Sadly, not all of us are traveling to an extravagant location this holiday season (more like grandma’s house), but that doesn’t mean we can’t still treat it like a vacation. Here are some ideas you can do with family, friends, significant others, or even by yourself on your long-awaited, stress-free winter break!
1. Get Milkshakes Late At Night
Since you’re on winter break now, there’s nothing to worry about—the semester is over, and you can stay up late and sleep in late the next day! Grab a friend or a few and venture to your nearest Steak ‘n Shake or Sonic. One of the best things about the holiday season are all the holiday drinks, and sometimes people get so distracted by all of the yummy Starbucks treats that they forget about how tasty milkshakes are! Some of the holiday shakes at Steak ‘n Shake this year are Peppermint Chocolate Chip, Eggnog, and White Chocolate. Steak ‘n Shake also has a milkshake deal called “Happy Hour” where you can get any milkshake or drink for half off between 2-4 A.M. For those of you who might not make it that late (or early) try the other Happy Hour at 2-4 P.M.
2. Visit A Different Mall/Outlet Mall
Sometimes, going to the same old mall can be boring—you know what every store has because you were just there last week, and unfortunately that adorable red dress for Christmas is still the same price. Winter break is your chance to wander out into the unknown and discover a new mall that could quite possibly change your shopping lifestyle as you know it. New stores, people you don’t recognize from home… and not to mention it’s the perfect place to get all of your holiday shopping done without the risk of bumping into one of the pals you’re buying for! Plus, traveling to a new mall is like a mini road trip in itself, giving you a chance to hang out and explore a different city at the same time.
3. BAKE!
This is pretty self-explanatory. I mean, who doesn’t like baking during the holidays? Recipes for cookies, brownies, pies, cakes, and any dessert you can think of can be found on Pinterest (or maybe in one your mom’s Christmas cookbooks). Sweet treats are also a great alternative to an actual gift, and winning a man’s heart if I do say so myself… Get creative if you have a lot of time! You may surprise yourself and find a passion for baking.
4. Visit Your Local Holiday Light Show
Now this may seem a little childish, but in all seriousness Christmas lights get me so giddy inside! Find out if any local park has a holiday light drive-thru and go one night with your family. It will evoke memories of past Christmases, and I promise you’ll be mesmerized by how spectacular the displays are. If you aren’t near a light show, try driving through some random neighborhoods (this works great with big houses) and just take a gander at those lights. I highly recommend you do this activity with a hot beverage from Starbucks. It makes for quite a wonderful and magical experience.
5. Watch a Christmas Movie
Or two. Or three. Christmas movies are always so joyful and will instantly put you in a great mood. Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Santa Clause, and Elf are personal favorites of mine. Love Actually is a great chick-flick to watch with friends (or a cute guy) too. Check ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas program highlights for your favorites! You can even wrap presents while watching, or maybe spend some quality time with your little sibling. If you’re really daring, grab some take-out Chinese to go along with it and just indulge with me in my Christmas motto: treat yo ‘self!