Fun Winter Activities Around Rexburg

With the new year comes a fresh new semester! With last semester's final exams behind us, the new semester allows for some free time to spend with friends. Even though we have entered one of our coldest months it is important to still get out, explore, and do some fun winter activities. 

Idaho is the perfect place to live because all four seasons are gorgeous. The spring is beautiful with the birds chirping and flowers blooming, summers are hot and sunny, falls are crisp, the leaves change, winters are full of snow, and it looks like the perfect winter postcard. 

It can sometimes be hard to know what to do in the evenings or even on days off because it is chilly and snowy. There is so much to do and explore around Rexburg, you will never be bored!

What To Expect During Rexburg Winter

It can be hard to know what to expect every day during winter in Idaho. Especially when you move to Idaho from out of state to school, it can be hard to understand what you are getting yourself into for winter in Rexburg. 

January is the coldest month of the year, with highs around 28º and lows around 12º. Spring usually comes around April, and summer follows shortly after that. The cold can make spending time outside chilly during the winter, but beautiful as long as you have the right gear. There can also be about a foot of snow on the ground at any given time during January, meaning there is ample snow for a spontaneous snowball fight between classes!

Night-In Activities

While going on a fun outdoor adventure is exciting, sometimes you just need a night in with your friends (or by yourself) to help you feel recharged and ready to go. Especially during the winter, it is cozy to stay inside, drink hot chocolate, and spend time with your friends. Here are a couple ways to spruce up your night in, and have fun even during the cold winter!

Game Night

Somehow, a game night never gets old. The thing is, you can constantly change it up by playing new games, inviting different people, or eating snacks you haven’t had before. Games are also very versatile. You can play a game with just 2 people or have a larger gathering and play with a big group. On top of that, you can play cards, board games, video games, or simple group games like charades.

Some of our best game recommendations include:

• Exploding Kittens
• Skyjo
• Monopoly Deal
• Yahtzee
• Farkle
• Mario Kart
• Telestrations

Game nights are exciting and can be a great way to spend time with old and new friends, even when you only have an hour or two before you need to head back to the library and get stuff done. 

If you live at Northpoint, check out the clubhouse for a great place to have a friendly game night!

Movie Night (With a Twist)

We’ve all gone to the classic movie night. You go, watch a movie, and go home. Movie nights are super fun, but it is nice to mix it up a little. You can add a twist to your next movie night by spending 45 minutes before the movie and building a massive fort. You can use chairs, blankets, pillows, your couch, and anything else to create an epic, comfortable fort. Then watch the movie in the fort! 

This may sound childish, but it can be immensely entertaining. We are all kids at heart, so mixing up the routine and doing something exciting can bring a smile to your face even when it is snowing outside!

Make a Yummy Treat

We all like to eat treats, so sometimes it can be enjoyable to spend one night making a delicious treat. If you want to be really friendly, you can make extra and bring some to your neighbors. 

One of the best treats to make (especially around the holidays) is yummy Candy Cane Graham Cracker Toffee. This is a great treat to make, even if you don’t have a lot of ingredients or experience cooking. It is super simple and can be made with ingredients you probably have at home (especially around the holidays). 

Simple Candy Cane Graham Cracker Toffee

Ingredients:

• 1 Package Graham Crackers
• ¾ Cup Unsalted Butter
• ¾ Cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 1 ½ Cup Melted White Chocolate
• 3 Candy Canes (Crushed)

Instructions:

1. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil (this will make cleaning up a thousand times easier) and preheat your oven to 325º.
2. Place the graham crackers on the cookie sheet to cover it.
3. Put the butter and brown sugar in a pot over low heat. Once the butter has melted, turn the heat to medium and bring to a boil.
4. Allow mixture to boil for 3 minutes, constantly stirring to keep from burning.
5. Pour the butter and brown sugar mixture over the graham crackers, spreading with a spatula (do this quickly before the toffee hardens).
6. Immediately place the pan in the oven for 8 minutes. While the graham crackers and toffee are in the oven, crush the candy canes and melt the chocolate.
7. Allow the graham cracker/toffee mixture to cool for a minute after removing from the oven, and then carefully pour and spread the white chocolate on top.
8. Sprinkle it with crushed candy canes and place it in the freezer for 15 minutes. Once it is cooled, break it into shards and enjoy!

This is a great way to spend a wintery night with friends!

Outdoor Adventure Day 

While a night in is often easier to schedule, a Saturday spent outside is hard to beat. With the mountains so close, snow on the ground, and good friends, you can find an adventure anywhere!

Skiing

Unfortunately, there are no ski hills right in Rexburg. However, there are a lot of ski hills that are close and accessible.

The Kelly Canyon Ski Resort is only 35 minutes away in Ririe and makes a great outside activity, no matter your skill level. Before skiing (or snowboarding), it is important to wear the right equipment. You need warm snow pants, a coat, beanie, mittens, and preferably a helmet (you need to save your brain cells for your tests!). A day spent in the mountains is a great activity and is very accessible from Rexburg. 

Sledding

With snow on the ground, the only thing you need is a sled (or piece of cardboard, or garbage bag, or whatever else you can find that would slide) and a hill. There are a lot of great sledding hills in and around Rexburg that make a great outdoor activity. 

Even when it is cold and snowy, it is vital to get outside and breathe the fresh air. Sledding is a simple (and cheap) outdoor activity that everyone can enjoy! You can also finish it off with some hot chocolate to make it even better!

Ice Skating

At Idaho Falls Parks and Rec, you can go ice skating. This is a great winter activity and a fantastic way to spend your Saturday or evenings. It is only $10 a person, including skate rental, or if you get more than 10 people to go, it is only $8 a person. 

This is a fun thing to learn and a really great group activity. It still feels wintery without being outside in the freezing cold. They also offer chances to use skate aids, take lessons, and public skate times!

While winter in Rexburg can feel cold and long, there are tons of great chances to get outside and have fun. If that isn’t your thing, you can always find ways to spend time with friends doing enjoyable activities indoors. Check out this article for other inexpensive date ideas and activities around Rexburg.

We are even running a winter discount now and have room in our apartments for you to take the leap and move to Rexburg. Feel free to contact us with any questions you have!