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30+ Fun Outdoor Winter Activities to Enjoy with Kids

Last Updated on December 3, 2025 by Audrey

Getting outside in the winter is one of our family’s favorite things to do! From downhill skiing to winter camping, there’s a lot to do and explore during the colder months. While most of these are based on our experience living in a location with cold weather, you’ll find a lot of these ideas can be adapted for warmer climates. These outdoor activities are the perfect way to make the most of outdoor play in the winter! 

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Why are my kids’ faces blurred? I’ve made the decision to protect their privacy going forward by hiding their identity. I understand there are older posts on here that show their faces, but as of 2025 forward that’s no longer the case. With the rise of AI images, I don’t want my children’s likeness used to train Generative AI.

1. Build a snowman

A classic choice, the first thing my kids want to do when it snows is build a snowman! We opt to use parts of nature to build the features on our snowpeople, choosing rocks and sticks for the face. 

2. Go sledding

Choose a hill that’s clear of hazards and have a great time sledding! Since we live in the country (and in the mountains!) this is an activity my kids do all the time! If you live in a more urban area, be sure to search for a local sledding hill to visit. Sledding is a great way to burn off energy on a snowy day. 

get the perfect snowsuits for sledding

3. Build a campfire

We love having campfires in the summer, so why not bring that tradition year round? A super fun way to build a campfire in the winter is to take a hike to a location and build one there! For us, we have several fire rings on the property we live at, so after a big outdoor adventure, ending at a fire ring and building a fire is the perfect way to warm up and extend the outdoor fun. Alternatively, you could use a propane fire pit. We love ours and use it often in the cold winter months while camping in our camper. 

4.Take a night hike

We all know that it becomes dark MUCH earlier in winter. Where we live, it’s dark by 4 PM in December. My kids get out of school at 3:30, and we have a twenty minute drive home. Spending time outside each day is one of our family’s priorities, so almost all our kids’ outside play takes place in the dark during the winter! One of our favorite things to do as a family is to take a night hike.

We gear up with our warm layers, grab a flashlight, and challenge ourselves to walk in the dark without​ turning that flashlight on! Sometimes we can do it easily, especially on a clear night. But we don’t see very many cloud-free days in the winter, so often this challenge ends with seeing who turns their light on first. Getting outside, even when the days are short is so important! Make the most out of those dark days with night adventures. 

5. Have a picnic

There’s nothing more fun than eating outside! Even when the weather is chilly, packing a picnic can be a memorable experience for the whole family. A few ways to make the most of a winter picnic is by packing hot foods in a thermos. We love having chili and cornbread on a picnic. Picnic locations can be anywhere from your own backyard, a local state park, or the back of your car at the ski hill! Be sure to up the fun with a propane fire pit. 

6. Take a hot cocoa hike

I’m a huge fan of taking a winter walk, but my kids don’t always share my enthusiasm for going hiking. One way I’ve found to get the whole family pumped about taking a winter hike is by incorporating their favorite wintry beverage- hot chocolate! I pack the hot cocoa in a thermos, bring the kids stainless steel mugs, and get some of their friends to join in the adventure. Hiking to an overlook or a cool destination makes the hot chocolate hike even better. 

7. Explore an icy shore

Our kids have been lucky enough to grow up near a lake their whole lives, and one of their very favorite activities is playing near an icy shore. We love throwing rocks and seeing if we can break through the thin ice, picking up pieces and studying the ice with a magnifying glass, or just observing the ice formations. If you live in a very cold climate and the ice is thick enough, you can even go explore on the ice. For the most part, we haven’t been able to experience that since we left Minnesota. However, we always love playing with the ice along the shore of our home lakes. 

8. Try cross-country skiing

I’ll be the first to admit that cross country skiing isn’t my favorite winter time activity. I’m 100% a downhill skier. With that being said, there’s something magical about exploring a quiet forest by cross country skis. We’ve even made our own cross country ski tracks in our own backyard. The kids love trying new, fun activities, and cross country skiing is one of those extra fun challenges that they’re more excited about than I am. (It’s the downhill. Why does it feel like my ankle is going to snap?!) 

