Let it Snow!

December came in like a lion.

Local weathermen declared a winter snow advisory as snowflakes the size of cotton balls began to fall around noon yesterday. They were calling for somewhere between five and ten inches of snow – southeastern Wisconsin’s first major accumulation of the season.

And as the day progressed, so did the storm.

Folks were urged to stay home as the cold night beckoned freezing rain, snow and blustery winds – a sure sign that winter was officially upon us.

This morning, I woke up to a panorama of snow covered trees and rooftops, sidewalks and driveways, and the sounds of wind whistling and sleet pelting the windowpanes. Like a giddy school girl I jumped out of bed, threw on my winter coat, hat and gloves, and then descended upon the wintry landscape.

Those of you who had to shovel your driveway or scrape thick layers of ice off of your car’s windshield probably didn’t welcome the snow with as much gusto as I did. That's probably because I have much less to gripe about since I not only rent, but I also have the luxury of parking in an underground, heated garage...

Regardless, I’ve also endured countless brutal Wisconsin winters during my 26 years of living in the Midwest, so I’ve simply learned to make the best of the many snowy, frigid months. After all, when it comes to winter fun, you don’t have to go far to find the best in downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, sledding, ice fishing, and many other activities that will surely help you find a new appreciation for the fluffy white stuff.

Here's a list of fun winter activities that will help you survive the long, grueling winter months:

DOWNHILL SKIING/SNOWBOARDING/SNOW TUBING

• Cascade Mountain
  Cascade Mountain Road (just off I-90/94), Portage
  Good for: Skiing, snowboarding, tubing
• Crystal Ridge
  7900 Crystal Ridge Drive (near 76th Street and Loomis Road), Franklin
  Good for: Skiing, snowboarding 
• Devil's Head
  S6330 Bluff Road, Merrimac
  Good for: Skiing
• Sunburst Ski Area
  8355 Prospect Drive, Kewaskum
  Good for: Skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing
• The Mountain Top Ski Hill
  7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva
  Good for: Skiing, snowboarding
• Wilmot Mountain Skiing Center
  Hwy W, Wilmot
  Good for: Skiing, snowboarding

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING/SNOWSHOEING

There are literally hundreds of places to cross country ski in Milwaukee County and southeastern Wisconsin, but I’ll break it down to some of my favorite spots. Note that all Milwaukee County parks allow free cross country skiing. Trails are open from dawn until 10 p.m.

• Brown Deer
  7835 N. Green Bay Road
• Currie Park
  3535 N. Mayfair Road
• Dretzka Park
  12020 W. Bradley Road
• Havenwoods State Forest
  6141 N. Hopkins Street
• Muskego
  S83 W20370 Janesville Road, Muskego
• Retzer Nature Center
  W284 S1530 Road, Downtown Waukesha
• Schlitz Audubon Center
  1111 E. Brown Deer Road
• Whitnall Park
  5879 S. 92nd Street
• Wirth Park
  2585 Pilgrim Road, Brookfield

If you don’t own cross country skis, don’t worry. There are several places to rent skis and other winter sports equipment, including:

• Laacke & Joys at $20 for adults for the first day and $10 extra for each additional day.
• Les Moise at $15 per day for adults; $10 for children.

Note: Make sure to call ahead to make reservations or to check availability before stopping in.

ICE SKATING
Outdoor Skating at County Parks

Rinks with concessions

• Oak Creek Parkway
  6th Avenue, South Milwaukee
• "Slice of Ice" at Red Arrow Park
  920 N. Water Street
• Whitnall Park
  5879 S. 92nd Street

Additional Rinks

• Brown Deer Park
  7835 N. Green Bay Road
• Dineen Park
  6901 W. Vienna Street
• Greenfield Park
  2028 S. 124th Street
• Humboldt Park
  3000 S. Howell Avenue
• Jacobus Park
  6501 W. Hillside Lane
• Lake Park
  3233 E. Kenwood Blvd.
• Scout Lake
  5902 W. Loomis Road
• Washington Park
  1859 N. 40th Street

SLEDDING/TOBOGGANING

Daytime Sledding Hills

• Columbus
  7301 W. Courtland Avenue
• Greene
  4235 S. Lipton Avenue
• Hales Corners
  5765 S. New Berlin Road
• LaFollette
  9418 W. Washington Street
• Maitland
  6001 S. 13th Street
• McCarty
  8214 W. Cleveland Avenue
• McGovern
  5400 N. 51st Street
• Sheridan
  4800 S. Lake Drive
• Whitnall
  5879 S. 92nd Street
• Wilson Recreation Center
  4001 S. 20th Street

Lighted Sledding Hills (day or night sledding)

• Brown Deer
  7835 N. Green Bay Road
• Currie
  3535 N. Mayfair Road
• Dretzka
  12020 W. Bradley Road
• Humboldt
  3000 S. Howell Avenue
• Mitchell
  524 S. Layton Blvd. (27th Street)
• Pulaski
  2677 S. 16th Street

TOBOGGANING

Whitnall Park offers tobogganing for a $5.50 per hour fee, which includes a toboggan and unlimited toboggan rides. Slide hours are Thursday through Friday, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, 1-8 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

ICE FISHING

Did you know that Milwaukee County and the Wisconsin DNR stock ponds with fish in numerous county park locations just to make the sport more enjoyable right here at home? Well, they do!

The following parks have ice fishing available and occasionally offer ice-fishing clinics. Call (414) 257-6100 for details:

• Brown Deer
  7835 N. Green Bay Road
• Greenfield
  2028 S. 124th Street
• Humboldt
  3000 S. Howell Avenue
• McCarty
  8214 W. Cleveland Avenue
• McGovern
  5400 N. 51st Street
• Scout Lake
  5902 W. Loomis Road
• Washington
  1859 N. 40th Street
• Wilson
  1601 W. Howard Avenue

As always, if you know of any more places or activities that I’ve neglected to mention above, feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments section to share with everyone.

The winter season is undoubtedly long in Wisconsin. But, instead of hiding from the cold and snow, make the most of it and have fun!

Photo comes from gettyimages.com.

Comments

[Bruce]

I'm a wuss in the cold and snow now that I'm an adult.

But as a kid, we grew up on a pond. And the second it froze over, we'd spend the day shoveling an ice rink so we could go sledding, skating, and play hockey. All with a ginormous thermos of Hot Chocolate outside to keep us warm.

Ahh, the good old days!

[Amanda]

I love snow right up until the end of January. Then I get sick of it. But, you are probably right -- if you take advantage of the mnay snow sports, then I'm sure it's much better.

Thanks!

[SuzieQ]

I remember reading your post last winter about cross-country skiing. Are you planning to do that again this year? Or are there any other winter sports you're going to try, and then write about?

[Karen]

You can bet your boots, Suzie! I'm hoping to go cross-country skiing again – Last year was a blast! With all of the snow piled on the ground, I'm also looking forward to hitting the slopes – downhill skiing for my first time and zipping down a bunny hill in a sled, maybe a toboggan too! It's going to be a fun winter!