50+ Winter Staycation Ideas (Updated for 2024)

Unless you live in a climate that has a 70+ degree winter, you are probably going to be spending a lot more time indoors this winter. As the cooler temps set it, it’s not hard to get a case of cabin fever. And if you’re on a tight budget, a winter staycation may be all you can really do this year.

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50+ Winter Staycation Ideas

Staying in doesn’t have to be boring! In fact, with a little creativity and some time off, you can create your very own vacation-at-home. Below are over 50 great winter staycation ideas to make your time indoors a little more exciting!

Indoor Activities

Home Spa Day

Turn on some relaxing music and get a little creative! You can make your own foot soaks, relaxing spa water, and many other spa treatments right at home. Bring in some of your favorite essential oils to create a one-of-a-kind experience!

Go for a Winter Hike

If you live near a national park or a place with a trail worth hiking, put on your winter boots and go for a scenic hike. It’s a great place and the views are spectacular and the park will probably be fairly empty. If you don’t live near a park, grab our winter scavenger hunts and head outside right in your own area!

Have a Gourmet Cooking Adventure

One of my favorite things about winter is all the great flavors! There are so many decadent dishes and great comfort foods to enjoy. Whip up some of those gourmet coffees at home and enjoy the luxury food from your own kitchen.

If you’re really up for some adventure, you could have a gourmet cooking! Pick a region or country you’d like to visit and find some recipes from that area. This is a fun way to explore new tastes and exciting new dishes.

Have a Movie Marathon

There are plenty of movie series that can easily be turned in to a marathon for your viewing pleasure. If you want to go all out, try creating some thematic snacks and treats that coordinate with the movies you’ve chosen! It’s the perfect time to combine the best of the holiday season and cold weather. The entire family is sure to enjoy this!

Indoor Camping

While you’re considering a movie marathon, consider pitching a tent and camping indoors. If you have daughters, introduce them to glamping and let them decorate the inside super girly. The boys will probably settle for sleeping bags and a board game or two.

Have a Family Read Aloud

Let the kids pick a new book to read together. This can be a great way to unplug from all the technology and distractions and just be together. It’s also a fun way to explore a new book or old good book series!

Hold a Board Game Tournament

While I am all for unplugging and getting the kids off their devices, sometimes it can be fun. Why not have a fun gaming tournament on one of their favorite games! Or gather a few favorite board games or decks of cards and have a family tournament.

Host Your Own Trivia Night

You can find a number of trivia games on Amazon or you and the family can come up with your own. Think of your favorite family movies and come up with questions that will test how much each member knows or use questions that have to be answered while watching a movie.

Have a Family Baking Contest

If you have kids that don’t bake, pair up into teams with Mom & Dad for two teams. And if you have a family of bakers, invite some friends over to share in the goodies and judge your entries to find a winner!

Have a Cookie Decorating Contest

This is a favorite of ours! We love to decorate different shapes of cookies each year for Christmas Eve, but this would be a fun one to do any time!

Create Homemade Decorations

Whether for winter or upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday, making homemade decorations is something my kids always enjoyed. Plus, you can make them any color scheme and as inexpensive as you wish, making it even easier to change them out year after year.

Visit the Theater

See a play, musical, or the ballet this winter. I grew up going to the theater and love sharing my joy for music and ballet with my kids.

Do an Escape Room

If you have older kids, visit an escape room and try to beat the best time. Go several times and try different rooms to better your escape skills.

Visit an Indoor Rock Climbing Facility

This is the perfect way to stay active during the cold, winter months. You may even be able to purchase a family plan that will accommodate everyone who wants to do it.

Indoor Playground

Find an indoor playground for your little ones to run off their energy after being cooped up inside.

Go Roller Skating

Growing up the roller rink was the place to go. If you have one close, take a trip to show off your skills or just hang out with the family. Many of them have great “assistants” to help little ones get their skating legs under them, while preventing too many falls.

