There is snow on the ground. It’s cold. And your kids have a ton of built up energy that they need to burn.
If your family enjoys outdoor activities, then winter is a great time to do some fun activities that can’t be enjoyed year round. And sometimes, depending on the winter season, it can be hard to enjoy these activities at all.
Thankfully, this winter has provided lots of snow and cold! So I have 5 winter activities for you and your kids to enjoy!
Sledding
This is something that my family so often forgets to do in the winter and you really don’t need tons of snow to do it! Some of the best places in the Chippewa Valley for sledding include:
- Forest Hill- Next to Forest Hill Cemetery
- Oakwood Hills Park – Located by the Oakwood mall
- Pinehurst Hill – By Pinehurst Park
- For a full list and a map of the best locations, download my Chippewa Valley
Winter Activity Guide.
Ice Skating
This is such a fun skill to teach your kids. You can definitely go to local ice arenas for ice skating adventures year round, but my favorite are the outdoor seasonal ones. There is something magical about them. Some of the best local options:
- Lafayette Park
- Pinehurst Park
- Boyd Park
- Roosevelt Elementary
Snowshoeing
3) Snowshoeing – For the longest time I would have thought to myself that snowshoeing is for the older kids. But my three year old rocked the snowshoes this winter and loved it. And the little kid snowshoes are adorable. With the amount of snow we have had this winter, snowshoeing is a must! Three places to consider for your next snowshoeing adventure include:
Beaver Creek Reserve- Fall Creek, WI
Centennial Park – Altoona, WI
Lowes Creek County Park – Eau Claire, WI
Ice Fishing
4) Ice Fishing – My oldest son is a fishing fanatic. He does prefer summertime fishing, but he is always up for some ice fishing – as long as there is a heater involved. In the Chippewa Valley, you don’t want to miss annual JIG’s UP Ice Fishing Contest put on by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire located on Lake Wissota. Even if you can’t make the contest, Lake Wissota is a great option for ice fishing all season – also consider Lake Altoona County Park, Lake Eau Claire County Park, and Half Moon Lake.
There you have it! Five great options for getting out of the house with the kids and enjoying the winter weather. Living in Wisconsin – winter is not optional – so we might as well enjoy it!
But let’s say you aren’t a outdoorsy winter person and you can’t stand the cold – then I have a great video that includes 5 great indoor play spaces in the Chippewa Valley that you will want to checkout!
Be sure to download my Chippewa Valley Winter Activity Guide, which includes an amazing map. You can find the details in the caption!
Until next time!