Feeling stuck on ideas for spending time outdoors this Winter? We’ve got you covered! There are sooo many options for getting outside on your own or with your kids in the Winter, so pick one of the 25 activities below and get out there!
We’ve split these activities into 3 categories; the first includes activities that you can go do right now for free, the second category includes activities that might involve a little bit more planning or expense and in the third category are bigger adventures that you’ll need to plan in advance! Pick an activity that fits your needs for time, cost and location!
Local/Free Activities:
Go play in your yard or a nearby field/park. There are so many things you can do right outside your own door. Some ideas…
- Build a snowman or other snow sculpture
- Build a snow fort, igloo or quinzee
- Have a snowball fight – this mama’s rule is ‘no snowballs above the neck’.
- Make snow angels
- Shovel – somehow this is a fun activity for my kids!
- Take a walk around your neighborhood – you could do a scavenger hunt to mix it up!
- Go birdwatching – if you bring bird seed along you might even be able to make some new friends!
- Stargazing – there’s something magical about looking up at the stars on a clear crisp Winter night and the stars are out earlier, so you don’t even have to keep your kids up past bedtime!
- Campfire – if you have access to a firepit, sitting around a Winter campfire is a lot of fun!
If you head just a bit further from home…
- Go tobogganing – find a nearby hill (it doesn’t have to be big), get some toboggans (you can get inexpensive ones that work great) and get going. If you haven’t been sledding lately, you should try it! I had forgotten how much fun sliding down a hill can be!
- Play at a playground – yes, playgrounds still work in the winter, even the swings! You need to be a bit careful on slippery surfaces, but otherwise, go ahead and play!
- Go for a hike – this is our favorite winter activity; it’s super accessible and lots of fun! Find some nearby (or further away) trails and get out! While you’re hiking, make sure to take time to play along the way. Some things we like to do on our hikes are have snowball fights, bury each other in snow, build snowmen, walk along snowy logs, make snow angels, slide around, shake snow off of trees, go belly ‘bogganing… so many things to do and explore!
Activities that require a bit more planning:
- Skating – check out your local arenas or outdoor rinks, many have free public skates throughout the week. If you don’t own your own equipment, find an arena that has rentals. Don’t forget to bring a helmet for the kids!
- Cross country skiing – many conservation areas and parks have equipment available to rent. Grab your gear and hit the trails in a new way!
- Snowshoeing – you can also usually find somewhere to rent snowshoes. This can be a good way to get off the beaten track and explore where there’s deeper snow.
- Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding – skiing is our new favorite thing! The kids have been twice now and are doing AMAZING. We put them in private lessons the first day and found that super helpful as we didn’t feel confident teaching them ourselves (it was also Graham’s 1st time ever skiing!). Lift tickets, rentals and lessons can get quite pricey, so make sure to check for deals at your ski club. We saw lots of little kids snowboarding too, but decided to start our kids with skiing (even though we are snowboarders ourselves).
- Snow tubing – similar to sledding, but usually much faster in designated tracks!
- Sleigh ride – find somewhere nearby that offers horse drawn sleigh rides and enjoy the view!
- Visit an ice castle or local festival – many towns have outdoor activities happening throughout the Winter. Look up a local event and check it out!
- Canoeing – as long as the water isn’t frozen, you can get out in your canoe! Please follow water safety and check the water conditions ahead of time.
Big Trip Activities:
- Ice fishing – you can book an ice fishing package with a local company if you are new to ice fishing!
- Snowmobiling – rent a snowmobile and spend the day exploring!
- Ice climbing – book with a local guide company and set out to climb some ice covered rock or waterfalls!
- Camping – technically you can tent camp in the winter. Graham’s done it, me not so much! Many campgrounds have heated huts, yurts & cabins that provide a great home base for exploring! You can also build an igloo or quinzee and spend the night in your snow structure.
- Dog sledding – we haven’t brought the kids dog sledding yet, but Graham and I have been ourselves and loved it. If you’re looking for something bigger to do, research a dog sledding tour and book your trip! You can do a day trip or multiple days with camping!
***In order to maximize your time & fun outdoors, make sure that you as adults participate too! Get down and make snow angels with you kids, rent skis for yourself too, don’t be afraid to toboggan down the hill! Getting involved yourself has two main benefits: you’ll stay warm & you’ll enjoy the time outside so much more!
Now that you have some new ideas for getting outdoors, get out and enjoy the Winter!
