Hi friends,

I used to hate winter, but now I have learned to embrace it, and it has changed everything. Like seriously, everything, I just booked a January trip to the Arctic Circle for 2027. (Maybe I have embraced winter *too* hard?)

One of my favorite books is There Is No Such Thing as Bad Weather. It completely changed how I think about winter and getting outside.

The big takeaway for me was that winter is not something to survive or avoid. It is something you can enjoy if you approach it differently.

For me, that meant reframing winter as a season worth showing up for, not just waiting out until spring.

The most important thing you can do to enjoy being outside in winter is simple. Dress for the weather.

That sounds obvious, but it is also the reason most people feel like winter is miserable, because they fail to dress properly. When you are cold, wet, or uncomfortable, nothing feels fun. When you are dressed well, everything changes.

I break this down more in my How to Dress Kids for Winter blog post, but the basics are:

• A good base layer to keep you dry
• A warm mid layer for insulation
• A solid outer layer to block wind and moisture
• You can add or remove layers depending on how cold it is. I usually only wear all three layers in the teens. If it's warmer than that two is usually warm enough for me.
• Good shoes that keep your feet warm and dry
• Mittens or gloves that actually work

Here is an Amazon list of some winter clothes we love​

When you’re warm, winter activities suddenly feel doable.

If you are looking for ideas, here are a few easy ways to get outside in winter:

• Go for a winter hike, even a short one
• Ice Skating- indoor or outdoor
• Go sledding or play in the snow
• Bundle up and explore a new park
• Go winter camping or stay in a cabin

I also have a blog post with 25 Fun Winter Outdoor Activities with a free downloadable bingo board if you want to keep a running list of outdoor adventures you accomplish this season.

I would love to know. What are you going to do to get outside this winter? Even one small plan counts. Hit reply and let me know what your plans are.

Keep exploring,
Amy