Fun Winter Activities I Enjoy

I have always been an active person. Television has never been on the top of my entertainment list. It really doesn't matter what season it is, I want to have fun! It seems like a lot of friends of mine stay indoors too much in the cold season. I consider myself lucky to have a few friends that enjoy getting out and doing things as much as I do. When the thermometer drops and the frost hits the windows, there's still plenty of things to do inside and out to have fun. Here's a few of my favorite things to do in winter.

Sled Rides :
When the snow hits in Saint Louis, I'm off to Forest Park to sled ride on Art Hill. I have a girlfriend that went to kindergarten with me that to this day will call me if we get a good snow and ask if I'm ready. We've gone at some pretty wild hours over the years. I can remember one year when she called me at one in the morning to look out and see the snow. As soon as I saw it , I started putting on layers of clothes. It's quite a tradition in Saint Louis to sled ride on Art Hill. There must be a lot of people just as crazy about it as my friend and myself. No matter what time we've ever gone there, there's always been a crowd and a good fire to get warm by. So, the next time it snows, get out and dust off your old sled. It doesn't matter where you live. Wear your best boots and plenty of layers and go have some fun!

Ice Skating :
Almost every city has an indoor ice rink. I personally prefer the older outdoor rinks. Either way, winter is a great time to go ice skating. There's just something about it. I've never been good at it. I wobble out to the ice on my skates and can count on landing on my behind several times on my first lap. It's still fun. I love going in for some hot chocolate during the break when they clean the ice. I also love the smell of the fire outside that people stand around to get warm and chat. People of all ages go and it's just a great place to get out and enjoy. Remember to wear layers and if you're a novice skater you might even want to pad your behind. Wear a longer coat and no one will notice.

Baking Cookies :
As much as I love getting out in the cold, I also find it lovely and fun to do something warm in the house. Baking cookies is an event at my house. I always get friends and family to help. Everybody brings over something to add to the mix. We share jobs or even have separate jobs and sit around enjoying each other's company as we go about them. There's so many kinds of cookies to bake but for fun , cut out shapes are best. I have all the standard cookie cutters and they're fun. It's even more fun to come up with some of your own ideas for shapes and patterns. If your family and friends are as humorous as mine, there's no telling what they might shape their cookies like. Let everyone have fun with it and get your fingers all gooey decorating them with icing or whipped cream and candies. It's a messy but fun way to get closer to the people you love.

Swimming :
Yes I'm still talking about winter! When my girlfriends and I get bored with the cold, we head to the nearest hotel that has an indoor pool. We've managed to find a few in our city that will let you swim all day for just a few dollars. They usually have hot tubs and sometimes exercise equipment that you can use as well. It only takes a phone call to find out if hotels near you offer swimming to people that aren't hotel guests. Surprisingly, many of the hotels that have the best pools do offer this. It's great to get out of the car and walk through the snow only to go inside and put on your bikini and dive in. You feel like you're getting away with something naughty. I always feel extra good after swimming. I'm able to stretch and move in the water in ways that just make me feel great. So, next time you're feeling cabin fever from the cold, grab your swimming suit and head to the nearest indoor pool you can find!

Bowling :
I've never been a big enough fan of bowling to ever join a league in my life. Quite honestly, I've rarely broken a hundred. When the weather is nice, there's no way I'd spend my time in a bowling alley. That all changes once there's a chill in the air. It somehow suddenly seems perfectly great to get out and go bowling. I've still never adapted to wearing shoes that so many other people have already worn. So, when I go bowling I wear the closest shoes I have to bowling shoes. So far, I've gotten away with it. It really is fun to bowl in the winter months. It's got that same feel about it that swimming does. When you get in from the cold and are able to wear a short sleeve shirt and get some fun in, you feel like you're getting away with something. If you haven't gone bowling in ages, don't let that stop you. It's a cheap and fun activity that every age can enjoy.

I've only scratched the surface of all the fun things there are to do in cold weather. I hope you find some of my favorites fun enough to inspire you to get out and try them. It's all too easy to sit on your rump and put on a few pounds every winter. Don't let it happen this year. Make a commitment to yourself to get out more and have more fun. Happy roasted smoars to you all!