Embracing Winter Part Deux

Hate winter? So did I. Until last year. You see, as much as I love snuggling on the couch watching an endless stream of movies and TV shows with munchies in hand, I discovered something completely unexpected last winter: it is way more fun to play outside…

Before falling in love with the “w” word, I had to figure out why I hated it so much. I narrowed it down to two, key reasons: 1) I despise feeling cold 2) city winters can be depressing and ugly (you know, that brown snow -> slippery ice -> slush puddles cycle). So, I asked some of my winter-loving friends what it took to join the I Heart Winter club and they all suggested the same thing: get proper winter gear and find a winter activity that makes you happy. I took their advice seriously and made it a mission to try as many winter sports as I could possibly squeeze in (it was the year of the Polar Vortex so I picked a good time to test out my willpower). As I trekked around Ontario and Quebec bundled up like a five-year-old, I quickly realized something: I’ve been doing winter all wrong. I shouldn’t be running away/hiding from a season that hijacks 4-6 months of my life each year, I should be embracing it! Here are the experiences that led me to this new philosophy (click on the links below for the full scoop)…

Dogsledding In Haliburton

Snow Tubing In Montreal

Skiing At Blue Mountain

Snowmobiling In Haliburton Forest And Wild Life Reserve

Hiking The Trails At The Toronto Zoo

Tobogganing On Mont-Royal

Sleigh Ride In Waterloo Region

Dancing Outdoors At Igloofest

Snowshoeing In Montreal

I learned a lot about embracing winter last year: most importantly, that the trick is to prevent my body from going into hibernation mode in the first place. That’s right, I had to nip it in the butt before it totally took over. And it worked! I am now a devout member of the I Heart Winter club. And I’m convinced that you can be too. But make sure you dress warmly (Canada Goose gear is my saviour). If you don’t, you’ll likely run back inside after the first attempt and will hate me for advising you to get out there in the first place.

For the first time in my LIFE, I’m ready (and extremely excited) for another round of winter. Here’s what I’ve got planned for this year so far:

• Skating in NYC
• Horseback riding in Halton Region
• Relaxing at the largest outdoor spa in North America (gotta throw in SOME heat)
• Skating on the Rideau Canal
• Lounging at the world’s largest log chateau in Montebello

What else should I add to my list?! I’m new at this and would love your recos.