Tips for a Great Snow Day

If you live in Colorado, you are probably no stranger to snow. According to NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), it usually snows over 33 days a year in the Centennial State. And those are just the days snow is actively falling. There are many additional days where that snow sticks around for a while before finally melting. With well over a month of snowy days to fill, it can sometimes be hard to think of something fun or new to do. Sure, that first snow day of the season is easy enough because snow is still a novelty. But when yet another unanticipated snow day courtesy of the Polar Vortex rears its ugly head, it can be tempting to just throw in the towel and put on Netflix. However, the good news is that with a little bit of imagination and preparation, there are plenty of ways to avoid cabin fever and snow fatigue. In fact, most likely you've already got everything you need for a great snow day. Read on to discover fun ways to while away those seemingly endless days filled with that wet, white, wintery stuff.

• Check your local paper for the best sledding spots. The Gazette, a Colorado Springs publication, recently featured an article highlighting the best to sled, snowshoe and cross country ski areas. Snow changes everything so areas that normally wouldn't seem appropriate for these activities - such as schools or parks - become ideal. Keep in mind safety precautions including avoiding areas with obstacles such as chain link fences and soccer goal posts.
• Get creative with the snow. Have you already sung, "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" more times than you can count? Do you have so much practice building igloos that they would probably pass building code? Have you had one too many snowballs to the head after countless snowball fights? Think of snow as a culinary item rather than building material. Make maple candy by boiling real maple syrup and then pouring it on the snow. Try making fun shapes or writing your kids' names. Just make sure the candy is cooled off completely before picking up and eating.
• Bake some tasty treats. It's always fun to come in from the cold to a house filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread or brownies. Choose a kid-friendly cookie or cupcake recipe and have a decorating contest.
• Go camping - in the living room. Snow days are perfect for living room forts and telling stories. Throw some blankets on the ground, drink some hot chocolate and read some good books together.
• Don't forget to think ahead. Weather forecasting has come a long way. While storms still catch meteorologists by surprise, most of the time the five-day forecast is more accurate than not. If you see a storm on the way, stock up on staples such as eggs, milk, cereal, juice, coffee, toilet paper and possibly wine. You may also want to make sure there are plenty of candles and matches or batteries for flashlights, just in case. Topping up your car's gas tank is also a good idea.
• Keep the home fires burning. There's nothing worse than spending all day out in the cold and wet, only to come home to cold house. With all the other winter home maintenance chores, it's easy to forget about your heater - until it doesn't work anymore. Schedule an appointment with your local

heating and cooling solutions provider to make sure your system is in top working order before something goes wrong.

About the Author: Thomas M. Bird is an HVAC expert and contributing writer who enjoys helping homeowners stay warm in the winter months.

Online Article Marketing Specialist.