You don’t have to be a “Game of Thrones” fan to know that winter is coming. And when it does, you’re still going to want to have fun. Here are some great options.
Double Ditto (Inspiration Play)
This is a light-hearted game for as many people as you can squeeze together in one room. The object is simple: one player picks a card and reads it out loud. Topics include things like, “commands you teach your dog,” “milestones for teenagers,” “parts of the human body,” “things you put on your head,” and 396 more. The rest of the players have 15 seconds to write down two answers. When time’s up, players take turns reading their answers. If one of your words matches with another player’s, you both score a “ditto.” If both match, “double ditto.” Comes with 400 cards and a 15-second timer. For 4-10 players (or more), ages 10+. Under $20. http://www.inspirationplay.com/
Who would have thought that there’d be so many ways to decorate nails? With this kit, attach a double sided sticker to the nail, roll some foil onto the exposed side of the sticker, and you’re ready to hit the town with nails a-shimmering. No nail polish needed, which his good news for people who have trouble with the smell (although you can add topcoat to protect your manicure). Comes with 30 foil strips, a storage pouch, and instructions. For ages 8+. Under $22. 
This newest entry in the beloved Paper Mario series takes Mario to the formerly colorful Prism Island, where someone is draining the land of all its paint and color. As the hero we all know and love, Paper Mario comes along to save the day with his paint hammer, which splashes color on colorless portions of land, flowers, characters, houses, and even water. This game plays like other games in the series, where combat is turn based, but it also includes cards that describe what moves can be used next. This game is a blast to play for RPG fans or Mario fans in general. And if you’re new to Paper Mario, this is a perfect place to start, giving you an interactive role-playing experience that will help you paint-smash some dull areas of your own life. Only on the Nintendo Wii U. Retails for $59.99. 
Noosa yoghurt has been a favorite since we first tried it. Yes, it’s a little pricey, but well worth the splurge now and then. It’s made in small batches on a family farm from all natural whole milk, fresh fruit purees, and honey, and you won’t find this kind of quality in many other brands. If gluten is an issue for anyone in your family, Noosa is gluten-free. It’s also probiotic. Noosa comes in cases of four small containers (that are easy to pack in a lunchbox) as well as larger containers. Their new “sweet heat” line includes flavors like Raspberry Habanero, Pineapple Jalapeno, Mango Sweet Chili, and Blackberry Serrano. If the heat’s not for you, no problem; Noosa has plenty of traditional flavors. Prices vary. 
Sydney Paige makes backpacks that are so snazzy that you might be tempted to go back to school just so you can show off. They come in a variety of sizes, so there’s definitely something for toddlers, adults, and everyone in between. The quality and materials are good, the patterns are attractive (and blissfully free of licensed images from movies and TV shows), they’re roomy, and have plenty of pockets. There’s also a nice social consciousness factor here: For every backpack sold, the company donates an exact matching bag to a child in need-they even fill the pack with school supplies. Sydney Paige also makes lunchboxes, pencil cases, and a few other stylish accessories. And there’s even a series of illustrated children’s books that feature the adventures of Sydney Paige herself. $40-$90. Available at many online retailers and 
We love how ThinkFun takes a well-known concept—in this case, a see-saw balancing game—and adds a new twist to make something unique and engaging. You start by turning over one of the 40 challenge cards, each of which shows a different pattern of red beans arranged on one side of the see-saw. Lay out your red beans to match the card and then try to arrange your other beans so the two sides balance. Besides having fun, you’re learning some basic algebra skills (balancing equations) as well as physics (for example, two beans in the first row of one side of the see-saw are balanced by one bean in the second row). The cards range from really easy to really, really hard, and always include the solution. For single players, but it’s an especially fun parent-child activity. Ages 5 and up. Under $18. 
Bentology has a number of colorful, easy-to-clean ways to pack your child’s lunch. Bento sets include a large plastic container and five smaller containers (three with lids) that fit perfectly inside. Bento Kits include all that, plus a stylin’ insulated bag (available in seven prints) and a set of utensils. You can also buy individual containers and lids, cool packs, rice molds, thermoses and more. If your child isn’t big on sandwiches or likes to keep food items from getting co-mingled, this one is perfect for you. All Bentology products are available for purchase at specialty retailers nationwide or directly from 
Think baseball bat meets tennis racket (with the high-tension strings running parallel to the bat), and you’ve got a rough idea of what this great new toy looks like. Twist the adjustable power knob and you can smack the ball incredible distances. Dial it back, and you’re ready to play in smaller venues. That clever adjustable feature and the bat’s lightweight levels the playing field (so to speak) and allows players of all ages and skill levels to play together. The Crush-It bats are similar to 
Kings Dominion is about two hours south of DC, and the rides (quality and quantity) are the best we’ve experienced. Anaconda is loaded with coils, loops, and drops. Drop Tower sent us free-falling 27 stories straight down, Flight of Fear catapulted us into near-total darkness, and Volcano shot us-like lava-150 feet straight up and through a series of spins and corkscrews. Dominator took us through five inversions on what’s billed as the longest floorless coaster in the world, and Intimidator 305 was absolutely amazing, with its 300-foot drop, blistering speeds, and whipping, high-speed turns. For between-ride downtime, we enjoyed Dinosaurs Alive!, a multi-acre forest filled with more than 30 life-sized, roaring, animatronic dinosaurs.