If you’re feeling cooped up this winter and feel as though there isn’t anything to do with your family, relax and smile! NortheastOhioFamilyFun.com has 100 ideas—and we’ve got other great sources to share for even more fun winter 
activities for 2018-2019. Each of them can take place at home, close to home or within a couple hours away from home.
First, there’s cross country skiing and snowshoeing, activities that allow you to enjoy the freedom of skiing without needing to ski downhill. And, there are more than 30 locations nearby that provide trails for one of these activities, some of which offer lessons and even free equipment rental. More important to families, some offer family-centered activities and even children’s groups.
If you’d rather be indoors and you don’t mind driving to North Canton, then Harry London’s Chocolate offers free tours daily. About 45 minutes in length, you’ll learn about the company’s history and, as you tour the factory, you’ll see chocolates being made—and then you can sample some delicious chocolate.
And, if the roads are icy or winds are blustery, there’s nothing wrong with staying home and making some homemade honey snow candy, right? All you need is half a cup of honey, a quarter cup of brown sugar and a large bowl of freshly fallen snow. If you have a candy thermometer, that’s great—but, if you don’t, that’s okay.
Simply combine honey and brown sugar in a pot and heat it over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil it until it reaches 245 degrees (five minutes if you don’t have a thermometer). Keep stirring, though.
Then, slowly pour your mixture over your bowl of snow and let it cool completely. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes (after all, you poured it over snow!). Then, enjoy this candy. It has the “texture of a sticky soft taffy and a delicious sweet honey flavor. You won't be able to save any of later as it turns back to liquid form after it warms up. But it tastes so good that you probably won't have any leftovers to worry about!”
Ohio.org also shares fun winter activities, including Wildside Tours. Part of the Columbus Zoo, this is one of the world’s largest wildlife conservation centers, the “home of rare and endangered animals such as cheetahs, giraffes, rhinos and zebras roaming freely in southeast Ohio. Located on nearly 10,000 acres, the Wilds offer Wildside Tours where visitors interact with Animal Management staff to see the Wilds at work.”
You do need to preregister and prepay. You can call (740) 638-5030 for details.
Then there’s always bingo hiking, a suggestion from TodaysParent.com. At home, help your children to create their own bingo cards by drawing pictures of things they might see at a park or woods that you can visit. Then, head out to play. Depending upon the age of your child, you might need to provide some assistance in coming up with ideas for each of the bingo squares. Some ideas are a pine cone, a common bird, an acorn and so forth.
As one more idea from TodaysParent.com, call bowling alleys in your area to see if they have special family bowling nights. Some have black-light or glow-bowl bowling and/or play special kid-friendly music.
