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Winter plans can be active, cozy, free, or somewhere in between. Pick an idea that fits your local weather, the people coming along, and how much time or gear you have: a designated sledding hill or checked trail when conditions allow, a community event, or a simple indoor afternoon when they don’t. Here are more than 70 options to adapt to your area.
Snow and ice activities
These ideas depend on suitable snow, ice, facilities, or local permission. Check current conditions and rules before setting out.
Play in the snow
- Go sledding or tobogganing at a designated hill.
- Build a snowperson together and give it a name.
- Build a snow fort, leaving a clear entrance and avoiding unstable overhangs.
- Make snow angels in a safe, open area.
- Set up a snow sculpture challenge: pick a theme and see what each team can make.
- Make a short snow maze with low walls and a clear route out.
- Try a snowball target game using soft targets, not people, windows, or vehicles.
- Make a snow obstacle course on level ground, with no jumps or hidden hazards.
- Take a winter photo walk and look for patterns in snow, branches, or footprints.
Skate, ski, or slide
- Skate at an outdoor rink that is open and approved for public use.
- Try cross-country skiing on a permitted trail.
- Book a beginner lesson at a suitable downhill ski facility.
- Try snowboarding at a facility with terrain appropriate to your group.
- Go snow tubing where a local hill or facility offers it.
- Try snowshoeing on a permitted route, borrowing or renting equipment if available.
- Visit a curling club or recreation facility offering curling sessions.
- Watch a local winter sports event, then get a warm drink together.
- Take a lesson or introductory session at a local winter recreation facility.
Cold-weather outings
- Take a short winter walk through a nearby park.
- Choose an open trail for a family hike after checking its current status.
- Go birdwatching and see which species you can spot in winter.
- Look for animal tracks in fresh snow without disturbing wildlife.
- Visit a winter light display or seasonal public-art installation.
- Explore a park’s winter amenities, such as maintained trails or warming areas, if offered.
- Plan a daytime picnic with warm food and a sheltered place to sit.
- Take a scenic drive or transit trip to a nearby viewpoint, checking road and weather conditions first.
- Try ice fishing only where it is permitted and local regulations and conditions allow.
Community activities and low-cost outings
Local recreation departments, parks, libraries, and community groups may offer seasonal programs. Schedules and equipment availability change, so verify details with the organizer.
- Attend a neighborhood winter festival.
- Join a free guided outdoor outing if one is available in your area.
- Look for a community skating session or learn-to-skate program.
- Check whether a local park or recreation site lends or rents winter equipment.
- Visit a public library for a winter-themed family program.
- Explore a seasonal market and make a small treat budget before you go.
- Take a self-guided tour of holiday lights or winter decorations in your neighborhood.
- Join a community snow-clearing or park stewardship event suitable for your group.
- Watch a local hockey, skating, or curling match.
- Make a day of visiting a nearby town’s winter event; confirm dates and transport before leaving.
Indoor winter activities for any weather
When it is too cold, wet, icy, or snowless for outdoor plans, these ideas need little more than a shared space and a bit of preparation.
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#1 Best Overall
Do You Really Know Your Family? Fun Family Game for Kids, Teens and Adults
- Get ready for the best family game night as you laugh and learn new things about each other with this fun card game.
- See who really knows the family best as you answer fun questions about each other while sparking interesting conversations.
- Create hilarious family memories as you compete and perform silly challenges together.
- Super easy to learn and play - a perfect game for families with kids 8 and up, teens and adults.
At home
- Hold a board-game afternoon and let each person choose one game.
- Make a jigsaw puzzle a group project over several days.
- Bake cookies, bread, or a family recipe together.
- Host a soup or hot-chocolate tasting with a few simple toppings.
- Make paper snowflakes, cards, or winter decorations.
- Build a blanket fort and read or tell stories inside it.
- Set up an indoor scavenger hunt with clues suited to the ages in your group.
- Have a family movie night with a theme everyone agrees on.
- Make a playlist and hold a living-room dance break.
