Winter Blues

We all get them, the holidays are over and the weather is still chilly.  The worst is when  it gets dark so early, I feel like I should be heading to bed around 5pm.  So instead of staying all cooped up inside and avoiding winter I came up with some suggestions to embrace it:

Tips for Winter Family Fun

Plan a winter drive. This can be either a short hop or a day-long trip to a beautiful location. Depending on the weather, you don’t have to get out of the car; the key here is that you find a place that’s historically and scenically interesting and appealing to everybody. Make sure you check weather conditions for your route before you go; if snow and ice threaten, plan another activity instead.

Visit a state or national park. Most state and national parks stay at least partly open during the winter months, and they offer a wonderful chance to experience the outdoors when the weather is cold. Again, call first to see if your park is going to be open, and be aware of any road closures in the park; these should be marked with signage and a barricade. Even if some roads are blocked due to snow or wind damage, many roads may still be wide open and ready to travel. Best of all, some parks charge less or even have free admission in the winter, so take advantage of the seasonal perk.

Get up a game. There’s nothing like a little pick-up flag football during the winter months. Many neighborhoods organize regular groups that meet in a park or playground every weekend. This can be a wonderful activity for you and your family to participate in. If there’s not a regular group in your neighborhood, now’s the time to start one. If you plan ahead and set an established day and time, you’ll have a better chance of getting enough people for at least two teams every week. Don’t worry, you don’t have to play if you don’t want to; you can come along as cheerleader or refreshment provider.

Whatever you do, just have fun and try and remember that winter is not ALL that bad!

 ~Grace~