Winter is here, and you know what that means…blustery days sitting by the fire, watching your favorite holiday movies, and maybe even some extra reading time if you can find some peace and quiet.
All of this probably sounds amazing until about day 3, when your kids have had plenty of screen time, your romance novel starts lagging, and all the sudden the only thing your family seems to have in common is cabin fever.
It’s not just your family who goes through this. But prioritizing spending time outside is more than just a boredom buster. It has health benefits for your whole family.
Benefits of Getting Outside in Winter
All the benefits of the outdoors you can miss out on like vitamin D to help build strong bones and fight illness. And the endorphins you get from fresh air and getting your heart rate up can help you fend off the wintertime blues, too
There are also additional perks to getting outside in winter you may not have realized, including:
- Improved vision
- A boost to the immune system
- More focus
- Enhanced creativity
And with Colorado being the sunshine state with about 300 days of sunshine, there’s no excuse to skip out on all the benefits of the outdoors!
Stay healthy and create fond memories that last a lifetime by building outdoor play into your winter schedule. And to help you out, we’ve collected a list of outdoor activities that will keep the whole family active and happy.
Whether you decide to do some sledding with a twist, learn a new winter sport or run around in a magical winter wonderland, you won’t regret getting bundled up and exploring this beautiful state in which we live.
Colorado Outdoor Adventure Parks
That’s right, adventure parks aren’t just for summer. There are plenty of winter wonderlands for your whole family to explore.
Adventure Ridge in Vail, for example, has all your favorite snow activities and then some. Hop on some snow bikes with the older kids, then take the little ones out for their own thrills like tubing or the one-of-a-kind Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster.
Keystone Kidtopia is one for the books, too, as it features seemingly every one of your child’s favorite activities from fireworks displays to cross-country skiing. They’ll even get to do a conga line with the famous mascot Ripperoo at Ripperoo’s Village Parade!
Toddlers in tow? Stop by the Snow Playground at Copper Mountain. This mini adventureland features tube rides, forts for hide and seek and plenty of snowman opportunities.
Snow Fun
We only have the snow for a few months, might as well enjoy it! Add one or all of these fun snowy day activities to your family’s winter agenda.
Enjoy some sledding with a twist at Alpine Adventures Dogsledding in Leadville. Meet the sled dogs, learn more about the purpose and history of dogsledding, then get cozy and enjoy the adventure of being pulled by an enthusiastic team of dogs through the snowy scenery.
Have you ever heard of a snowkite? Colorado Kite Force in Dillon provides the adventure of a lifetime teaching people of all ages how to sail, ski, and snowboard across Lake Dillon using a snowkite.
If your family enjoys hiking, try the ultimate challenge with the YMCA of the Rockies Mountaineering Weekend. This jam-packed weekend takes place in Estes Park February 14-17.
During your mountaineering journey your family will learn winter survival tricks, winter mountain ecology, ice climbing and more!
Guide Around an Ice Rink
Ice fishing may not be your first choice for keeping the whole family entertained for the day, but you might be surprised at the blast you could have if you do it right and hire a guide for the day.
Fishhead Outdoors hosts guided ice fishing adventures near Blue Mac Reservoirs, 11 Mile Lake and Lake Pueblo in Southern Colorado. Their guides take you through the entire process of ice fishing including prep, skills, and the most exciting moment- the big catch.
If your family is athletic and you’re looking for a new challenge, try out curling.
Start off with lessons at accredited facilities like the Broadmoor Curling Club if you happen to be near Colorado Springs, or the Denver Curling Club if you’re closer to the metro area.
After you have the 101, try it for yourselves at any one of the fantastic ice rinks Colorado has to offer like the Aspen Ice Gardens.
Special Winter Events in Colorado
Believe it or not, Colorado has outdoor events year-round and Winter is no exception. Pop a couple events on your calendar for some snowy fun.
Zoo Lights is an annual hit that takes place at the Denver Zoo. The zoo is transformed into a magical land full of elaborate light displays, animal encounters and even Santa himself.
You can also travel back in time and celebrate holiday tradition in beautiful Golden with the Olde Golden Christmas.
Taking place on the main street of Golden which is rich with history, the month-long celebration includes a candlelit walk, live theater, sparkling lights and a holiday art market.
Can you feel that? That’s the feeling of cabin fever falling away before it even arrives. Enjoy the coziness of snow days and family to the fullest now knowing that you’re saving up energy for your next grand adventure together!
For those days a jaunt to the mountains just doesn’t seem safe, we’re here for you! We offer a variety of fun and healthy activities from dance to gymnastics, even a NinjaZone! The best part? Our classes run year-round »