Cold hands. Warm heart. The fun will never end!

With winter approaching, people often believe that activities become dull and boring; however, it’s quite the opposite! When winter rolls around, so do the snow-filled adventures and the chilly weather that makes hot chocolate and apple cider taste way better.

Some local activities that can fill the winter spirit are activities like ice skating, sledding, skiing, and snowboarding. And, although winter is here, that doesn’t mean inside activities can’t be enjoyed with friends–like bowling, arcades, and so much more. Elkhart sophomore Christopher Vargas doesn’t let his fun come to an end. “In the winter, my cousin lives next to a forest, so we go explore in there and sometimes go sledding.” Although it’s cold, that doesn’t mean a person can’t get his or her hands dirty like Vargas. 

A lot of students like to enjoy trips to the local ice skating rink in downtown Elkhart. Nibco Water and Ice Park is a seasonal favorite once the temperatures drop. Elkhart sophomore Cory Hausbach says “Ice skating is a great time for me to get together with friends and get away from school work. It’s also just a fun time!”. NIBCO Water and Ice park is located on 303 NIBCO Pkwy, in Elkhart.. They are open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with their hours on Friday being from 6-7:30 p.m. and 8-9:30 p.m. On Saturday, they are open from 1-2:30 p.m. and 3-4:30 p.m., as well as from 6-7:30 p.m. and 8-9:30 p.m. And, on Sunday, their hours include 1-2:30 p.m. and 3-4:30 p.m.

Not only is ice skating a fun-filled winter activity but so is getting out there and sledding! As soon as the first big snow hits, take the family out to OxBow Park to go sledding. The admission to the park is only $3 per vehicle, for a full day of sledding with the family. OxBow’s sledding hills are located next to their warming houses; however, if unsure of where things are, the front admissions people can always provide a park map. 

Another way to get the winter fun started is to try snowboarding or skiing. Not too far across the line in Michigan is Swiss Valley, which is open throughout the week. Their hours include Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m; Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday,  9 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, from 9 a.m. Swiss Valley has rental skis, snowboards, and helmets,  so there is no excuse to not go out and try something new–or just get back out on the snow with the family. Elkhart sophomore Lilliana Godfrey says about her family’s experiences, “I go with my family to Swiss Valley about once a year but hope to go more this year; it’s also very open to a lot of different people with different skills, making it very friendly; it’s just overall a good time!”

Winter is all about creativity–just remember to bundle up!