Trust us, frugal can be fun. Families with kids of all ages can enjoy seasonal activities on the cheap in Northeast Ohio, and winter is no exception. If you’re still paying off holiday shopping bills, trying to cut expenses, or simply want to make your paycheck go farther, you’re in luck: the region abounds with free or low-cost things to do during the winter. Check out the following wallet-friendly ideas to create your family’s winter bucket list.
Outdoor Fun
Have a snowball fight
Build snow forts
Go on a nature scavenger hunt
Go sledding
Gather kindling for fires
Go ice skating
Try ice fishing
Make a snow slide in your backyard
Make colored ice globes by freezing and peeling water balloons
Gather pine or holly branches for wreaths
Make snow angels
Have a backyard bonfire
Blow bubbles and watch them freeze
Make and hang a bird feeder
Play on a snow-covered playground
Go for a nature walk
Try snowshoeing
Make snow ice cream
Go downhill or cross-country skiing
Paint snow using colored water in spray bottles
Go bird watching
Built and compete in an obstacle course
Check out a Lake Erie beach
Melt ice and snow with salt or baking soda
Chalk encouraging messages on sidewalks
Learn about and identify different types of evergreen trees
Look for different animal tracks
Shovel your neighbors’ sidewalks
Build an igloo
Take an up-close look at snowflakes to compare patterns
Make snow sculptures
Make edible garland for birds
Paint and hide kindness rocks
Hunt for the biggest icicle
Go geocaching
Hand feed chickadees (check out our list of places to go here)
View a frozen creek or waterfall
Freeze and experiment with water beads
Go stargazing
Have a snowy day photo shoot
Take a walk in the park
Watch a cold day sunset
Bundle up and fly a kite
Window shop at an outdoor shopping center
Organize a family winter olympics
Freeze toys in a block of ice and chisel them out
Indoor Fun
- Read a book
- Write their own short story
- Play dress up
- Play video games
- Make hot cocoa from scratch
- Play a family board game
- Build forts in the living room
- Complete an art project
- Make friendship bracelets
- Bake something yummy
- Have an indoor picnic
- Have a movie marathon
- Learn how to knit or sew
- Learn a new dance
- Send a card or letter to a friend
- Call a relative
- Have a spa day
- Make paper snowflakes
- Perform a random act of kindness
- Make maple syrup snow candy
- Read stories about winter
- Make wildflower seed bombs to plant in spring
- Visit a mall play place
- Make suncatchers to hang in your windows
- Create a winter bucket list
- Have a family dance party or competition
- Make and enjoy a sensory bin
- Decorate a gingerbread house
- Have a Nerf battle
- Make paper airplanes
- Create a seasonal playlist
- Host a slumber party
- Make snow globes
- Select old clothes or toys to donate
- Have a family cooking competition
- Browse an antique store
- Complete a jigsaw puzzle
Area Attractions
- Stroll through the Cleveland Cultural Gardens
- Visit the Rockefeller Greenhouse
- Attend a maple syrup event
- Window shop at the local mall
- Browse an independent bookstore
- Explore the Cleveland Museum of Art
- Spend time at downtown events in Cleveland or Akron
- Visit a local toy shop to make wish lists
- Pick up small treats at West Side Market
- Explore Lake View Cemetery
- Visit the closest destination shopping center, like Crocker Park or Pinecrest
- Explore your nearest neighborhood town square
- Try tobogganing in Cleveland Metroparks
- Visit a museum, science center or aquarium on a free/discount day
- Attend a local library event
- Experience a Winter festival
- Attend a local park district event
