Top 10 Winter Activities

10.)  Movie Night

Well it’s that time of the season when people are going gaga over holiday family films that touch the spirit and warm the heart.  Rest assured Bailey Howe Library has what seems like an infinite collection of DVD’s, yes, even your favorite holiday films.  And guess what its for free! Go downstairs to the media services center and browse the large catalogue of movies.  I personally love a good cheesy sci-fi creature features during the holiday season. Nothing says Merry Christmas like Tremors 3 or Anaconda: Hunt for the blood orchid. 

9.) Burlington Winter Farmers Market

Fear not, for the summer’s farmers market that you grew to love is not gone for the season; it has only been relocated to Burlington’s memorial auditorium located on 250 Main Street.  Even in the cruel winter months, you can still feast upon fresh produce.  Take shelter from the snow and enjoy the lively local crowd as you shop for garlic, beets, radishes, spinach, cheese and other locally grown crafts and products.

8.)  Hot chocolate

Maybe its too cold for you out there and you would rather spend your winter hunkered  down enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate.  Remember those coupon books that student life was hocking at you the first couple weeks of school?  Within that book is a coupon for buy one Lake Champlain hot chocolate and get the second hot chocolate free.  Go with a buddy and enjoy a deliciously cheap cup of hot chocolate, while people watching on church street.

7.) Hockey Game

Bust out your green and gold and head to a UVM hockey game.  Show your school spirit and cheer on the catamounts!  Go Cats Go!  The enthusiastic crowd of cheering students makes it quite the exhilarating experience.   It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, bond with your friends and strengthen your school pride!  Even if you don’t know anything about hockey I encourage you to go to a game.  Just cheer when the crowd cheers and you are guaranteed a fun time.

6.)  Thrift Shops

With the temperature dropping you may have wished that you had some warmer apparel. Maybe something kind of hip without breaking the budget.  Maybe you want another way of boosting your hipster cred other than drinking black coffee out of a mason jar.  Lucky for you Burlington and the greater Burlington area has plenty of thrift shops. I’m talking shops on shops on shops. And there is plenty to do with that used clothing.  Buy matching suit shirts with your friends and then go to a restaurant for a fake business causal dinner.   Start planning next years Halloween costume.   Find the perfectly ugly sweater for that holiday party.

Here are a few of my favorite places to shop:

Downtown threads on 73 church street

Battery Street Jeans on 7 marble avenue off of pine street

Plato’s closet on 34 Taft corner shopping center in Williston.

Goodwill on 1080 Shelburne road

Plato’s Closet and Downtown threads will buy clothes off of you, which is a nice way of making some extra cash.

5.) Bikram yoga

Cold weather got you down?  Try bikram yoga!  The room is heated to about 95 degrees, which allows for deeper stretching and flexibility.   Sweat out all of the toxins from last Friday night.  Feel your stress melt away.   Heal and relieve tension from your body.  Its pretty amazing how much you sweat during the 90 minutes.  Student rates for bikram yoga sessions are $12 a class.  It might seem expensive, but bikram yoga is a really unique experience that greatly improves your health.  Give it a try!   Bikram Yoga studio is located on 257 pine street. Drop ins are welcome.  Arrive 15 minutes early if it is your first time so you can meet with an instructor and get an overview about the class.

4.) Ski and Snowboard

How would a winter’s activity list be complete without skiing and snowboarding?  It’s too late to buy your pass through the Ski and Snowboard club, but some mountains are still offering seasonal passes.  It may seem pricey, but these passes are bargains.  Take advantage of Burlington’s location and accessibility to mountains beyond mountains.   Don’t have skis?  You can rent them through the outing club for $20.  Even if you aren’t a skier or snowboarder, you could always tag along with your friends and spend a day at the lodge reading by a fire. 

3.) Sledding

Who says sledding is just for kids?  Grab a bunch of your friends and head to Burlington   Country Club for a midnight sledding adventure.   There is a surprisingly big hill right next to the club house.   Don’t have a sled?  Get creative and make one! Seriously, make a competition with your friends and see who can create the fastest makeshift sled.  Yoga mats, pizza boxes, cookie sheets, aluminum turkey roasting pans, trash bag…. whatever you can get your hands on.  If you want something a little more legitimate, try heading over to Sharp Tubing Park in Milton, where you can rent a sled for $12 or bring your own sled and take advantage of the nicely groomed slope.

2.) Carnival

Celebrate the winter season at Quebec Winter Carnival!  It’s a huge celebration for art, music, sports, culture and winter festivities. There are parades, ice sculptures, snow slides, outdoor dance parties, ice-skating….the list goes on and on.  The night parade was one of my favorite events.  The parade floats are over the top, the music is loud and energetic and the crowd goes crazy.  Winter Carnival is from February 1-17.   Mark your calendars and plan a weekend adventure with your friends.  Go hard and celebrate the joys of life at this winter extravaganza!

1.) Snowshoeing

You can rent a pair of snowshoes from the outing club for only $8!  For your first time keep it simple and easy.  Maybe stroll through centennial woods in search of beaver dams or trek the secret path to the wale tails located next to I-89.  Then work up a sweat by hiking your favorite mountain paths. There are some great trails at Bolton valley.  There is nothing like hearing the crunch of snow under your feet and seeing your frosty breath in the winter air as you slowly work your up a twisting snow covered path.