If you aren't going anywhere this winter, you're not alone. It's expensive to travel right now, but if you're also having withdrawals from lack of sun, or you need to get out of your family's house when you're visiting, then I have a list of things that can get you outside, whether you want to keep warm or are okay with bundling up.
A local artist's home/studio and her amazing tree and Krampus
I usually plan a vacation for the beginning of the year, so I can get away from the cold, rainy weather that fills our winters. I never used to get seasonal affective disorder, but I find that I am more prone to it in the last 5 years or so and being able to go somewhere warm, or at least with sun, helps. If I can't do that, then I force myself out of the house to do something. Last year I made sure I did something every weekend and I felt a ton better about life.
Out of the cold
Go to all the winter markets
I hit up a bunch of markets when I have the chance, because I do need to get gifts for people, but I also want to support as many small businesses and local artists as possible. Here are some we've done:
ScanFair - They bring the magic of a European Christmas market to us here. Any vendor who makes and/or sells Scandinavian goods in Oregon and Washington come to help folks with their holiday shopping lists and decorate their home.
Market for the Strange - a cool alternative market where you can get your picture taken with The Grinch and/or Krampus and find gifts for the goths or other unusual people in your life.
Portland Night Market - Once a month, a ton of local artists descend on a big warehouse in town and sell their amazing wares: homemade jewelry, jams, clothing, art, and more. Plus you'll find a bunch of food vendors outside to fuel your shopping venture.
Oddities and Curiosities Expo - a traveling expo for those that like things a bit darker, like skulls, bones, taxidermy, ghosts, monsters, and more. We go every year and find all new local artist to follow.
Geek the Halls - a fun market full of fandom gifts, from engraved cutting boards to purses to table lamps. I've bought so much from this market over the years for gifts.
Wytch Daye - Yet another alternative market, for the witchy friends you have on your list.
Go on a brewery or distillery tour
Nothing hits quite like a specialty cocktail during the cold months, but even if you don't drink, learning about a new thing is always cool and fun. We just did the Aviation American Gin tour.
Nights at the museum
We have a science museum that hosts an After Dark event once a month. They often serve alcohol and are for adults. You can enjoy the museum exhibits, eat food, browse vendors, and even see the special exhibits without all the usual crowds (I totally go for that).
Interactive Art Attractions/Exhibits
I love when I can enjoy art in a completely different way. We just got a new venue in Portland, called Hopscotch. The only other one is in Austin, but it lets you explore art through murals, light installations, lasers and more.
We explored another one that has been extended through February called Roboto Octopodo brought to you by Fathom Events. You can interact with undersea creatures and scenes, while you look for specific items and also solve a mystery. It's not the best one we've been to, but it was still really fun and a good way to spend several hours out among people.
A few years ago we spent several hours at the Van Gogh traveling exhibit. I really hope they do this with other artists, because it makes things so much more interesting and also more accessible to people who can't travel to see much of these art pieces.
If you live in a place where there is a Meow Wolf destination, that can be half a day.
We also have a local artist, Mike Bennett, that does fun walk-through exhibits with a storyline. He started doing large exhibits in his front yard during the pandemic and finally moved into a permanent space that changes throughout the year. Me meet up with friends and do breakfast beforehand, so it's a pretty good outing.
See a show
There are always tons of shows happening around the holidays, so now's the time to get to one or two, whether they're Broadway, off-off-off Broadway, a local band, a ballet, or even a comedy show. You can't beat having a night on the town, even if it's really cheap and really close to your house.
Holiday Pop-Ups
This time of year sees a lot of pop-ups - bars, shops, restaurants, you name it - and it's a chance to get out and experience something different in a space you may already visit frequently. Last year I used my birthday as an opportunity to check out Sippin' On Sixth, which is a tiki pop-up through the end of the year that has tiki drinks, brunch, lunch, dinner, and specialty events. We hit up brunch, when they were doing a Tiki Santa meet. The restaurant was decked out in luau stuffs, but with a Santa theme, and I went home with a fantastic Santa tiki mug.
Drive-thru holiday lights
The pandemic really brought back seeing things from your car, so check out what's local to you. Our zoo has drive-thru nights now, there are neighborhoods that shut down the streets except for cars admiring their lights, there are raceways that have holiday light events. Bring some cocoa or coffee, crank up the holiday tunes and heater, and enjoy the lights from inside your cozy space. For us it's Portland International Speedway, Peacock Lane (a Portland neighborhood that goes all out), and Lightopia.
Out in the cold
Take a tour of all the trees
Right now, every hotel lobby has a big, cool holiday tree. Maybe more than one. Go downtown and see how many you can get to. You can also kip into banks and coffee shops and see them in shop windows.
Go ice skating
Not all cities have a year-round ice rink like Portland does, but maybe you get a fun pop-up rink for the winter months. Ours just opened last week for the season, for people who don't want to go to the mall and skate with all those people inside.
Go to a holiday light event at the zoo (or aquarium)
Every year out zoo does Zoolights and, on some special nights, Brewlights for 21+. Bundle up, grab a hot chocolate and enjoy wandering the zoo all lit up for the holidays. The fun thing about the zoo is that they aren't usually Christmassy, but more likely light up tunnels and animals and local scenes. Ours have a few exhibits open, like the indoor portion of the elephant enclosure, and on some nights you can try a bunch of different beers while you take in the lights.
If you're visiting family over the holidays, these can all give you a break from being cooped up inside together, do some bonding activities, or to get away from them altogether for a little bit. And if you're doing these at home or on a trip, it gives you some fun things to do outside of sitting at home, going out to eat, or normal touristy things.
What are some of your favorite winter activities around town?
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