(BPT) - Family gatherings during the holidays often involve everyone sitting around, catching up while children play with the toys they received as gifts. It’s a wonderful time for family to hear the latest on jobs, trips, hobbies and health, but it can also turn into a tedious repeat of listening to Uncle Joe’s story of the Christmas of 1954 when the tree caught fire and burned all the presents underneath.

If your family gathering needs a little spicing up this holiday season, consider adding new experiences to the plans, and making a new and fun tradition out of them. Here are some ideas to get started:

* Get out and enjoy the outdoors – If you live in snowy parts of the country, organize a snowshoe trek, sledding time or ice skating at a community rink. These activities can bring a healthy glow to your family members’ cheeks, as well as create new memories you can reminisce about at future family gatherings. If you don’t have snow in your area, consider planning a bike ride, a hike or even a golf outing to bring everyone together.