When winter settles in we all tend to feel a bit claustrophobic being cooped up inside our houses with the heaters and fires going. Drinking a cup of hot cocoa while cuddled up to a blanket, and watching another Hallmark movie, can only last so long. Plus, the energy the kids are expending indoors can make a mother go stir-crazy! Ski slopes aren’t the only place to enjoy Utah’s winters. It’s true. There are many areas across the State that don’t require expensive fees for winter enjoyment. So here are some options to do with your family--or yourself --if you need that “alone time.”
Snowshoeing
If you’ve never tried snowshoeing, this is a great winter to start. Just knowing you can wander out on the hillside of any given hiking trail and NOT sink knee-deep into the snow is an awesome feeling! Plus, it’s great exercise!
Snowshoes are handy contraptions which are made to fit right over your boots allowing you to walk over the snow with the greatest of ease. Now, the snowshoes won’t make you float over the surface but they will sustain you from falling deep in your tracks. Recently, I went with my family to the top of the North Ogden Divide, starting on the North side, and climbing above the fog below. It was beautiful! Two of our kids had a hard time but as we descended the slope we had a lot of laughs and shouts of joy as they tumbled, on purpose, into the white, fluffy snow.
A few days later I went out with my older sister, Jeannie, and my Mom, Cheryl. We traipsed through the freshly fallen snow in North Fork and hiked to our heart’s content. My Mom decided she didn’t need any snowshoes and walked alongside us. It was so funny to see her sink way down in the snow each time she took a step. We all had a good laugh!
The Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which is accessible within 20 minutes or less to the vast majority who live along the Wasatch Front, is another great place to go snowshoeing. Don’t have snowshoes? You can rent them at WSU from between $10-30 for adults and $7-25 for children. Call 801-626-6373 for more info. on renting winter gear from WSU.
Ice Fishing
Fish don’t hibernate in the winter but are alive and well swimming in the cold waters under thick layers of ice. This can be a fun activity for avid outdoorsman as well as for young kids.
Steve Meyers, a friend of ours from Harrisville, and also a frequent ice fisherman, says that “Pineview is a great place to go for Perch. And if you’re getting kids into it, that’s a place you can go and catch a lot of fish in a short time. If you’re not catching—kids lose interest pretty quick.”
According to my Dad, Lynn Humphreys, he enjoys going to Mantua, Rockport, and Echo. He advises to, “Dress warm and be patient.” Also, he suggests, “If you put up a tent and shut out all the light you can, you’ll sometimes see the fish right below you.”
Meyers says, “Similar to anything I do in the outdoors, there is so much more going on than just fishing. You’re standing on a frozen lake for crying out loud! And if you’re cold, you’re miserable, but if you dress warm it’s some of the most fun you can have.”
Sledding
Grab your tubes and sleds to any neighborhood park (the kind with hills) and join in the crowd as they cruise down the snow-packed slopes. Be careful not to crash! You can’t go wrong with sledding and even the adults can get into this activity! Just be sure to avoid areas where there are plenty of trees and instead go where there are open spaces. Have fun with whomever you go with—family or friends!
Ice Skating
Lastly, ice skating is a great family activity or even a date idea.
The Ice Sheet near WSU campus is a wonderful option.
Prices are as follows:
For children 3-17 years is $3.50 plus tax
Adults 18-54 years is $4.00 plus tax
Senior/Student 55+ years is $3.50 plus tax
Military is $2.75 plus tax
Skate Rental is $1.50 plus tax
For more info. On open skate times and location call 801-626-7285
So, get out there and enjoy this underappreciated season called “Winter” and do something fun!
