Below freezing temperatures? Mountains of snow? Ah yes, the signs of a good ol’ Canadian winter.

Winter is one of those polarizing seasons. Either you love it, or you hate it. But in my opinion, if you hate it, it’s only because you haven’t learned how to embrace it.

But, I’m going to make you see that there’s a certain level of magic to the big fluffy flakes falling from the sky.

Now, I’m not saying it’s all magical because let’s be honest – shovelling snow, retrieving that extra thick blanket from the back of your closet and piling up the layers to go outside isn’t always the most fun. But, all that aside, if you embrace the season and find fun things to do, you’ll start to love winter too!

First thing’s first. In order to enjoy winter, you have to be prepared. So, here is your first checklist.

Next is your checklist of must-try winter activities. Trust me, this will help you see the magic!

Okay, so let’s break down that list.

Build a snowman

Whether you’re an expert snowman builder, have dabbled as a kid (or in Animal Crossing), or you’re experiencing your first snowy winter, get out there after a nice snowfall and get building!

You can build one in your backyard or a nearby park. It’s an easy, fun and safe winter activity for you to do with your family or friends.

Try snowshoeing

If you want to experience winter for its beauty while getting in a bit of a workout, try snowshoeing.

There are tons of different places with gorgeous trails in the GTA, such as High Park, Beltline Trail and Crawford Lake, just to name a few.

Have a snowball fight

I don’t care how old or how young you are – any age is the perfect age to round up your friends and have a snowball fight. All you need to do is wait for that perfect packing snow and you’re good to go!

Go tobogganing

Okay, so some equipment is required for this one, but it’s worth it! You can either head online and order yourself a small toboggan or you can consider one of these DIY toboggan options.

There are tons of different parks with tobogganing hills, such as Centennial Park, Cedarvale Park and Erindale Park. A quick google search will let you know which hills are closest to you and whether they are currently operating.

And remember, have fun!

Whatever winter activity you want to get involved in, just go out there and have fun! If the list above didn’t intrigue you, we’re sure you can find something that does.

You could try cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snow tubing, making an ice fort, going on a winter hike or even ice-fishing – the options are endless! However, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, ensure that your activity follows government health guidelines and that the facilities you want to visit are currently operating.

Other than that, get out there and discover your new favourite winter activity AND new-found love for winter.

And if you’re a first-semester international student who’s eager to experience their first Canadian winter, but don’t have a jacket that can handle the cold – we’ve got you covered.

Enter our Warm up your Winter Contest for your chance to win 1 of 20 winter jackets!

Get ready to say goodbye to those winter blues!

After all that time outside, nothing is better than warming up with a nice bowl of soup! Check out our Soupbar to pick up a free container of frozen soup today to make sure you’re prepared!

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