Winter Activities
By Kate, age 17, New Hampshire
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
Winter's here! For some of us, this means slightly cooler weather, but still warm enough for t-shirts. But for we Northerners (especially New Englanders!) it means snow, cold, and more snow! This can be both good and bad. With snow comes careful driving, slippery, icy roads, and sometimes school cancellations. But just because it isn't warm enough to play basketball with friends or go to the beach and lay out in the sun, it doesn't mean you can't have fun. Winter doesn't have to be a dreary, messy, cold season. The fun is only just beginning!
Sledding is classic winter fun. Children and adults of all ages enjoy this pastime - it never gets old! So grab a sled and hit the hills! Build ramps and jumps, and challenge your friends to race over them, flying through the air and crashing into snow banks.
Another classic is building snowmen! For me, this is a family tradition. Every winter we try to build the biggest snowman, sometimes even creating families, complete with a puppy. You can get creative with this by adding clothing and coloring using food dye. Have fun with it!
If you live near the woods where there are trails to explore, get yourself a pair of snowshoes. You'll be able to explore the trails without sinking into the snow. You can also go cross-country skiing through these trails, and that's just as fun.
Then there's my favorite winter activity, snowboarding! Some say it's harder than skiing. I wouldn't know since I've never been skiing, but I'm sure they're both equally as fun!
One thing I am starting to get into, though, combines both of my passions, snowboarding and horses. If you're someone like me, then this is the winter sport for you! I'm talking about Ski joring! Ski joring is a sport that involves both a skier or boarder and a horseback rider. The best way I can describe it is that it's like water skiing. Just as a boat pulls a skier on water, a horse pulls a skier or boarder through the snow. It's definitely something I want to try, and if it sounds like your kind of thing, you should give it a try too!
No matter the season, there are always ways to have fun! Don't let the cold and snow keep you inside this winter. Get out there and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer!