9. Go snowshoeing

A great way to mix up a winter hike is by going snowshoeing. Snowshoes are the perfect activity for deep powder days when you want to explore the forest. They can feel challenging to walk in if it’s your first time, but after a few tries you can find your rhythm. Be sure to choose snowshoes that fit you and your kids! This is another peaceful way to get outside and enjoy the beauty of winter days. 

10. Visit a hot spring

If you’ve been here awhile, you’ll know I am obsessed with hot springs! They are one of my favorite things to do, regardless of the time of year. However, the winter is the perfect time to visit a hot springs. There’s something so amazing about soaking in hot water while the world around you is covered in ice and snow. We’ve preferred going to developed hot springs with our kids in the winter. It’s easier logistic-wise to choose a location that has bathroom and changing facilities when it’s cold outside vs. hiking into a hot springs, changing, and trying to keep everyone’s stuff dry while we soak. However, that was one of my favorite pre-kid activities with my husband, and I can’t wait for the kids to be a bit older and up for the challenge! 

Read about hot springing with kids!

11. Paint the snow!

Painting the snow is a fun and easy activity that’s perfect for younger children. We fill used ketchup bottles with water and food coloring and use that to “paint” the snow. We’ve even built a snowman and painted them with food coloring! This is such an low-prep and easy activity that is very fun and engaging for kids. This is also a great activity to teach toddlers or preschoolers about different colors and what happens when colors mix. 

12. Go eagle watching

Some of the best times of year to observe bald eagles is during the winter. We have an area nearby where hundreds of eagles gather for the winter, and it’s an easy walk to view them. However, even my family home in Oklahoma has areas where eagles can be observed in the winter. Be sure to do your research to find the best location to view these majestic birds in action! 

13. Have a snowball fight

This is an addition straight from my son! He, of course, loves doing snowball fights. One of the best things about snowball fights is including plenty of other people, so this is a great activity for larger groups where everyone is excited to play! Be sure to put some parameters in place– nobody likes getting hit in the face with a slushy snowball. 

14. Visit a cabin in the woods

​Some of my favorite experiences with our family have been visiting off the grid cabins out in the woods. There’s just something so cool about getting away from it all and hunkering down in a cozy cabin. You can find low-cost cabin rentals at recreation.gov​. Some aren’t open year round, but there are plenty that are still available to rent throughout the winter. It’s a great place to disconnect from the busy world around us and reconnect with the people who matter most. 

15. Make frozen bubbles

If you’re getting very cold temperatures, grab your bubbles and bubble wand and head outside to make frozen bubbles! Simply blow the bubbles and watch as they freeze and form crystals in the frosty air. 

16. Make a bird feeder

This is another regional activity. We, unfortunately, don’t seem to have much luck with getting birds to visit in the winter, and I think that’s because most migrate further south. However, we have made simple bird feeders using a pinecone, peanut butter, and bird seed! Try it out and see if you can attract some birds to your pinecone birdfeeder! 

17. Follow animal tracks

While we may not have many songbirds overwinter near us, we do have plenty of other critters! Some of my favorite memories of winter days with my little ones was spent following rabbit, squirrel, deer, and turkey tracks through the snow. Even as they’ve grown older, we still like the find and follow animal track through the forest (and even in our front yard!) The craziest we’ve seen were wolf in Minnesota and mountain lion in Montana! Yikes… 

18. Do a color hike

We often think about winter as lacking color, but if you and your kids intentionally go outside to spot different colors you’ll be amazed at everything you can find! One fun way to do a color hike is to pick up a variety of paint swatches at the store and try to color match as you explore!

19. Build a snow fort

If you find yourself with a lot of snow, consider building a snow fort! This is definitely something my kids love to do with my husband. He digs the fort, makes sure it’s structurally safe, and they spend hours outside playing with him, helping him improve the fort, and adding fun additions like slides and caves. This is an activity that’s best done with some adult supervision to ensure that your snow fort is sturdy. If you don’t have very much snow this winter, consider building a shelter in the woods with fallen branches! 

