so. Local police are usually the final authority as to whether or not skating is allowed.

Snowshoeing

Strapping on the snowshoes takes hiking to a new level. This can be a cool activity to try as a family. Check with outdoor stores near you to see if snowshoes can be rented. Then, look into parks in your area to see which ones are a perfect fit for snowshoeing.

Skiing

For families who love to ski, winter is the best time of year. If skiing has been on your bucket list, now’s the time to give it a go. Plan a winter ski getaway or a day trip if you live within a reasonable driving distance of a ski resort. You can rent ski gear, too. Lessons are a great idea especially if no one in the family has skied before or haven’t in years.

Cross-country skiing

Not ready to try skiing down an actual mountain? Think about cross-country skiing. It’s a fabulous way to get outside and enjoy the winter scenery while getting a workout. It’s also a family-friendly sport and you won’t have to worry about the kids gliding down a mountain without you.

Build a snowman

Whenever Mother Nature drops one of those snowstorms that closes school and work, plan on gathering up the kiddos and heading outside to get creative in the snow. You can make a snowman, snowwoman, snowpet, or whatever inspires the family. Don’t forget to have a snowball fight before going in for that hot chocolate.

Indoor winter activities for families

Popcorn with sunglasses and movie tickets
Carolyn Franks / Shutterstock

Of course, outdoor family fun is amazing in the winter, but so are planning indoor outings. You can balance the winter family fun by giving some outdoor and indoor activities a go. Indoor winter activities are also a great option on those gray days where the cold is just a bit too biting to be outside.

Movies

Sure, you can stream movies at home, but nothing beats seeing one in a theater. See what’s playing and head to a movie to experience one of those blockbusters in person.

Theater

Local theater companies put together fantastic productions without the Broadway price tag. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon or an evening out as a family. There’s also something about seeing the magic of theater in action.

Museum

You don’t always want to waste that gorgeous spring or summer weather by going to an indoor museum. That makes winter the perfect time to explore an art, science, or history museum nearby that you have been meaning to take the family. If your town has a local museum that’s always been on your list of things to do, make it a point to check it out this winter.

Local library

Your local library always has lots of stuff going on in the winter and they are usually free. Go onto your library’s website and see what family-friendly programs they have on tap for this winter.

Go see a hockey game

If you have hockey players in the house, chances are this is already on your winter list. For those who don’t, make a plan to go see a college or professional hockey game. Hockey games are fast moving and loads of fun. There are always cool giveaways and other activities going on inside the arena. Minor and college hockey games don’t have the NHL price tag or the big crowds. If you do happen to live near an NHL franchise, experiencing a game in person is a blast.

This winter make it a point to balance those snuggly days on the couch with some fun winter activities for families indoors and out. Leave hibernating to the bears during the wintertime. Winter can be a cool season to do family-friendly activities the everyone will be excited about. With this list, you are sure to find some outside and inside inspiration to keep the family from going stir crazy this winter. They just might make you look forward to those short cold days.

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