The winter season is often considered to be a period of rest for a lot of people. Typically, a lot of us would spend the entire winter staying inside our cozy houses and keeping ourselves warm and dry. A small portion of us, however, would like to continue the outdoor craze even throughout the snow and rain. Luckily, there are tons of outdoor activities that can be done in the middle of winter that is just as fun as all other summer outdoor activities. By the way, if you’re considering spending your winter season in Oregon, check out our recommendations for Astoria vacation rentals. In this article, we are going to talk about some of the best outdoor activities that you can do amidst the winter cold.
Skiing
Skiing is pretty much synonymous with winter outdoor activities. As soon as the snow reaches optimal levels, people start to dust off their skis and prepare their winter gear. Some of the more serious breeds even go out of their way to compete in winter skiing events, which are rampant all across the country. Skiing is also great for families and groups because you can have a lot of fun together, starting from the mountain top and all throughout the descent.
If you have already got your gear with you, here are our recommendations for the top ski resorts in the U.S.: Killington Ski Resort, Bretton Woods, Wintergreen Resort, Timberline Mountain, Granite Peak, Boyne Mountain Resort, Breckenridge Ski Resort, and Vail Mountain Resort.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is an all-year-round activity at its core. No matter if it’s bone dry or filthy wet, you are sure to still have fun riding on two wheels. The great thing about winter mountain biking is that the ride is going to be a lot different. It’s going to be more challenging, more demanding in terms of skill, and most notably, it’s going to be a lot colder. Having said that, winter mountain biking is still lots of fun. There’s just something about getting into a mudfest in trails and bike parks that makes the icy ride worth it and very enjoyable.
Lots of well-known bike parks around the country still open their gates throughout the winter season. The following are just a few examples: Windrock Bike Park, Bootleg Canyon MTB Park, Spirit Mountain Bike Park, Grand Targhee Bike Park, and Coast Gravity Park.
Winter Camping
This next outdoor activity, unlike the previous ones mentioned above, is a bit more relaxed and toned down. Winter camping, in essence, is heading onto the wilderness with nothing but a few simple tools and gear. Through this, you really immerse yourself in the great outdoors, and you relieve yourself of having to deal with the complicated things in life. The feeling of peace and solitude that winter camping can provide is what makes it very popular among folks. Winter camping can be as extreme as trekking and setting up tents or as toned down and relaxed as staying at winter lodges, or a mix of both by going winter off-road camping with your trucks and vehicles.
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is yet another one of those activities that are more laid-back. When going ice fishing, you can just chill and hang out with your buddies, down a few cans of beer, and have a good time. It can also be very rewarding and exciting, depending on your luck with your catch. All in all, ice fishing is a great option if you want a simple and worry-free winter outdoor activity to do over the season.
Play Outside
The final thing that we recommend you do over this winter season is to just go out and have fun outside. You don’t have to spend your entire season by the fireplace cranking up the heat. Build snowmen, throw snowballs, carve snow angels, run around and play with your friends and family in the snow. And the best part of all this? You get to have ear-to-ear smiles without even spending a dime!
