I was never one to enjoy the cold or winter but when the pandemic hit and we needed to find activities that were socially distant, I began to change my tune. Last year I discovered with the right gear, the right crew and the right mindset, that winter activities were actually fun! I decided to scour the Internet to find some fun, off the beaten path activities to share with you throughout New York State. Here is what I found!

Western New York/Rochester/Finger Lakes Region

• First up is The Cave of the Winds Winter Experience - Located on Goat Island, Niagara Falls, NY 14303. Who knew that this was open year round! The views of this icy wonderland and Bridal Falls can’t be beat. This would be a fun family adventure for sure! Open daily from 9 am - 4 pm. Tickets for adults are $12, youth ages 6-12 are $9 and children ages 5 and under are free. Please note tickets can only be purchased in person!

• Mountain Coaster at Holiday Valley - Located at 6557 Holiday Valley Road, Ellicottville, NY 14731. If you’ve never experienced a mountain coaster ride, this should be your sign to do it! The coaster is on a track and is low to the ground! You control the speed of the car as you ride down the curves of the mountain and you can ride singles or doubles. The coaster operates on weekends only from 11 am - 6 pm. Check the website for riding rules and regulations. Rides start at $9 pp. Make sure you bundle up!!

• Visit the Ice Volcano at Letchworth State Park - Located right next to the Glen Iris Inn at 7 Letchworth State Par, Castile, NY 14427. This phenomenon happens yearly when the temps dip below freezing for an extended period of time. The volcano is formed around the fountain next to the Inn and looks a little different each year depending on the weather. Entrance to the park is free in the winter!! Take a short walk to see the middle falls while you are there and if you are feeling adventurous (and have the proper clothing/footwear on) you can venture to the upper falls. Letchworth is known as the Grand Canyon of the East and is incredible to see any season.

• Adopt a Maple-tree from Kettle Ridge Farm - Located at 515 Log Cabin Road, Victor, NY 14564. This is great for locals looking for a unique outdoor experience! Tour the Sugar House and learn how to tap your adopted maple on a weekend between January and March. With your Plus level adoption you get two tickets for the Sunday pancake breakfast, a pint of their famous ice cream and access to booking igloos for their many brunch/dinner offerings! Your adoption is valid through the end of the year. I just ordered mine today!

**Photos below are courtesy of Instagram

• Winter Sugar Cookie Decorating Class - Located at 27 Chandler Street, Suite 214A, Buffalo, NY 14207. This class is offered by Buffalo Cake Pops and the cookies are adorable! Suitable for ages 10 and up and the cost is $47.50. If you are looking for a more affordable option, she is also offering an adorable penguin cake pop decorating class for $27.50 and there is no minimum age for this class. Both classes are held on Saturday mornings. Check out the Chandler Street Winter Market while you are there!

• S’mores Weekends at Spring Lake Winery - Located at 7373 Rochester Road, Lockport, NY 14094. Spring Lake is one of the prettiest wineries! Grab a friend or two and enjoy a glass of wine and a s’more by one of their many bonfires. Tickets are $15 each and are available through their website. Make a day of it and explore Lockport while you are there!

• Lunar Lights Night Time Snow Tubing at Peek n Peak - Located at 1405 Old Road, Clymer, NY 14724. This takes snow tubing to another level! You will be treated to an ever changing light show with thousands of LED lights and projection lights coordinated to music. The best part.. no walking back up the hill! You are transported uphill by a magic carpet (aka conveyor belt) haha! The lights begin at dusk every nigh tubing is open! When you need a break, hot cocoa and snacks are available for purchase. $25 for a two hour pass. Must be 3 years of age to ride. Check the website for additional tubing rules.

• Cumming Nature Center Located at 6472 Gulick Road, Naples, NY 14512. This is a wonderful place to experience all that winter has to offer. Everything from cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, a curiosity camp for the kids over February break and even yoga in the snow at their Nordic Fest. If you are into Instagram worthy photo spots, this place should be on your list. Admission is $5 pp for the winter season.

• 2022 Fire & Ice Celebration at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel - Located at 16 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Looking for a fun adults only winter event? The grounds of the hotel are transformed into a magical winter wonderland filled with ice sculptures, a martini luge and ice bars! The night ends with an incredible fireworks display! The festival runs the weekend of January 27-29 and tickets are $38. Want to make a weekend or overnight out of it?? I can help you plan an incredible timein the Finger Lakes!!

