Ideas That Spark: Mom2Mom

By Trisha Novotny for Ideas That Spark

It’s already a long, cold winter where I live. And while a tropical vacation would be great, we don’t have one on our calendar! So we’ve been discovering one-day winter escapes that let us get out of town -- at least for a little while. Here are a few day trips to try with your family:

Hit the ice. Go online and find an outdoor rink in a town or area you’ve never explored, or head to the nearest city. (If you don’t own skates, find a facility that rents them.) After skating, cozy up in a restaurant or cafe for hot chocolate, an afternoon snack, or dinner. Before you head home, check out the nearby shops and museums.

Skip the slopes. If you live close to a ski resort, pile your kids into the car and take a road trip for some non-ski fun. Most facilities offer other family activities -- tubing, snowshoeing, s’more roasts, even winter zip-lining -- which can be just as fun, but cost a lot less than ski rentals and lift fees.

Find a festival. Many towns hold free winter festivals or carnivals that feature both outdoor activities (think ice carving, broom-hockey tournaments, and snowman-building competitions) along with indoor activities (concerts and crafts fairs).

Pick a show-stopper. Think of it as your “American Idol” moment: Discovering an unknown talent at your hometown theater. Buy discount or same-day tickets to local plays or professional productions and scope out the star-power of local talent. (You’ll be surprised!) Search for less-popular days and times, if possible, to save a buck or two.

Check in for the day. Some hotels offer day rates so you can use their pool and other facilities and have a place to hang out or change when you’re done. Order room-service lunch for an extra treat!

Before you plan your next one-day winter escape, be sure to search the Internet for local opportunities and activities.

Trisha Novotny is the creator of 24/7 Moms, a blog that offers fun, keeping-it-simple ideas to make every moment as a mom count.