Things to Do Outdoors (and Indoors) This Winter
By Darren Lacsado
As the snow has finally settled in, the winter season has arrived in Edmonton. With final exams and assignments looming in December, why not take your mind off the impending stress by enjoying the outdoor crisp, chilly air? Here is a compiled list of activities you can do this November: Strap on your choice of skates, snowboard, skis, or toboggan (we don’t judge), and head on over to one of the many snow resorts in the city. That, or find the biggest hill you can find and go have some fun! Take the scenic route and trek through Edmonton’s very own River Valley! The way the sun glistens off the snow and ice in the river, how the crunch beneath your feet sounds and feels, it’s beautiful this time of year. Go alone, with your friends, or your dog, and enjoy a much-deserved nature walk. See the lights! There are many ice skating trails that are colourfully lit up at night. The Victoria Trail Iceway is especially nice to skate around this time of year. See the real lights! Drive on over to Elk Island at night and see the stars (light pollution sucks), and if you’re lucky, the aurora borealis.
But if winter isn’t your jam, escape the cold by spending some time indoors. There is plenty to do in the warm comfort of the indoors: Hate the cold, but love ice skating? Then head on over to one of the various indoor skating rinks around Edmonton. There are plenty of drop-in hockey games at the various recreation centers across the city. But if skating isn’t your thing, then try curling, it’s fun, trust me! Nothing makes you feel more powerful than hurling heavy rocks down an ice field for hours on end! Like pushing a boulder up a steep hill, except it’s fun! Taste what some of Edmonton’s finest cafes have to offer with the CoffeePass! Enjoy thirty-two coffees, at thirty-two of the city’s best coffeeshops, for the low
price of $39.50; that works out to less than a buck-fifty per coffee. What a deal! From St. Albert to Sherwood Park, to the outskirts into the heart of the city, see what Edmonton has to offer, with a fresh coffee in hand! Do you know what the difference between Impressionism and Neo- Impressionism? Or what caused women to start wearing jeans in Alberta? Me neither! Step into the various museums across the city and learn about Edmonton’s rich culture and history. My favorites are The Royal Alberta Museum, the Muttart Conservatory, and The Art Gallery of Alberta, the latter has free admission for post-secondary students (with a valid student ID). But if all else fails, that probably means you need a different kind of warmth. Are you cold on the inside? Warm yourself up by volunteering! It’s a great way to get involved in your community and to meet people (plus it looks great on your resume).
