4 super fun things to do in the winter with friends

Winter. The sound of the word itself makes you want to go hide under a gazillion blankets. Winter has this fair stigma of being a time where you can literally do nothing but hibernate. I’m going to debunk this belief with some of my favourite things to do in the winter with friends.

1. Go Ice Skating

Last year, I took skating lessons and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Now, I aim to practise ice skating once a week at my local skating rink. When it’s possible, I love to skate with friends. It makes skating twice as fun.

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If you own a pair of skates and want to go skating this winter, check out Toronto Fun to see the free skating times of your local community centre.

2. Stay Cozy in a Cafe

Winter is the perfect time to try out new cafes and get work done in a warm atmosphere. Or, if you’re looking for an instant escape from the cold and you see a cute cafe nearby, take the opportunity to check it out. That’s exactly what Shana and I did when we saw Bake Island across from Ryerson University.

Bake Island (apparently) has bubble tea with soy milk. I didn’t try it that day, but I really want to.

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Oh, and there are a variety of desserts and baked goods.

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I don’t eat meat (unless it’s fish) so I definitely did not try any of these snacks, but Shana didn’t hesitate to literally scoop up at least one of these treats.

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3. Try a Fitness Studio

Another way to stay warm is to break a sweat and that is precisely what I like to do during the winter. Whether it’s dancing, a spin class, a barre class or trying a new gym, you can do so with ClassPass. This is not an AD, but if you’re in a big city like Toronto and want to try unique fitness studios, use ClassPass. Depending on the plan you get, you can try a few or an unlimited amount of fitness studios in Toronto every month. In January, I went to this awesome studio called CycleBar at Bayview and Eglinton. It’s all dark inside the studio room (which is perfect because nobody can see anything but the instructor at the front of the room) and the first week is free. Also, they give you the cutest welcome and a free water bottle with your name on it.

4. Check Out the Aurora Winter Festival

Sadly, this festival is over, but the Aurora Winter Festival is an outside winter amusement park at Ontario Place. There are ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds with mazes filled with light art structures. Aurora Winter Festival is over now, but keep on the look out for other festivals that happen in your city during the winter.

Overall, winter doesn’t have to be a season of hibernation for you. You don’t have to dread leaving your house because there are many fun things to do in the winter with your friends. Try one of these four ideas this week and let me know how it goes in the comments below.