Some people say that winter is a time for hibernation. But guess what? I’m not a bear. I’m a Calgarian. Winter is a lot easier to get through when you take a good look at all the awesome things there are to do, whether you want to stay in or go out. In case you need some inspiration, here’s a list of things I would sure like to do before the flowers start blooming!
Staying cozy at home
- Start a blog – And if nobody reads it, that’s okay. Do it for yourself,
to express who you are and what you think about this world we live in.
- Jam sessions – There’s nothing quite like the feeling when you’re
making your own music. Sing, strum a guitar, play the piano, strum a ukulele, get some beats going, and of course, gather some friends. Want to take it a step further? Try creating your own songs.
Indoor excursions
- Loose Moose Theatre – It’s nearly impossible to leave one of their improv shows feeling unhappy. Every Friday and Saturday evening, actors create scenes on the spot, with special rules and twists that make it impossible not to uncontrollably laugh.
- PIPS Board Game Cafe – While staying in Edmonton this summer, I became very, very familiar with the board game cafe there (Hexagon) and how AWESOME board game cafes are. In December, PIPS became the first one to open in Calgary, and I am so excited to go!
- Escape rooms – In case you haven’t heard of these, it’s basically you and your squad stuck in a themed room, with a set amount of time to solve clues and unlock the door. Check out Avenue Calgary’s list of 5 escape rooms to try.
- Chinook mall – Some might say this is boring. But do you know what wouldn’t be boring? Going to Sephora to get a mini-makeover, then browsing the Lego store, smelling lotions at Bath & Body Works, heading to the Chinook Bowladrome, buying matching squad teeshirts from Hot Topic or Urban Behaviour, watching a newly released movie, and, my favourite, visiting the American Girl specialty doll boutique in the new Indigo Kids section of Chapters (who knows, maybe you’ll see me there!).
Outdoor adventures
- Ice skating – There’s nothing quite like the feeling of gliding along on ice with the brisk air brushing your cheeks. To get that brisk air part, try an outdoor rink. My favourite? Bowness Park lagoon. The ice there may be uneven, but thats because the ice is entwined with a natural setting. And of course, if you’ve got access to a car, Lake Louise is probably the best place to skate in this entire province.
- Photo shoots – I don’t mean getting a professional photographer to take some pictures of you awkwardly hugging your siblings. By “photo shoots” I mean gathering your friends and a decent camera, heading outdoors to a nice park, and taking Instagram-able photos of your squad in the snow. After all, I know it’s about time for me to get a new Facebook profile picture.
The grey cloudy skies might not be inviting, but hopefully some of these ideas are. 🙂