Kids Winter Activities near Youngstown

The Youngstown, Ohio, climate offers the perfect conditions for snowy winter activities for kids. The city receives an average of 40 inches of snowfall a year. January is typically the coldest and snowiest month, providing plenty of opportunities for sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating, and more. If you’re looking for exciting activities to keep your schedule full even after the holidays are over, we have several suggestions for you. Check out these local activities that are perfect for entertaining the kids in winter.

Ice Skating in Youngstown

Image via Unsplash by Karl Hörnfeldt 

Ice skating is a quintessential choice when you’re considering winter kids activities. Youngstown’s chilly winter temperatures mean that you don’t have to head to an indoor rink to hit the ice. 

Boardman Park (375 Boardman-Poland Road, Youngstown) features a picturesque outdoor ice skating rink that’s perfect for an afternoon of wintery fun. You can find the skating rink near the parking lot at the Southern Boulevard entrance. When you need to take a break from the ice, you can head to the benches and fire pit to rest and warm up. Check the signage in front of the rink to make sure the ice is safe for skating when you visit.

The Jewish Community Center of Youngstown (505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown) also has a public skating rink on its winter campus that’s open to everyone. Admission is free and skate rentals are available for $3 to members and $4 to non-members.

Southern Park Mall recently opened a commercial ice skating rink. Located at DeBartolo Commons (7401 Market Street), the rink is 35 feet wide and 60 feet long with authentic ice. A freezing system keeps the ice solid in temperatures up to 60 degrees. Admission to this rink is $10 for adults and $8 for kids. Skate rentals are available for $3. 

Snowmobiling

As deep snow piles up around Youngstown, you’ll find the landscape transforms into the perfect playground for snowmobiling. There are several places to go snowmobiling around the city. If you’re looking for a long trail to keep you busy all day, head to the Western Reserve Greenway. This path spans 43 miles, running north-south between Ashtabula and Warren, Ohio.

Less than 30 minutes from Youngstown, you’ll find Mosquito Lake State Park offers two snowmobiling trails. The Horse Trail is 8.4 miles long, running along the west side of the lake. Turkey Run Trail spans five miles along the east side of the lake. No snowmobiling is permitted on the lake itself.

Skiing and Snow Tubing

Less than an hour from Youngstown, Ohio, are the Boston Mills and Brandywine Ski Resorts. These destinations are perfect for a day trip when you want a plethora of outdoor winter activities for kids. The two sister resorts are located just a mile away from one another and operated by the same company so lift tickets are interchangeable. 

Between Boston Mills (7100 Riverview Road, Peninsula) and Brandywine (1146 West Highland Road, Sagamore Hills) , you have access to 18 runs and 16 ski lifts across 79 acres of skiable terrain. Of these, four are beginner trails, five are intermediate, six are advanced, and three are terrain parks.

Tiger Run at Boston Mills is Ohio’s steepest slope, offering the perfect opportunity for intrepid skiers to test their skills. Boston Mills caters more to skilled skiers with its longer and more challenging trails. Brandywine is better for families with several easy and intermediate trails as well as two freestyle sections.

The Polar Blast Tubing Park at Brandywine is the largest tubing park in the state. Two conveyer lifts are on hand to carry you from the bottom of the slope back to the top. 

Winter Hiking

The winter landscape creates a beautiful setting for fun winter activities for kids. Terrain that’s lush and green in the summer becomes nearly unrecognizable when free from leaves and dusted in snow. Trails that felt lush and isolated are suddenly expansive with impressive views available through the denuded trees.

Mill Creek Park (Belle Vista Avenue, Youngstown) is one of the best locations in the city for winter hiking. The park covers 2,800 acres and features 5.5 miles of paved roads and 9.75 miles of trails. Lanterman’s Falls, visible from the East Gorge Trail, is a must-see destination in freezing temperatures when the water transforms into still icy cascades. The West Gorge Trail is another winter favorite. This trail begins by the Suspension Bridge, also known as “Cinderella Bridge” for its picturesque design.

In the winter, the Mill Creek Golf Course (1 West Golf Drive, Boardman) opens both its North Course and South Course for hiking and walking as well. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the peaceful park setting if you’re not a golfer yourself.

Sledding

The sled hill at Wick Recreation Area (McCollum Road, Youngstown) is a great choice for family-friendly fun in winter. The hill even has a snow machine to make sure that the conditions are always right for a ride. There are no rentals available, so you must bring your own sled. 

The main sledding hill offers an exhilarating run for visitors of all ages. Guests who are 48″ tall or less may also use the smaller Hobbit Hill. The on-site warming house offers indoor seating, a fireplace, and a snack bar. An outdoor warming fire and benches are available as well, so you have all the amenities you need for a long afternoon of sledding with the family.

Crandall Park (400 Redondo Road, Youngstown) offers a sledding hill as well. This hill has fewer amenities, but may offer a less crowded experience on prime snow days. Crandall Park also features a playground and two open-air pavilions.

Did we include your favorite winter activities on our list? If we missed a great family-friendly destination that you like to frequent in the winter months, contact our team at #1 Cochran Buick-GMC Youngstown and let us know. Once we equip our customers with the perfect vehicle for the winter weather, we want to have the best suggestions on where they should go!