Chill day at home

12 pm – Wake up and make a large breakfast of pancakes

1-4 pm – Netflix (check out our roundup on page 13 for some recommendations)

5 pm – Make triple chocolate candy cane cookies (recipe on page 14)

6 pm – Home cooked meal of Kraft Mac and Cheese and Tysons Chicken Nuggets

8 pm – Find a movie at Redbox or order one OnDemand

10 pm – Late night hot chocolate

Day in the city

8 am – Early breakfast at The Fancy Biscuit

10 am – Go to the VMFA and look at the art

1 pm – Lunch at the VMFA cafe

3 pm – Go to the science museum and learn all about science

7 pm – Lewis Ginter Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights- Nov. 24 to Jan. 8

Day in the West End

10 am – Wake up and go to breakfast at IHOP

12 pm – Go to Short Pump Town Center and get a late lunch at any of the numerous restaurants

3 pm –  Go to The Rink at West Broad Village

6 pm – Dinner at the West Broad Mellow Mushroom

8-10 pm – Go to Boomerang Trampoline Park in Short Pump

Things to do outside

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens- A holiday classic, each year Lewis Ginter hosts the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights. During the night, the park is lit up with more than half a million lights. The park offers hot chocolate and s’mores to purchase on these cold nights.

Downtown Richmond Grand Illumination- On Dec. 1, the Grand Illumination of the James Center and surrounding Richmond area office buildings will be lit up for the holiday season. The James Center contains light up deer and lights in the trees.

West Broad skating- Opening on Nov. 10, you can ice skate outside with your friends and experience all that winter has to offer.

Things to do at home

Hot chocolate- Make a cup of homemade hot chocolate using Swiss Miss.

Holiday party- Throw a holiday party and invite all of your friends. You can do a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange, wear tacky holiday sweaters, and eat cookies.

Watch movies- Check out the roundup on page 13 for some Netflix movie suggestions. You can also rent a movie from Redbox or OnDemand.

Things to do inside

VMFA- Take a break from the cold and walk around the exhibits featured at the museum including a temporary exhibit of the statues of the Terracotta Army from Nov. 18- Mar. 11.

Mall- The area around Godwin has an array of malls including Short Pump Town Center, Stony Point Fashion Park, and Regency Mall. The stores are nice and warm and you can shop for holiday presents while enjoying the decorations put up around the multiple malls.

Boomerang Air Sports-  A new establishment which opened this past year, contains an indoor trampoline park, a climbing wall, a ninja warrior course, and ropes course. It is a good way to stay fit in the winter without having to go outside and having fun while doing it. It is located off of Broad Street.