10 Fun Outdoor Family Holiday Traditions

OutGrown Blog 10 Fun Outdoor Family Holiday Traditions
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Rebecca Hosley

Nov 20, 2022

The holidays are fast approaching, and with them comes family traditions. Between baking cookies, decorating the house and classic holiday movies to watch, we tend to spend a lot of time indoors. Itching to get outside and connect with your family in nature? Here's a list of ten fun outdoor holiday traditions to enjoy the beauty that nature brings to the holiday season.

1. Turkey Trot

Many cities across the United States hold a race or fun run around Thanksgiving. These fun events usually include something for the whole family, with options for runners, walkers and even kid races! Costumes are encouraged (who doesn’t want to dress their kids up as turkeys?!), and prizes are often given throughout the event for finishers and best costumes. Some families have also created their own “turkey trot” traditions closer to home or on a favorite trail.

We love doing a "turkey trot" (an organized run or just our family trotting around the neighborhood) the morning of Thanksgiving. – Christina from the Snohomish, WA, Branch

2. Outdoor Family Game Time

Growing up, my mother would always kick the kids (and my father if he was trying to “taste-test” the pies) outside while the turkey or ham was cooking on Thanksgiving and other holidays. We played soccer or touch football, or we'd have snowball fights if there was snow on the ground (I grew up in Colorado, so the weather was always unpredictable!). As I grew older, I always looked forward to these family “mini-tournaments,” and it’s one of the things I look forward to the most when we go home for the holidays.

3. #OptOutside for Black Friday

The #OptOutside movement was started by REI in 2015 as a way to move away from the crazy commercialism that occurs on the busiest shopping day of the year, and move toward finding the immense value of spending time outdoors. REI (along with a growing number of businesses) shut their doors on Black Friday and encourage their employees and customers to enjoy the outdoors as opposed to spending their day inside, waiting in lines or rushing from store to store. This mindset has grown into a tradition that many families have adopted, including many of our Hike it Baby families.

The last couple years, we chose to #optoutside for #greenfriday (Black Friday). We love this tradition so much and it's a great way to burn off all those mashed potatoes and pie! – Vanessa from the San Diego Branch

10 Fun Outdoor Family Holiday Traditions by Rebecca Hosley for Hike it Baby

Opting Outside on Black Friday in Upstate New York

4. Outdoor Holiday Festivities

Holiday festivals and outdoor events seem to happen in abundance in the months of November and December. Many downtown areas hold “Festival of Lights” parades in which the holiday lights are illuminated for the first time during a big celebration. Many zoos have light shows as well, from the “Wildlights” festival at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA to the “Zoolights” Illumination at the Jacksonville Zoo in Florida. Checking your local newspaper or social media outlets can keep you up-to-date on all the outdoor holiday festivities happening in your area.

Our local botanical garden does a million bulb walk every year that's always a hit. Once December rolls around, the lights are drive-through only, but we love to get out in November when you can still walk them! – Melissa from the Hampton Roads, VA, Branch

5. Themed Hike

Themed hikes are fun to do with your local Hike it Baby Branch or with your own family! Here are a few ideas we have done in my branch:

Jingle Bell Hike – Attach bells to the shoes and wrists of children (and yourself!), and parade up and down the trail, making a joyful sound as you go!
Candy Cane Hunt – Have someone hang candy canes on low-lying tree branches for kids to find as they walk along the trail (just make sure you adhere to the principles of “leave no trace” and remove any extra candy canes or trash before you head out!).
Hot Chocolate Urban Stroll – Who doesn’t love hot chocolate? Stop by your favorite coffee shop for some hot chocolate/cider (or bring some along in a thermos), and walk around, enjoying the holiday decorations and lights in a downtown area near you.

6. Neighborhood Light Walk

What is one thing the holiday season tends to bring out in abundance (besides cheer, of course)? Lights! Taking a walk through your neighborhood or downtown area after sunset to enjoy the colorful and creative light displays is a tradition that many families share. Worried about bringing the kids out in the chilly night air? Dressing in layers and bringing along a favorite warm drink can keep the chill at bay. Hot cocoa/cider, anyone?

7. Stargazing Walk/Hike

Have you ever wondered why the sky appears clearer during colder months? Cold air holds less moisture, which is also why the air is much drier in the winter. Air that is dry is much less hazy compared to moist air, making it the optimal time to stargaze! The best days to stargaze are when the moon is new (totally dark), which will fall on November 23 and December 23 this year. You can bring along a star chart and see how many constellations you can spot along the way!