Create an Indoor Obstacle Course

You’d be surprised of what you already have on hand that can be used to make an indoor obstacle course. From pillows and blankets to toys and furniture, creating an obstacle course is a sure way to help get your kids’ energy out.

Build a Blanket Fort and Have a Picnic Indoors

Put your kiddos in charge of building a blanket fort while you put together a picnic meal. Better yet, if age-appropriate, put your kids in charge of the entire thing and see what they come up with.

Family Game Night

With a quick search you can find some fun “Minute to Win It” ideas to host your own game night.

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Outdoor Activities

Take a Winter Hike 

Hit up your local park or find a nearby state park to take the whole family and hike some of the trails. It’s the perfect place to do a nature walk and let your kids collect things (if permitted) along the way.

Explore a State or National Park Close to You

If you’re in a snowy location, you can explore it via snowmobile or cross-country skiing, which gives you a whole new perspective.

Host a Bonfire with Friends

Nothing says winter time fun than gathering with friends. You don’t need a special ocassion to get together, just pick a night and have each family bring something to contribute to the bonfire (marshmallows, chocolate bars, graham crackers, etc.).

Go Stargazing on a Clear Night

This fun time can actually double as a unique homeschooling lesson, especially if you’ve recently studied the stars. If you live in an area with lots of light polution, head out to the country and park on the side of the road to check out the lights in the sky.

Take a Day Road Trip to Another State

Depending on how close you live to the border of another state, consider taking a day trip to visit. Look up a few things to do ahead of time or wait until you arrive and be surprised.

Visit an historical Location You’ve Never Visited

Our country is filled with historical locations, and perhaps in places you’ve never thought to look. Use Google to locate places near you then give them a visit. These are often free or for donation.

Have a Snowman Building Contest

If your area has experienced a good snowfall, head outdoors to have a snowman building contest. Don’t forget the carrots, buttons, and scarves for adding the final touches.

Host an Outdoor Movie Night with Friends

You can find a projector for a little of nothing these days. Grab one and a big white sheet and host an outdoor movie night. Build a nice fire and set up around it to keep everyone warm.

Invite Some Friends to Do a Winter Scavenger Hunt Together

If you do this around the holidays, you can include some pretty cool things to find. From a certain color of Christmas lights to a red fire hydrant, there are lots of things you can find.

Go Ice Skating

Whether outdoors or indoors, this is always a great family-friendly activity!

Go Geocaching

Our kids have done this a handful of times and not only is it a great way to get outside, it’s a fun way to explore your town and surrounding areas; to see places you might not otherwise see.

Take a Snow Day

The next time it snows, take time to go sledding or tubing down your street, driveway, or a hill in town.

Ski the Slopes

If you live near the mountains and ski resorts, make sure you take some time to go skiing this winter. Don’t hesitate to get on a snow tube while you’re at it! Whether you purchase a seasonal lift pass or just take a few day trips, the views and memories are worth it. Your family is sure to have so much fun on this winter getaway!

Paint the Snow

Make your own snow paint and head outside to create fun designs in the newly fallen snow.

At Home Camping with Bonfire

My kids love camping, especially when there is a bonfire involved. While winter might not be the best time to head out to the woods for some camping, you can always set up an indoor camping adventure.

Of course, if you can, you should head outside for a bonfire with the family! If you don’t have space, you can always make these delicious indoor s’mores!

Visit a local attractions

Polar Bear Days at the Zoo

If your zoo has plenty of buildings, this could be a great winter day trip. Our local zoo used to offer discounted entrance when temps were below a certain degree. Check yours to see if that’s an option!

Aquarium

Visiting an aquarium is a great way to see all types of animals from freshwater fish to salwater giants. At some aquariums you can put sea animals, feed them, and watch live shows.

Museums

Visitng a museum opens a unique look to the past and offers a great deal of information about how lots of things started. You can also visit a science museum to learn cool things in that area. Your kids will get a blast from learning about different things and areas.

