
Museums, cafes, small shops, warming huts, and even covered benches can provide relief from the elements while offering a chance to grab a bite to eat, enjoy a hot chocolate or reflect on some art. Planning your outing ahead of time and identifying places along your route to stop in and warm up will give you the extra reassurance you need to get out.
NOA FRIEDMAN URBAN TALE SERIES
Wearing the right clothing and breaking your outings into a series of smaller destinations helps you have fun while getting out when it’s cold. In freezing winter conditions, people typically only feel comfortable walking outside for about 1- to 5-minutes depending on how cold it is.

Grab a warm coat and let the wind guide you through the city on a journey to find your own wind-protected hidden gem. These types of places are most common in historically pedestrian-oriented parts of cities such as the Ex Convento del Carmen in Guadalajara and the South Park Blocks in Portland. Small plazas, streets and alleys offer wind protection because of their orientation and shapes that break up and block the wind. To feel comfortable outside during winter months we have to be protected from cold winds. Wind can make cold climates feel 10- to 20-degrees colder than they really are.
NOA FRIEDMAN URBAN TALE PATCH
So, next time you see a bit of blue skies break through the clouds, grab a blanket and a thermos of your favorite warm beverage and head out to the nearest park to find your own little patch of winter sun. Most public parks are a great place to find a patch of winter sun. Getting a good shot of sun is a welcome pick-me-up from the mid-winter blues. That’s why places like Mission Dolores Park in San Francisco and the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle are so popular. Sunny spots are easily the most well-loved places in any city, and in dark, winter months, they can become an essential resource. To help, here are 5 ideas for what to do and where to go to better enjoy some wintertime vibes. Though finding fun things to do in the wintertime poses a unique challenge, it simply means we have to be more intentional about getting out. If you stay dry and always know where the nearest cozy cafe is so that you can buy a hot chocolate, you are more likely to have a magical experience. One important thing we have learned is that most people enjoy and love places that make them feel comfortable.

Check out the Vibemap Guide to Getting out in Winter for inspiration.
NOA FRIEDMAN URBAN TALE HOW TO
In our work with Vibemap, we’ve uncovered recommendations for how to get out and have fun even during winter - from self-care and fitness to cozy speakeasies and takeout ramen. Whether ice skating, warming up around a fire, or finding a special spot in the sun, you can enjoy wintertime vibes.

If you wear warm socks and bundle up, winter is a wonderful time to explore the city. 5 ideas for what to do and where to go to better enjoy some wintertime vibes.
