By Joanna Dittmer
The holidays are right around the corner, leaving many people wondering what they can do with their time off.
Because it’s cold, not a lot of people choose to be outside; but what they don’t realize is that, even though it isn’t warm out, there are still things to do – providing you dress for the weather.
To start, there is tobogganing – the free, traditionally fun, winter activity. To do this, a snow-covered hill is needed, along with the sled of choice. One of the best hills for tobogganing in Waterloo Region is Mount Trashmore, located on Ottawa Street.
If there isn’t any snow, you can go tubing at Chicopee Tube and Adventure Park, located at 1600 River Rd. E. in Kitchener. Student prices are in effect Tuesdays and Saturdays, from 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. respectively. Cost is $19 for three hours.
There is also skating, both inside and out. Kitchener City Hall has a free outdoor skating rink that opens as soon as weather permits, or there are local, free or at a small charge, public skates that can be attended. To find times and prices, check City Hall’s website at www.kitchener.ca.
“I love bringing my kids skating. It gets them active, but they still have fun, and as long as we dress for the circumstances we stay warm too,” said Jason Cassels, a Kitchener resident who was skating at Lions Arena in Kitchener on Nov. 24.
Another fun option is snowboarding or skiing, which can be done at Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort in Kitchener. Lift tickets start at $30 for a two-hour pass.
“Skiing is probably my favourite activity to do when there is snow on the ground,” said Josh Dehmer, a 20-year-old student at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. “Every year my family plans at least one big ski trip; it’s always a lot of fun.