Visit a Botanical Garden

Learn about all types of flowers by visiting a botanical garden. You and your kids can learn about a variety of winter-friendly flora and be amazed by their growing beauty.

Have a Progressive Dinner

Whether you find a popular restaurant in town you’ve been meaning to try or visit a few favorites, a progressive dinner is a fun way to spend a staycation! Eating out while on a staycation is a treat to yourself without staying at an expensive resort.

Go Bowling

Hit the lanes and enjoy a day or evening at the bowling alley. Some even have an arcade game area and a food court. Take advantage of it all!

Take a Cooking Class as a Couple or Family

Learn a new cuisine you can add to your meal plan. This will give you precious time with your spouse and kids as well as add to your culinary skills.

Go to a Local Trivia Night

Some towns offer a local trivia night for families to come out and enjoy an evening full of fun, famly-friendly games. 

Tour Some Model Homes Together

Every town has a historic part that usually features homes that are still decorated and kept as in times past. For our town, it’s the downtown area and some of the homes have been purchased by the city and turned into a museum for you to walk through.

Visit a Local Arcade

While we don’t typically do arcades, there is a local attraction our kids used to love visiting with a plethora of arcade games, indoor go-karts, bowling, laser tag, and more! They even had a buffet at a reasonable price for our large crew!

Stay a Night at a Local Bed & Breakfast

Give yourself the illusion of a big getaway with an overnight at a B&B. Be sure to visit the local area and get out, then have a great breakfast before you head back home.

Go to a Dinner Theater

Take a night out on the town to visit a dinner theater. Check the shows for family-friendly events and take the kids or make it a date night.

More Winter Break Ideas!

Create a Winter Staycation Bucket List

Our family loves creating bucket lists. Whether monthly or seasonally, a bucket list is a great way to include activities everyone will enjoy. If you need some ideas, be sure to download our winter Family Pack that includes a bucket list! Use ours to help you get started!

Create a New Game Together as a Family

The possibilities for this idea are endless. Try using your favorite family movie, book, or song as an inspiration to create a game everyone will enjoy.

Do a Random Act of Kindness as a Family

Are there new neighbors that moved in next door? Consider taking them a welcome to the neighborhood meal or dessert. You could also head outside for a neighborhood cleanup by picking up trash and litter.

Volunteer at a Local Shelter or Food Bank

The winter months are when local shelters and food banks need the most help. Sign up to work the soup kitchen, pass out groceries, or donate food to help feed the homeless.

Have a Fun Photo Shoot 

Grab your cameras and have a fun photo shoot. Turn these pictures into a family photo album or scrap book.

Attend a Concert – Outdoors, Indoors, Wherever!

There’s always a concert of some sort going on. See what’s going on in your town or the surrounding areas and check one out.

Write a Winter Themed Poem

There are lots of ways you can write a winter poem. Start with an acrostic poem and have everyone contribute. Use the word WINTER to write it or daydream and note the perfect winter day.

Thrift Store Shopping

We find sifting through thrift stores fun, but your kids might need extra incentive. Give them a goal, such as the best item found for under X dollars, or the ugliest item found for the day. You’ll create great memories and have even more laughs.

Travel Down Memory Lane

Look through old photo albums or learn more about your family lineage together.

Find a heated pool and go for a swim day!

Learn a New Skill

This will be different for everyone in the family, but winter is a great time to learn something new! Try learning to crochet or knit, how to paint, or maybe something more technical with computers or tools. The sky’s the limit here!

Attend a Local Sporting Event

Basketball and hockey are great winter sports to watch.

Paint Rocks & Hide Them

My kids love finding painted rocks wherever we go. Why not paint your own and hide them around town. Add a hashtag to the back of them so people can share on social media and you can follow your rocks around town, the state, or even the country!

Don’t let the winter blues set in

These are just some of the fun and creative ways you can spend time together at home. But I hope they have given you some inspiration and ideas to have a great staycation at home this winter. You can certainly create some fun days and events that will create lasting memories!

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Find More of our Favorite Winter Printables!

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