8. Winter Solstice Hike

The Winter Solstice marks the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest period of night. It falls on December 21 if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, which also marks the first day of winter. What better way to celebrate the start of a new season than to get outside and experience it firsthand? Check out this article for other fun ways to celebrate the winter solstice along with some craft and book options.

9. Holiday Walk/Hike

Did you know that there are extra health benefits to walking before and/or after a big meal? Walking before a big meal can increase your metabolism and decreases the amount of fats and sugars that accumulate in the blood after a hefty meal. It can also decrease appetite, making you feel full faster, resulting in smaller portions of that yummy turkey, stuffing and pie consumed (and more leftover turkey sandwiches!). Light or moderate walking following a large meal also increases your metabolism, helping you burn off those mashed potato and pie calories more quickly. You may want to hold off on the marathon right after a large meal though; your body is already exerting a lot of energy trying to digest the colossal mass of food you just consumed!

Last year we worked off our holiday dinner by doing an evening glow-stick walk/hike. It was super fun! –Melissa from the Capital Region Branch

10. New Year’s Day Hike

Many families opt for a hike or other outdoor activity (such as skiing or snowshoeing) on the first day of the year as a way to start the year off right. Growing up, my family would take long walks/hikes on January 1, planning out our “New Year’s Resolutions” and discussing how we plan to make the year a great one. What a wonderful way to kick-start the year!

We have celebrated New Year's with a "First Day Hike" for the last couple years. I look forward to it immensely! – Ryan from the Central Florida Branch

10 Fun Outdoor Family Holiday Traditions by Rebecca Hosley for Hike it Baby

First Day Hike in the Adirondack Mountains

ABOUT OUTGROWN

OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental beneﬁts of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their ﬁrst steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org

EDITORS NOTE:

We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you.

But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

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What is the Winter Solstice? It’s beginning to feel a lot like winter in many places across the United States. The temperatures are dropping and the landscape has transformed into dull greens and browns as the deciduous trees are now mostly bare. Probably most noticeable of all are the short days and long nights. We are approaching the winter solstice (also known as Yule for some cultures). On this day we have the shortest day and the longest night of the year as one of the earth’s poles (the north pole for those of us in the northern hemisphere) tilts furthest away from the sun at 23.44 degrees. It also marks the first day of winter—December 21 in the northern hemisphere. Celebrating Winter and the Return of Light Celebrations of the winter solstice date back to ancient times. From Soyal, the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona to Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter,” in China, people around the world observe the solstice in unique and special ways. Although it's the shortest day (and longest night) of the year, this important astrological occurrence is viewed by many cultures as the return of the sun. After all, the days grow in length and light starting on December 22. We think this transition from fall to winter on the longest night of the year is worth a celebration! Check out these activities, crafts and book recommendations to help your family celebrate the winter solstice. Activities Night Walks and Hikes: Nature transforms at night with different sights and sounds to experience. Winter offers the unique opportunity to partake in night events without having to throw the kiddos routine out the window. Check out this list for ideas on how to take advantage of the long nights of winter. Sensory Scavenger Hunt: Welcome winter with each of the five senses. Review this printable checklist or create your own based on your region. Create a winter nature table: Creating a space where your kids can place items that remind them of winter is a great way to kick off the season! It can be as small or big as you want, and the items that you place on it can vary widely. You can include pine cones, pine needles, twigs, winter crafts (see below), etc. Or better yet, following principles of “leave no trace”, you can take photos of these items in nature to include on your table. Read this article for more creative ways to enjoy the outdoors with your family this winter. Craft Ideas Stick Art: Sticks and pinecones are plentiful this time of year. Here are 4 easy winter crafts to make using materials you can find in your own backyard. Craft or Bake a Yule Log: The Yule Log tradition started as a medieval Nordic tradition. The yule log was lit as a symbol to entice the sun to return and lengthen the days again. Check out this article for a fun Yule Log craft. Looking to add some baking into your winter solstice celebration? Check out this recipe for a yummy Yule Log cake! Winter Solstice Lanterns: Bring light to the longest night of the year by creating a nature-inspired lantern. Books to Read As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” These beautifully illustrated books help children of all ages understand what happens as fall turns to winter — starting with the shortest day of the year. Birth - 3 Years Winter in the Forest By Rusty Finch - Follow two little raccoons as they learn about winter in the forest. Even the littlest kiddos will enjoy lifting the flaps to discover hidden surprises in the snowy landscape. Winter Board Book By Gerda Muller - This chunky board book shows the joys of winter through beautiful illustrations. This book is part of a four-part, no-text series on the seasons. One Short Day in December By Lilith Rogers - This fun book follows a deer family of two moms and their baby deer as they celebrate the Winter Solstice. 4 Years and Up The First Day of Winter By Denise Fleming - Follow a little boy as he discovers all the trimmings needed to make a perfect snowman. This cumulative tale will have children chanting along to the tune of “Twelve Days of Christmas” starting with the first day of winter. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter By Kenard Pak - Join a sister and brother as they greet the signs of winter while they explore nature and take a stroll through their town. The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice By Wendy Pfeffer - This book explains the science, history and cultural significance of the winter solstice in lyrical prose that kids can enjoy. How does your family celebrate the winter solstice? Let us know in the comments below! Photos courtesy of Krystal Weir, Deanna Curry and Jessica Human. ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental beneﬁts of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their ﬁrst steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

