That Was Fun, But Now What?

Updated January 21st, 2022

As we North Dakotans know, Winter is still here.

The holidays are over, and for a lot of us, that means that we are entering the long, dark, and cold part of winter that is two months too long. We are hearty people who call this place home, but the reality of our situation is we can’t change the weather, and that can make that reality a little discouraging.

Recently, with the arrival of our first snowstorm of the year, my 5-year-old son and I took the opportunity to pile up as much snow as we could in our backyard and do a little sledding. Over the course of the next three hours, as I watched my son’s cheeks turn rosy red, my focus shifted away from the ugliness and stress that was my outdoor surroundings to noticing the beauty and uniqueness of what was going on around me….in the middle of a snowstorm!

As I took time to take in my surroundings, I noticed how the snow was dancing in the most perfectly choreographed dance routine that I had ever seen, and the resulting shapes of the snowdrifts were simply unimaginable. My surroundings were alive and changing before my eyes. My yard that was once green only a couple of months ago was now a winter wonderland and it made me think about the many things that those who don’t live here may never experience:

Sun Dogs
Hoarfrost
Ice fishing
Snowshoeing
Bonfires on a frozen lake, etc.

Admittedly, I am a snow lover, but my real-life snow globe made me truly reflect on all the activities that winter has to offer, and yes, there are a bunch.

Below is a list of just a few:

Snowshoeing: In Fargo, you can rent snowshoes at Edgewood Golf Course and Johnson Park. FYI, snowshoeing burns between 420 and 1000 calories per hour.
Cross country skiing: There are 10 parks that have groomed cross country ski trails in the Red River Valley. You can rent skis at both Edgewood Golf Course and Johnson Park.
Ice skating: There are over 30 outdoor ice-skating rinks scattered across Fargo and its sister cities of West Fargo and Moorhead.
Sledding: We all know Fargo is flat, but you can still find a few great sledding hills in the city. Mickelson Park in Fargo also offers free sled rentals.
Curling: Fargo’s FM Curling Club features world-class curling events for your viewing pleasure. The FM Curling Club also schedules “Learn to Curl Sessions” where you can get out there and pretend that you’re an Olympic hopeful.
Ice Fishing: Whether new to the sport or a seasoned vet, check out these websites for tips and tricks if you plan to head out on the ice. https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/embrace-ice-fishing-minnesota and https://www.ndtourism.com/articles/winter-fishing-nice-be-ice

Although the end to winter may not come fast enough for many of us, it is guaranteed that our daylight hours will eventually begin to increase and that will once again make way to the promise of warmer days. In the meantime, let’s not wish away the beauty that is currently around us and waiting for us to discover. Make the most of the coming winter and explore the opportunities that winter has to offer us here on the frozen tundra by bundling up and embracing the beauty, and variety of activities, that winter delivers.