Cheap Winter Family Outings

In the summer, you can visit any number of places on the cheap without worrying about extra costs. The winter, however, can be a different story. Since much of the available winter outings are expensive, you really have to get creative to find ways to enjoy the winter months with your family. If you are at a loss for ideas, try these cheap winter family outings.

Cheap Winter Family Outings: The Library
Not very original, it's true, but some of my favorite childhood memories happened at the local library. Not only do libraries have plenty of books to take home, but they also have excellent programs for children. Reading groups, arts and crafts, story time and other activities can allow your kids to enjoy themselves while learning at the same time. And while the kids are busy with organized activities, the adults can kick back with a good book off the shelf and enjoy a warm, cozy place to read during the winter.

Cheap Winter Family Outings: Museums
If you live in or near a large city, it would be frugal to get a museum yearly pass. They usually cost between $25.00 and $50.00, and they will save you oodles of money on return trips. Some cities that have multiple museums even sell passes that will gain you entry into several different museums, which gives you even more bang for your buck. My wife and kids and I love to go to the museum on cold winter weekends when there isn't anything else to do.

Cheap Winter Family Outings: Sledding
If you live in a place that gets several feet of snow, you might consider investing in a few inexpensive plastic sleds. You can find them at Walmart or Costco for under $15.00, and they can provide hours of entertainment. Drag the family and the sleds to an open field or hilly area and make sure that everyone is wearing thick winter coats - for heat and for padding. This is especially wonderful if you live in a hilly area where you can build up some speed. But even if your neighborhood is mostly flat, you can still have fun dragging the kids around on the sleds.

Cheap Winter Family Outings: Hiking
Drive to the mountains or even to your local park and go hiking. The kids will love learning about the plants that thrive during the winter and they may even see different animals than they would during the summer. Although some days may be too cold for such an outdoor activity, it can be saved for a sunny afternoon when you're feeling cooped up inside the house.

Cheap Winter Family Outings: Stargazing
This can be exciting for children because they get to stay out past their bedtime, and it's exciting for adults because they can grasp the more mystical qualities of stargazing. You can stargaze from your own backyard or you can drive out to a bluff or field. Another fun winter outing is driving to a field near your local airport and watching planes take off and land.