What to Do In Winter Without Snow: 15 Fun Activities
Even if it's snowless where you live, you can still appreciate the holiday season to its fullest. Explore our top 15 ways to enjoy winter without snow.
Having snow in winter is no longer necessary to appreciate the holiday season. Here are the festive activities you can try this Christmas even if it's warm and snowless in your area.
Yet, there's no reason to get upset and resign yourself to a quiet vacation at home. Use a snowless winter as a chance to discover new seasonal experiences that aren't spoiled by the lack of snow. Below, we will share how to make your winter bright, vibrant, and truly unforgettable.
If you are dreaming of white Christmas, Boston, Denver, Chicago, and Columbus are the best holiday destinations.
15 Ways to Make Winter Holidays Memorable Without Snow
We've prepared some activity ideas for a snowless winter that will be engaging to choose from.
Visit a Botanical Garden or Nature Reserve
Start with nature—head to a botanical garden or reserve. Even without snow, there's plenty to see: rare trees from around the world become more visible. Without ice, plaques are easier to read, and the unusual branch structures, and bright winter berries catch the eye—perfect for a leisurely stroll and observation, especially with children. Moreover, botanical gardens are often adorned with lights and thematic installations in winter, making your walk magical and atmospheric.
Summertime in winter awaits in covered sections of botanical gardens—thanks to climate-controlled environments, you'll find tropical flowers and hear tree frogs croaking.
Slide Down the Slopes at an Indoor Water Park
If you're going to embrace a snowless winter, do it in a warm pool with bubbles, basking under artificial lights. Indoor water parks with various relaxation zones, children's play areas, and extreme slides are open during winter in many U.S. cities.
Complete complexes offer everything you need without stepping out: cafes, bars, arcade games, saunas, fitness clubs, and more. Multiple times a day, kids can enjoy animation programs and dance battles. If one visit isn't enough, consider a membership for multiple entries—unexpectedly generous discounts might await you in winter.
Climb High into the Mountains
If snow is essential to your winter experience, consider heading higher. The higher the mountain, the more stable and cold the climate. Book a tour to mountainous areas to enjoy real snow. If possible, visit mountain regions with viewing platforms: winter scenery without crowds is especially beautiful, making for stunning photos.
Explore Slopes with Artificial Snow
For winter sports enthusiasts, artificial snow slopes are an excellent alternative. Many ski resorts and training facilities are equipped with snow cannons, allowing for snowboarding or skiing without waiting for natural precipitation. This is a great way for the whole family to enjoy active winter recreation and experience the season's sensations, even when temperatures are above zero.
Visit Indoor Skating Rinks
Indoor skating rinks offer another way to enjoy winter. Even if it's 40°F outside, inside an ice complex, you can have a blast skating to music, racing, or playing tag on ice. Plus, you won't feel cold—indoor rinks maintain the ice with an underground cooling system, like a giant fridge. Water on the surface stays frozen even if the air is above 32°F. Everything is balanced to ensure the ice doesn't melt and people stay comfortable, letting you skate on genuine ice in a t-shirt.
This is especially appealing for families with children and for those wanting a fun day of hockey and ice tricks without getting sick. Some rinks offer figure skating masterclasses led by experienced instructors—an enjoyable approach that might spark a love for the sport in you or your children.
Play Secret Santa
The charming winter tradition of Secret Santa isn't losing its popularity. It's a fun and bonding Christmas activity where the main rule is a secret gift exchange. Players are randomly assigned to give a gift to another participant. No one knows who their Santa is until the gift exchange day – but you can choose to keep a secret.
Even for adults, this game never loses its charm. You can organize it with friends, family, or coworkers—everyone gets a random recipient to gift something delightful.
Forget about confusion and manual name-drawing with the MySanta app. Invite players via link or QR code, draw names in a click, and complete wishlists so that every player gets a really nice gift. What's more - you can play remotely and enjoy gifts by mail, and the app will automate the process.
You can unleash your creativity, knowing your identity is unlikely to be revealed: create a unique wrapping, include a special letter, or craft a mystery from a detective novel by cutting out letters from magazines and newspapers.
