Motherlode Feature: Five Winter Excursions within Driving Distance

Have you seen our new magazine, The Motherlode? Check out this popular article (extended cut!) from Issue 1. The first issues covers January-March, so we will be featuring some of our most popular articles from the magazine. Watch this space for ideas for Valentine’s Day, spring sports, planning for summer camps, Easter activities, and more! OR read them all now at The Motherlode!

All of a sudden, the weather has turned wintry. And while some of us will use this time for a long nap, there are great outdoor activities within driving distance to get the whole family off tablets and onto the slopes. Before you head out, however, look for lift tickets and check for availability, because the resorts in particular tend to fill up as soon as the first snowflake falls.

Tubing at Liberty Mountain Resort

Liberty has done us a service by putting in a lift so that you don’t have to hike up a snowy hill carrying a four-year old. With hills for the littles as well as the “more mature” tubers, the whole family can get an adrenaline rush before enjoying an apres moment in the Lodge. For the littles, there’s a fun (and warm) childcare option.

Whitetail Ski Resort S’Mores Sundays

Teaching the kids to ski can often seem more like a tug-o-war of epic proportions. Sweeten the deal by taking your kids to Whitetail on Sundays, when they offer free s’mores for all. You can spend the day exploring their extensive trails together (or putting the kids in ski school) and then end your trip around the roaring fire for some good memories.

Cross Country Skiing in Herrington Manor State Park

With 365 acres, Herrington Manor State Park is one of the best places to enjoy the quiet peace of a winter wonderland. The cross country skiing trail is a beginner-friendly 5.5-mile loop that joins Herrington Manor and Swallow Falls parks, and rentals are just $25/day, allowing the entire family to ski for less than the price of a day pass at nearby Wisp.

Ice Tubing at Snow Flow Mountain in DC

If you love the idea of winter sports but you really aren’t a fan of winter, Snow Flow Mountain at Gaylord National Resort in Washington, DC, offers indoor ice tubing. While the hills aren’t as big as you’ll find at the outdoor parks, there’s lots of shopping and dining once you decide you’re finished sliding down an ice mound on your butt.

Sledding in Patterson Park, Baltimore

Snow doesn’t often hit us this far east, but when it does, the sledding in Patterson Park is great fun for the whole family. Located northeast of Fells Point, the Park has great sledding hills and plenty of coffee shops and restaurants to warm up in afterward. To get there, head to the Pagoda on the northwest side of the park. The park is also home to a great indoor ice skating rink with public sessions offered throughout the day.