Baby, it’s cold outside! It’s time to grab the hats, scarves and mittens, bundle up and get outside for some wintertime fun!
As the start of the New Year, January is the month when many people become focused on healthy eating and exercise. And there are many venues in Genesee County for all types of winter activities – skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
For ski lovers and snowboarders, Mt. Holly is 100-percent snow covered and the place to go. The popular ski and snowboard destination nestled in Groveland Township near Holly has complete Alpine and Snowboard equipment rental, expertly groomed trails and world-class ski and snowboard instructors. Its spacious Bavarian lodge provides two cafeterias, a fireplace room, a lounge with two additional fireplaces and a full service ski shop. With 19 trails, ranging from beginner to advanced in difficulty and two Snowboard Parks with an assortment of terrain features, Mt. Holly offers something for everyone who loves fun on the slopes.
Genesee County Parks & Recreation has several suggestions for winter fun. With more than 11,000 acres of woods, rivers, lakes and trails, getting away in the great outdoors is as close as one of the 21 Genesee County Parks. For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum offers outdoor fun for both children and adults. Some of the happenings include an Owl Prowl (adults only) and a variety of kids activities, such as “Knee-high Naturalists.”
Many say there is no cure for stress like ice fishing – and there is no better place to get your “fish therapy” than the Genesee County Parks. Fishing sites are open all year. Sites on the Flint River include just below Holloway Reservoir Dam in Davison, Hollow Reservoir, Stanley Road Tubes in Mt. Morris and Buell County Park in Clio.
For those who prefer snow to ice, why not bring out your inner child and go sledding with the kids? Sledding facilities are open when the terrain is frozen and there is a three-inch accumulation of snow. Places to sled in Genesee County include Davison Roadside Park (beginner) and Linden County Park (intermediate), while Toboggan Hill in Oregon Township is the place where advanced sledders can find their chilly thrills.
For you snowmobilers, you don’t need to drive hundreds of miles to enjoy beautiful, snowy trails. The great “Up North” is just around the corner in Genesee County Parks. Snowmobiling is permitted at Linden County Park, Bluegill Boat Launch, Buell Lake County Park, Richfield County Park, E.A. Cummings Event Center and Walleye Pike Boat Launch when the ground is frozen with three inches of snow accumulation.
Flushing County Park is the perfect place to go in the wintertime for cross-country skiing or for an invigorating daily walk. Building a snowman in the back yard with the kids is another way to enjoy the winter months. And for those of you who just prefer not to brave the cold, sit back and enjoy a steaming cup of cocoa with whipped cream on top and look out the window at the falling snowflakes – the breathtaking view that a Michigan winter will always bring us!
