14 Winter Break Activities for Families

Winter break is just around the corner. Maybe you’re excited for the time off with kids. Or maybe — like some of us here at PDX Parent – you have the line, “Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again,” running on repeat in your head. Either way, there’s plenty of fun to be had over break! Here are 14 ideas to get you started, one or two for each day.

As always, confirm all details since there may be changes at any time.

Hit the ice. This year you can skate outside in Portland, all break long, at the pop-up Portland Winter Ice Rink downtown. Eat something warm from the food carts and shop the vendors while you’re there. If you live farther west, another great option is the Winter Village at Orenco Station, back in Hillsboro for the first time since the pandemic. Can’t stand the cold? Check out the indoor rink at OMSI or head to the Lloyd Center Ice Rink for skating fun without the heavy coats.

Finish that bucket list. In the busy-ness of the year, you may have missed out on some memory making. These last weeks of vacation are the perfect time to knock out one or two of the items on our Ultimate Portland Bucket List: 101 Things to Do with Kids.

Play in the snow. It may or may not snow in Portland, but you can check out the sledding, snowshoeing and skiing at these family-friendly spots. Some PDX Parent staffers are planning to go to Mt. Hood Skibowl or the sno-parks around Mt. Hood. Another farther-out favorite is Wanago Sno Park in Bend.

Find new books. Browsing the stacks at Powells is an adventure that locals and tourists alike enjoy, and BONUS, you’ll get even more quiet time at home, when the kids are lost in the latest Dog Man. Holiday budget too tight for a book splurge? Portland has fabulous libraries, where you’ll find plenty of great reads for zero dollars. If you’re looking for a new-to-you independent bookshop, we’ve got 11 ideas.

Be dazzled. Most holiday light displays are running through January 1. Check our list here to find old favorites or new sparkling spots. Don’t forget another great source of inexpensive and easy bright holiday cheer is your own neighborhood, or you can pick a new neighborhood to explore on foot or by car.

Find Santa. We’ve rounded up plenty of places to meet Santa, but he’ll be back at the North Pole for most of winter break. Luckily this display of glowing Santa clones will be around until January 1!

Get away. Spend a few days at one of these family-approved local destinations.

Try a new-to-you park. We highly recommend treating our 10 Best Playgrounds like a bucket list, for some free fun that will absolutely delight your kids. You’ll also find fewer crowds in winter, which means no one has to wait for a turn on the swing set. (Just maybe bring a towel to dry it off.)

Learn about Kwanzaa. The African-American celebration of life and family begins December 26 and ends January 1. You can decorate your home with the colors red, black and green, and reflect on each of the seven guiding principles (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith). Nikki Brown Clown is co-hosting a Kwanzaa celebration on December 28, at the center for ReEngagement on NE Killignsworth, that’s sure to be an incredible time.

See the Nutcracker. It’s not too late! Find a venue that fits your budget here, including the splurge-worthy annual performance by Oregon Ballet Theatre.

Climb, swing and slide — inside. Check out our list of indoor play spaces. Many have Wi-Fi, so you may even get some work done while the kids play.

Have fun in the kitchen. Try one of these easy, kid-approved holiday treats. Prefer to avoid mess in your own kitchen? Try one of these 14 places to decorate cakes and cookies with kids, instead.

Do some good. Winter break is the perfect time to volunteer at one of these 20+ kid-friendly volunteer spots.

Go on a holiday tree tour. Pack up some cocoa and see if you can check all of the community trees, including the iconic fir at Pioneer Square, off your list before the lights go out.

We hope you have fun and find just the right amount of things to keep you as busy as you’d like to be. For more ideas, check out our popular Kids Calendar.