Now that winter is right around the corner, there’s nothing better than being able to unwind, relax, and enjoy the holidays with your loved ones! Whether you’re bundling up or exploring your city, there are many fun activities to do with your family in the winter that are affordable and memorable! With the help of these tips and ideas below, you and your family can have a blast during the winter and enjoy everything the cool season has to offer.
1. Check Out a New Eatery
Nothing says enjoying winter quite like food does! If you live in a bigger town or city, chances are there’s an eatery you haven’t tried before that can satisfy your curiosity and your hunger! This winter, check out the best Korean restaurant in your town to get a taste of some lovely, charbroiled beef brisket or kimchi. Or, visit the new vegan shop that just popped up in the city!
You can look at reviews before choosing where to eat, and prepare yourself and your family for a new dining experience. Make sure to bring a change of clothes if you decide to go all out! Better yet, let the professionals handle your food stains by getting professional dry cleaning services. It’s not just shirts either, make sure your wardrobe is ready to go for the winter by dry cleaning your favorite winter coats and jackets.
2. Try Snowshoeing In a Beautiful Park
Are you looking for fun activities to do with your family in the winter that involves spending time in the snow? Have you ever wanted to try skiing or snowboarding but were too scared or didn’t know where to start? Snowshoeing is the perfect beginner’s sport for anyone looking to traverse the gorgeous winter snow!
Snowshoeing is simple to do and is an activity the whole family can enjoy. All you need is a pair of snowshoes, some balance sticks, and a hill of snow to be able to enjoy snowshoeing at its finest. Snowshoeing can be learned quickly, and it allows you to hike and enjoy a park’s beautiful nature and trails without letting the snow stop you.
3. Rent a Cabin for a Weekend Ski Trip
If your family knows how to ski or snowboard, why not enjoy the winter to its fullest and rent out a cabin for a weekend ski trip as one of the fun activities to do with your family in the winter? Renting out a cabin allows you to live in the beauty of snow and nature, while also giving you a place to rest after a hard day’s worth of skiing. Light a fire, enjoy some drinks or homemade food, and create a memory with the help of a ski lodge cabin!
Before you go to your cabin, pack up all essentials, such as warm clothing, extra bedding such as comforters, stuff to light a fire with, and of course, your ski equipment. You should also make sure to make any auto repairs so you can safely drive to your cabin, as many winter cabins are off roads that might not be well-kept. Driving in the snow can be dangerous, but by making the right preparations, you can enjoy your winter cabin trip safely.
4. Build a Snow Village With Other Families In Your Neighborhood
The snow brings with it some of the best opportunities to make snow men, snow figurines, and even incorporate beautiful sculptures to make a snow village! Why not enjoy this past time with your neighbors? Making a snow village with your neighbors is a great way to unite not just adults, but kids too!
It doesn’t just have to be a snow village, either. You can partner with neighbors to throw a winter block party, have a hot chocolate night or movie gathering, or even sing traditional Christmas carols! By getting your neighborhood involved, the possibilities for winter activities are endless, and you and the whole family can have fun while making close connections!
5. Cook a Homemade Dinner As a Family
Are you looking for fun activities to do with your family in the winter that involves cooking a yummy meal? Nothing says winter quite like warm, home-cooked stew or meal does! By cooking a homemade meal during the winter, you not only get to enjoy spending time with your family, but also pass down traditional recipes, teach family history, and encourage healthy habits.
You can even cook a meal and make it extra special by using deer processing supplies to cook this season’s hunt! Some of the best meals to cook during the winter that are simple, elegant, and hearty include stews, soups, roasted meats, and warmed baked cakes and goodies! Try your hand at some winter meals this season. You’ll be happy you did.
6. Visit an Elderly Loved One
During the winter season, our elderly loved ones might not be able to travel as far as they normally can, which can cause them to become isolated and lonely during the holiday season. Take the initiative and don’t forget to visit your elderly loved ones this year!
If your loved one lives alone, it can be a great opportunity to drop off medical equipment they might need, such as batteries for a hearing aid device, much-needed dietary supplements, or anything else they might need. Better yet, invite your loved ones to come spend the winter and holidays with you and your family. Now, more than ever, it’s important to take advantage of our good health and care for our elderly family members. Don’t let them spend the winter alone this season, and get the whole family together!
7. Volunteer Locally As a Family
Are you searching for fun activities to do with your family in the winter that will help others? It’s not just our elderly loved ones that might be alone this winter and during the holidays. Countless people in the country are homeless and are unable to spend the holidays with their families. There’s no better way to teach your children about the importance of empathy and giving back than by volunteering locally as a family.
