TOWARDS BRIGHTER TIMES

Winter has been long and gray, and at times it has been hard to see the end of the winter tunnel, which has just seemed like it would never end with its extra gray and rainy weather. We haven't seen many frost-clear days with snow and high blue skies this winter.

Although many of us winter swimmers get our daily/weekly kick throughout the winter, at this time of year you can especially long for spring and the light.

And now it's here. Daylight saving time has started and the evenings are already noticeably brighter – and it's finally time for spring and Easter. It's still really cold, but now, around the equinox, is when we should get out into nature and enjoy it so we make the most of the bright half of the year. Soon the forest will look like this :)

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So it's important to put on warm, windproof clothes now — and definitely remember the gloves, hat and scarf and good footwear. It's still cold and the last thing you want is to catch a spring cold, so remember it looks warmer than it is.

But it's lovely out there, and we've put together a number of ideas for how you and your loved ones can already kickstart the outdoor season:

SPRING PICNIC

A beautiful spring picnic with friends and family is always fun and brings people together. Choose a lovely spot, such as a park, forest or beach, and bring a simple picnic basket and hot drinks. You can prepare at home to make a fire — bring firelighters and sausages to roast over the flames. The idea of building a fire may be a bit demanding, but it's fun to gather twigs and get the flames going. It also smells great and warms you up in the spring chill. Remember the marshmallows :) Kids and adults love it.

BIKE RIDE

If you and your friends or family are more active, you can go for a hike or a bike ride together. There are plenty of beautiful routes around Denmark that are perfect for a day trip. It's nice to go a bit further and see a whole new area you may never have been to before. Remember to cycle or walk away from the busiest roads so you get right out into nature.

CRAFTS AT EASTER

For the more creative souls there are also plenty of opportunities to make fun and cozy projects together outdoors. It's Easter, so why not make a beautiful Easter wreath or decorations to hang in your home. If you have children, you can collect branches and leaves from nature and create an imaginative Easter decoration together, or blow out eggs and paint them.

EASTER EGG HUNT

Hiding Easter eggs in the garden or in a park is a family favorite. It doesn't have to be hard to prepare. Just buy lots of small and/or large Easter eggs and sort them by color so everyone looks for their own color, or let competitive fever take over and see who finds the most.

SPRING SEA SWIM

Invite a good friend out for a swim. Make sure it's a calm, windless day and remember to prepare them that it's ice-cold, even if it doesn't look like it.

It's actually a really good time to start sea swimming if your friend has always wanted to try it. The water is clear and clean and the sky is bright. If someone learns to swim with a good friend, it's both cosier and there's a greater chance that the new winter swimmer in the making will stick with it, because you introduced it on a lovely spring day. Dress warmly both before and after.

Or take your children. Kids love a good thrill, doing something that's a little "dangerous", where you laugh and scream a bit. So take them down to your bathing spot next time. They will love it. Throw stones into the water and enjoy yourselves.

In general, for all the things we can do outdoors in this bright spring season, it's colder than it looks. Therefore always remember warm and windproof clothing. Wrap up well in several layers. They can always be taken off if it gets warm.

Remember, there is no bad weather, only bad clothing.

We hope you get out under the open sky with family and friends this Easter, and if you need inspiration for outfits for all ages and kinds of outings, you know where to find us.

Get inspired here.