The arrival of cold weather sends many scurrying for their couches and comforters. However, with a little ingenuity, the chilly season is actually the best time of the year. Things get even better when you do new, exciting activities with your partner. Try one of these 10 fun winter hobbies for couples, and the first robin of spring will appear before you know it.

1. Cross-Country Skiing 

When it comes to torching unwanted pounds, you can’t do much better than cross-country skiing. It’s widely accepted as the best cardiovascular exercise known in exercise physiology. 

Bid adieu to all that silly advice about getting in shape for spring and summer. If you tackle this winter workout with your beau, you’ll look sleek and toned under your parka. Plus, it makes a great bonding opportunity, resulting in stronger relationships.

2. Hot Yoga 

Yes, you can get all hot and sweaty long after September — and outside of the sheets to boot. Hot yoga can help you detox and feel like you need a cold shower in January. As its name suggests, this modern twist to the ancient practice entails practicing poses inside high room temperatures. 

Like any form of physical activity, it invites you to stay active and have fun. Instructors won’t expect you to do well at first, and that’s completely normal. Hot yoga is an inclusive practice, allowing you to modify any pose that makes you uncomfortable.

3. Building Snowmen 

Building a snowman is one of the best winter hobbies for couples who are competitive. Create a challenge to see whether you or your partner can invent the most original sculpture. Think of ways to elevate the classic snowman look and test your creativity. Alternatively, join forces and create a masterpiece the neighborhood kids will marvel at.

4. Couples Figure Skating 

You don’t have to have the skills of Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner to enjoy a day on the ice together. You can have fun even if you do nothing more than hold each other up. 

However, if you have the means, why not invest in some lessons? Maybe you won’t master a triple salchow, but you’ll have a blast. 

5. Snowshoeing 

If you and your beau want to show off toned gams in your shorts this spring, take up snowshoeing this winter. This sport works your quads and hamstrings like a few other activities. 

This suggestion works best if you live in the upper Midwest or another region with significant accumulation. It takes a little while to get the knack, but once you do, the entire pristine white wilderness is yours and your partner’s. 

6. Camping  

If you read this suggestion and wondered if the writer wasn’t right in the head, hear me out, please. Camping in wintertime offers some of the best cuddling opportunities ever. Plus, it might be the best season of all for the pastime if you live somewhere like Miami or Phoenix. 

If you have an enclosed pickup truck, you can throw an air mattress in the back of your cab to stay off the cold ground. Bring plenty of wood for campfires and marshmallows for s’mores and bundle up for a night under the stars. 

Remember that winter camping isn’t the best time to dress to impress. Wear multiple layers of clothing — base layers, mid-laters, puffer jackets and shell jackets to keep your body regulated amidst the cold weather. Pack a hot water bottle and place it at your groin to keep your body warm. More importantly, choose the right campsite that’s not miserably cold. A good setting should have plenty of sturdy trees and shades.

7. Astronomy 

If it seems like the night sky is even more heavenly in winter, you aren’t imagining things. There are two reasons why you can see more stars in winter. 

Warm weather traps more particles in the atmosphere’s inner layer, obscuring your view in the summer months. Plus, this time of year, the northern hemisphere points toward deep space, not the sun. You can spend the evening stargazing and identifying constellations or creating a new one named for the two of you. 

8. Cooking 

Do you and your mate have a full schedule of entertaining lined up for the winter holidays? Even if you don’t, you might want to throw a celebration to show off your new cooking skills after taking some classes together. You can finally master how to make a perfect roux for that gumbo. 

This idea would be fabulous if you and your partner came from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Why not learn to prepare the authentic cuisines of each other’s origins? You could combine your recipes and invent a new fusion dish that would wow your family and friends.

9. Ballroom Dancing 

When was the last time you and your sweetie tripped the lights fantastic? If you stopped dancing once the club scene started wearing on you — or the pandemic interrupted your date nights — why not try ballroom dancing? 

This fun fitness style teaches you to anticipate your partner’s moves, helping you move harmoniously. Your coordination on the dance floor could spill over into daily life, making you an even stronger team. 

10. Decorating a Gingerbread House

Making and decorating gingerbread houses can be fun for adults, too. It’s a way to showcase your creativity while staying cozy indoors. This activity is ideal if you have kids to join the fun. Spend an afternoon baking and putting up a gingerbread house together. 

You can do this every weekend and schedule a weekly competition where you and your partner compete with one another. Have your friends and family judge and taste your masterpieces to see who wins.

Try These 10 Fun Winter Hobbies for Couples 

The snowy season doesn’t need to mean hibernating indoors in front of your television, binge-watching Netflix shows. This time could easily be an era of fun exploration if you and your partner choose it to be. Try these 10 fun winter hobbies for couples and make the cold months the best ones of the year. 

Original Publish Date 09/24/2021 — Updated 9/05/2024