Christmas is over but the winter season has just begun, and the kids have at least another full week of “break” time. Here are 8 things to do before you ring in the New Year!
1. Go Ice Skating. The Ice Rink at Town Center is open every day through January 16, 2023, and you must visit at least once this season. It’s affordable fun that all ages can enjoy!
2. Tour Christmas lighting displays. Most homes leave their Christmas decorations up and on through December 31, so if you haven’t taken the time to explore the lights in our area and beyond, use our guide and get after it!
3. Plan your spring garden. You might think it’s too early to do this, but it isn’t. Now is the time to start many seeds indoors, and you’ll have to start planting seedlings and transplants in early February for crops such as cabbage and kale. In the meantime, you can start planning the space, order your seeds, and even digging. Visit The Old Farmer's Almanac website for tips.
4. Take a road trip. Some of our favorites cities to visit from The Woodlands area are Galveston (hit Moody Gardens, Stewart Beach, and LaKings’s Confectionery), San Antonio (visit Sea World, Fiesta Texas, and the DoSeum), Dallas (visit the Dallas Arboretum, Six Flags Over Texas, and The Dallas World Aquarium). See our feature on Road Trips from The Woodlands for more ideas.
5. Visit the science museum. The Houston Musuem of Natural Science is hosting the King Tut's Tomb exhibition through December 2023. While you're at the museum, enjoy a movie on the IMAX screen, walk through the Butterfly Center - a living butterfly habitat, fly through our universe in the planetarium, and more. Don't forget the WoodlandsMommy.com Corporate Discount coupon.
6. Go on a nature hike. The Greater Houston / Woodlands area is fortunate to have relatively mind winters, so there’s no good reason why we can’t spend a couple hours outside during the sunniest parts of the day. Choose an entry point at The George Mitchell Nature Preserve and have a soul-freeing time on the trails.
7. Organize your photos. You’ve probably taken a ton of photos this year, so spend half a day culling through and organizing them electronically, and/or show off your 2022 adventures in a photo book printed by your favorite photo-printing company. We love the convenience of Walgreens Photo and CVS Photo, and there’s usually an online coupon code you can use, but other companies worth trying are Snapfish, Shutterfly, and MixBook. (<<< affiliate links)
8. Explore a park that you've never visited. There are dozens upon dozens of parks to choose from in The Woodlands, with various amenties and play equipment. Will you feed the turtles? Roast hot dogs on a BBQ bit? Shoot hoops with the kids? Catch a fish? Use this guide to locate all 140 parks in our area.
BONUS: Clean, declutter, and organize your home. Resolve to start off the new year with a tidy and aired-out home. And don’t forget it’s “Out with the old!” Steal a move from the Marie Kondo playbook and say “thank you” to the furniture, toys, and nicknacks that are no longer useful in your home, and find a way to part with them. (Tip: I recommend using Facebook marketplace and your neighborhood Facebook groups to sell and give away items that are no longer welcome in your home.)
