Here’s hoping Mother Nature gives us a white winter this year! If so, there are plenty of fun local activities to help you get outside and make the most of these exciting snow days – and the snow.
To uncover the best snow day destinations and activities, I turned to local moms for their expert recommendations. Amy Sonderman and her family enjoy ice skating on the pond at Pierrepont State Park, sledding in the front yard, building snowmen, and having s’mores at the firepit. Meanwhile, Heather Neumann Salaga reminisced about the exhilarating Ridgebury Elementary School’s sledding hill, complete with a daring jump that her mom (wisely) vetoed. Now, she and her kids enjoy making homemade snow cones out of fresh snow drizzled with warm maple syrup (yum!). Michelle Woodman’s crew can be found snow tubing at Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall and sledding at Veterans Park Elementary School in Ridgefield.
For a more peaceful and tranquil experience, I ventured to Grace Farms in New Canaan where I discovered that they offer complimentary snowshoeing. (They also have equipment for you to borrow, free of charge!) The picturesque, mile-long trail takes you by ponds and wildlife before leaving you at the farm-to-table cafe, where you can enjoy a snack and sip on warm cocoa.
If you’re more into skiing, local mountains are a fabulous place to explore for outdoor adventures – and they offer more than skiing and snowboarding. Powder Ridge Mountain’s 225-acre facility is centrally located in the heart of Connecticut at the junction of all the major throughways and offers skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing (my personal favorite).
My final stop on this snowy journey took me to our local ice rinks. At the Winter Garden in Ridgefield, I had a wonderful conversation with Kathy Ludwig, who has been with the rink for 30 years. “It’s a great outlet for the kids on a snow day,” she says. “Parents can get out and run errands without worrying about their kids because we watch them like hawks!” The Winter Garden’s snow day schedule features public skating from 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM and sticks and pucks from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Danbury Ice Arena offers public skating, hockey stick and puck time, and freestyle sessions for figure skaters. “We offer more than just ice,” says Operation Manager Nick Garofalo. “We also have a full state of the art arcade with its own redemption center!”
Of course, if you need winter gear to stay warm and stylish, a visit to Outdoor Sports Center in Wilton is a must. Since 1966, this locally and family-owned gem has been the go-to spot for all your winter adventure needs. With top-quality gear and clothing from renowned brands like Patagonia and The North Face, Outdoor Sports Center sells the stuff that makes snow days fun. Don’t wait for the first snowfall to realize you need better gear—stop by this local institution and be prepared.
So, whether you’re a snow day enthusiast or a seasoned winter warrior, check out our local treasures to find an abundance of opportunities to savor the snowy season.
