Most people that live near the snow dread the winter because it means “you’re stuck inside” all the time. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way! Winter is one of our favorite seasons, not just because the snow makes everything a winter wonderland, but because there is such a plethora of activities to do outdoors. And yes, even with kids! With the proper winter clothing to keep warm and the right equipment to have fun, we promise you’ll not only enjoy your time exploring the outdoors in the winter, you’ll want to do it more!
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We’ve listed our 6 best outdoor winter activities with kids. Some of these you might have done, but some you may have not. In addition, we’ve made it easy for you to find the right gear for each activity so nobody is complaining of the cold and everybody is having fun!
Sledding/Tubing
This activity is a no-brainer as practically anyone that has lived or visited the snow has tried this popular winter sport. Sledding isn’t just fun for kids though, it is great fun for adults too (making you feel like a kid again!). You want to make sure that the whole family is properly equipped with the right clothing to stay warm, to include a warm, water-resistant proof jacket or shell (with layers like fleece underneath), water-resistant/proof snow pants, wool socks, snow boots (a must!), warm water-resistant gloves (another must), a hat or beanie to keep your head and ears warm (or a helmet, better yet, if you’re worried about safety).
And then all you need is a hill and a sled! We love this Lucky Bums sled because it’s sturdy and you can fit two people on it. You also can’t go wrong with a flying saucer. Another thing to try instead of the traditional sled is a kayak! We have yet to try this, but it looks like so much fun and we can’t wait to do this.
Snowshoeing
This activity is one of our family favorites. And the best part is, it is inexpensive and easy to learn too. We love being in the mountains, especially after a fresh snowstorm. Snowshoeing is a great way to enjoy the quiet and stillness of the wilderness (it’s especially magical in winter), but also get a good workout too! Snowshoes make a hike in the snow much easier, and don’t forget poles (we recommend adjustable ones). You can look up local trails in your area (even a park!) and then go right after a big snowstorm.
One tip we suggest when finding a trail is to plan on taking almost double the time since hiking in snow takes longer than hiking on dry land. That’s why we suggest picking an easy, short trail and going from there. We love this pair of Alps snowshoes, because they are reasonably priced, plus they come with trekking poles! Kids snowshoes come in different sizes too, so make sure you research what size to get.
Nordic Skiing
If you want to learn a new sport and get one of the best total body workouts, Nordic skiing is it. It doesn’t have to be difficult though, you can pick a nice, flat trail and start out easy. But be prepared to work your legs and your upper body! You can rent gear or purchase your own if you love it and plan to do it often. We suggest renting or buying used equipment first before purchasing newer equipment since brand new Nordic skis and boots can be more expensive.
Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding
Hands-down skiing is our favorite family winter sport. We started teaching our kids to ski when they were just 3 or 4 years old (those days were exhausting!), but as they grew older, it started paying off. For us, it’s one of the best ways to enjoy the winter, get outdoors and be in the mountains and have FUN together. If you’ve never tried skiing or snowboarding, we definitely recommend renting equipment or buying used equipment first since it can be quite an investment to purchase new gear.
We’ve always bought our kids’ ski gear at a local ski swap or Play-It-Again-Sports (it’s a consignment store for sporting equipment). Great deals! We also suggest buying a size or two up in boots when you purchase gear for your kids, as they grow fast. That way they can wear it for at least two seasons! Taking ski lessons can also accelerate the learning curve and make it more fun for all too.
Ice Skating on a Lake
Ice skating indoors can be a lot of fun, but ice skating outdoors on a lake, canal/river, or pond is even more fun!! There’s nothing more magical than gliding around on a frozen body of water in the middle of winter!
Fat Biking
Fat biking is quickly becoming one of the most popular winter sports and for good reason: it’s an absolute BLAST!! The first time we tried fat biking was last year and we all loved it so much! Luckily, we live near the mountains so there are plenty of trails to do this on. Fat bikes are like mountain bikes but with wide, knobby tires to give you good traction on the snow. We started fat biking on a nice, groomed trail to give the kids a good sense of it, and then we eventually worked our way to some single track trails and it was so much fun!
The great thing about fat biking is if you fall, it doesn’t hurt since you’re falling on snow. Most bike shops carry fat bike rentals (especially if you live somewhere there is snow), so it can be a fairly inexpensive activity to try out as a family. You can even hook up a bike trailer to a fat bike for the little ones!
Fat biking near McCall, Idaho