With over 20 inches of snow, I mean ice, on the ground; it’s hard to believe spring and summer are such a short time away. Winter can seem dull and dreary, white snow turning a dirty brown, cars and building doused with a coating of ice and salt. Finding the positive in such a limiting time of year is no easy task, but even if you live in the heart of a winter stricken city, it can be done.

My thoughts of winter include mountain sports, ice fishing, some light hiking, pretty much anything that can get me out of the house. However, most of these things are not so easily attained. In fact, I recently found myself moving to Boston from a small coastal village. I was frustrated and agitated by things I only used to rarely encounter. Traffic, for one, made any trip a nightmare, and there were too many variables involved when trying to predict when the traffic may be at its lightest.

Only with time, trial and error, have I found my way in this new place. There is much more to offer than immediately meets the eye, it just takes a little searching. Take ice fishing for example, Boston is loaded with smaller ponds and lakes, and with a deep freeze winter like we have been having this year, even the most novice of angler can fish the Charles River.

As for skiing and snowboarding, the Blue Hills in Milton, Mass offers an affordable, local and pretty fun day on the mountain. It is a quick 24 minute drive from Kenmore Square, and a commute I can deal with when I just can’t make the three hour drive north.

Every city has a heap of local magazines and other publications that offer information on local shows, restaurants, and social events, and with a little research you can find those special outdoor spots too.

Just because there might be an endless winter outside, doesn’t mean you have to stay inside.

Below is a list of web pages that might help you:

www.city-discovery.com

General Search for happenings in your city

www.yelp.com

Reviews on just about anything you can think of

www.citysearch.com

All you need to know on your local city

www.nps.gov/parks.html

National Parks and Recreation

www.inpra-usacan.com

International Parks and Recreation

www.mapsofworld.com

Helpful Travel maps

www.maps.google.com