Though living in Michigan should likely leave me accustomed to the snow, the ice, and the cold, I still hate the snowy season. Usually, I find myself inside, bored, with absolutely nothing to do except lie in bed for far too long. With activities limited and being in one of the least busy states of the 50, it’s hard to recognize the little gold mines that remain around Grand Rapids. Recently, I found myself checking out plenty of locations near here in a conquest to get out. The places I discovered seem yet to be fully recognized for how outstanding they are. Not only that, but these pastimes can be completed by yourself or with company, making them all the better to undertake.
Escape rooms
Escape rooms are an amazing way to stay indoors and exercise your brain, while making memories in the process. There’s plenty in the area, included in this being The Great Escape Room, Grand Rapids Escape Room, and Locked 460 Escape Rooms. With up to eight people stuck in a small space with a time limit, the chaos shines some light in the darkness of the winter season.
Puzzle solving helps tremendously through using critical thinking, an aspect that students should work on in and out of school. My winters usually consist of over six hours of screen time spent doomscrolling, so getting out and using the skills I’ve neglected thus far is extremely important. Plus, if you are to do this with friends or family, it’s a great bonding activity for everyone. It corroborates everybody’s thinking and thoughts, leading to conversations and more interaction with others that would’ve otherwise been lost to staying at home.
If you have the right people, or even none at all, this opportunity can lead to a ton of laughter and good times.
Ice skating, with the option of downtown
As many frequenters know, Rosa Parks Circle currently has an ice skating rink open to the public to have a good time at. While the fear of falling might deter some, there are always options to make the experience more relaxing and less injury-prone. It’s a way to get moving, as I, for one, used muscles I didn’t even know existed before.
Ice skating is a perfect winter activity that showcases fun in exercise. For those who are looking to get up and especially get out, this is the best way to do it. As another thing you can do alone or in a group, it’s always a great go-to when you have nothing to do during winter.
Rage rooms
Rage rooms are my personal favorite of the list, whether that be for the fact that I get to throw and break glass or that I’m able to spend time with friends while I do it. Though it is quite the haul to get to the nearest location, the enjoyment of breaking countless unwanted items brings such immense joy that it’s worth the hassle. The vibe of the locations in Grand Rapids is remarkably welcoming, too, adding to the amusement.
If you’re new to the idea of rage rooms, items that are donated, such as glass, TVs, bowls, and other unwanted breakable items, are given to people to let off their emotions, whether it be for fun or for genuine release. You can get a time limit from 30 minutes to an hour, though if you’re not used to heavy lifting, the 30 is more than enough to be satisfied with.
Rage rooms are a great way to let off some steam as the school year begins to slowly get more stressful, and it can be hard to keep trudging through. Along with the fact that rage rooms provide at least some sort of physical aspect, while not being incredibly difficult, it gets you off your bed or couch and moving as well.
Life is simply too short to be spent hunkered down constantly at home, so get up and get out. Time is precious, and with such fun activities just around the corner, there’s no point in wasting it.
