Enjoy the Fresh Air with These Activities
The days are getting shorter and the weather’s getting colder—looking for ways to stave off cabin fever in New England this winter? Here are some options for getting outside, getting some fresh air and getting a new perspective:
- Go dogsledding—It’s not the Iditarod, so you won’t have to worry about 1,200 miles of snow. Head up to Eden Mills, where you can get behind a team of six dogs for a mush through pristine woodlands. Check out the Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel, in Jefferson, New Hampshire, where most of the 80 or so sled dogs are rescues. You can go for a 90 minute or a three-hour ride.
- Get away from it all at Moosehead Lake—Snowmobiles are available for rent at Maine’s largest lake and the ice fishing can’t be beat—expect salmon, bass, perch and trout to be biting. Rent a rustic cabin or a private home, and let the wind blow in your face as you motor down the hundreds of miles of groomed trails.
- Enjoy the country’s best birdwatching—From Acadia National Park in Maine to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts, New England is home to a wide range of birds, even in the depths of winter. Check out the bald eagles and snowy owls who fly south from the Arctic or see where black-capped chickadees and harlequin ducks spend their winters.
- See how maple sugar is made—The mighty maples of New England start producing sap in late February. Many working sugarhouses are open to the public during this peak time, so you can go in for tastings and tours.
- Take a ride on the ultimate toboggan run—At the Camden Snow Bowl, you can take a toboggan down a 440-foot chute. It’s open to the public on both weekends surrounding the U.S. National Toboggan Championships in February.
- Visit a world of ice—Professional ice artists converge on Lincoln, New Hampshire every winter to create vast castles, tunnels, mazes and ice sculptures along a quarter mile of forest
Don’t stay inside this winter…get out and experience one of the many great outdoor attractions in New England.
