Fun Activities to Do When It's Cold Outside

Even though some people prefer cold seasons to hot ones, not everyone likes the idea of being locked inside. However, it’s still possible to find fun activities when the sun isn’t shining, the temperature is down, and the birds aren’t chirping. 

If that’s the reason you’ve opened this blog post, then here are some options for you:

Create an Ice Candle

This is one of the top fun things to do during the winter months. Fill a bucket with water and place it outside to freeze. It doesn't have to be below freezing; a little chill would suffice. If the temperature swings between -5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit) at night and -2 degrees Celsius (29 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day, it can take a couple of days to freeze.

When the ice is ready, turn the bucket upside down to get the ice out of the bucket. There will still be a lot of water in the bucket after gently dumping the ice out, so do so gently. The liquid water in the center and base is drilled to create a space for the candle.

A magnificent frosty glow will occur when you carefully light the candle and place the ice on top. The heat from the candle will eventually melt a hole in the ice immediately above it, but this is not a concern since the ice walls shield the flame from the wind. These ice candles can function as Merry Christmas or New Year lighting if it stays chilly between December 25 and January 1.

Freeze Bubbles

Blowing bubbles of any mixture, letting them gently fall on snow or a frosty surface, and then observing as ice crystals build all through the bubble's thin water coating until it is completely frozen over is another fun activity to perform during the cold weather months. Try using a straw to take out the mixture and gently blow out the bubbles. Shifting your gaze will help you see the bubbles more clearly if it's sunny outside. It is also advisable to utilize a dark backdrop behind the bubbles. Once your bubble mixture is ready, the setup is easy and quick, but don't be discouraged if it doesn't work the first time.

Toss Hot Water into the Air and Watch It Turn to Steam

This one requires a considerably higher temperature differential between the hot water and the air, and the results increase as the water gets closer to boiling. To get the best results, do it on the coldest day possible and do all you can to keep the water as hot as possible.

Fill a vacuum flask halfway with boiling water if you can access one. After a minute or two, empty the flask, replace it with hot water, reseal it, and bring it outdoors.

You may use a jug or pan for a vacuum flask, but the heat will leave quickly. Plastic jugs or equivalents are preferred, although glass or metal can be a last resort. You'll also need a cup, ideally an insulated one.

Fill the cup halfway with water before tossing it into the air. Examine the amazing mechanism by which hot water evaporates into the air as steam as it rises! Position yourself with a simple backdrop behind the steam, and try shooting into the sun or with the sun lighting the picture from the front; either way, you'll get some excellent images.

Expand Ice Bottles

Fill a bottle with cold water on a cool evening or day, close the top, and leave it outdoors; this method works best when left overnight. The bottle will shatter or fracture when the ice within expands as it freezes. Although cleaning up the shattered glass may be simpler after the ice has melted, you can save time now by arranging the broken pieces on a plate. Glass is the preferred material for this fun activity since plastic bottles only tend to expand when filled with water, even when the lid is firmly closed.

Try Supercooling

The idea is that cooling a liquid below its freezing point is supposed to keep it from freezing for some time, provided the liquid is kept clean and undisturbed.

You could attempt it in the freezer, but you risk producing a mess that would be simpler to clean up if you did it outside.

Collect many plastic water bottles and clean, fill, and seal them. Then place the bottles outside, where the temperature is below the freezing point and there is no wind. Ensure there is no breeze, as any tiny breeze will freeze the water instead of supercooling it.

Grab one of the jars with the motionless liquid and smack it on the side, turn it upside down, or shake it vigorously. If the water has been supercooled, you will see that it quickly starts to freeze and spread across the container.

Alternatively, before gently removing the bottle's cover, some ice may be put on an extremely cold and hard surface to function as a "seed" for the ice formation.

Make sure you have a small quantity of seed ice to begin with, and if you're lucky, you'll produce a pile of ice when the water comes out as liquid but rapidly freezes as it comes into contact with the previously frozen surface.

Just Be Physically Active

You don’t have to do anything “out of the ordinary” to have fun when it’s cold. You can just go outside and try skateboarding, ice skating, hockey, sledding, or just run with your dog. Dog owners, by the way, are considered to be active people, so if you’d rather stay home and chill inside, then maybe you need a cat to keep you company.

Either way, just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean that you should stay home 24/7.

Conclusion

Because of the distinct environment and atmosphere provided by cold seasons, a broad range of unique sports, activities, and experiences may be enjoyed. Now, after reading this blog post, you won't have to worry about what to do when it's chilly outside. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aleksandra Djurdjevic          

Senior Content Creator

Aleksandra Djurdjevic is a senior writer and editor, covering snowboarding, skiing and trends in outdoor winter activities. She has previously worked as ESL teacher for English Tochka. Aleksandra graduated from the Comparative Literature department at the Faculty of Philosophy in Serbia. Aleksandra’s love for the mountains, getting out in the snow on her board, season after season, seeking wild snow adventures across the globe helps her continue to be a top expert at CSG.