• Tableside S’mores at Taste Bistro - Located at 634-3 Main Street, East Aurora, NY 14052. This is such fun thing to do on a cold day!! The s’mores are available in two flavors.. classic and chocolate dipped strawberry. The cost is $8 for two and $15 for four people. They also have an extensive food and drink menu and have fun winter themed specials like their Winter Blues Hot Cocoa that is offered throughout January. Take a stroll down Main Street in East Aurora while you are there and visit Vidler’s, one of my favorite stores!

Photos below are courtesy of Instagram and myself

Adirondacks/Catskill Mountains/Capital Region

• The Ice Castles - Located at Charles R. Wood Park, 19 W Brook Rd, Lake George, NY 12845. This is so exciting!! I went to the Ice Castles in New Hampshire a few years ago and I was just blown away! If you can find the time to squeeze this in over the next few weeks, do it! Tickets are $20-$27 for adults and $15-$22 for children. Lake George is about 5 hours away from Buffalo and there is so much to do there in the Winter. If you go in February, the Winter Carnival will be going on and there are enough activities to fulfill your winter bucket list.. skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice bars and so much more. Check out Visit Lake George for all the info you need! Tickets are on sale now.

• Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides at Circle B Ranch - Located at 771 Potter Brook Road, Chestertown, NY 12817. Bundle up, grab a few friends and enjoy the scenery of the snowy woods in the Adirondacks mountains. Circle B offers group or private sleigh rides depending on your preference and refreshments are complimentary in the barn after your ride. For a private sleigh ride for four the cost is $300 and the ride is about an hour. Make sure to bring your own blanket!

• Guided Winter Hike - Located in the the Catskill Mountains at various locations. I cannot recommend this winter experience enough!!!! I booked Brian last year not really knowing what to expect and it ended up being the most incredible adventure. You don’t need any real experience to do this hike and Brian will create the perfect route for your group. Pricing starts at $115 pp or you can book a private hike for a bit more. The best part of this experience???? Brian takes all the pics you will ever want using his drone and camera. You will never have to take your phone out!

• Into the Woods Farm Snowshoeing with Goats - Located at 7222 Kilmer Road, Middle Grove, NY 12850. This sounds so fun! Sign me up!! The snowshoeing adventures are open to all ages and experience levels wanting to explore the farm and it's surrounding forest, streams, and wetlands. Right now all adventures are private and tickets are $25 pp. Snowshoes are available to rent for $10. The farm visits are by reservation only so make sure to call or email ahead of time. Please tag me in pics or comment here if you go!!! This is definitely on my list and thanks to my friend Maria for sharing with me!

**Photos below are courtesy of Instagram

• Ausable Chasm Winter Tours - Located at 2144 U.S. 9, Ausable Chasm, NY 12911. The Ausable Chasm is the oldest and largest natural attraction in the Adirondacks and has been on my list of places to visit for a while! Winter tours are a new addition to their adventure lineup and the views look breathtaking. Pack your snowshoes or ice cleats and book yourself a guided 2 hour tour. Rentals available if needed! Self guided walks along the rim trail are also available weather permitting. Guided tours are for ages 10 and up, self guided are ages 8 and up. If you cannot make it this winter, this would be a fun family destination any time of the year. Check website for updated pricing info.

• Dog Sledding in Lake Placid - Located on Mirror Lake, behind the Golden Arrow Hotel in Lake Placid, New York. Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours (518/891-6239) is a local father-and-son duo whose five Alaskan Husky mixes transport up to four people at a time across the frozen lake. No reservation is necessary and all ages can ride. Just show up! Rides run daily from 10 am - 5 pm and are $10 pp for a 4-and-a-half minute ride around the lake.

• Dinner in a Gondola on Mirror Lake - Located at 77 Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid, NY 12946. Also located in Lake Placid is a unique dining option! How about having dinner in a legit Whiteface Mountain Gondola at the Cottage at Mirror Lake?? It’s the perfect way to end a day of winter adventures in the Adirondacks. The gondolas seat up to eight guests!

• Zipline Summit Skyridrer at Hunter Mountain - Located at 7740 Main Street
  Hunter, NY 12442. This may be the most adventurous thing on my list and the perfect way to end! So who is up for some winter ziplining?? This Zipline experience is the longest in New York State and and spans almost 5 miles. Your adventure will begin with a scenic chairlift or off-road ride to the Summit Lodge where you will attend Zipline Pilot training school for a safety briefing and to maximize skills. You must be at least 110 pounds to Zipline. Tickets are available Thursday - Sunday and start at $149. You must let me know if you do this!!! It might be too crazy even for me haha!

**Photos below are courtesy of Instagram

These are just a few of the many cool winter experiences happening across our incredible state! I hope this inspires you to get outside and try something new and I would love if you would share with me if you do! As always, thank you for reading and supporting me.

x, Julie