Before you know it, winter is going to be barreling at full force with all of its fun weather. It may be wise to start thinking of a game plan for little activities you can do with the family or on your own, in order to keep everyone entertained when outside play isn’t exactly an option. Fortunately, when it comes to winter fun, lots of places love to host activities that are sure to be a hit with your whole family. The best thing is, many of these activities are actually free or a low cost, so you won’t have to worry about cutting down your budget for holiday feasts or presents. So, get out your day planner and let the fun begin because these ten ideas are sure to leave your family thrilled about the upcoming season.
1. Visit Santa
With the holiday season on its way, there’s sure to be a whole lot of malls hosting an event with Santa Claus. This can actually be one of the easiest outings for the whole family and will generally leave the kids in the mood for the holiday spirit. Sure, seeing Santa often means standing in line for quite some time, so you may want to consider bringing a care package with holiday coloring sheets or music players filled with your child’s favorite holiday songs. You can also skip out on some of the costs of this event by bringing someone along that can snap a quick photo of your child with Santa, because sometimes the photos offered at the mall are pretty pricey. If you’re not much of a mall-Santa family then you may want to check around your area to see if there is going to be a Christmas town or village open. These are usually filled with activities for kids and will allow the children to see Santa is a less stressful environment.
2. Check Out the Holiday Lights
Without fail, just before to just after Thanksgiving, people will begin to set up their holiday lights. So, make the décor a quick way to enjoy some time with your family. All you have to do is hop in the car and let the magic begin. You may even consider bringing along holiday inspired snacks and drinks while playing your favorite holiday music. There should be a list of light competitions circulating around the city, so you’ll be able to figure out which neighbors are competing. This should allow you to check out some of the best lit houses in the region, which will bring magic to the season. Also, you may want to see if your community or a nearby town or city plans to host a light show. Generally, you can drive through these shows for free, which will help you save even more money on your holiday adventures.
3. Go to the Snow
If you’re excited to celebrate the snow this season, but simply aren’t getting to see any then it may be time to bundle up the kids and head towards the crisp powdery fun. This, of course, will take some time and planning, but it’ll be worth it when you see your kids playing in the first snow of the season. Simply keep an eye on the region where you live and head out when you get news of snow. Of course, you should also know if you have a place to stay or if you can make it a mere day trip. Also, you should make sure you know the road conditions before you make any decisions. You obviously won’t want to drive into a blizzard and end up trapped in the city. It might be wise to plan to bring along a few things to use in the snow, so you can stretch the fun out. Of course, planning your trip will be even better if you know someone in the region or if you choose a park to play in during your snow fun.
4. Grab a Ski/Snowboard Class
If you get a lot of snow in the region, then you may want to add a snow sport to your summer activity. You may want to call around and see if any of the slopes in your area offer discounted days or offer classes to groups. This can be one of the biggest ways to save, as a lot of places with heavily discount a larger group. Of course, if you really want to save money then you may want to simply check out Groupon and see if there are lessons available there. Generally, you can find a great deal here and they often have many coupons available during this season, particularly during the holidays when business slows down a bit. You may even be able to rope a deal on a hotel or resort stay, which could make your getaway even more exciting. If you aren’t having any luck with discounts, then hire a student to teach you. You may be surprised by how much money you save!
5. Spa Day
Nothing will heat you up quite like a day at the spa. Of course, this probably isn’t a getaway for the whole family, but it is great for couples or anyone that simply needs a break. Try to shop around for deals on spas or even simple coupons on a massage or other spa activity. The great thing about spas is they will also warm you up, so you can feel even more comfortable after a long day. If you’re not having luck with any deals then you may want to take a step back and see what kind of spa you can organize in your home. There’s lots of great DIY spa things you can do for next to nothing in the home that will still warm you up and make you feel totally relaxed during your simple winter getaway.
6. Seek City Activities
When it comes to winter time, no one creates fun activities quite like the cities. Between parades and holiday themed décor, there’s no doubt you’ll find a bit of winter fun when you venture into the city. Generally, cities will come up with things to do such as ice skating. This can be a lot of fun for the whole family and usually doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Another great thing that many cities offer is free to low cost concerts, which will help bring joy to an afternoon or evening. Often, you can enjoy orchestrated music simply by taking a stroll in park. Of course, one of the more iconic things to do is enjoy a carriage ride through the beautiful seasonally decorated city. Christmas tree lighting as well as major caroling groups are also a huge part of the winter season in the city, so make a plan to commute to a nearby city or see what your own has to offer. There’s guaranteed to be lots of fun throughout the blustery months.
7. Cooking Class
The winter season is all about finding ways to keep your body warm and comfortable. So, why not grab a cooking class to learn exciting new tricks that will allow you to keep your family happy throughout the cold months. Cooking class often don’t cost a whole lot, so you can master some skills while the weather keeps you indoors without having to worry about your budget getting in the way. You can also come up with your own cooking circle if you don’t want to pay for classes. This would allow each person in the group to have a turn teaching everyone else in the group how to make a specific dish. This can easily be done for free, apart from the cost of ingredients, and will help you bond with your friends without having to plan around the weather. You can also bring your new dishes to home, which will help keep the house warm thanks to the oven and will warm up the hearts of your family.
8. Library Outing
Nothing says winter fun like snuggling up with a warm beverage and your favorite book. Of course, your local library is good for more than just providing you with a good book. Usually, libraries are filled with activities to help keep the community educated and entertained. However, a lot of the activities aren’t often advertised, so you may have to do a bit of looking around in order to find what you’re look for. Also, libraries are great about starting up programs when kids are out of school. So, you may want to see what they have in store for you and your family during the winter holidays. Best of all, these events are usually totally free, which means you can have a blast without worrying about your budget.
9. Green House/Botanical Garden
Step away from the winter madness by stepping into a green house or botanical garden. The best thing about these gardens is they’ll help you forget it’s actually winter time, if only for a few hours. You can usually get into a green house for fairly cheap. Many cities will have them in order to keep up with flowers and some produce during the cold season. Some green houses will even allow you to volunteer, if you’re a big fan of gardening. This could prove to be a great lesson for the family. Of course, you can always make your own DIY green house if you want to spend more time with flowers and plants. Botanical gardens are a bit pricey, but when you step inside of one you will be thankful. The beautiful flowers will make you feel like you’re stepped into a tropical client, which will help warm you up and entice your imagination.
10. Amusement Park
During the winter months, a lot of parks are in the off-season because of the weather and less tourist activity. So, this could be a great time to spend at your favorite amusement park, especially if you’re looking to save a bit of money. With the off-season, tickets generally decrease in price, which will mean you can get the whole family in for a lot less than you’d have to pay during other times. You also won’t end up spending as much on food or other items in the park. Not to mention, the lines for rides won’t be so frustrating, so you might get more enjoyment out of it. Of course, with the cold weather you may have to skip out on some rides. All the same, if you do choose a park in areas that generally don’t see a lot of change, such as California or Florida, then you shouldn’t have to worry about this at all. All the same, there are some rides that shine during the winter months. So, make sure to shop around to see if you can afford an exciting getaway for your family while the parks are still not as populated or pricey.
This winter, you don’t have to stay cooped up while the snow and wind moves around you. Instead, you’ll be able to have the time of your life with your friends and family. Your budget won’t have to get in your way thanks to these ten exciting winter activities that are sure to make everyone in your family feel excited that winter has finally approached.
