Walking in a winter wonderland

December 4, 2015 / Cassidy White / Comments Off

Don’t be left out in the cold this winter. Oregon oﬀers many seasonal activities, many close to home.

The ﬁrst thing that comes to mind in winter is snow. Luckily, Oregon City is located near Oregon’s snow-covered mountains. Mt. Hood Meadows, Timberline and Skibowl are just a few locations where you can ski or snowboard. The main difference between these lodges are the slopes. Each lodge has its own portion of the mountain with trails ranging from beginner to diﬃcult. Look at lift tickets and rental prices while planning your trip. Skiing and snowboarding can get expensive; fortunately, Meadows oﬀers discounts by ordering online.

If you’re not looking to break the bank this season or are not sure about skiing or snowboarding, Skibowl oﬀers cosmic tubing, which combines laser lights, black lights, reﬂective snow tubes and a rocking sound system. Not only is tubing cheaper than skiing or snowboarding, but Skibowl oﬀers a student discount for current high school and college students.

Another thing that comes to mind when thinking of winter is ice. The Lloyd Center ice skating rink doesn’t oﬀer a student discount, but prices are a cheaper alternative to mountain activities.

For those who are not necessarily active, watching the Portland Winterhawks is a good option. In addition to regularly scheduled games, on Friday, Dec. 11, Les Schwab will be on site to collect new, unwrapped toys for their toy drive. After the game, ladies 18 and older are invited to the ice for a chance to win a free ham in the annual Fred Meyer Ham Shoot. For those who prefer basketball, the Portland Trail Blazers will host the New York Knicks on Dec. 12 and the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 14. The Blazers are also playing the Cleveland Cavilers on Dec. 26 and the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 30 at home.

Options that are even closer to home include events held here at Clackamas Community College. Women’s basketball will play league games against Southwestern Oregon at home on Jan. 2 and at Linn-Benton on Jan. 6. The men are also playing league games, as well as hosting an alumni game. The wrestling team’s duels are all away, so in order to watch those, a road trip may be involved.

Christmas Garden (Nov. 27 – Jan. 3) 895 W Main St., Silverton

Christmas in the Garden has become a popular event that includes ice skating, shopping at the German Christmas Market and meeting live reindeer. People look forward to walking through the forest and following the 400,000 Christmas lights.

Winter Wonderland (Nov. 20 – Dec. 27) 1940 N Victory Blvd., Portland

The 23rd annual Albertsons Safeway Winter Wonderland is known as the “largest holiday light show west of the Mississippi.” It’s a light show that can be enjoyed with your friends and family within the comfort of your own car.

Zoo Lights (Nov. 28 – Jan. 4) 4001 SW Canyon Road, Portland

The Oregon Zoo celebrates the holidays with an annual winter festival. Apart from going to see the animals, people go and admire the million and a half lights that are on display

Christmas Lights Trail (Nov. 14 – Dec. 31) 5785 River St., West Linn

The Maddax Woods have been transformed into a lighted trail and even though it’s small, the creative designs made with the lights make the Willamette River a beautiful sight to see.

Peacock Lane (Dec. 15 – Dec. 31) Peacock Lane, Portland

Every year, a block of Southeast Portland ﬁ lls its street and homes with sparkling lights. It’s been a Portland tradition since 1920 for families to walk down the block, just east of Cesar Chavez Boulevard between Belmont and Stark streets.

Christmas Festival of Lights (Dec. 4 – Dec. 30) 8840 NE Skidmore St., Portland

One of the largest choral festivals in the world is The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights. Throughout the winter holiday, there will be about a quarter mile walk through event as well as ﬁ ve diﬀ erent indoor concerts each evening.

The Nutcracker (Dec 12 – Dec 26) Keller Auditorium 222 SW Clay., Portland

No holiday season is complete without attending a traditional production like which includes snowﬂakes, a magical tree and sugarplum fairies, thanks to the Oregon Ballet Theatre.