If you're fortunate enough to have snow this holiday season, here are a few activities to enjoy the outdoors.
1. The basics: build a snowman and make some snow angels.
This is actually harder than it looks. Shaping those huge balls of snow will make your fingers numb, no matter how many mittens you wear.
2. Have a snowball fight.
Everyone should have a snowball fights, preferably with a sibling because there is no better feeling than hitting your brother squarely in the chest. Or even pushing a snowball into the back of his jacket.
3. Go snow tubing.
Imagine a downhill slope. You’re at the top, on your belly or back in an inflatable raft-looking object. You kick off, and zoom down the slope at at least 30 miles per hour. Unlike skiing or snowboarding, this doesn’t require any skill, is pretty cheap, and will give you an adrenaline rush that will keep you coming back.
4. Try your hand (or feet) at ice skating.
Ice skating is one of those winter activities that you don’t really have to excel at to do, particularly if you go with someone who doesn’t mind helping you up from a few tumbles. If you go to a downtown outdoor ice rink (usually at the downtown’s center along with a Christmas tree), you’ll find a lot of people don’t know how to ice skate but are still giving it a shot. In addition, skates can usually be rented at the rink, so you don’t have to lug around any expensive ice skates.
4. Go skiing or snowboarding (if you’ve got the gear).
Obviously, these require more gear than the previous suggestions, but they are no less fun and they feel pretty awesome when you master them. Snowboarding is harder than skiing so start with the easier if you’re a beginner.