Finding the Fun in Winter
Before I had kids, winter meant long months of counting down the days until spring. Then these two little winter-loving girls were born. All of the sudden winter turned into months of being…dare I say it…outside! Yeah…outside…in cold, wet snow for hours at a time. All of these new items appeared in my house like hand warmers and sleds. Snow pants somehow crept their way into my wardrobe. So that’s when I decided to give in and try to find out what the heck people like about winter. After all, I live in New England so I may as well join these snow-lovers! No one was as shocked as myself to discover I actually have fun outside. My husband says the key to enjoying winter is to make sure you’re warm, and he’s right. (Don’t tell him that! Lol) With the right clothes and toys, I found so many things I loved to do out there. Here are some of my favorites:
SNOW SHOEING
Talk about a no-skill-needed activity! If you can walk, then you can snow shoe…it’s that easy! After a fresh snowfall there’s nothing more peaceful than walking through the woods or along the side of a frozen lake. Snow shoes are pretty inexpensive and they will last you a long time. They make great snowshoes for kids as well. It’s also good to have a nice warm hat for both adults and kids!
SKIING/SNOWBOARDING
We’ve got one new snowboarder and one new skier, so we have been spending lots of time on the slopes. Unfortunately, I am not a skier…and yes…I still can’t ski after taking two seasons of lessons. (Read all about how I tried to ski at the age of 40) I know that the warmer my kids are, the longer they’ll stay on the mountain. They have really warm neck warmers and gloves. I also make sure they have hand warmers in their pockets.
SNOWMOBILING
Groomed trails, fresh snow, and a frozen lake make this a fun winter activity we can do as a family. We love to ride out into town and have lunch or to the top of a mountain to see a good view. I’m just getting the hang of it so I’m still a very slow driver but I’m getting faster each time. You always need a good set of adult and kid mittens. It’s also a good idea to have some thick snow pants (women’s, men’s, kid’s).
ICE SKATING
After the ice freezes, but before the first snowfall, the lake turns into a huge ice rink. It’s the most beautiful view and feels like it’s your own private rink. There are lots of places you can go for public skating including parks. If you have your own skates, there’s no need to rent. My girls have had these ice skates for a few years because they extend to three sizes, so you get more years out of them.
TUBING
Talk about an activity everyone in the family can do together! It is so fun to scream the whole way down the mountain as you go backwards over the hills…actually…that’s just me screaming! All you need is a tube and a hill and you’re set to go. They make so many fun tubes now!
And this tube is great too!
WINTER WALKS
Sometimes it’s nice to just get outside for some exercise and fresh air. We love to walk around the lake on days that are not bitter cold. This is an activity even our dogs can do with us! We make sure we have warm winter coats (women’s, men’s, kid’s)
SLEDDING
Just like tubing, a sled and a hill are all you need for a fun afternoon of sledding! Again, they have some amazing sleds out there now. Gone are the days of going on top of a trashcan lid! This sled looks really fast!
How about this one?
ICE FISHING
As a native New Yorker, I never knew this activity existed (except in my Chilly Willy Saturday morning cartoons). My kids get such a kick out of it while I remind myself that my husband has double-checked the thickness of the ice. I cringe every time I hear the ice move under us but I’ve learned that a nice glass (or 2) of wine quickly makes ice fishing more enjoyable! Liquid courage! Clamps are great to wear so you don’t slip on the ice.
On sunny days it’s great to sit out on the ice on a camp chair and drink a hot chocolate and Bailey’s.
What activities does your family enjoy doing in winter?
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