Open Season
Cost: Free
Build a Snowman
There’s a good chance 417-land could see enough of the white fluffy stuff this season to make an icy humanoid—or at least a family of snow mice ready to guard your front door. There’s something about cold, wet packing snow that brings the artiste out of kids and adults alike, so go ahead and mess up that pristine first snowfall by rolling around in it a little.
Cost: Free, plus gas
Take a Winter Hike
Cool air and sunny weather create the perfect recipe for a brisk winter hike. Just don’t forget your hat and mittens. Winter is beautiful in the Ozarks, and local parks present prime opportunities for adventure. The Springfield Conservation Nature Center (417-888-4237, mdc.mo.gov/areas/cnc/springfd) has six well-maintained hiking trails that are open year-round, unless icy or snowy weather forces them to close.
Cost: $29 for a family of four
Go Ice Skating
Scootch off the couch, turn off the 24-hour marathon of A Christmas Story and head out to Mediacom Ice Park (417-866-7444, icepark.org) for some ice skating. It’s a fun way for adults to work off those post-Thanksgiving muffin tops and a great way to burn off some of your kids’ pent-up energy.
Cost: $32 for a family of four
Meet Santa For Breakfast
For many kids—for good or for bad—the holiday season revolves around Santa Claus. What better way to bring joy to your little ones’ faces than a meet-and-greet with the big guy? Bass Pro Shops gives families a prime opportunity with
its annual Breakfast With Santa event (417-891-5256, basspro.com).
Cost: Supplies
Team Up For Holiday Prep
Encourage the spirit of giving, not just getting, by making holiday projects a family affair. Incorporating children into gift-wrapping, cooking-baking, Menorah-lighting and more builds relationships, teaches kids the importance of family traditions and builds their self-esteem. Kids hone their language skills by reading recipes out loud and sharpen their math skills by weighing and measuring ingredients.
Recipe for Peppermint-Chocolate Chip Cookies
(courtesy the American Home Baking Association)
Ingredients:
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup crushed hard peppermint candies
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
To prepare:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix sugars, butter, shortening, vanilla and egg in a bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches part onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until light brown. Cool slightly before removing cookies from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.
Cost: baking ingredients
Kids also love helping with gift buying. Encourage them to think about what friends and family would like to receive as a gift, emphasizing that the season about giving and not just about receiving. Christmas crafts also give children a creative outlet during the busy season. Pick up some decorative papers and glitter to handcraft holiday cards for Grandma and Grandpa, or create your own Christmas tree ornaments with a bit of colored felt or popsicle sticks.
Cost: $76 for a family of four
See a Holiday Ballet
There’s something about those first notes of The Nutcracker that brings out the Christmas spirit, so watch the performance by The Springfield Ballet. Guest performers will dance the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. (417-869-1334)
Cost: $1,180 for a family of four
Go Winter Fishing
Sure, it’s a bit chilly outside for water sports, but why not brave the temperatures hook, line and sinker for a once-in-a-lifetime fishing expedition? Heck, real anglers go fly fishing year-round. All you need is to bundle up and limit the time you spend outside. The fishing guides at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park (417-779-5983, dogwoodcanyon.com) make it easy by leading personalized fishing trips on Dogwood Creek for people age 12 and older.
