mdolla: 4 Outdoor Winter Activities For People That Hate Skiing

Depending on where you live, winter can be very long and dreary. It may be pleasant for people that enjoy skiing and snowboarding, but everyone else has a hard time making it through the winter.

Fortunately, there are a lot of other outdoor activities for people that don’t want to ski or snowboard. Here are a few that you may want to try.

1. Hunting

If you live in a wooden, rural part of the country, you probably have a lot of wild game near you. You may have a great time hunting.

The best place to start is your local Fish and Game office. Here are some things you will want to find out:

How many animals are you allowed to hunt? Be sure to do a little research on what types of animal you can kill and when you can do so. You should also be aware of the fact that hunting laws differ from state to state.
What requirements do you need to meet to be certified to hunt? You will generally need to be able to kill a large animal (such as a deer or moose) with a single shot because they don’t want injured animals walking into traffic or getting stuck in people’s swimming pools.
What is the best game to hunt in your area? You can usually hunt deer, moose, rabbits, and a lot of other game.
Where are the best hunting locations? Your local Fish and Game office usually has a great list.

If you have never been hunting before, you can usually get good tips from other hunters in your area. They may know of some good places that no one else has heard of.

2. Snowshoeing

According to research from Snowsports Industries America (SIA), nearly 4 million people go snowshoeing every year. It can be an exciting way for people of all ages to spend time outside.

If you are interested in trying snowshoeing, here are a few things you’ll want to know:

Find a snowshoe that fits your foot properly. This will make everything a lot easier.
Start off on level ground. Unlike skiing and snowboarding, you will have a much easier time going snowshoeing on level ground. It takes a lot of energy to lift your legs with a snowshoe attached to your foot. It’s even harder while fighting gravity.
Plan a short trip the first couple of times. It takes time to condition yourself to going on long snowshoeing excursions because you are using different muscles than you would for running. You probably don’t want to go more than a quarter mile each day on your first couple of trips.
Dress in extra layers. Some people dress down a little in the winter. That may be okay when you are outside for 10 or 15 minutes, but you can develop hypothermia if you are out for longer than that. Snowshoeing takes time and you won’t be able to rush back if you start getting cold. Put on a few more layers than you usually would when going outside during the winter. Drake clothing tends to be good for winter weather.

Snowshoeing is a lot of fun, but it takes time to get used to. Be prepared and be patient.

3. Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling is another popular activity you may want to get into. You can buy a used snowmobile for as little as $2000.

If you have never gone before, you may want to ride with a more experienced snowboarder. There are over 3,000 snowmobiling clubs in the United States and Canada. You may want to check them out and see if anyone wants to ride with you.

You’ll also want to know where the best snowmobile trails are.

4. Winter Amusement Parks

Believe it or not, some amusement parks are open during the winter. Santa’s Village, Silver Dollar City, Hersheypark, and Kennywood are a few of the best.

Of course, Disney World is also open during the winter, but you will have to pay close to $1,000 for each ticket. It’s better to find less popular places.

Featured photo credit: Pexels via pexels.com

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