Whether you prefer indoor or outdoor activities with the family, we’ve got a bucket list to get you started.

It’s the heart of winter and the holidays have concluded! Now, what is there to do for family entertainment? Getting outside in the cold is great, but it’s also good to have some fresh options to shake things up. Whether your family loves outdoor activities or is looking for some fun indoor things to do, make the most of winter with these activities. Spring will be here before you know it!

Build a Snow Village

Parents, don’t throw out your Christmas foliage after the holidays are over! Snow forts don’t have to stop at walls and a roof—give your kids the Christmas tree branches and strings of garland to decorate a snow village in the backyard! They can create a mini forest or town to play in while they’re bundled up, or give the snowman it’s own Christmas tree and a scarf made of garland.

Visit a Nursery

After months of cold and snow, nothing smells better than fresh soil! Bring the whole family down to visit us at Wallace’s Garden Center for some fresh air and plant therapy. You can tour our selection, let the kids pick a terracotta pot to paint for a craft activity, or choose a new houseplant to brighten up your home in the winter months! Even if you just come for a stroll to enjoy the greenery, we’re always happy to have you.

Start Bird Watching

Although many animals are having a winter nap, birds are still out and about on the sunny winter days! You can find a list of birds native to your area and start a checklist with the family, seeing who can spot each kind first. You can also build a winter birdhouse to keep your feathery neighbors warm. At Wallace’s, we have a bird center where you can get all the feeders, feed and resources you could need for bird watching activities!

Wilderness Scavenger Hunt

Keep the kids busy with a scavenger hunt this winter! You can keep this activity in your backyard or head out to a local nature reserve or park. Your list can include items such as the following:

• Pinecones
• Winter berries (supervise to make sure there’s no accidental eating!)
• Spot a chickadee
• Walnuts
• Pine needle
• Moss
• Cedar twig
• Fallen tree bark

Laminate checklists with dry erase markers for snow-proof tracking or do a photo-hunt where competitors take photos of what they spot!

Exercise in the Snow!

Staying cooped up in the house is a sure way to make the family restless! Get some exercise and fresh air with winter activities such as:

• Sledding
• Skiing and snowboarding
• Ice skating
• Skidooing
• Ice fishing
• Snow-shoeing
• Cross country skiing
• Trail riding

Whichever activity you choose, the fresh air and exercise is sure to make you feel energized!

Check Out Museums

It’s hard to justify spending your time indoors in the summer when it’s warm and everyone wants to participate in outdoor activities! Take advantage of the cold days by catching up on some history and cultural learning. Whether you visit a fun museum with interactive activities for kids or if you tour an art museum with your spouse, there’s lots to see and to stimulate the mind to keep the winter from being too bleak.

Visit Indoor Play Zones and Arcades

If you’re looking for the ultimate high-energy activity to keep the kids busy, visit an indoor play park or arcade! A play park is a great way to tire out the kids, but if you want to get in on the fun, an arcade is the way to go!

Join Events at Local Community Centers

What better opportunity to get acquainted with your community than participating in organized activities at community centers? You can meet families in your area and get some cool keepsakes from the event, too. Have fun with these Iowa winter activities and be sure to pay us a visit for help with any gardening or bird supplies.