For the family that loves the outdoors, there is no reason to head indoors during the winter. And one of the most fun and adventurous things you can do as a family is to go geocaching. And yes -- you can even participate during the winter.

What is Geocaching?
If you have a GPS system, you can participate in geocaching. Geocachers make lists of landmarks in a number of local areas, as well as special caches, where you can visit. The idea is to use your GPS system to locate the cache. In many cases, there is a small sign up that you can enter your name on. In other cases, you can take a family photo by the designated landmark and then upload it to a special Web page. In any case, geocaching can be a fun family activity that allows you to learn more about your local area.

During the winter, geocaching can be even more fun. You can use snowshoes, skis or snowmobiles to reach some geocaching locations. Or, if you start out in town, all you need is your car and some warm clothing. Play in the snow after you reach the geocache destination or build a snowman to mark your place.

It can be a good idea to make your geocaching experience educational. Talk about the landmark or the area in which the geocache is located. You can also learn about using GPS to find what you are looking for. This can also be a good chance to talk about other methods of navigation, including maps and using a compass. Also, talk about outdoor survival and what to do if you get lost somewhere.

Geocaching can be more than just a one-time thing. It can be a family hobby and recurring activity. It is something that you can use to build memories. And once you find all of the geocaches in your local area, you can start branching out while on family vacations -- or even add your own geocache locations.

One of the fun things you can do as a family is to build a snow castle together. It doesn't have to be very big (indeed, it can be on the scale of a sand castle), but the idea is to get everyone involved in a fun family winter activity. Here are some things to keep in mind as you build a snow castle as a family:

Testing the Snow
The first thing you want to do is to make sure that the snow is appropriate for building. You want to make sure that the snow adheres to itself. Try making a snow ball. It should easily hold together. If the snow is too powdery, the snowball won't hold shape.

Making a Snow Castle Plan
Whether you are making a snow castle or a snow fort, it is important to have a plan ahead of time. Make a drawing or map out in the snow what you will do. Have an idea of how large you want your snow castle, as well as the different shapes you will need -- and how many you will need. When building a snow castle, you will have to make the snow into rough brick shapes.

Building the Snow Castle
Assign different tasks, depending on the ages and abilities of the family members. Build your snow castle in stages to make sure it is done in an orderly fashion. If you are making a small snow castle, use the same buckets that your children have for playing the sand.

While building your snow castle, make sure everyone has the proper winter wear. Snow boots, warm gloves, hats and scarves are essential. When the snow castle is completed, you can have snowball fights, besieging the castle or simple go inside for fun. It can also be a fun idea to come inside the house and look online at some of the famous snow structures that have been built. Some of them are quite elaborate.

And, of course, you should warm up with hot chocolate.

There has been a great deal of snow falling all over the country, and this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some family recreation time outside in the snow. Building a snowman can be a great family activity that involves all members.

Tips for Building a Snowman
The first thing you need to do is make sure that what is on the ground around your house (or in the park) is "packing snow." This is snow that holds together but is not that wet. You should test to see if the snow clumps when you gather it together. Form basic balls from the snow and add to them until they are too big to hold. You can use three balls or two.

Start with the base -- the bottom -- of the snowman. Roll your first ball around and around until it is rather large. You can take turns rolling the ball, so that everyone helps. Next, roll each successive ball so that it is smaller. (If you have older children -- teenagers -- you can have a race to see who can build a snowman the fastest or who can build the tallest snowman.) You can pack and smooth the snow so that it has the proper appearance. As you are setting one ball on top of the other make sure that you pack in some snow to hold the balls steady where the sections connect.

You can use any number of objects to decorate the snowman, including sticks, hats, carrots and rocks. The idea is to make the snowman your own with personality. Make sure you have your own warm clothing to wear outdoors, including coats, gloves, hats, boots and snow pants. Do not stay out too long, especially if it is very cold.

And of course, when you get back in the house, nothing is as delicious as a warm cup of cocoa.