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40 alaska parent winter 2025/26 AlaskaParent.comLace up your ice skates and hit the indoor ice rink %u2013 or bundle up and head outdoors to one of the city%u2019s maintained lakes or hockey rinks.All Aboard!Witness Alaska%u2019s winter beauty including scenery, wildlife and aurora without the worry of icy roads. For Aurora Winter train schedules, visit alaskarailroad.com.Make cookies. Let the kids help with the entire process: mixing the batter, rolling out the dough, creating fun shapes with cookie cutters and decorating the cooled cookies with icing and candy sprinkles.Visit the Alaska Zoo. Otters, tigers and bears - oh my! See them all and more at the Alaska Zoo. Bonus: During winter, the zoo is lit up with its popular Zoo Lights (alaskazoo.org).Check out the Brighter Winter Nights at the Anchorage Botanical Garden. From Dec. 4-Feb 15 (on select evenings), experience the Garden as a winter wonderland! Featuring botanical themed light displays, ice luminarias, cozy firepits, a kicksled trail, and model train (alaskabg.org/brighterwinter-nights).Have a dance party. Put on some music and dance all over the house. It won%u2019t take long to work up a sweat! For added fun, pause the music at random times to make a freeze dance game. Get up close to amazing wildlife, feed a hungry porcupine and take a guided walk on the wild side at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Rent kicksleds from the gift shop for a fun way to explore the center in winter! (alaskawildlife.org).Learn to ski. The Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage%u2019s non-competitive youth program, Junior Nordic, is for kids ages 6-14. Lessons take place at three different locations: Hillside Park, Kincaid Park and Russian Jack Springs Park. For info: anchoragenordicski.com/programs/junior-nordic. Hilltop Ski Area (hilltopskiarea.org) offers specialized classes for kids ages 3-12. Outside the Anchorage area? Check in with your local Nordic ski club for lessons near you.Decorate the trees outdoors by stringing simple garlands of cranberries and popcorn. (It%u2019s birdsafe too.)Enjoy a family movie night:Make popcorn and binge-watch some holiday classics, like Rudolph, It%u2019s a Wonderful Life, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Elf, and Home Alone.Get wet. Take swimming lessons or just splash around at an indoor pool.Ride down icy slides and see amazing ice sculptures at the Ice Park in Fairbanks (Celebrate the best of the season with these 30+ fun winter activities the entire family will love!WinterFamily Fun