Thu 24 Jan 2008
Posted by Meg under Nature , Outdoors , Vacation , Weekend Adventures
I used to be a corporate monkey who stretched my two weeks of vacation time as widely as possible, but never wide enough to accommodate anything that much resembled a real vacation at all. I did become the master of the weekend getaway, though. At 5 o’clock every Friday (okay, more like 4:30), I would walk out of my office and take off for a weekend adventure, milking that weekend for every minute, giving myself the opportunity to forget the office, if just for two and a half days.
When winter weather seems like it’s here to stay, rather than complaining about the cold, take advantage of the opportunity for some snow sports. Call up some friends and organize a caravan to the nearest ski slopes for a weekend together skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and drinking warm drinks by the fireplace at night.
It will be tempting to organize such a trip on one of the winter’s many holiday weekends, because you’ve got an extra day. I’d urge you to resist this appeal and instead use the long weekends for relaxation around your house. Rates are higher on holidays and resorts and slopes are twice as crowded. You may have an extra day, but I don’t think it’s worth it for this kind of trip. You’ll pay more and spend more time waiting in line at the ski lifts and cafeteria lines than you will on the snow.
For folks who aren’t skiers or snowboarders, most ski resorts offer lessons for an hour or so on your first day to get you started. And if you never quite get the hang of it, there’s always snow tubing, which is also offered at most resorts. I particularly enjoy snow tubing because it requires absolutely no strength or skill, and you’re almost never sore at the end of it.
When you travel with a group of your friends, you can split the cost of a comfy mountain cabin near the slopes for a nice change from the overpriced ski resort hotels. Look for something with a fireplace — you’ll want it after a long day in the snow, and it will provide just the kind of relaxation you need to get back to the office on Monday feeling refreshed.