Families around the UK every year celebrate this festive season by staying inside, watching Christmas films and waiting for a traditional roast dinner to be served. But why not do something different and try new things leading up to Christmas. There are a wide range of things to do outdoors, from taking a family bike ride to travelling around in a campervan. Your home on wheels can easily transform into the perfect Christmas setting, utilise your roof bars by packing all the Christmas essentials such as decorations, food and of course the presents. You can enjoy the festive celebrations without barricading yourselves indoors. There are plenty of ways to spend days outdoors as a family, here are a select few.
Ice skating
Nothing feels makes you feel the winter season more than ice skating which is probably why it is such a popular activity around Christmas. Families and friends alike are drawn to the many ice rinks that appear around and in cities close to them, open especially for December. In Manchester in particular, there are two ice rinks open to the public. One is on First Street, further away from the busy city centre that is filled with frantic Christmas shoppers on the search for last minute gifts. To add to its appeal, situated around the ice rink are various pop up market stalls offering handmade jewelry, food and seasonal drinks. Another ice rink found in Manchester is apart of the highly anticipated Ice Village which is connected to the Christmas Markets found around the city. A busier location, this attracts a wide range of ice skaters eager to have some fun on the ice.
Bike rides
If you’re looking for something different to do outdoors with the family then a bike ride is definitely one to consider. Cycling through nature allows you to experience and appreciate how the environment changes with each season, winter in particular presents a wonderland filled with stunning scenery and crisp weather. There are even group bike rides organised that enable you to travel with different people, get to know new friends and generally enjoy the outdoors. These tours take place around urban areas and countrysides alike. If you aren’t a very active person, don’t worry, these bike rides can also go at a gentle pace as a leisurely way to spend your time and take a break away from the mayhem of Christmas preparation.
Campervan
A lot of people prefer travelling somewhere else for Christmas, or at least until they’re summoned home for the festive holiday. Having a motorhome means that you have the freedom to pack up and leave whenever you choose, even if it is so close the Christmas. Through travelling the road you can experience how other locations celebrate the season with various Christmas lights, markets and general festive cheer. Visiting different places means that you can spend more time outdoors exploring the various things these locations have to offer this time of year. You can enjoy all the things you would if you travelled somewhere in say autumn, but this time you get the added bonus of a winter atmosphere and Christmas cheer.
Walking
Another great way to spend Christmas outdoors is by going for a simple walk. There are many organised Christmas walks across the country for those who enjoy getting outdoors and appreciating their surroundings. Walking in groups allows you to make new friends, be social and escape from any stress found at home. Many people take a walk almost everyday, with coastal or countryside walks being the most popular. These walks provide a sense of calm and relaxation as you take the time to appreciate nature and any scenery discover. Christmas in particular provides a cheery atmosphere and festive feel that you don’t find at any other time of the year. Simple it may be, but enjoying a day out wildlife spotting by taking a gentle stroll is one of the many great ways to spend this festive season outdoors.
Day Trip
By December the majority of locations across the UK have already debuted their Christmas lights. This provides the perfect opportunity to get outside and visit different cities and towns for a variation of stunning lights, festive decorations and winter celebrations. Journeying outdoors to see these lights in person is a simple but effective way to spend some time outside and get out of the house. For a family, it is an ideal day out as you can spend some time visiting the town you are in before it goes dark, where then you can appreciate the stunning Christmas display of the lights. Manchester in particular lights up with a huge Santa Clause that is attached to the side of the Town Hall building, bringing Christmas cheer to the city and highlighting the famous Christmas markets. The markets are well known for bringing festive treats, seasonal gifts and homemade goods to the public once a year. If you haven’t visited the highly anticipated Christmas markets yet then you have until Sunday 23rd December 2018 to get in on the fun. Visit any of the Christmas markets located across the country as the perfect way to spend the last few days before Christmas.
As you can see there are so many ways to spend Christmas outdoors. From ice skating with friends to travelling around the country in a campervan, there are a variety of different ways to enjoy and celebrate the festive season without being isolated indoors. Christmas is all about creating new memories with those closest to you and spending time outdoors doing things that only happen around this time of the year is one of the best ways to do that.