As we continue to navigate through COVID and the upstate New York winter drags on, you may find yourself looking for some activities to stay active and have some fun. Sports seasons have been cancelled and many indoor activities are out of operation right now due to public health concerns. Although options are much more limited than usual, there is still plenty to do other than run on the treadmill.

Skiing and snowboarding, both local favorites, are great ways to get outside and beat cabin fever. You don’t have to go far to try out some great slopes. Toggenburg, Song, and Labrador Mountains are all open this year, albeit with some modifications in operations to remain as safe as possible. They have trails of all different levels of difficulty, and Toggenburg and Labrador both have terrain parks if you’re looking to jump and do some tricks.

Another great option is ice skating. Whether you’re a figure skater, hockey player, or just looking to have some fun, it can be an enjoyable way to get active. Spots at most rinks are limited this year, and you’ll likely have to make reservations ahead of time, but it’s worth the wait. There are lots of options in the Syracuse area if you want to skate.

A less conventional way to get outside over the winter is by snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. It’s a way to hike and see some awesome trails in the Central New York area and beyond. Here’s a more comprehensive list. 

Many runners are struggling to find races to participate in. Most 5ks and local fun-runs aren’t happening due to COVID-19 concerns. However, there are still more than enough races to use as motivation to begin training for. Lots of races have moved virtual for the year, and some have even found ways to still happen in person. If you want to run, then you can definitely find a way to compete this w inter.

If you’d rather do something a little less strenuous outside, give tubing a try. Sledding can be fun, but if you want to go faster and don’t want to walk back up the hill, then this is a much better option.  

Hopefully, more school sports will be back in the spring. But until then, there’s lots of fun ways to get outside and stay active.