As the temperature drops below 40 degrees and the Starbucks holiday drinks are put back onto the menu, it’s time to begin planning winter activities. When the snow begins to fall, options open up such as skiing, sledding or even staying inside by the fire and drinking hot cocoa.
“ICE!” at the Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor is open from Nov. 15- Dec. 30. “ICE!” is an indoor winter wonderland kept at nine degrees that features this year’s theme, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Take an hour self-guided walk through hand carved two million pounds of colorful ice sculptures of Whoville characters and the Grinch himself. Junior Jack Grange said, “I went to ICE when the theme was Shreck and it was one of the coolest experiences. They give you a blue coat so you stay warm and you can get free hot chocolate at the end.”
Two of the most popular winter activities include skiing and snowboarding. Wisp, Seven Springs, Ski Liberty and Snowmass are ski resorts that tend to populate with kids from Maryland through the winter season. Junior Tyler Koningsberg said, “Every winter break my family and I go up to our house in Colorado to Snowmass and go skiing, but I snowboard mainly.”
When the snow begins sticking to the grass and it’s time for the shovel to come out of the shed is the best time to snuggle up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and whipped cream on top. Chilling by the fire is also the time to begin the Christmas movie binge watch including movies like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Home Alone, A Christmas Carol and of course Elf. “During winter my favorite thing to do is download a bunch of Christmas movies and watch them all day, especially when it’s snowing.” freshman Brooke Pitt said.
Once the holiday decorations fill the streets winter has officially begun. Decorating the house or bedroom with Christmas lights and decorations is a fun activity to put yourself in the festive mood. Senior Kadian Griffin said, “After Halloween is when I take out all my Christmas decorations and decorate my room to put me in the Christmas mood, I’ll play Christmas songs on repeat until Christmas Eve.”
