By Kelly Bjornstad
The holidays are upon us, and winter break is about to begin! But what do you do with all your free time? Here are a couple fun, festive activities that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
If you’re looking for something to get you up, moving, and out of the house, ice skating is a great idea. You’ll be surrounded with your community, and it’s a great environment for friends and family. Ice skating may seem daunting, but some people pick it up like a pro. Either way, ice skating is guaranteed to bring some laughs as you experience the learning curve that is gliding on 2 blades across the ice. If you’re in Benicia, there are a couple of rinks within a 30 minute radius. Among the most popular are Walnut Creek on Ice and Vacaville Ice Sports, as well as the rink located in the Concord Veranda shopping center. If you’re looking for a little bit more of a day trip, you might enjoy the holiday ice rink in Union Square, San Francisco. The city is always decked in holiday decorations, and has plenty of room for all of the skaters it attracts!
The next thing that might interest you is creating the perfect hot chocolate. This is an activity that can be done in the warmth of your own home, away from the winter cold. You can even set up a hot chocolate bar for friends and family. An easy self-serve hot chocolate event with those close to you is a great way to get festive. Put on your favorite Christmas movie, and enjoy your creation! Making hot chocolate doesn’t have to be traditional, either. Country Living recommends sugar cookie hot chocolate, adding marshmallows, candy canes, and chocolate shavings. You can buy a variety of flavors in whipped cream, or add spices and secret ingredients to take a dry mix of hot chocolate to another level. Peppermint, chai and truffle are just a few things that can be used to take your holiday drink to the next level.
And if you want to take on something a little more hands on, make a gingerbread house! Boxes with all the ingredients you may need are sold in CVS, Raley’s, Safeway, Target, and even Lowes. You can make one big house, or purchase kits with multiple little ones. And if the premade kits aren’t your style, you can choose your own candy and assemble your holiday house with graham crackers and icing as an alternative.
Another special thing about the holiday season is lights! Go for a drive or a walk around your neighborhood and look at every ones decorations. If it’s nighttime, bundle up with family and friends and pick out your favorite house. It’s not often we get to see so many twinkling lights and different decorations around town!
Hopefully your holiday season and winter break are all you want them to be, and filled with holiday festivities. These are just a few of the many things to keep you busy this holiday season.
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