Winter Activities for staying active. Friday 5.
Friday Five: Favorite Winter Activities
Even though winter has been slow to start this year in New Hampshire we all know that it is inevitable that winter will soon be here. Rather than hiding or hibernating indoors when the cold weather and snow arrives I have learned to embrace all that winter has to offer. There are so many amazing ways to get outside and stay active during the winter months. We also love sharing the outdoors in the winter with our kids and showing them how to enjoy everything that winter in New Hampshire has to offer.
1. Ice Skating
I grew up figure skating so have loved being able to share this sport with our kids. We are very fortunate that my kids school takes the whole school ice skating on Fridays for 6 weeks where they have a blast whizzing around the ice with their friends. We are also lucky to have an outdoor ice rink right in our town where we can go and skate whenever we want. Ice skating is a fun way to be active as a family. Ice skating is still one of my favorite winter activities because it was such a big part of my childhood.
2. Cross Country Skiing
I discovered cross country skiing when we first moved to New Hampshire. Cross country skiing has two styles, Skate Skiing (faster and more cardiovascular, mimics an ice skating motion) and Classic Skiing. Skate skiing is a fantastic cross training workout. I could skate ski for hours. It is so freeing and enables me to find the endorphin rush. We have started our kids out on classic cross country skis as it is easier to learn. They love heading out on the trails and learning how to glide on the snow.
3. Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is a great alternative to cross-country skiing if you can’t find any groomed trails to ski on. Snowshoeing is easy once you get the hand of wearing something strapped to your foot. They make snowshoes in all sizes and even make kid ones and if you are up for the challenge running snowshoes (we are like to have some great snowshoe racing series here in New Hampshire and Vermont). There is nothing more fun then heading out in fluffy snow during a snowstorm and having hot cocoa to warm up when you are done!
4. Downhill Skiing
I was fortunate to be able to learn how to downhill ski when I was little. Even though we lived in Pennsylvania my Dad owned a ski shop when I was a little kid and most of the vacations that we took were to Vermont to go skiing. I am thankful to have learned as a kid now that I live in New England. My kids are lucky too because once the skating program is done we switch to weekly downhill skiing. It has been fun to watch the kids develop as skiers and gain confidence each time that we head to the mountain. We finally graduated from the bunny slope last year. We have many ski areas (Bretton Woods, Cannon Mountain, Loon Mountain, Burke Mountain, and Jay Peak) close to us which gives the kids an opportunity to learn how to ski on all kinds of terrain!
5. Indoor Climbing
Sometimes the winter weather can be more than chilly here in Ne Hampshire which can make outdoor activities uncomfortable due to the extreme cold. When this happens we still like to stay active and were fortunate to discover the joys of indoor rock climbing last year. We finally had an indoor rock gym (North Country Climbing Center) open in our area. We have all loved learning how to climb and I have even discovered that I am not as afraid of heights as I thought I was. The North Country Climbing Center has open climb times, ladies climbing nights and lessons. Once you learn to belay another individual you can get a membership to climb without having to rely on one of the indoor guides. The kids love climbing on the bouldering wall and have gotten braver about going higher on the wall each time that we have gone!
For today’s post I am linking up with You Signed Up For WHAT?!, Mar on the Run, & Eat Pray Run, DC for the Friday Five. Please join in the fun!
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What a great list of winter activities! I’ve never cross country skied but it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. Love how your kids are active too!
Sherry recently posted…Friday Five: Favorite Winter Activities
So many fun outdoor snow activities! Wish we had more of those here.
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…Five outdoor things to do in Washington DC in the winter
Love every single one of these activities! I haven’t tried skate skiing, but love snow shoeing, XC skiing, and ice skating. My kids love downhill and will take more lessons this winter. I think I am going to lay low on downhill this winter, but XC and snowshoe for sure! It looks like a postcard in NH! So pretty… 🙂
Natalie recently posted…Santa To The Sea Race Recap!
I love this post! Here in Alaska we haven’t had much snow the last few years, but we’re hoping this year it will be cold enough for the lakes to freeze over for some ice skating and that we’ll get enough snow for skiing. Technically we can do it now because we’ve got like an inch out there, but I’m hoping we get a real amount of snow! And I tried snowshoeing after our one and only big snowstorm this year and had so much fun!
Kristen recently posted…Friday Five: Five Favorite Winter Activities in Philly!
Is it odd that I’m looking forward to snow so we can enjoy all if these? I kind of want to take up skate skiing this year. And I’m excited to get on my snowboard this year. My kids are doing a weekly ski program through school. I’ve got no excuses now!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted…High Five Friday
Yes to all of these!! Only Vaughn loves skating but he and I go together. I so wish we had a rink in our town! I also cross country ski and you’re so right about getting that endorphin rush. The boys love skiing (hooray!) and we will be doing plenty this winter. Maybe we can all meet up in VT? That would be SO MUCH FUN!
Allie recently posted…The Failures Meant The Most in 2015 – Year In Review (VIDEO)
I have not ice skated in years but they just opened on right near us so I guess I should!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Holiday Lights & Generous Friends
I would love to try indoor rock climbing. The closest one to me is 45 minutes away. I need to go and try it one of these days. It looks like so much fun
nicole@ life after heels recently posted…It’s Five for Friday
Great list! I would love to try snow shoeing! And skiing has been on my list FOREVER!!!
courtney @ eat pray run dc recently posted…Favorite DC Winter Activities
I love going ice skating in the winter. I used to be a big skiing back In the but haven’t skied in many yrs.
lacey@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…What running has kept me from…….
I love XC skiing. I do the classic style because around here, there isn’t a lot of space to skate ski!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Runfessions for December
Great list! I’ve been wanting to try snowshoes!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…Don’t let stress be a thief
so much snow!! love it. I have yet to try ice skating though every year I say I will!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Friday Five: 5 Tips for Your Running Off-season