Enjoy Off-Roading
For those looking to invigorate themselves and step out of their comfort zone, off-roading is a great choice. Off-roading during a snowless, mild winter is an excellent idea from both technical and practical perspectives.
The absence of snow and ice reduces the risk of damage and getting stuck, enabling effective testing of a vehicle's capabilities on muddy and rocky terrains. Furthermore, you can enjoy nature without the usual winter hassles, such as blizzards. If you don't have your own vehicle or are unfamiliar with nearby routes, you can find organized tours with instructors online.
Create a Winter Corner at Home
If you're missing the coziness of snow outside, bring the holiday spirit indoors with a winter-themed comfort zone. Designing a winter corner at home helps create a festive mood regardless of the weather.
Decorate windowsills with lights, candles, or lamps, and use fir branches and cozy textiles for window sills and doors. Invest in bright holiday covers for throw pillows and lay out a fluffy warm white rug reminiscent of a snow blanket. Imagine reading a book, sipping tea, or simply gazing out the window, enjoying your special winter atmosphere, even if it's slushy outside.
Go Running with the Family
If you enjoy staying active, running is a fantastic winter activity without snow. The absence of ice and snowdrifts ensures safety and accessibility, while a light chill guarantees a lively mood and excitement. A morning jog with the family or participating in an organized run is a way to keep moving, enjoy the outdoors, and boost your energy.
There's no need to run a marathon. A simple jog in the park will do. Consider gifting each other thermal outfits, gloves, and snoods for running, to make the process comfortable and to avoid catching a cold.
Start the Cycling Season Early
If there’s no snow and the roads are dry, cycling is another great activity to stay active and explore new routes. Wear weather-appropriate clothing, gloves, bring a thermos with tea, and set off for adventures. It's especially fun to ride with family or friends, making stops, taking photos against city holiday lights, or competing with sports trackers.
Host a Movie Marathon
A cozy night in calls for a holiday movie marathon. Choose a new or classic movies, create a viewing schedule, and spend all evening in. Movie themes can vary from holiday classics to cozy series, winter animations to family comedies. Make some popcorn, light up the string lights, settle on the couch with the whole family—quality relaxation is guaranteed, and snow isn't necessary for that.
Attend a Theater Performance
If you want to escape everyday worries, dress up, and relax in a comfy seat while enjoying the show, go to the theater. During the holidays, directors often stage popular winter plays, tales, musicals, and festive performances. You can browse upcoming winter productions online now if you plan to arrange your holiday early.
Take a Scenic Train Tour
If there's no snow at home, explore winter destinations from a different perspective—like viewing through a kaleidoscope without tiring from the road. Today, travelers can choose from many routes tailored to seasonal features, interests, and comfort. There's a range: from short weekend trips to multi-day expeditions through unique locales. Winter highlights include tours where you can genuinely experience the holiday spirit and snow. For example, consider a tour across the Northern Rockies, with routes through mountain landscapes. Another option is the route to Alaska, leading you straight into a snowy wonderland, promising encounters with the northern lights and majestic vistas.
Stargaze on a Clear Winter Night
Stars are more visible during winter because the air is cold and clean—there's less dust and moisture that obscure the sky. Plus, in winter it gets dark early and night lasts longer, so stars shine brighter than in summer. There are several observatories offering telescope viewing. Group prices are lower, so bring along your family and friends.
Organize a Virtual Holiday Party
Without snow, it may be hard to feel the holiday spirit, but it's a perfect excuse to host a cozy holiday party online. Even if you're in different cities, create a festive atmosphere with a virtual Christmas gathering or office call filled with games, contests, and gifts. Enhance your evening with various activities: a cooking class, flash mob, quiz, or a fun game of "Never Have I Ever."
Winter without snow is no reason to cancel fun. Think of it as an opportunity to explore new forms of leisure that aren't tied to the weather or that benefit from the absence of snow.
Use this time for travel, creativity, socializing, and relaxation. Whether it's freezing outside or raining, what matters most is maintaining the feeling of festivity, coziness, and anticipation of wonders. A true winter starts not with snow, but with the festive mood and good company.
