Don’t let winter winds chase you indoors until spring flowers appear! Break free of the fireplace and brave the cold temps to enjoy the activities that only a winter wonderland can provide.
[By Dorothy Creamer]

If you think snow days and snowmen are only for kids, it may be time to channel your own inner child. Sure, staying warm and toasty while snuggled up on your couch sounds delightful when the snow is piling up outside your door, but those fluffy mounds of flakes are opportunities for fun. They’re fleeting, too, but you don’t have to travel far to enjoy some of winter’s best snowy diversions. Forget Colorado’s Rocky Mountain highs or Vermont’s Green Mountains—Northern Virginia is home to several mountain resorts where you can take full advantage of the outdoors when the mercury is sitting low.

Calling all snow bunnies!

You can hit the slopes this winter whether or not Mother Nature cooperates with swift snowfalls. Ski resorts can make snow as long as the temperature drops below 25 degrees, and they blast their hillsides with fresh powder that beckons to skiers of all skill levels.

If you’re not quite ready to buy your own skis, renting equipment is a great way to enjoy the sport without a large monetary commitment. Often resorts will offer packages that extend a discount for those signing up for a class with rental. If you don’t need a few hours in ski school, inquire about half-day rentals and lift tickets to save some money. For those skiers outfitted with their own equipment, take advantage of resorts’ repair shops to get your skis sharpened and waxed after a summer and fall without use.

One of America’s most famous resorts is The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, it has been welcoming guests since 1766 and offers a wide variety of winter activities. On its 3,000 acres, the resort offers unparalleled four-season appeal—all with a generous dose of Southern charm. “The Homestead can also proudly say it offered the South’s first downhill ski area,” boats the resort’s Carol Stratford, director of marketing and communications. The ski area covers more than 45 acres of mountainside, presenting skiers with breathtaking views as they traverse nine trails.

Elsewhere, the Blue Ridge Mountains also afford Virginia locals the chance to enjoy winter sports at Wintergreen Resort. Spanning 11,000 acres on the eastern slopes, Wintergreen boasts 26 trails; more than half of them are especially well suited for beginner and intermediate skiers.
Thrills and chills

The X Games aren’t the only place for skiers and snowboarders to catch some air. Terrain parks have exploded in popularity at resorts, offering thrill-seekers the chance to show off their moves in areas exclusively devoted to showcasing tricks.

Massanutten, a four-season resort in the Shenandoah Valley, has given its once stodgy ski area a thrilling makeover with the addition of two terrain parks. “Families have been coming to Massanutten for more than 35 years,” explains Sarah Elson, a marketing representative for the resort. “Now they have the opportunity to experience a giant playground with its skiing, terrain parks, and a tube park.”

Resorts have been careful to make sure that terrain parks aren’t only for aspiring Olympic talents. The terrain park at Wintergreen is designed to accommodate a variety of skill levels and gives skiers and riders plenty of opportunities to hone their freestyle skills. Visitors will love testing their mettle on various jumps such as tabletops (looks somewhat like a table), hips (a jump with one landing, perpendicular to the takeoff), or spines (similar to a hip but with two landings, perpendicular to the takeoff). Wintergreen’s staff regularly reshapes the park, so there is always something new for visitors.

Beginner bunnies

For those who are less confident on skis or snowboards, a lesson from a professional is the fastest and best way to get up to speed on the slopes. And often, after a summer of skis and boards collecting dust, enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels feel more comfortable taking a lesson. Bryce Resort’s Horst Locher Ski School in Basye, Virginia, offers lessons to both children and adults. Similarly, The Homestead’s trails appeal to skiers and snowboarders of all levels. There, the resort’s Sepp Kober Ski School is a great place for beginners to pick up the sport, Stratford points out. At Massanutten, too, visitors have access to a wonderful variety of lessons to sharpen skills or learn the sport from the beginning.

Snow and ice are nice!

If skiing and snowboarding aren’t for you, there are still plenty of ways to get out and enjoy a winter wonderland. Bundle up and check out opportunities in your area for ice skating, snow tubing, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. Most ski resorts have added these activities to their lists of winter activities.

• Ice-skating rinks can be found in most towns, and provide an easy and affordable way to embrace the joys of winter. Many local ice rinks have free skate schedules in addition to classes and private parties. Prices can vary, but generally, open skating sessions cost less than $10 and rental skates are usually only a few dollars.
  
• Snow tubing is a great way for the whole family to enjoy some outdoor excitement this winter. This updated method of sledding can allow riders to reach considerable speeds while spinning. Most resorts have created plowed paths for tubers, so riders can just hang on and enjoy the adventure without having to worry about steering.
  
• Snowshoeing gives winter enthusiasts a unique opportunity to enjoy nature when the ground is blanketed in white. Snowshoes attach over your regular boots and work by distributing your weight over a larger area, so your feet don’t sink completely into the snow (this is called flotation). Snowshoeing is a great activity for all skill levels, as participants can take easy snowshoeing sojourns or lengthier, more exerting ones. Snowshoers can head off onto trails that have not been trampled by skiers or snowmobiles and revel in the beauty of winter. Most resorts will rent snowshoes for the day at a fraction of the cost of skis, and they don’t require a lift ticket to use.
  
• Cross-country skiing is preferable for those who don’t crave the speed of going down steep hills, but still desire the heart-pumping benefits of a cardiovascular workout. As a sport, cross-country skiing is often recognized as one of the most difficult endurance sports. Its motions use every major muscle group and it is one of the sports that burns the most calories per hour in execution. Most resorts will offer rental cross-country skis in addition to alpine skis. The cross-country incarnations are long and thin, allowing the skier to move quickly. Similar to alpine skis, they are fit to the skier based on his or her height and weight. The skier’s heel remains free on the ski, while the toe is attached to the ski with binding. Cross-country skiers also carry poles with a spike at the end to provide leverage when the skier needs to pivot. The pole also has a disc (or “basket”) at the end of the pole to make sure the pole won’t sink too deep into snow drifts.