Seven things to do outside this winter

WINTER SLEDDING SCENE. © GIVEN PHOTOGRAPHY 2018

If you are like me, you probably like to stay active throughout the winter months. A 30-minute brisk walk usually works, but if you want a little more fun and variety this winter, try some of these options.

Visit a botanical garden.Walk through these beautiful display gardens on a frosty day. Silhouettes, striking contrasts and leafless trees, accented by tiny lights, create an extraordinary landscape.
Take a lowland hike. Bundle up and hike through a forest for an invigorating winter experience. The beauty of exposed trees, rushing rivers and soaring bald eagles are a gift to behold. And it's all tied up with exquisite solitude. Look for a low elevation forest trail that follows a river.
Watch a sunrise. No having to get up early for this always invigorating start to your day. Find a path or street that will lead you to a sunrise view for a spectacular show of color, light, and shadows.
Take a beach walk (and bring some kids). You'll have the beach shore to yourself, if you walk early. Try to identify the wintering ducks bobbing along the shore and keep an eye out for roosting eagles in the trees that border the shore or grow atop the headlands.
Watch wintering wildlife. Walk along a dike or through a wildlife refuge for views of snow geese, swans and other migrating birds as they feed, fly and roost in their winter feeding grounds.
Rent a cabin in the woods. No doubt, the beauty of nature in the winter is profound. But it's even better, if you can walk out your front door to experience it. This seasonal solitude brings an inner peace like no other.
Join a walking group. Most cities offer a variety of group walks and hikes throughout the year. And here at Nature Me, we do just that. Every month we lead free urban nature walks that blend neighborhoods and natural areas. Read our Walk This Way page for details on our winter walks.