Dealing with unseasonably warm temperatures this year? Or perhaps you live in a naturally warm climate.
Either way, it can be difficult to get into the holiday spirit when the thermostat is hovering around 60 or 70 degrees.
So what do you do when it looks and feels like spring or summer in December? Create your own winter wonderland with a few of these classic winter activities.
Build a snowman
No snow? No problem! Get creative and build your own indoor snowman with craft supplies you probably already have around the house, especially if you have young children. Turn the inside of your front door into a life-sized snowman made from construction paper and some patterned gift wrap. Use craft foam or felt to make snowman pieces and accessories that can be mixed up and reused over and over, much like Mr. Potato Head. Or, for some more active indoor fun, have a “snowball” fight with balled up newspapers, then stuff them in white garbage bags and decorate like a snowman.
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Make your own play snow
If Mother Nature is reluctant to let those flurries loose, make your own snow instead! With just two basic household ingredients, you can create play snow that feels just like fresh powder in your hand. It even feels cold! Fill up your tub with a large batch, and let the kids loose for some snowy fun.
Go ice-skating
It may not be cold outside, but both indoor and outdoor ice rinks are plentiful across the country—even in sunny Los Angeles and in the middle of the desert in Las Vegas! So bundle up and hit the indoor or outdoor ice rink nearest you to enjoy this quintessential winter pastime.
Go snow tubing
Just as there are outdoor ice rinks in distinctly non-icy locations, you might be surprised to know many areas around the country also create artificial winter wonderlands with real-snow slopes for snow tubing and skiing. These facilities can operate even in mild weather as long as temperatures dip low enough at the start of the season for snow-making equipment to produce enough snow to cover the trails. In this way, those in the south and Midwest can enjoy this exhilarating winter activity along with their neighbors who live in colder climates.
See a classic Christmas play or show
If your reality isn’t Christmassy enough, escape into another time and place where the snow always falls and the magic of Christmas is abundant. A night out at the theater or ballet seeing a classic like A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker may be just what you need to put you in the holiday spirit.
Attend a Christmas concert
Just hearing a classic Christmas carol like Jingle Bells or Deck the Halls will automatically put you in mind of snowy sleigh rides, holly and mistletoe. Sing (or jam) along to your favorite Christmas tunes as they are performed by a popular group like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a symphony or pops orchestra or even a local choir or caroling group.
See a screening of a classic holiday movie
Few activities offer a better escape from reality than a good book or movie. If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas that seems unlikely to come, immerse yourself in the classic film on the big screen instead! Many movie theaters offer screenings of holiday favorites like White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life and even A Christmas Story on select dates and times for patrons to enjoy.
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Curl up by the fire with some hot cocoa
If the temperatures are less than wintry outside, trick your mind into thinking there’s three feet of snow on the ground by cuddling up next to the fire with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. Nothing is quite like a real wood burning fire, but if your home lacks this cozy amenity, a virtual fireplace will do.
Attend a local holiday event or festival
Cities, museums, libraries and other private and public organizations throughout the country host all sorts of special holiday events and festivals where kids of all ages can share a cookie with Santa and the Mrs., visit real reindeer or a live nativity scene and experience other uniquely Christmassy displays and activities. Search your local newspaper or family magazine for an event that fits your family’s tastes, and lose yourself in some holiday fun that’s sure to put you in the Christmas spirit whatever the weather.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em
If you’re living in or vacationing somewhere extra warm or tropical, a white Christmas is definitely not in the cards for you. Grab your flip flops and your Santa hat, and embrace the sun and warmth. Build a “snowman” out of sand on the beach, decorate a palm tree instead of a traditional Christmas tree or swap the usual Christmas tunes for some funky reggae renditions.
