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  • Home
  • Raising Outdoor Kids
    • Cooking & Crafting

      How to Make Birdseed Ornaments for Wild…

      November 27, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Beautiful Spring Picture Books for Children

      March 28, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Playing in Nature Protects Our Children During…

      March 17, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      50+ Spring Nature Activities for Kids of…

      March 3, 2020

      Crafting

      How to Make a Willow Nature Crown…

      July 2, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      9 Special Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice…

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      A Beginner’s Guide to Pond Dipping with…

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      How Pokémon Can Get Kids Bird Watching

      April 30, 2019

      Nevada, USA

      Rock Climbing and Hiking Around Las Vegas…

      April 24, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Signs of Spring Nature Walk for Kids…

      April 5, 2019

  • Spring Outside 2020
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  • Canadian Adventures
    • All Alberta British Columbia Lower Mainland Northern Interior Okanagan
      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

      November 8, 2017

      British Columbia

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      November 1, 2017

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      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      September 28, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 30, 2017

      Alberta

      Rock Climbing with Kids in Jasper National…

      August 8, 2017

      Alberta

      Family Adventures in Jasper National Park: 10…

      July 26, 2017

      Alberta

      Shaw’s Point Resort

      August 6, 2015

      Alberta

      Apiaries in Northern Alberta

      August 5, 2015

      Alberta

      St. Isidore, Alberta

      August 4, 2015

      Alberta

      The Hoodoos

      July 29, 2015

      Alberta

      Royal Tyrrell Museum

      July 28, 2015

      Alberta

      Bow Valley Campground

      July 27, 2015

      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

      November 8, 2017

      British Columbia

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      November 1, 2017

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      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 30, 2017

      Lower Mainland

      Visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in…

      March 7, 2017

      Lower Mainland

      Outdoor Family Adventures in Metro Vancouver

      August 2, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Biking the Stanley Park Seawall

      July 27, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Exploring Deep Cove and Quarry Rock Trail

      July 25, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park

      July 22, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Biking Through Pacific Spirit Regional Park

      July 20, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Exploring Lynn Canyon Park

      July 18, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      1001 Steps to the Beach

      April 19, 2014

      Northern Interior

      Life at Ness Lake

      September 1, 2016

      Northern Interior

      McMillan Creek Regional Park

      October 8, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve

      October 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Eskers Provincial Park

      October 5, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Autumn in Northern British Columbia

      September 28, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Wildflowers in Northern British Columbia

      June 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Visiting Barkerville Historic Town

      June 2, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Travelling North

      June 19, 2013

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

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      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

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      July 18, 2017

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Backwoods Mama

Okanagan

More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley: December Edition

December 1, 2017

We made it through November – phew! It started off cold and snowy and ended balmy. Now that December is here, it’s time to fully embrace winter. Embrace winter? That’s right. Winter is an awesome time of year, there are so many fun things do outside. If the thought of December causes tears instead of fist pumps, then head outside and enjoy one of these great stress-busting activities.

1. Grab those skis and head for the mountains.

December marks the start of downhill ski season here in the Okanagan Valley. As long as the snow gods cooperated all four Okanagan ski resorts will be open by the first week of December. If you’re new to downhill skiing fear not, last season was our first time downhill skiing and we loved it.

Must Read: 10 Tips for Beginner Downhill Skiing Families 

Ski Resort Opening Days:

Apex Mountain Resort opening day: December 9, 2017

Big White Ski Resort opening day: November 23, 2017

Baldy Mountain Resort opening day: December 8, 2017 (check out the first chair festival!)

Silver Star Mountain Resort opening day: November 23, 2017

Great Resource: The Ultimate Okanagan Mountain Round Up.

2. Discover the fun and beauty of winter hiking.

Hiking doesn’t have to stop once snow falls – no way! Winter hiking is definitely doable with kids, and it’s a lot of fun too. Start by exploring a familiar trail and observe how winter has magically transformed it. Some of my most fond memories as a child were hiking through winter wonderlands with my family and sipping hot chocolate on the trail.

Check out: Naramata Creek Park in the Winter .

Must Read: 6 Tips for Winter Hiking with Kids.

3. Go sledding with your kids.

Sledding is so much, but don’t let your kids have all the fun on their own – join them! After a good snowfall head to a local sledding hill with some sleds and go for it. Not sure where to go, ask a friend or pose the question in a local parenting Facebook group. Another option is to head up to your local ski hill. Most ski hill have a sledding area that’s perfect for kids and parents

4. Try a family snowshoeing adventure.

Rent some snowshoes at your local ski resort or Nordic ski centre and explore a snowshoe trail. Snowshoeing is a very easy skill to learn, if you can walk then you can snowshoe! If you’re interested in a guided snowshoe tour then look no further than Hoodoo Adventure company. They offer fun snowshoe adventures for the whole family.

5. Lace up those skates and hit the ice.

Take part in the Ugly Sweater Skate at the Oliver arena on from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on December 16th. Or how about dropping in for family skate session at your outdoor or indoor rink. Usually family skates nights are low cost or free. Local outdoor rinks should be open by the beginning of December depending on the weather.

Centennial Outdoor Rink (Vernon, BC)   – Schedule

Kelowna Arenas – Schedule

McLaren Arena (Penticton, BC) – Shedule

Oliver Arena – FREE Public Skate and Rentals on Saturdays and Sundays from 5:30 to 6 :45 pm (October 14 to March 18th, 2018)

Summerland Arena  – Schedule

West Kelowna Arenas  – Schedule

Vernon Arenas – Shedule

6. Ride the Kettle Valley Christmas Express Train. (Summerland, BC)

For nine days the Kettle Valley Steam Train in Summerland, BC runs a Christmas Express Train. This 90 minute train ride runs Thursday, December 14th to Friday, December 22, with two departure times each day (4:30 pm and 6:30 pm). For more information visit Summerland Christmas Train Express.

7.  Take a nighttime stroll with the family.

The days are getting shorter and shorter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go outside. Grab a flashlight or headlamp and go exploring at night. Walk silently and listen carefully, what do you hear? Discover how your five senses change and adapt in the dark.

8. Celebrate the winter solstice outside. (December 21st)

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. After December 21st the days will start getting longer again – yippee! Get outside and celebrate by taking a solstice hike or hosting winter solstice bonfire, complete with mulled wine.

9. Feeling stressed about December? Check out my recent post: 12 Ways to Make Christmas More Meaningful for Your Family.

More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley: December Edition was last modified: December 16th, 2017 by Josée
Alpine SkiingApex Mountain ResortBaldy Mountain ResortBig WhiteBig White Ski ResortKettle Valley Christmas Express TrainSilver Star Mountain ResortSkatingSleddingSnowshoeingWinter HikingWinter Solstice
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