Fun Activities for Winter in Washington DC

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

There may not be snow on the ground, but there is a certain chill in the air, and gloves are in every shop window. It’s winter in DC, and you can’t stay in your apartment or furnished rental until April. Here are the best winter in Washington activities to keep you active and entertained until the sun and the warm weather return. Snowball Fight! What are the only upsides to snow? Snowball fights and warming up afterward. Washington has a Facebook group dedicated to organizing snowball fights in major parks around the city after each snowfall. Check the weather and plan to reheat with a hot beverage at one of the local bars and pubs (see below). Washington Walks Drinkabout (Update: link no longer available). This trip combines a historical tour of the Columbia Heights district with socializing and a bar/snack crawl. Plan Your Next Trip. If you start to feel a bit stir crazy this winter, plan to visit the Travel and Adventure Show January 14th and 15th at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. You’ll be inspired and empowered for your next warm getaway. Get Outside and Skate. Ice skating is a tradition in DC. The National Gallery of Art offers skating amongst large-scale sculptural art (provided the temperature is above 20 degrees) through March 12th. Enjoy the Variety of Restaurant Week. Running January 30th through February 5th, this yearly event offers prix-fixe menus at the hottest restaurants in the city. Check out the event website to see about making reservations where appropriate. Hit the Slopes. DC is a short drive from some very reasonable skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing sites. They may not be quite up to Colorado standards, but they are still a fun day or weekend trip with friends or family. It can be tempting to hibernate in the cold weather, streaming the latest seasons, or catching up on reading. The reality is that winter in Washington has as many attractions as any other season, provided you dress appropriately for the weather!