It's easy to let those winter blues get you down. After all, piles of grayish snow and days without a hint of sunlight are enough to get anyone down. However, in winter it's more important than ever to get out there and stay active, especially with the people who are most important.
When it comes to winter family activities, there are a few things that immediately come to mind. Rolling out the perfect snowman and building forts for snowball fights; sledding down perfectly-pressed powder. However, there are a ton of other winter activities that are fun for the whole family while helping you see the gloomiest season in en entirely different light.
Underrated Winter Sports
Skiing and snowboarding may be two other obvious choices, but there's another delightful winter activity that many people overlook: snowshoeing! Not only is snowshoeing extremely beginner-friendly, but gear is available at many ski resorts. Snowshoeing is a wonderful way of working out that makes exercise fun.
However, there are a few things to consider with snowshoeing. First, like with sledding, freshly-fallen snow is best for snowshoeing as it allows you to "float" on the surface without weighing down your feet. Additionally, you want to dress in layers so that you can remove them as you warm up, which, trust us, you will.
While you're snowshoeing, make sure to keep an eye on the world around you. Winter may not have the vibrant blooms of spring or the fiery leaves of autumn, but there is plenty of natural beauty to be enjoyed in the colder months. One way to make snowshoeing or any winter hike more enticing is to incorporate elements of a scavenger hunt.
For example, you could look for animal tracks, which are easily identifiable in the snow. You could also keep track of the different birds you see—not all feathered friends fly south in the winter! In fact, a fresh coating of snow will make it much easier to pick out the vibrant feathers of cardinals, goldfinches.
Winter Snacks & Other Delights
If you read Little House in the Big Woods growing up, we bet you came away craving some homemade maple taffy. Luckily, this French-Canadian favorite requires minimal work with delicious payoff. As a bonus, you don't need to worry about cholera or any of the other perils the Wilder family faced on the frontier.
The first step in making maple taffy is good maple syrup—not table syrup or pancake syrup. Bring your maple syrup to a sustained boil for around 20 minutes, than pour over fresh, clean snow. Popsicle sticks can make this sweet treat a little neater but no less delicious.
While s'mores are often considered a summer treat, they're just as delicious in the winter. If you have a fire pit, they're easy to make and will warm you up in no time. Or, if the weather is too nasty to go outside, you can always make s'mores over the stove and bundle up.
Lastly, there's a reason why you don't mess with the classics. Figure skating is always fun, even if you're just learning. Holding onto someone you love and keeping them upright is one of life's simple joys.
If you or your kids are a bit sportier, making a hockey rink in the backyard is much easier than you would think. Or, if you live on a one-way street, road hockey is always an option. Just be sure to watch for traffic!