- Try a cooperative craft project, such as a shared collage or scrapbook page.
- Put on a low-key talent show with short acts, jokes, or music.
- Cook dinner together and give each person one manageable job.
- Sort and label family photos, then choose a few to print or frame.
- Learn a simple card game and teach it to someone else.
- Make a quiz about family memories, favorite films, or places you have visited.
Go somewhere indoors
- Visit a museum or gallery with an exhibit that interests your group.
- See a documentary screening or community film program.
- Swim at an indoor pool that is open to the public.
- Try an indoor climbing gym with suitable beginner options and supervision.
- Visit a bowling alley for a friendly team game.
- Go to a community recreation centre and check its drop-in activities.
- Attend a live performance, concert, or family-friendly local show.
- Explore a science centre or hands-on exhibit.
- Visit a conservatory, greenhouse, or other indoor garden if one is open nearby.
- Book a craft, cooking, or art workshop that welcomes your ages and experience levels.
How to choose the right plan
A good winter outing is one your group can enjoy safely without spending more time or money than it wants to. Compare a few practical details before committing:
- Conditions: Is the idea dependent on snow, safe ice, an open trail, or a facility that may close?
- People: Will children, older relatives, beginners, or anyone with mobility or sensory needs be comfortable with the activity?
- Cost and gear: Ask about admission, equipment, clothing, and whether borrowing or rental is available locally. Montréal, for example, describes free neighborhood activities and equipment borrowing or rental at some sites; that is a local example, not a general guarantee. City of Montréal winter activities
- Time and travel: A nearby rink or short walk may work better than a full-day trip, especially with young children.
- Effort: Mix higher-energy plans with relaxed alternatives, and make it easy for someone to sit out or take a break.
- Backup: Have an indoor option ready if weather, closures, or conditions change.
Official parks and recreation pages list activities such as skating, sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, and winter walks, but what is offered depends on location and conditions. See the National Park Service winter sports guide and Washington State Parks’ non-motorized winter recreation page for examples of local offerings. Check the relevant local authority for current availability, rules, and rentals.
Rank #2
Sale
Sorry! Board Game for Kids Ages 6 and Up; Classic Hasbro Board Game; Each Player Gets 4 Pawns; Family Game
- GAME OF SWEET REVENGE: Enjoy classic Sorry! gameplay with this Sorry! board game for kids. It's an edge-of-your-seat race to home, so hurry up and get there first
- FIRST ONE HOME WINS: Who will be the first player to get all 3 of their pawns to the home space? But watch out! Players can get "sweet revenge" by sending each other's pawns back to the starting point
- SO MANY POSSIBILITIES: Slide, collide, and score to win the Sorry! game. This family game for kids and adults features so many possibilities depending on the card picked up and strategy chosen
- CLASSIC SORRY! GAMEPLAY: Remember playing the original Sorry! game as a kid? Bring back memories of playing the Sorry! game with family members and introduce it to a new generation
- FAMILY GAME NIGHT FAVORITE: A go-to game for family time or anytime indoor fun, the Sorry! game for kids is one of the best family games for game night
Winter activity safety basics
Before an outdoor plan, check weather, closures, trail status, facility updates, and local rules. Health Canada recommends dressing in warm layers, keeping dry, checking equipment, drinking fluids, using sunscreen, choosing protective gear appropriate to the activity, and supervising young children. Its winter sports and recreation safety guidance includes further activity-specific advice.