Ask your children to gather up any toys and clothes they don’t want and pitch in for canned foods, clothes, and toys to donate during the holidays. It doesn’t just have to be during the winter months either! Take the time to teach your children about helping others by volunteering at a hospital, soup kitchen, shelter, or anywhere else in the community. Not only can volunteering locally encourage your children to be more empathetic, but it also provides an opportunity for the whole family to make connections in the community with pastors, teachers, local leaders, and of course, local residents.
9. Travel to a Different City for a Day of Shopping
If you’re like most Americans, shopping during the holidays can be a stressful experience. Fortunately, there’s a way to make shopping better, while also exploring and getting the family involved! This is taking a shopping trip to another part of town or even outside the city!
In less populated areas, shopping centers can be less crowded, while also being more interesting and taking the boredom out of regular shopping. During the holidays, take a trip to another shopping center in a different city and see what deals they have out there. Visit some outlets to find the coolest stackable bracelet, or visit a jewelry store to get the best deals on heirlooms you’ll pass down from generation to generation! The possibilities are endless!
10. Go Ice Skating
Fun activities to do with your family in the winter can include getting some exercise, too. Whether it’s going to your favorite frozen-over lake, or visiting an indoor skating rink, ice skating is a fun activity you can do to stay healthy. All you need is a pair of ice skates, which are sold pretty much anywhere nowadays online and in-stores, a warm jacket, and some knee and elbow pads and helmet to keep your head safe!
Ice skating is a skill that anyone can learn, whether that’s the youngest child of the bunch or the adults in the pack. Going ice skating is a great way to strengthen the leg and core muscles, get some cardio in, and improve hand-eye coordination. Best of all, you don’t even have to go pro and be as good as Tonya Harding to make this experience fun! All you have to do is get out there and enjoy the rink with your loved ones.
11. Attend a Local Charity Event
Giving back during the holidays makes the season all the more special. There are many ways to give back besides volunteering and donating this winter. Why not take the family to a local charity event that raises money for a foundation you believe in? The great thing about charity events is that there are usually full services including food and education seminars you can enjoy simply by donating to your favorite charity.
These charity events can go toward a veteran donation program, toward improving the arts in public schools, or anything else concerning your local community. They can be held anywhere from banquet halls to golf resorts, meaning you can give back while also enjoying a serene setting. Take advantage of charity events and donate to attend one this holiday season.
12. Look at Decorated Homes
Fun activities to do with your family in the winter can be simple. Everyone loves to be the envy of the neighborhood by decorating their houses with lavish lights, spooky decorations, and now, some high-tech sound and light shows! Take advantage of the winter season and visit some local neighborhoods to awe at the beautifully decorated homes! This is an activity everyone in the family can enjoy.
Simply pile up the kids in your car, put on some relaxing music, and cruise around the neighborhood looking at all the homes. Or better yet, take a bike ride around the neighborhood (if the weather permits), and explore the beautiful homes! Some local water and energy departments also host sponsored Christmas light shows that are sure to bring a smile to your family’s faces!
13. Build an Indoor Fort
Even though you might not be able to go out camping when the weather is too cold, you can still enjoy an indoor adventure by building a fort! Get together some of your favorite comforters and blankets, take apart your couch cushions, and set up a fort in the middle of your living room! For added comfort, put some battery-operated Christmas lights in your fort, along with your favorite laptop to set up a spooky movie festival in your fort. For the little ones, brew up some hot tea or chocolate and cuddle inside your fort with your favorite stories! Indoor forts are a cheap, yet memorable way to enjoy the holidays.
14. Make Some S’mores at Home
Everyone’s favorite winter snack is obviously s’mores, and that’s why fun activities to do with your family in the winter should include making some! The gooey, warm marshmallow center, stuck in between two delicious crunchy graham crackers and milk chocolate makes this snack one that heats up the stomach during the winter season! The best part is that you don’t have to make your s’mores over a campfire to enjoy them! Simply heat up your favorite s’mores using some skewers over your stove’s flame (make sure to keep children safe while doing so), melt it just enough before assembling it, and enjoy. These s’mores are sure to be another holiday favorite!
15. Start a Winter Vegetable Garden
If you already have a vegetable garden in your home, the winter is the perfect time to harvest some of these veggies and enjoy them in your favorite stews! If you haven’t started a garden yet, winter is the perfect time to plant some vegetables to enjoy during the late winter or early spring harvest! During the winter, the soil is vitamin-rich and can still produce tons of vegetables for you to enjoy. Some of the best vegetables to plant during the winter include beets, broad beans, garlic, cabbage, kale, and onions! Get the family together and learn about the joys of gardening, growing your own food, and staying healthy!
There are so many fun activities to do with your family in the winter. Whether you choose to stay home or go shopping and explore the city, winter is the perfect time of year to get together with family and enjoy some memorable activities. Stay safe this winter, and make the most of it by trying out these fun activities to do with your family in the winter above!
