Enjoy the Snow with this Roundup of Fun Winter Activities for You and Your Kids

Fun Winter Activities the Whole Family Will Enjoy

By Cynthia J. Drake | Published on March 23, 2022

And you're off! You're flying, your cheeks are red from the wind, chips of ice are shooting up like sparks, and you're letting out a holler all the way down. You're zipping down a snowy hill on a sled, your kid is next to you on a sled of their own, racing you to the bottom. This is what a winter vacation is all about, unleashing your inner child with fun winter activities by turning them into games in snow while bonding with family despite the cold and early sunsets.

Fun Winter Activities for Family Vacations in Russia

If you think about a vacation in winter, you may picture yourself fleeing the cold and heading for breezy palm trees, glistening sand, and warm sun, but an active, snowy holiday vacation can be just as great of an escape. This season is an exciting time to travel the world, exploring different holiday cultures and experiencing winter in a faraway land. Whether that means traveling to a fantastically snow-covered destination like Switzerland or Russia, or staying a little closer to home and wandering around a chilly city like Portland, Maine, or New York City, the winter season has so much to offer.

Plan The Best Winter Vacation Ideas

Photo Backdrop Winter Vacation Ideas in Switzerland

Though you'll have your pick of things to do in the snow, cozy indoor sightseeing on a winter vacation to a museums or movies inside with the fireplace to warm up is still a great idea for family bonding. There is so much fun to be had outside with your whole family — including the kids and the kids-at-heart — anywhere it snows there will activities for everyone. To make it a little more exciting, and to keep your spirits up, challenge each other to a little friendly competition. Whether you're walking in a winter wonderland near or far from home, this time spent bonding with your family will warm you up with a whole lot of laughter, creating memories you'll cherish forever.

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Discover the beloved pastime of having fun in the snow with your family on a cruise to Alaska.

Places To Go In Winter For Traveling

A postcard-esque winter vacation idea like traveling to the Swiss or French Alps for a breathtaking backdrop on an adventurous ski trip with the whole family. If you've never learned to ski or snowboard (or it's been a while since you've hit the slopes), sign your family up for private or group lessons. Most ski hills offer lessons for skiers as young as 2 or 3 years old, and you're never too old to learn! As you develop your skills and find your ski legs, race each other to the bottom of the hill, or compete to see who can rip the most moguls on a black diamond. To sweeten the pot, the winner gets extra marshmallows in their hot chocolate.

Hiking in Snow on Holiday Vacation in Sumava, Czech Republic

If your family is seeking a thrill that's a little less intense, head to flatter terrain for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, both of which can be accomplished with minimal instruction, while still providing a physical challenge as well as a great family bonding experience. When seeking places to go in the winter for prime cross-country skiing head toward British Columbia and Norway as they are near many of the great downhill ski resort destinations. Fortunately, in the U.S. speed isn't the goal here, enjoying the natural environment is — so make a game out of spotting as many different varieties of wildlife as possible along the way. A deer! A bunny! An elk! A moose! Your kids will have so much fun shouting out the name of the animal and enjoying its beauty from afar.

Unleash Your Inner Child With Snow Activities On Your Trip

Sledding Down a Snowy Hill during Winter Vacation in Japan

As a kid looking for things to do in the snow, the greatest wintertime rush is careening down a snowy hill on a sled or tube, all while unleashing your loudest scream while going what feels like 100 mph. You can revisit this magical feeling with your own family while making games in the snow. Winter activities for kids, like playing on snowy hillsides, can be done with minimal equipment as long as you're in proximity to a reasonably steep snow-covered slope. Rediscover the beloved pastime of having fun in the snow with lesser-known winter cruises to destinations like Japan and Dubai, or throughout the eastern, western and midwestern U.S., at any family-friendly resort, or in your own backyard. Up the ante by creating a new family-friendly dare every time you head down the hill. For example: Stick your tongue out, make a funny face, or shout out your favorite color. You'll be belly laughing all the way down. And since everyone's least favorite part is climbing back up the hill, make a game of that, too, and see who can race up the fastest.

Take a Winter Cruise to Ice Skate in Red Square. Moscow, Russia

If you're used to spending the cold months indoors cozied up by the fire, discovering a fun wintertime sport may be just what you need, and perhaps it holds the key to unlocking a new tradition for your family. There are some truly iconic ice skating rinks throughout the world like London's Hyde Park, the 10th floor of the Eiffel Tower, Red Square in Moscow, St. Basil's Cathedral, and, of course, New York's Rockefeller Center. The rinks dazzle during the holidays with twinkle lights and grandiose Christmas trees, making you feel like you're inside a snowglobe. But no matter where you choose to hit the ice, for kids and novice skaters, there are so many options to help you gain confidence on skates, from double-bladed skates, which add more stability, to skate aids, which you can hold on to for support.

Assuming your family isn't composed of Olympic skating hopefuls, create a silly skating competition where each family member must come up with the most ridiculous and outrageous ice dancing routine — chicken flaps and booty shakes are highly encouraged. Bonus points if sequins and music choreography are involved. You'll have so much fun on the ice, you won't even care if you fall!

This is what a winter vacation is all about, unleashing your inner child with fun winter activities by turning them into games in snow while bonding with family despite the cold and early sunsets.

Discover Simpler Games For Snowy Thrills At Home

Family Bonding over Games in the Snow, New York, NY

Children know the singular joy of creating snow sculptures from nothing but frozen precipitation, but all too often, adults lose touch with their snowman-building skills. Building a snowman can be one of those winter activities for kids that we might be missing in our adulthood so don’t be shy when asking for help from your children. Playing games in snow like a fun snowman-building tournament can truly support in rediscovering your winter activity skills. Pull out old earmuffs, scarves, and gloves, and don't forget to garnish with a carrot nose and all the rest of the iconic final touches. Then, inject a little lighthearted chaos into your careful snowman construction with a snowball fight. Kids will love the continuous cycle of creation and destruction, so let them take aim at your snowman, followed by a few vigorous rounds of snow angel-making. They'll have fun rebuilding everything again tomorrow.

Making Winter Activities with Hot Chocolate Games. New York, NY

At the end of the day, when you're sweaty, snow-covered, and exhausted from all your winter family fun, it's time to head inside for mugs of decadent hot chocolate. If you're feeling fancy, make the good stuff using quality cocoa plus fresh milk or cream, and create a "toppings bar" with marshmallows, sprinkles, and candies, plus peppermint sticks for garnish. Find out who can make the most outrageous mug of hot cocoa, decking out your drink with the most amount of toppings, guaranteeing a sugar crash. Then, it's time for a round of family selfies — with requisite whipped cream mustaches, of course. As you snuggle with your family, sipping hot chocolate and watching a seasonal movie, soak up the wintry moment. Before you know it, the snow will melt and another season will be here.

Written By
CYNTHIA J. DRAKE

Cynthia J. Drake is an award-winning freelance writer in Austin, Texas, whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Wine Enthusiast, House Beautiful, Southern Living, Cruise Critic, AAA, Texas Monthly, and others. She specializes in writing about food, cruise travel, family travel, and off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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