There is snow on the ground and it's 20 degrees outside, but who cares? You don't need to hide inside or buy tickets to Florida to escape the brutal wind chill and ditch your winter coat for a day. There is plenty of summer fun within driving distance from your house.

Swimming

You may think of swimming as a way to cool off in the summer, but it can be super refreshing to take a dip in the winter too. It's also great exercise. Check around your community for a YMCA or an indoor pool through your local parks and recreation department. It's cheap, it's fun, it's healthy. And it doesn't involve snow boots. 

Water Parks

Indoor water parks are a ton of fun for families. There are pools, waterslides, tubing, and even surfing; it feels like summer inside those walls! So take a break from shoveling. There are indoor water parks associated with Six Flags, and there are locally owned indoor water parks, too. And if there's one a couple hours from you, make a weekend of it. Your whole family will feel renewed by the time you head back home.

Indoor Golf

Why wait until summer for this? You could go mini-golf or full on 18-hole golf at an indoor golf facility. The best part is, you don't have to worry about rain or snow while you and the kids participate in one of the most popular summer activities for families.

Indoor Arenas

Do your kids love baseball, softball, or soccer but aren't very active during the winter months? Check out indoor sports arenas, which offer some great opportunities for kids to play the spring, summer, and fall games they love — all indoors and out of the cold.

Rock Climbing

Sure, rock climbing on actual rocks is exciting and exhilarating. But you and the kids can have tons of fun at an indoor rock climbing gym this winter. There are over 3,000 climbing gyms in the world, and some of them even feature zip lines and Burma bridges. Bonus: your kids will learn about tying knots.

Go Carts

Keep the kids busy and out of the bad weather by taking them to race go-carts inside. Some centers also have laser tag available as well as racing leagues for your future NASCAR driver.

Indoor Dog Parks

Let Fido in on the fun by visiting an indoor dog park. He can run, play fetch, make friends, and maybe even take a swim. Together, you, the kids, and your dog can enjoy all the fun of summer weather all winter long.

It's easier than you think to stay warm and refreshed this winter. You'lll beat cabin fever by getting out of the house. Even if you can't afford that dream trip to the Caribbean, you can enjoy slices of summer, even on the coldest of days.