Wintertime Fun!
It’s winter—how does a family stay active and have fun when it’s blustery and cold outside? Sure, you could join a gym, but that can be expensive, time consuming and is more of an individual activity. There are classic wintertime activities such as skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing –but they require special equipment, training and money. But never fear– there are still plenty of great ways to stay within your budget, get active and have fun together as a family. Here are a few inexpensive family activities for winter to get you started:
Sledding: I have many memories of the fun we had sledding down our hill in Maine during the winter as children and even as teens! Mom and dad didn’t join us often, but when they did, it was such fun! Laughing and acting silly together, giving big pushes, sharing a sled ride…all of these get your blood moving while building memories. And don’t worry if you don’t own a sled a piece of cardboard can be an ultra-frugal substitute.
Bowling: Bowling at your local lanes is relatively inexpensive fun for the whole family—especially if you resist the lure of nachos from the snack stand. Make it a family challenge with the girls against the boys, parents against kids or even invite another family with which you can have some friendly competition.
Roller-skating: Last winter we took the kids to a roller rink, and it was a blast! The combination of loud music and lots of movement seem to equal lots of fun for everyone. I had forgotten how enjoyable it is to whip around the corners on skates! Think it’s only for older kids? You may be pleasantly surprised many roller rinks now have events for families with young children where they can ride tricycles or be pushed in a stroller around the rink – check out your closest rink and see what kinds of events they offer.
Winter Walk/Hike: Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you have to stop walking! As long as everyone is dressed appropriately for the weather there is no reason the family can’t take a trip around the block together, head to a park or use a well cleared hiking trail. If you have snowshoes, of course, you could use them. The sights you see in the winter are far different than the summer—enjoy the differences! You may find animal tracks in the snow you’d never find other seasons, or see a breathtaking view that in summer is hidden by tree leaves. Enjoy the differences and stretch your muscles at the same time.
What winter activities does your family enjoy doing together?
Jenn Fowler is a blogger, speaker, social media consultant and ex-Army Officer. She lives in a quaint village in Upstate New York with her husband Yankee Bill and their two wild and creative children—Princess (10) and Buddy (8). When she isn’t blogging about living a good life on a budget at Frugal Upstate, she is gardening, reading, acting, crafting, cooking and knitting—although not necessarily in that order.