While cozying up to watch White Christmas can be a beloved family tradition, there’s something to be said about stepping away from screens and embracing the crisp winter air. The benefits of outdoor activities during the holidays extend beyond physical health—they create cherished memories, spark creativity and provide a refreshing change from the indoor hustle and bustle.
The natural world offers endless opportunities for fun, even in colder weather. A simple walk through a nearby park or forest transforms into an adventure when you look for wildlife, collect pine cones or explore icy puddles. Building snowmen, sledding or engaging in a friendly snowball fight infuses the season with laughter and excitement. For areas without snow, nature scavenger hunts or outdoor obstacle courses are excellent ways to keep the kids active and engaged.
Walking in a GoLark winter wonderland
Outdoor play stimulates their senses in ways a TV screen cannot. The feel of snow or frost on their gloves, the sound of crunching leaves or the sight of twinkling lights in the neighbourhood provides a fuller, more enriching holiday experience. Time outside also gives families a chance to connect in a more meaningful way—without the distractions of technology.
For parents, bundling up and venturing outdoors with children might seem daunting at first, but the effort pays off. And with GoLark, the stress of choosing where to go will soon diminish, thanks to the vast number of things to do in the local area.
Get outdoors in Sussex and Surrey
Balancing screen time with outdoor activities ensures that kids stay active, enjoy nature and experience the holiday season in its most vibrant form. So, this year, turn off the TV, step outside and gift your family the fresh air and shared joy only the outdoors can bring.
Here in Sussex and Surrey, we’re spoilt for choice when we feel the need for some al fresco exercise. Surrey is home to a great range of outdoor attractions such as Leith Hill, Box Hill and the picturesque Earlswood Lakes. A stroll around the waters here is surely as good, if not better, than any Christmas movie, even the excellent Home Alone.
Head south and take in the sea air!
To the south of the region, you’ll find a great range of beautiful beaches on the Sussex coast. And while we tend to associate them with the summer season, there’s something special about being beside the sea in the depths of winter. Try the atmospheric Goring Beach, for example, or perhaps the ever-popular Hove Lagoon.
Wherever you go, use us as your personal experience finder and you’ll soon forget that the BBC are showing Die Hard or Love Actually for the umpteenth time. Getting out and about is what it’s all about, so go on, go out, go lark about!
