As the smell of snow fills the air and the darkness of night falls upon us earlier and earlier, it becomes clear that the fall season has come to an end and the crisp winter season is approaching. Motivation dwindles as the stress of the holidays arrives, paired with the below 20 degree weather inciting a chill in our bones. Even so, the winter season brings on the opportunity for so many activities even with the change of weather. Throw on your best sweater, fuzzy socks, and boots, because we’re going to go over the top 5 winter activities for when the cold weather has you stumped.
- Ice Skating
Whether you’ve had the opportunity to skate before or not, going ice skating in the winter season is a right of passage. There’s no skills required– failing is part of the fun. Pair with a cup of hot chocolate after, and you have a great winter day already planned!
There are so many places nearby that offer public skating sessions. This includes Montclair State Arena (formally known as Floyd Hall Arena), Codey Arena, or possibly even Grover Cleveland Park when the pond freezes over!
For more details and information about the public skates for both Montclair State Arena and Codey Arena, check out the links below where you can find information about the dates, times, pricing, and more.
Montclair State Arena: https://montclairstatearena.com/public-programs/
Codey Arena: https://essexcountyparks.org/south-mountain/codey-arena
- See Holiday Lights
No matter what holiday you celebrate in the winter season, it’s always so magical to drive around and see the lights. This activity is perfect for a cold night. Simply put on some comfy clothes, grab some blankets, make some hot chocolate, hop in the car, and it’s that simple! Put on some music (maybe Christmas carols, if you’re feeling extra seasonal.) and you’ve got the perfect night for when you’re sick of sitting in the house.
If you’re feeling adventurous and willing to brave the cold, another good option is walking around the Holiday Lights at the Turtle Back Zoo. While there aren’t any animals to see, the lights make it worthwhile to take the trip (with the right clothing on, of course). Not only does the zoo have amazing lights, but they also have fire pits and offer hot chocolate and smoke kits for purchase. Best of all, it’s free admission!
For more information on this visit the link places here: https://turtlebackzoo.com/discover/holiday-lights-spectacular/
- Go see a movie or have a movie night at home!
Let’s be honest, sometimes we don’t want to brace for the cold. Sometimes the best choice is a cozy indoor activity. On the nights where you don’t want to leave the house, the best and simplest activity is having a movie night right at home. Pick your favorite spot on the couch, fuzziest blanket, and softest sweatpants. It’s the easiest and most perfect activity.
If you’re feeling adventurous, in my opinion, winter time is perfect for the movie theater. While the comfortability of your own home is nice, there’s nothing quite like a theater. The good thing is that during this time of year, the movie theaters will sometimes not only be playing new releases, but replays of older movies as well, including some classic Christmas movies! Pick your favorite theater and grab your popcorn for a comfy night at the movies.
- Hold a Cookie Exchange
The winter months are for all the activities that bring ultimate comfort. Nothing is more comforting than baking homemade cookies! While just baking cookies is fun, it’s even better to share it with others. Hold a cookie exchange with your friends and family!
Some of the best cookies recipes found on these websites: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/
For those that are gluten-free, you can still enjoy great recipes from here: https://meaningfuleats.com/
- Build a Gingerbread House
Last but not least, a classic winter activity is building a gingerbread house! While those store bought cookies are fun in themselves, you can still make it more of a challenge. Gather your friends and family to build your gingerbread houses and make it into a competition to see who can build the best one! Gather materials such as graham crackers, marshmallows, icing, and candies. Make it even more challenging by establishing a time limit for when everyone is supposed to be done.
Enjoy the winter weather even though we are all dreaming of the warm months!
