The #1000HoursOutside challenge has been inspiring families to get outside for years. We love tracking our hours and monitering progress but we’ll also admit, it takes more effort to get out in winter months. If you need a push to get out the door, here are 100 activities you can do to get closer to the 1000 hour mark (most of them are FREE!). Learn more about 1000 Hours Outside and its founder Ginny (a metro Detroit mom) in our #MomLife interview and download a free 1000 Hours Outside printable tracker.
Snow Day Activities
- Snowball Fight
- Build a Snow Fort
- Paint Snow
- Play Match the Tracks
- Make suncatchers
- Blow unpoppable bubbles
- Shovel (it’s more fun for kids than for grown-ups and sometimes more work for grow-ups with kids)
- Snowman Contest
Winter Favorites
- Winter @ Valade Park (Detroit): January 10 & February 14
- Fire & Ice Festival (Rochester): January 16 & 17
- Dexter Ice Festival: January 17
- BRRmingham Blast (Birmingham): January 24
- Ice Festival (Plymouth): January 30 – Febraury 1
- Ice Fest (Lake Orion): February 7
- World of Winter Festival (Grand Rapids): January 9 – March 1
Visit A Nature Center + Walk The Trail
- Leslie Science & Nature Center (Ann Arbor)
- Hawk Woods Nature Center (Auburn Hills)
- Belle Isle Nature Center (Detroit)
- Farmington Hills Nature Center (Farmington Hills)
- Lake St. Clair Nature Center (Harrison Township)
- Red Oaks Nature Center (Madison Heights)
- Kensington Nature Center (Milford)
- Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve (Rochester)
- Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center (Shelby Township)
- Stony Creek Nature Center (Shelby Township)
- Sterling Heights Nature Center (Sterling Heights)
- Indian Springs Environmental Discovery Center (White Lake)
Stay Up Past Bedtime
- Sit by a bonfire
- Roast marshmallows
- Play flashlight tag
- Use sparklers
- Star gazing – try a Dark Sky park
Visit Animals
- Detroit Zoo (Royal Oak)
- The Petting Farm (Ann Arbor)
- Calder Dairy & Farm (Carleton)
- Howell Nature Center (Howell)
- Kensington Farm Center (Milford)
- Wolcott Farm Center (Ray)
Playground Playdate
- County Farm Park (Ann Arbor)
- Lower Huron Metropark (Belleville)
- Booth Park (Birmingham)
- Chandler Park (Detroit)
- George George Memorial Park (Clinton Township)
- Scarlet’s Playlot (Commerce)
- McClumpha Park (Plymouth)
- Innovation Hills (Rochester Hills)
- Milt Hey / Hudson Park (Royal Oak)
- Kiwanis Park (Southgate)
- Veterans Memorial Park (Warren)
- Merriman Hallow (Westland)
Take A Hike
- Matthaei Botanical Gardens (Ann Arbor)
- Cranbrook House & Gardens (Bloomfield Hills)
- Rouge Trailhead (Dearborn)
- Heritage Park (Farmington)
- Rotary Park (Livonia)
- Maybury State Park (Northville)
- Crosswinds Marsh (New Boston)
- Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve (Southfield)
- International Wildlife Refuge (Trenton)
- West Bloomfield Nature Reserve (West Bloomfield)
- Holliday Nature Trail (Westland)
Hit The Ice
- Buhr Park (Ann Arbor)
- Beverly Park (Beverly Hills)
- Barnum Park (Birmingham)
- Riley Ice Rink (Farmington Hills)
- Lake St. Clair Metropark (Harrison Township)
- Rosie’s Park (Madison Heights)
- Bear Creek Nature Park (Rochester)
- Spencer Park (Rochester Hills)
- Dodge Park (Sterling Heights)
- The Rink at Stine Park (Troy)
- City Square Ice Rink (Warren)
Learn To Ski
- Mt Brighton (Brighton)
- Huron Meadows Metropark (Brighton)
- Pine Knob (Clarkston)
- Mt Holly (Holly)
- Stoney Creek Metropark (Shelby Township)
- Alpine Valley (White Lake)
Go Sledding
- Beverly Hills Village Park (Beverly Hills)
- Lincoln Hills Golf Course (Birmingham)
- Civic Center Sled Hill (Clinton Township)
- Balduck Park (Detroit)
- Shiawassee Park (Farmington)
- Vernier Hill (Grosse Pointe)
- Greenmead Historical Park (Livonia)
- Civic Center Park (Madison Heights)
- Maynard “Red” Aurand Memorial Park (New Baltimore)
- Cass Benton Park (Northville)
- Lost Lake Nature Park (Oakland)
- Jesse Decker Park Sled Hill (Orion)
- Brandon Township Community Park Sledding Lift (Ortonville)
- Bloomer Park Sled Hill (Rochester)
- Borden Park (Rochester Hills)
- Delia Park (Sterling Heights)
- Marshbank Park (West Bloomfield)
- Hines Drive Sledding Hill (Westland)
- Rolling Hills Park (Ypsilanti)
If healthy living and building community is on your 2026 goals list, check out The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. With 7 convenient locations you can find one near you AND your friend. Check out different classes at locations, enjoy time independently while your kids have fun in the FREE child watch and spend time together as a family in the pool, in the gym or at a special event.
