Selenium
This isn’t my first winter. I have seen snow before (contrary to popular belief, California actually does have snow…you just have to drive up into the mountains to see it). This isn’t even my first time being in New York in the winter. What I realize though, is that visiting something is just about as far away as you can get from actually living in it. This is my very first experience living through an actual winter, and that makes everything feel brand new. I am very conscious of how naive I sound when I talk about how excited I am, but I can’t help it, I’m giddy. Dreams of frolicking through snow, looking like a dang Hallmark movie are just too lovely to shut down. So I’m not going to shut them down, I’m leaning into all my winter fantasies. Without further ado, here is the start of my big, huge, exciting, winter bucket list!
In no particular order at all:
Snowshoeing
I’ve been skiing a few times in my life; it’s not my favorite thing, I have an issue with heights and the overwhelming dizziness they cause. This winter, it’s time to learn how to snowshoe (I hope the verb works like that). I’m sure I’ll be a disaster my first time out, but I love the idea of being able to explore and get a workout in the snow without having to deal with skis…or ski lifts. No thank you.
Glamping in the Catskills
This one is more accurately described as a general bucket list item because I’m sure it will be amazing in every season. The glamping part is important because I love nature, but being uncomfortable is the whole reason I hate regular camping. The Catskills are essential because of the infinite possibilities for Dirty Dancing nostalgia. Really though, look at these options from the Eastwind. Who could resist that? Who would want to?
Torchlight Ice Skating in Canada
I mean…come on!! I don’t even know how to ice skate, and I couldn’t care less. Please, sign me up for nighttime ice skating by torchlight in Ontario. I’ll figure out how to skate somewhere along the way.
Snow-Covered Central Park
Though I have been to NYC in the winter, those trips have primarily consisted of quickly shuffling from a Times Square hotel to the theatre and back again. I never ventured much further than that. Now that I’m in the area for good, I want to explore the rest of the big apple under snow (fresh snow, before it turns gross). I need to take an early train into the city on a snow day and just prance around Central Park until I’ve used up all my energy.
Vermont, all of it
Maybe all of it is a bit much (or is it? It’s not that big a state is it?). I’ve never been to Vermont before, but I’ve seen Rosemary Clooney sing with Bing Crosby next to that fire pit enough times that I’m pretty sure I qualify as an expert. More importantly, Stowe, Vermont is the location of the Trapp Family Lodge, and I NEED to stay there. Yes, it’s THAT Trapp family.
For now, Christmas is right around the corner and demanding all the attention. Soon though, the holiday insanity will settle, and there will be months of winter wonderland to explore. I can’t wait!