20. Try ice skating

Ice skating is a great winter time activity that can be done in urban settings. Personally, we have an outdoor ice skating rink in our town and it makes the perfect family activity to do over Winter Break. 

21. Visit a playground

I don’t know about you, but my kids love going to the playground when it’s snowy and cold! Sliding fast down the slides, clearing the play structures of snow, and making new friends in the snow are all part of the fun! Be sure to layer up so everyone stays warm and dry. 

read about layering for winter

22. Create a wreath or garland

This may be a regional activity for us, but living in an area with an abundance of Douglas fir trees means we can easily gather branches from a live tree and create our own wreaths and garland. Cutting some other tree branches for variety, plus finding old rosehips and other interesting finds makes homemade garland and wreaths beautiful!

23. Visit a local nature center

Whether it’s a state park or a nature center, visiting these locations in the winter and be an fun and informative experience for the whole family! We used to visiting one in Montana that included informational hikes, and seasonal activities for our kids. 

24. Go downhill skiing or snowboarding

​Is it even a list written by me if I don’t suggest going downhill skiing or snowboarding? this is the activity our family is doing the most in the winter (like almost every weekend!) However, beginning to downhill ski or snowboard can feel like a daunting task. Check out my full articles on saving money, getting little kids skiing, and even gear recommendations for skiing. 

25. Try winter camping!

When I say winter camping, what I mean is camping in a camper. At least that’s the way we choose to camp in the winter! If you’re an outdoor family that’s tent camping in the winter, I applaud you! You don’t have to have something very fancy to winter camp in your camper. We use a 1970s Bell Camper with a diesel heater. We typically bring our camper to the ski hill with us to make the most out of our ski weekends. We choose to dry camp, so we bring our own water, use a portable toilet for number 1 and use a vault toilet for other business. Everyone stays cozy and warm, camping on the propane stove is simple, and we use electric lanterns to light up the camper. 

26. Go snowskating

This is another addition thanks to my son! Snowskating is similar to snowboarding and skateboarding. Honestly, I stick to the sled, but my husband and kids love to hope on a snowskate and see how far down the hill they can stay on. Another great snowskate activity is to build a small park in your backyard, complete with jumps, rails, and other features. 

27. Do a neighborhood scooter light tour

​As I’ve shared, we live out in the country. We don’t have any neighbors nearby and very few people put lights up where we live. However, my kids grandparents live in a neighborhood in town and one of their favorite Christmas traditions is riding their scooters through the neighborhood to look at the lights. This is the perfect, active after school activity for snow-free days. 

28. Go ice fishing

Ice fishing is such a Minnesota tradition that our family embraced while we lived in that region! If you choose to try ice fishing, be sure to learn all about how to safely go out on the ice, as well as what the regulations are for your area. Even though my son was only a toddler, he loved catching fish from the ice, and I know it’s memories my husband cherishes for that time in our lives. 

29. Take a snowmobile tour

If you’re looking for a high adventure activity, consider renting snowmobiles and going on a snowmobile tour! Tours like this are available throughout the west and make such a great and unique experience without taking on the expense of purchasing a snowmobile setup. Another perk of most snowmobile tours is they include some of the other activities listed here, such as having a campfire or a picnic outside! 

30. Visit a historical center

Be sure to look at your local historical centers, but many often will do winter or Christmas themed activities. A very memorable experience for me was visiting This is the Place, a State Park in Utah and learning how settlers survived the brutal winters in the region. 

31. View the Northern Lights

Have you noticed that the Northern Lights have been visible further south recently? That’s because we’ve been experiencing historical solar flares, allowing even southern states to take in the Northern Lights! Be sure to download an app that can inform you of viewings nearby. We’ve had the opportunity to take in the Northern Lights several times in recent years just by stepping out into our own backyard!

The Best Winter Activities with Kids

This list contains some of the most fun activities to do with kids during the winter. What do you think? What’s your family’s favorite winter activities?

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