Quick Recap
SaleBestseller No. 2
Best Value
Official Hasbro Games Jenga Game | Digital Die for 6 More Ways to Play | Original Wood Block Game | Stacking Tower | Ages 6+ | 1+ Players | Party Games
- INTRODUCING A DIGITAL DIE: More suspense, more surprises, more laughs! In this Jenga game, enjoy the classic Jenga gameplay fans love—or dare to play it with the digital die for added challenges
- 6 MORE WAYS TO PLAY: Roll the digital die for unpredictable challenges: play using thumbs only, race against the clock, and more! (To download the die onto a phone, scan the in-pack QR code or access the web app. No additional purchase needed)
- HILARIOUS CHALLENGES: Actions like “Team-Up” amp up the fun! A player who rolls it selects another player to act as their eyes. The other player can guide their arm, but can’t touch the tower—or topple it
- EXCITING GAME FOR PARTIES OR SOLO PLAY: The Jenga game for kids and adults is the wooden block balancing game livening up parties for generations. No friends around? No problem. Play solo to beat a personal best
- GENUINE WOOD BLOCKS: The Jenga party game includes 54 precision crafted wooden blocks. Pull out a block, place it on top, but don't let the tower fall in this original wood block game
Rank #4
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Card Game by Taco Cat Games, Age 7+, 2-8 Players
- Fast-Paced Fun for All Ages: Engage in a lively game where players race to match cards with spoken words like "Taco," "Cat," "Goat," "Cheese," and "Pizza." Designed for 2–8 players aged 7 and up, each round lasts just 10–15 minutes, making it perfect for quick family card games or travel entertainment. Its simplicity and speed ensure everyone stays engaged and laughing.
- Simple Rules, Wild Gameplay: Players take turns playing cards while chanting the game's title in order. When a spoken word matches the card played, everyone races to slap the pile and the last one to do so takes the cards! Add in surprise action cards and it becomes a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud competition that's easy to learn but hard to stop playing.
- Card Games for Families and Social Events: Whether it's a holiday gathering, birthday party, or casual get-together, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a go-to choice. Its easy-to-learn rules and engaging gameplay make it a hit among both kids and adults. It's also a top pick for stocking stuffers and Easter baskets, offering fun without the need for screens.
- Portable Entertainment for On-the-Go Fun: Compact and lightweight, this card game is travel-friendly, making it an excellent companion for road trips, vacations, or family outings. Its quick setup and short playtime ensure that you can enjoy a fun-filled game session anytime, anywhere.
- Boosts Cognitive Skills and Reflexes: Beyond entertainment, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza helps develop important skills such as concentration, pattern recognition, and fine motor coordination. Players must stay alert and think quickly, making it both a fun and mentally stimulating activity for all ages.
Rank #3
Sale
Spin Master Games Hedbanz Picture Guessing Game for Family Game Night
- All New Game: It's the 2nd edition of the quick question “what am I?” Game. Includes 6 new bands- dino, narwhal, robot, flower, butterfly, & brain
- Simple To Play: Pick a headband, place a card in it and play to figure out what's shown on your card. Using yes/no questions, be the first to guess 3 cards correctly and you win
- Family Game Night: Hedbanz is a must-have in your collection of family games for kids and adults. It is for everyone ages 6 and up. For 2-6 players, bring along when you are in need of fun board games for family night
- Funny Random Stuff For Family Game Night: Throw the best party, birthday, game night & Friendsgiving with new party games, family board games & card games for teens & adults
- Spin Master Toys & Games: Looking for kids games, yard games & card games for grown ups, kids or teens? Shop everything from family game night, travel games, puzzles for adults & family games
- Skating: Use a rink or other area approved and checked for skating. Do not assume a pond, lake, or canal is safe because it looks frozen; consult local authorities and current ice-safety advice. Conditions can vary across a body of water and change quickly. HealthyChildren.org’s winter safety guidance also cautions families about outdoor ice.
- Sledding: Choose a designated slope away from roads, parking areas, trees, rocks, signs, and fences. Sit or kneel upright and go feet-first rather than head-first; supervise children and keep the run clear.
- Hiking: Check the trail’s current condition and match the route to your group. Where a route is icy, traction devices may help reduce slips; the Rocky Mountain National Park winter recreation page recommends considering traction for icy footing. That advice is specific to conditions and is not a blanket requirement for every winter walk.
- All activities: Inspect equipment, take breaks to warm up, keep clothing dry, and use helmets or other protective gear appropriate to the activity. Follow local instructions and stop if conditions become unsafe.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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