It’s finally the holiday season! The weather has cooled down and it’s time to bring out the coats again. People think it’s a time to spend their nights at home, watching Netflix or Hulu. Well, that’s not all there is; here are some activities for college students to do alone or with friends and family during the holiday season.
1) Baking– Have nothing to do at home? Don’t worry, make some awesome treats. Eat them yourself or share those yummy treats with the people you love. You can find lots of recipes through Pinterest or recipe sites like Epicurious.com. A few fall treats you can make are Autumn leave cookies, Caramel Apple Cupcakes, Pumpkin Spice doughnuts, Cinnamon Apple Dumplings , and Maple cinnamon cookies.
2) Hiking with friends – Hiking is a great way to explore what the beauty of nature has to share with us during the fall season. The Billy Goat hiking trail between the C&O Canal and the Potomac River is located right in Montgomery County; just remember to bring a jacket.
3) Take lots and lots of photos – Capture the beautiful moments that mother nature offers this season. Post them on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat–everywhere!
4) Movie Night! – Instead of getting cozy alone, invite a few friends over and watch your favorite movies together.
5) Host a Bonfire – Have nothing to do on a Friday night and have a fire pit? Invite your friends over and have a chill night by the fire. Enjoy a s’more or two, tell ghost stories and drink lots of hot chocolate!
6) Watch a football game– Whether it’s little league or college football, all levels of football are fun to watch. Host a viewing party and put out the awesome treats you made!
7) Watch the stars– Since we live in the metropolitan area, we don’t see the stars often. This is the season to enjoy them, they are absolutely beautiful to look at! Cabin John Park by Montgomery Mall is a great location. If you’re looking to make it more of an adventure, Skyline Drive in The Shenandoah National Park is a great option!
8) Attend a Holiday festival– Bored? Grab some friends and attend Holiday festivals close to your city. Enjoy pumpkin picking, carnival games, candy apples, eggnog, a good peppermint mocha, pumpkin spice late or a good old fashioned hot chocolate. There is The lighting ceremony in The National Harbor held on November 14, 2015, and Thanksgiving Parade held in Reston, Virginia and Silver Spring Maryland.
9) Update your wardrobe – Opt for darker and nude colors for your wardrobe and make-up.
10) Prepare for the holidays – Fill your home with the essence of the holidays! Bring out the holiday decor you’ve tucked away all year. Go crazy over holiday gifts at the mall. Check off everything you didn’t do on your 2015 New Years resolutions list. If you didn’t, no worries, just add it to your 2016 list!
The holiday season can be expensive, but here are some tips that can save you money on gifts and decor.
Gift Shopping
A way to save money on holiday gifts is by doing ‘secret Santa’ with your friends and family. Another way to save money on gifts is by starting holiday shopping early: start before black Friday. There are deals on gifts that are just as good now as they would be on black Friday. Save yourself the hassle and get those gifts early!
Holiday Decor
Why go all out on expensive holiday decor that you may not use again next year? Tip: you can get crafty with your holiday decor by looking up ways to make quick and easy decor for your house on Pinterest. Save money by shopping at the Dollar Store, Michael’s, and Home Goods.
*Bonus Ice Skating Rinks are now open! There are multiple ice skating rinks you can go to in this area there is the, Wheaton Ice Arena, Rockville Ice Arena, and The Gardens Ice House, and many more. Grab your a friend or a family member and have fun!
For more info: Washington Dc Free Events