Cold January Activities Around The Suncoast
As arctic cold fronts make their way to Florida, locals are getting a taste of something they either never experienced or have fled from, leaving their northern homes for the warmth of the Sunshine State. Several questions cross our beanie covered minds as we sip hot coffee and snuggle under never-used quilts. We want to know who opened the doors to this winter weather none of us are prepared for. Our once-free toes, used to flip flops and earthing on the daily are now crammed into heavy socks and boots. Cute hoodies, usually used for their fashion purposes or year-round for teenage boys, are now purely utilitarian. And that elusive jacket that has hung in your closet for years is now firmly tucked around your body, snugly zipped up.
With this onset of cooler weather permeating our January, we can either embrace it or hide from it. We can bundle up and enjoy its fleeting presence or double down inside under our down quilts. Whichever side you fall on, we have put together a list of activities for Cold January.
Snowcat Ridge Things to Do | Snowcat Ridge Snow Park | Tampa Bay, FL If you are really wanting to embrace the cold and that fluffy white stuff we almost never get to experience in Florida, plan an afternoon at Snowcat Ridge. Sledding, skating, snow tubing, and a variety of specialty shows and attractions help your inner Northerner embrace every aspect of the arctic cold. This is the perfect destination to introduce your littles to the magic of playing in the snow. Scavenger hunts, cute gift shops and a host of eateries make the planning easy. Snowcat Ridge is located at 27839 Saint Joe Rd. Dade City, FL 33525.
Free Mondays at Ringling Museum Spending time at Ringling Museum is always good for the mind, body, and soul. And with their Free Mondays program still in effect, it costs nothing to visit this local treasure. Strolling from room-to-room in the Ringling Museum is a fantastic way to lose yourself amongst the amazing art and relics. Taking in the architecture and dreaming of Sarasota in its infancy is also awe inspiring. The plus side is it’s warm inside the museum, but if you are up to it, walking the grounds afterwards is also a beautiful experience even with the wind rolling off of Sarasota Bay. For more information, please visit Tickets & Admission – The Ringling.
Bonfire and Smores There may be nothing more relaxing than gathering a group of friends for some snacks, games, and smores with a roaring fire as the backdrop for the evening. Sure, it’s cold out but if you are setting up camp in your backyard, you are only steps from warmer air inside. These days, smores are much more than Hershey’s chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. Add in all types of miniature chocolates, fresh fruits like strawberries, flavored marshmallows or Marshmallow Fluff and you instantly have an elevated smore party. Bonus if you have a friend who can bring a guitar. All fun games are welcome to this type of cold-weather party. If you want to go further with your menu, a fun Chili Cookoff is another cold-weather activity to highlight everyone’s favorite chili or soup recipe.
TreeUmph! Adventure Course 2025 New Year Promo For Gym Members For those without a faint of heart and a love of adventure, TreeUmph! Offers climbing courses and a zipline in a beautiful, wooded campus which accommodates anyone meeting their height and health requirements. From someone who has hosted birthday parties and fun days for our kids for years, I can attest to the challenges and a full day in nature this park offers. If you are afraid of heights, then playing in the treetops is probably not your cup of tea. But otherwise, pack a thermos of hot coffee, grab your friends, and enjoy an adventure-filled day that you won’t forget. From their website: Gear up for climbing, swinging, and adventuring through the trees. We’ve got over 10 football fields of challenging terrain and hundreds of aerial adventure games- Plus, thousands of smiling faces both young & young at heart . Fly through a dense forest from tree to tree on crazy-fun obstacles that defy gravity. Get in sync with nature. Love every single moment spent with your friends and family as you experience one of the most unique attractions in Florida.
Happy January Suncoast Post readers! We hope you enjoy the cold spells and get out in nature to enjoy the change in weather. Or stay home and get snuggly with your loved ones eating all the soups and warm breads. We are here for all of it and will likely join together with everyone to rejoice when our warm, beach weather returns. But for now, it is boots, hats, and a little snow?
Photos courtesy of Snowcat Ridge, The Ringling, and TreeUmph! Adventure Course Facebook pages.