13 Winter Staycation Ideas For Families That'll Make You Grateful For the Snow

If you've never tried your hand at skiing or snowboarding, there's no better time for it than these cold Winter months. Look for a close ski park or resort, and head there for the day with the family. Even if you have to drive an hour or two, make it a road trip day!

Once there, make it feel like a cozy vacation with hot chocolate, sweet treats, and a fun day on the slopes (or bunny hills). And if you or your kids aren't into the bigger sports, find a hill and go sledding.

Many arenas offer public skating hours, while some cities or towns set up special outdoor rinks during the Winter months. Find one near you, and make a day out of it by getting breakfast before you go (chocolate chip pancakes a plus!).

Many indoor water park resorts offer generous, last-minute discounts. Pack up the kids for a fun-filled, overnight adventure that lets them hit the "beach" even in a blizzard.

If the weather cooperates (aka the roads aren't a slushy mess), plan a day trip to a nearby town or city. Have a general plan with different activities, but let the day take you where it wants. See a children's museum? Skip lunch and grab snacks before seeing a cool exhibit. Notice a scenic road by the water? Put down your map, take that road, and get out for an impromptu snowball fight. Be spontaneous!

If you're more into stage theater, take the kids to see a fun show or musical. But if you're all movie buffs, head to the theater for a double feature complete with all the delicious snacks like buttery popcorn and sour candy.

Being cooped up inside is just as hard on the kids as it is on us parents. Fight that with a Winter "Yes Day," which lets the kids choose all activities and food (within reason). Let them break the rules, and you'll make some lifelong memories.

Many hotels have special Winter staycation packages for families, so take advantage of one of those. If hotels in your area don't have them, you can still have a blast by staying over for a night, swimming in the indoor pool, ordering room service, and watching movies while cuddling in soft robes.

Don't want to go to a hotel for the night? Well, bring that coziness to your home by making a fun fort from pillows and blankets that's big enough to fit the whole family. Eat, play games, and snooze in there all day.

If your little ones like to get pampered just as much as you do, take them for a spa day! Get manicures, pedicures, and massages, and you'll forget all about the snow falling outside.

Taking a cooking class with your kids can be such a fun bonding experience. Not only do they get to get their hands dirty in the kitchen and learn how to bake something new, but you also get to help them and laugh with them along the way.

Escape rooms are all the rage right now, and many places offer family-friendly options. Your kids will put their puzzle and problem-solving skills to the test, and you'll all have a blast in the process.

Bundle up your entire brood, and head to your local zoo. Just make sure you stop for lots of hot chocolate in between exhibits to keep warm.

Since souvenirs are a big part of vacations for little kids, take them to your local toy store to pick out something small they can play with for the rest of the day. The looks on their faces when you tell them will make the snowy drive to the mall so worth it!