Yeah, we have experienced some chilly weather in the past few weeks, but even with cold fronts and cooler temperatures, it's hard to think of Winter in the way much of the rest of the nation knows it. To make it feel like Winter in Miami and have some cozy fun, here are 10 must-try activities you can do with your family:
1. Hit the Ice Rink
Miami is not a city usually associated with traditional winter recreational activities, but we don’t need to go far to experience wintertime fun. The Barbara Medina Ice Rink at the Scott Rakow Youth Center is a state of the art 12,885 square foot ice skating rink. Our rink is home to many programs for children and adults that include figure skating, ice hockey, open sessions, private lessons, birthday parties and rentals.
Scott Rakow Youth Center - 2700 Sheridan Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
2. Sip Hot Chocolate
Mugs of hot chocolate are an essential for any winter day, and a number of local shops specialize in the traditional chocolate-cum-milk combination, but some offer newer variations. Established in 2005 in the heart of Little Haiti, Sweat Records is an independent music store and a built-in vegan coffee shop. It serves traditional hot chocolate as well as a spiced version - the Mexican spiced hot chocolate with Hawaiian cane sugar, ground chocolate spices, premium African forastero cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, almonds and vegan marshmallows.
Sweat Records - 5505 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
3. See the Holiday Light Displays
Bring the family for a twinkling drive or stroll to the Enchanted Place of North Miami . It’s one entire cul-de-sac where neighbors got together to light up the tree canopy area and welcome the holiday cheer. The street is lit up from 6 pm - 11 pm each night thru Three Kings Day.
Enchanted Place of North Miami - 1600 NE 137th Terrace - North Miami, Florida 33181
4. Make a Gingerbread House
Bring the magic and beauty of winter inside with a Gingerbread House decorated with an assortment of colorful candies and frosting. You can buy your own kit and make it at home or, if you need some guidance and don’t want to get too messy, your kids can join The Real Food Academy for a Gingerbread House Decorating Class. They will receive a Gingerbread House making kit complete with all they need to decorate it.
The Real Food Academy - 570-A NE 81st St, Miami, FL 33138
5. Watch a Holiday Classic Movie
Get your movie snack, curl up on the couch or go to the theater and get a shot of holiday cheer with a Classic Holiday movie like “Elf”, “Home Alone”, “The Polar Express”, “It's a Wonderful Life” and more. Check out our local Movies Guide and list of 18 Classic Christmas Movies.
6. Make a Sand Angel
You might have heard of–and even done–a snow angel before. We don’t not have a lot snow here … but we have sand! Head out to the beach, make your own sand angels and have fun with the kids.
7. Have a Cotton Ball Snowball Fight
Snow is not something we are expecting any time soon. So, indoor snowball fight is just about the only kind of snowball fight we can get. You can buy Indoor Plush snowball online or make your own by filling several children’s crew socks with another sock, a crumpled up plastic bag, or handfuls of polyfill or cotton balls, and use them as pretend “snowballs”.
8. See a Winter Sport Game
Take the kids to a Florida Panther’s hockey game and have a cool family night out. No matter your affinity with the sport, hockey games are more than just a game! Non-stop action, affordable family entertainment, and intermission activities provide unmatched fun!
9. Build a Snowman Out of Sand
Who says a snowman can only be made from snow? Forget Frosty, and welcome Sandy! This is how you can build your snowman from a bunch of sand:
- Use a generous amount of wet sand to make three balls, sized big, bigger, and biggest. (The biggest is the base of the snowman.)
- Sprinkle dry sand over the balls to smooth out bumps and divots.
- Stack the balls just like you would a regular snowman.
- Now you’re ready to decorate your snowman with whatever you can find.
10. Have Cinnamon Rolls for Breakfast
Packed with all the spices of winter, cinnamon rolls are a favorite during the Holiday Season. You can make them from scratch at home or head to Wynwood's bakery/café Zak the Baker for a batch of his famous Cinnamon Rolls.
Zak the Baker - 295 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33127
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