Fun things to do this winter

Winter is quickly coming, and with that comes longer nights, snow and much colder weather. However, this doesn’t mean that the fun has to stop; there are tons of things to do, even in the coldest months of the year.

Whether you are someone who is going to make use of their bonus and head off to a resort for the winter or you are planning on staying at home, here are the best ways to spend your winter days.

Winter sports

There are numerous sports and activities that you just can’t do during any other time of year. Snowboarding, skiing, sledding, ice skating, Winter is the perfect time to hit the slopes or ice rinks.

Almost every Winter resort offers snowboarding and skiing lessons if you haven’t hit the slopes before. The areas you snowboard or ski on aren’t nearly as steep as the mountains, and there is little to no risk of hurting yourself.

Date nights

Sometimes it is just too cold to do anything outdoors, but there is a ton you can do indoors. Snow and the warmth of the fire is a perfect combination for romance, so date nights should be at the top of your Winter to-do list.

You don’t have to go out to a restaurant either. A delicious home-cooked meal, a couple of drinks, and a lit fire are all you need for a quiet, and most importantly, warm date night. Having dinner at home also means you can avoid the crowds.

Movie nights

Winter is also the perfect time for movie nights. Whether it’s just you and your partner or getting a group of friends together, getting cozy on the couch with some blankets and snacks is not the worst way to spend an evening.

Amazon now stocks small projectors as well, meaning you can hang up a white blanket or use a blank wall and turn your lounge into a cinema. It is most certainly a brilliant spin on the typical movie night.

Winter markets

Winter and Christmas are the time for markets. Most major cities worldwide have markets that go all through November and December, offering locals and visitors a range of Christmas goodies, food, and drinks.

If you are travelling, Germany is known as the Christmas market hub of the world, with thousands of stands and stores across multiple cities offering customers everything they need for a merry and cozy Christmas.

Camping

Winter isn’t often associated with camping, but it should be. While we all know how popular camping is in the hotter months, Winter camping is severely underrated. Being in the outdoors when it’s cold offers new experiences.

You get to see new animals and birds, the scenery changes, and the landscape evolves. Camping also allows you to experience an area that doesn’t necessarily have a hotel or something similar nearby for you to stay out.

You must remember to stay safe, though, as Winter camping does come with its challenges. You must take more care in packing Winter supplies such as a firestarter or gas for a heater, and ensure you have the tools to get your vehicle out of the snow if there happens to be a prolonged and heavy downfall.

Hobbies

If you’re stuck inside due to the cold, you can use the time to pursue any hobbies you may have. Considering many of us start a hobby but then forget it because we just don’t have the time, Winter helps you change that.

Even something as simple as reading a book. Cuddling up on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate may seem cliche and like something out of the movies, but it really is as relaxing as the actors make it out to be.

Personal growth

Much like picking old hobbies back up, the downtime associated with Winter allows you to expand your skills and knowledge. Websites like Udemy give you access to hundreds of courses on a variety of topics.

You can learn the basics of finance, map creation, video editing, and everything in between. Countless courses offer 30+ hours of video and lecturing content. Udemy also has sales multiple times a year, allowing you to purchase multiple courses for a fraction of the price.

On the other end of the spectrum, apps like Duolingo are free and give you access to 106 different language courses, broken up into multiple levels, from essential words to advanced phrases. The language variety is also incredible considering they offer more mainstream languages such as Spanish and French and more unusual ones like Navajo and Yiddish.

Explore

Being a tourist in your city is criminally underrated. No matter how long you have lived somewhere, there are dozens of exciting places that you haven’t visited yet. These range from new and exciting restaurants to eclectic art galleries and exciting museums.

Considering you are most likely going to be spending a lot of time indoors, simply Googling where the nearest gallery, museum, or exhibit is will open you up to a new world of exploration possibilities.

Many major cities offer guided tours, too, allowing you to learn about the history of specific buildings or parks that you may have visited before but had no idea about their story.

A night out

Winter nights can be brutally cold sometimes, but that doesn’t mean the party has to stop. Restaurants, bars, and clubs don’t close just because it’s Winter, and therefore you can still head out with some friends and dance the night away.

Once again, they’re another spot that will be cozy and warm, and topping it off with some good food and having fun with your friends is one of the best ways to spend the evening.

As you can tell, just because it’s Winter doesn’t mean the fun has to stop for a few months. There are so many activities and things you can do, either from the comfort of your home or in your city.

The editorial unit