Cheap Winter Holidays – Winter Holidays Without Flaws

In total, 24% of us will take the winter holidays this year, according to Virke Reiseliv figures. Among them, 41% travel abroad, while 33% choose to spend their holidays in a cottage in Norway.

And 20% of those who claim to take a winter vacation say they should spend it at home.

– The time spent with family and friends is the object of winter holidays for the vast majority of citizens, whatever their destination, says Astrid Bergmål, director of Virke Reiseliv.

Bergemål says that, of those who spend their holidays at home, many choose to become tourists in their own city and use the cultural and adventure offerings that exist there.

– Break the house "every day"

But what are you going to do to activate you and your children during the winter holidays? Maybe it's a whole week of vacation to fill – and that it's not free to travel to the mountains, whether you choose to ski or spend a day on the slopes.

However, Norsk Friluftsliv's general secretary, Lasse Heimdal, has tips for inexpensive winter activities for young and old alike:

– There is not much to do to create exciting experiences for children. The most important thing is that you are together and find something that breaks a little with "everyday life". If you have that in mind, it's actually very fun to find it in your own area, says Heimdal.

Here are some suggestions from the Outdoor Recreation Manager:

# 1: winter tent

According to Heimdal, it is quite possible to count on the outside, even in winter (!).

– This is guaranteed an innertie in children! According to Heimdal, most children find it very fun to stay in tents and in the winter it becomes even more exciting. He stressed that it is not necessary to be more advanced than to install the garden of the tent.

Required equipment: tent, warm sleeping bag and sleeping mat. Warm clothes, good food and drinks. If you go out to the countryside where there is snow, you can have fun with a shovel.

– To camp easily in the area, just use the equipment you would use for a regular summer tent, advises outdoor enthusiasts.

Do not forget that you can borrow material from the BUA or the municipal loan system.

# 2: balance

Maybe it's something you've known since you were little: set up an obstacle course on a hill, which can be covered in cross-country skiing, jet skiing or on foot (or can -being even with snowshoes?).

– A Granbar or sticks can be used to create a simple slalom trail. Jumping is always fun too. But for the little ones, it might be interesting to start by building two small balls in the ground and training them first, says Håkon Dahl, Ski Association Activities Manager.

Here, you can develop and limit challenges as needed and skill level.

# 3: Build an igloo or snow sculpture

– Use blocks of snow of about the same size and use them to build their dream hoof, Heimdal Point.

– Being part of the construction and deciding on its appearance is a great experience for kids. If the igloo is big enough, you can also spend the night there and have a real winter adventure, he adds.

Or opt for a slightly simpler variant and build snow sculptures.

Equipment required: Spade, possibly snow.

# 4: trucks

Snowshoes have become something "forced" to bring water to the cottage from a nearby water source, to be rather trendy and cool. Moreover, it does not matter that the tights have become much easier to handle, both in terms of physical weight and general design.

According to Heimdal, a snowshoe excursion can be a great way to get out and experience nature close up in cold weather.

– On snowshoes, we get closer to the winter landscape and we can walk in places where it is difficult to ski or walk. As you can go in the pristine snow, snowshoes also invite to cooking and playing, which makes it very child-friendly, says Heimdal.

Equipment required: Snowshoes and possibly ski poles.

– Snowshoes are not something that everyone has, so if you are curious about trying this, I recommend you contact the nearest BUA or other credit center for full equipment. air, advises Heimdal.

# 5: ice fishing

Maybe nothing or frozen sticks, but ice fishing can be fun for those who like it – if you find a place, you can actually catch fish.

Espen Farstad, Head of Communications of the Norwegian Hunting and Fishing Association, insists that you must always check the safety of the ice.

– At this time of the year, it is generally acceptable, but check with other fishermen or hikers that the ice holds. Use ice sticks around your neck for safety reasons. Then you'll find the ice cream if the accident happens, says Ferstad – and adds that a fishing mate is always your best safety.

Equipment Requirements: Arrowhead, jig, ice drill and ice pig.

Alternatively, you can use the fishing hole of another ice fisherman or ask someone to borrow their forest.

– It may also be helpful to bring a shovel to remove the skin from the hole. Then you know better the lollipops and take more fish. Also try fishing at different depths. The fish is usually in the bottom, so you fish out of the ground until you find where it takes, says Ferstad.

# 6: Turbingo

Bingo can be done in many ways and why not like a "turbingo"?

Lasse Heimdal explains: Before the trip, you get along with objects, animals, tracks or plants that can find your destination, and the children draw them on a sheet of paper. Then you go out and look for what you drew. Once something is found, you have bingo!

– The trip becomes a real treasure hunt! At the same time, it's a good opportunity to teach children different things in nature, says Heimdal.

# 7: the hike

The Swedes have been practicing it for a long time (they call skiers the "long skate" hike), but in the last two years it has become very popular, even on land.

Hiking skates are attached to ordinary shoes, preferably strong winter / mountain shoes.

But beware: here security is very important. Do not rest on the ice without ice picks and preferably a friend in compliance. You should also have something that floats with you in the bag – and a rope that binds you.

DNT has local hiking clubs that organize common courses and excursions. Check with your local team.

Requirements for the material: hiking shoes, flute, ice canes, preferably ice gauge to measure the thickness of the ice, plaster line / rescue line, bag with belt and strap under the fork or around thighs, and complete passage in the bag packed in a waterproof storage bag.

# 8: afternoon

Bring dinner, break everyday life, suggests Heimdal in Norwegian Life.

– It must not be so difficult. A good tip is to cut the ingredients at home in advance or just to include the leftovers as you warm up outside. The pots, soups and pies in the pan are examples of simple dishes to make on a bonfire or a primus, says Lasse Heimdal.

Material Requirements: Depending on what you need to prepare, you need at least firewood or primus – and possibly grill pins, boilers or aluminum foil.

Heimdal recommends hitting hard on the snow if you want to make fires where there is a lot of snow, then lay diapers on the logs to avoid getting too wet.

And yes: of course you must have dessert:

# 9: Play a game – or wager on waffles and "after the hike"

Cecilie Tvetenstrand, a consumer economist at Danske Bank, also takes a beating for slightly cheaper winter vacations:

– Prepare to do beautiful things with your friends and family that are not necessarily too expensive. Are you at the booth, organizing a jumping competition and roasting marshmallows? Are you in town, organizing games and meeting friends or family, baking waffles and making cakes that everyone likes, says Tvetenstrand in a press release.

– What about the after-ski alternative to the cottage? Are you in town then take a walk in town and invite friends to "after the hike" at home after, suggests the consumer economist.