7 Things to Do Between Christmas and New Year's Day
Going stir crazy after the holidays? The week between Christmas and New Year's Eve is notoriously hard to plan for so we came up with some ideas to keep everyone busy!
Going stir crazy after the holidays? The week between Christmas and New Year's Eve is notoriously hard to plan for. We came up with some ideas to keep everyone busy!
How to Keep Everyone Happy
You’re off and so are the kids. Family and friends are visiting and need things to do. It’s usually cold, dark, and, worst of all, boring.
Many businesses are closed until New Year’s Day or have shortened hours. So what can you do if you’re getting cabin fever and just need a day away from home or your hotel room? Below are a few things to get you out and about between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Grafton-Ice-Rink.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=ffbd11db73439ef9c07bd4c4532bb81e 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Grafton-Ice-Rink.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=ccb709d448d4cf126ed6f023e09c929a 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Grafton-Ice-Rink.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=afee4f8861506f7eed8c795e3303f625 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Grafton-Ice-Rink.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=ff46a8f7580095b7965c05a7ba4ffd2e 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Grafton-Ice-Rink.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e8a085bb85191d54035c98044e477298 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Grafton-Ice-Rink.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=7e23bd8e08e4d1abc73c272368660b9b 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Grafton-Ice-Rink.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=0e167d176e2a5e57c1fcbcd0e4e0a2c2 1920w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Grafton-Ice-Rink.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=9786eecfa9e9b784a31665dd0fa25d44 2560w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Grafton-Ice-Rink.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=2add7e3936fea8b77c34f43f25b457c1 3343w)
#1 Go Skating!
There are several facilities in the Southwestern Illinois area that offer ice skating and roller blading. Indoor ice rinks are often open year-round but others, such as the Grafton Loading Dock Ice Rink, are seasonal and partially outdoors. Both the Granite City Ice Rink and East Alton Ice Arena offer public ice skating on large indoor rinks and have skate rentals at reasonable prices.
Not feeling the cold? Skateway in Pontoon Beach and Tri-Township Park District in Troy have indoor roller-blading. Tri-Township is open by appointment and has open-skate- call ahead of time to reserve skating for up to 10 guests or check the open-skate schedule. Bring your own or rent a pair of blades and zoom around the roller rink instead of your living room for the thousandth time this month!
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/flock-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=9c8fd1fac4b96bc04af36332cc310246 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/flock-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=7964930f0c84a56535892e3bf2f260ac 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/flock-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=fea77e7ce26c89caa25cd1c72ef17fb2 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/flock-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=dca11c7af70f385b86a4d50158566d96 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/flock-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=8cc972b1eee5682d1183d98e5d5936bd 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/flock-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=0657a40f70d1cecb501955338999ad0c 1440w)
#2 On the Hunt for History & Fun
Bring the kids for family fun at the Edwardsville Children’s Museum, watch for eagles and learn about the mighty Mississippi at the National Great Rivers Museum in East Alton, explore the history of the Mother Road at the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center, or follow the journey of Lewis & Clark at the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site in Hartford.
Love architecture? Take the self-led Historic Alton Driving Tour or the Alton Historic Kit Homes Tour to see beautiful old homes from the convenience of your car! You can also call to tour the Macoupin County Cannonball Jail or the Macoupin County ‘Million Dollar’ Courthouse in Carlinville, make an appointment to visit the home of jazz legend Miles Davis at House of Miles East St. Louis, and see old-school vehicles at Country Classic Cars in Staunton.
EXTRA FUN: Would you rather spend your day with animals instead? Visit wild native rescues at the Treehouse Wildlife Center in Dow, see rescued horses at the Legendary Mustang Sanctuary in Alhambra, farm animals at Willoughby Heritage Farm in Collinsville, or make an appointment to see animals like kangaroos & camels at Kamaroo Farms in Kampsville!
#3 Take the 2023 Jingle Hike Challenge
The annual Jingle Hike Challenge is back!
