5 Cabin Fever Cures for Winter Break Blues

Need some creative ways to keep kids occupied before they head back to school? We've rounded up five local activities to help.

By Kate Oczypok • Posted January 2, 2025 at 8:26 a.m.

Photo by Michele Kettner

With the holidays in the rearview mirror and winter break winding down, cure cabin fever with these local family-friendly activities.

Get Creative at Board & Brush

January 3, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; January 4, 1-3:30 p.m.

Board & Brush, a DIY woodworking center, is offering two workshops to wind down winter break. “Winter Camp (Fairy Garden)” on January 3 helps kids create a wooden box project and fairy garden accessories. For the January 4 “Pick Your Project Parent & Child Workshop,” adults select a project from Board & Brush’s gallery and a children’s project for each child from available options. Materials and instruction are provided. 4705 Plank Rd., Ste. 204, Fredericksburg

Immerse Yourself in the World of Disney’s Encanto

January 4 and 5, hours vary

Stop by the immersive experience at Tysons Corner Center featuring Disney’s Encanto, which was released in 2021. Little fans of the movie will love the real-life casita, live music, interactive magic, and more. Children aged 2 or older will need a ticket, as will their accompanying adults. The experience is self-guided, so families can explore at their own pace. CAMP: 7866L Tysons Corner Center, Tysons

Enjoy Seasonal Park Lights

Through January 5

Keep the joy of the holiday season alive just a little while longer by exploring NoVA Parks’ lights before the displays close. Visit Bull Run Regional Park for the area’s largest drive-through light show, walk along Meadowlark Botanical Garden’s trail light display, or head to Cameron Run in Alexandria for ice skating and an outdoor light exhibit. Alexandria, Centreville, and Vienna

Visit Wintergreen Resort

Open daily, hours vary

Head to Wintergreen Resort for a day trip or long weekend to round out the holiday break. Kids can ski (Wintergreen’s “The Treehouse” ski lessons are an excellent option for beginners), snowboard, and snow tube. Route 664, Wintergreen

There’s Always Funland

Open daily, hours vary

If your children are starting to get restless post-holidays, Funland Fairfax is a great option. Kids can try go karts, laser tag, rock climbing, and a sky trail. There’s also yummy kid fare options like crispy French fries, milkshakes, and pizza. 5111 Westfields Blvd., Centreville

Feature image of CAMP by Michele Kettner

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Kate Oczypok

Contributing Writer

Kate Oczypok has been a freelance writer since 2011, and is proud to be a regular contributor to Northern Virginia Magazine in digital and print since 2020. Her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, People.com, Better Homes and Gardens, and locally The Georgetowner and Washingtonian Magazine, among others. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from American University and a M.Ed. in Education from Penn State. She also teaches virtual piano lessons in the after school hours and does portrait photography on weekends.