The winter months offer terrific opportunities for people who enjoy active outdoor pursuits like skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating and winter hiking, but what about those who'd prefer to spend the long days between late November through March snuggled up by the woodstove and dreaming of summer? 

Sitting around the fire sipping hot chocolate and binging your favorite series can make the winter months go by more quickly, but why not plan some non-sports activities that get you moving and enjoying time with family and friends, both indoors and outside?

These activities can help you weather the weather, avoid bouts of cabin fever, connect with others, and provide a new perspective during the snowy, blowy, blustery months ahead.

 A garden or field of freshly fallen snow is an irresistible draw for making snow angels! Creating one is easy-peasy: Lie down in the snow and swish your arms and legs back and forth, and voila! If you have grandkids, it's almost a guarantee that they'll be delighted to create a few snow angels with you. Laughs and giggles are sure to be part of the fun. 

There's nothing like catching snowflakes on your tongue to take you back to those days when that was an essential part of the winter's pleasures. Try it for yourself and see how happy it makes you feel! 

Plan a snow day indoors and camp out all day in your PJs. Build a fort with blankets and comforters, pop some popcorn, watch a movie, and have an indoor picnic with roasted hot dogs, chips, and pickles. 

Tell ghost stories around a bonfire on a starry winter's night. Wrap up in blankets and toast s'mores and hot dogs to help keep you warm as you listen to the shivery tales.

After a snowfall of just-right snow, not too wet and not too dry, build a snowman and dress it up in some winter finery. Feeling really ambitious? Build a snow fort; numerous instructions are available online. 

Organize a chili, beef stew, or a potluck evening and invite the neighbors to join you in a hearty cold-weather meal and conversation. Along with the food, share memories of childhood winters. 

With fewer crowds during the winter months, this might be the perfect time of year to visit a museum, art gallery, or historical society and immerse yourself in art, history, culture, science, and technology, experience new ideas, and broaden your understanding of the state and the world. New Hampshire has some incredible museums where you can spend an hour or two or more on a cold winter's day. The Currier Museum in Manchester holds a special place in my heart as I visited it often as a child. Check out all the options in our area.

Gather some friends and organize a photographic scavenger hunt around your neighborhood. Items might include the longest icicle, doors in different colors, holiday décor such as candles in windows or the most spectacular wreath, dogs on porches, pinecones on trees, or berries on bushes, squirrels, animal tracks, or snowmen. Record the items you find on your cellphone. Head back home to share hot chocolate, cookies, and the photos you took. 

Explore the natural world during the winter months by keeping a winter nature journal. During outdoor walks, do a little exploring and take note of what you see, hear, smell, and taste. What animals, or their tracks, do you see when you are out and about? What birds stop at your feeders? How does the weather change from day to day? What does the wind sound like? What does the sky look like? How does snow taste? Do you see bushes laden with berries or grasses waving in the wind? Is the bark on trees more noticeable now that most trees have shed their leaves? Describe the colors you see on a blue sky day and compare those notes with the way color varies on a cloudy or snowy day. Make sketches in your notebook or use your cell phone to take photos if you want. Your journal needn't be complicated. Have fun! 

Discovering winter's many pleasures adds an element of wonder and joy to the dark winter months that will sustain and nourish your spirit while you wait for the warmer days of spring and summer.

Eileen Alexander, a New Hampshire native, made a short detour through North Carolina before returning to the Granite State. She has a yen for old homes with character, colorful flower gardens, and expansive mountain views. 

See this article and more in the winter edition of Journey Home, Badger Peabody & Smith Realty's magazine focusing on New Hampshire real estate and local living.