Explore 12 Southwestern Illinois locations on this winter scavenger hunt. Hidden on the trails and in the parks are 12 trees with red-ribbon jingle bells waiting to be found- find them all, take a photo with the bells as proof, and tag the Heartlands Conservancy Facebook page for a chance to win a prize! Bring the whole family, pack a trail lunch, and enjoy the outdoors while playing I Spy for the bells! Register here.
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/20211104_scottevers-1077-4x6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=8e5c4a2a810e7b8404a15ded1f61eae0 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/20211104_scottevers-1077-4x6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c84f320265231b5e0d32c9d6173a2e1e 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/20211104_scottevers-1077-4x6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=2cf98e30d220b194eb9641226215db6f 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/20211104_scottevers-1077-4x6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=671842330cb8f5f1254b24643d1eeee8 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/20211104_scottevers-1077-4x6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=116f3be020611a1a4366bb5a42a70946 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/20211104_scottevers-1077-4x6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=40e94f1d7a5d9b670740dccbe33953e7 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/20211104_scottevers-1077-4x6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=d50224e57f826b4059f22e9a05948f55 1800w)
#4 Go Bowling!
There’s a certain nostalgia in hearing a bowling ball roll down the alley and knock down pins- and what better activity to do when it’s cold outside than toss a few balls down the lane?
A beloved American pastime, bowling provides hours of entertainment on a modest budget and is fun for adults and kids alike and many of the alleys have alternative entertainment like arcades and offer food and drinks. There are five bowling alleys in Southwestern Illinois- an afternoon out of the house just might strike all the right boxes for you!
Here are some suggestions: Tri-County Bowl- Jerseyville, Bowl Haven Lanes- Alton, Airport Plaza Bowl- Bethalto, SIUE Cougar Lanes- Edwardsville, Edison’s Entertainment Complex- Edwardsville, Camelot Bowl- Collinsville,
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Alton-Room-Escape.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=82d16fd8c8d5de00f0db089ce6161cd7 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Alton-Room-Escape.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=fca14f38bed2b96581fab70e9c2786d4 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Alton-Room-Escape.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=06059ef5de6b70e2cf5875fe357ff065 736w)
#5 Try an Escape Room
Mixing the vibe of a board game with the brain-power of detective-work, escape rooms are a unique activity the whole family can participate in. Try one of the region’s multiple escape rooms and solve timed mysteries using clues.
Escape a Wild West Prison, the Captain’s Quarters of a pirate ship, a failing dam control room, or save the president in one of many themed puzzles. Escape rooms are indoors, fast-paced, and kid-friendly- a perfect thing to do on a boring winter’s day!
Local Escape Rooms: Alton Room Escape; Bailout Escape Rooms
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Altitude-Trampoline-Park-Family-Fun-itinerary.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0b38db1404dec52d2c339fff4968ca7b 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Altitude-Trampoline-Park-Family-Fun-itinerary.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=73cc48fb0e140008422b2c69f8f73f3d 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Altitude-Trampoline-Park-Family-Fun-itinerary.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f95eb0324bbd2791e71780ad7f48619f 688w)
#6 Get Physical
Know what warms you up fast? Getting that heart pumping and those muscles moving! Play outdoor laser tag in Brighton at Mission Ready or indoor at Edison’s Entertainment Complex in Edwardsville. Test your aim at Riverbend Axe Throwing in East Alton or bring the whole family to Altitude Trampoline Park in Glen Carbon for rock climbing, trampoline action, and tumbling! You’ll have so much fun you won’t even realize you’re getting a workout- and that’s really the perfect type of exercise isn’t it?
#7 Learn to Make Something
Always wanted to know how to tie dye? What about paint or create pottery? It’s never too late to learn something new! Whether it be a practical skill or an aesthetic one, we all benefit with more makers in the world!
Learn the art of tie dying or sewing basics at The Macoupin Art Collective in Staunton December 30. Paint your own ceramics at Pottery Hollow in Glen Carbon, learn stained-glass making at the Alton Stained Glass Works, or have an artistic date night at Jacoby Arts Center in Alton.
Reservations, times, age requirements, and class sizes vary by business. Make sure to check out businesses online for class calendars, supply checklists, and information!
About the Author
Kayla Howland
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