How to Choose a Winter Boot for Your Little Explorer

Chilly mornings and shorter days are a sure sign winter is approaching. Which also means it’s time to pull out the winter gear from the back of the closet. But chances are last year’s winter boots are a little tight. We’re here to help. Picking out the right gear for your kiddo doesn’t have to be a struggle even when the “cool” boots aren’t exactly practical. So with all the options out there, how do you choose what will work best for your kids? There are two main factors to consider when choosing winter boots: the climate you live/play in and what activities you will be doing. Generally speaking, any winter boot you choose should be waterproof and warm with good traction regardless of the climate or activity. However, there are some other important features to look for when considering the following: Climate There is a huge difference between buying winter footwear for a snowy, frigid northern climate and a drizzly, mild southern climate so consider the temperature rating of the boot. This number is the lowest temperature the boot will retain its warmth. Keep in mind, temperature ratings are only a guide, and can be affected by many conditions, including weather, wearer’s activity level, metabolism, perspiration, circulation, exposure time, type of sock worn and cold sensitivity. You know your kid best. Another factor to consider is the height of the boot. If you live in a climate that sees heavy snowfall, a taller boot will be more effective at keeping feet dry vs. a shorter boot. For colder climates, one great option is the Snow Quest Lite from Merrell (Also made in a version for little kiddos) because it is not only a taller boot with a temperature rating of -35 degrees Fahrenheit but also lighter and more flexible than many of the snow boot options on the market. Activity Along with climate, you will want to consider the activities your child will wear the boots for. If you are looking for a boot that can be worn comfortably at school all day while also keeping feet warm during recess, flexibility is key. Footwear that feels like a sneaker for comfort but works like a boot for those slushy puddles on the playground is ideal, such as the Snow Crush Boot (also available in little kid sizes). If hiking and trail fun is often on your schedule, you’ll want to aim for a flexible, warm boot with a little added traction to handle whatever the trail has in store, from dirt and mud to slush and ice. The Snow Bank 2.0 Boot does the trick with M Select® GRIP technology in a sneaker-like boot with a temperature rating of -25 degrees Fahrenheit. Other Tips Try on the boots with the socks your child is most likely to wear with the boots. Have them wear the boots for a bit at the store or in your home to make sure they are comfortable, secure to the foot. If you’re purchasing online make sure to print out a sizing guide like this one from Merrell to make sure you order the correct size. Toggle closures make getting the boots on and off a breeze while also ensuring a snug fit—something any parent can appreciate! Lastly, if water or snow does get inside the boot, avoid drying boots directly in front of an open heat source, like a vent or fire. This could cause damage to the boot materials. Instead, dry them upside down on a boot drying rack or simply in a warm, dry location. Packing boots with newspaper can also help them to dry out quickly if you’re on a time crunch. By selecting a boot that meets the needs of your climate and activity level you’ll set yourself up for less stressful winter outings, from hiking and playing outside to running to the grocery store. Exclusive partner discounts, educational resources, and community support are just a few of the benefits of a Hike it Baby membership. Learn more about membership options and join or donate today! About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. This post is sponsored by Merrell. We would never recommend a product we do not love. All opinions are our own. Photo by Michelle Craig