My kids were SO excited to see the snow last week. As it was falling, they made plans of building snowmen and having snowball fights. They were so bummed when the snow turned to rain and it washed away. As a Christmas gift to them, I'd like to give them snow! Or at least a trip to someplace snowy. I am new to this part of the US and don't know where we should go. I am looking for a place that is no further than an 8-hour drive away. (Though after reading the first response, realize that was wishful thinking on my part! The closer, the better though.) Maybe some place hilly/mountainous and quiet. We don't need a lot of entertainment, just the peace of nature to encourage quality family time.
Do you have any recommendations?
Thank you for the creative suggestions!!!
As a totally different idea, maybe consider this:
http://candicemcclellin.vpweb.com/SnoManMania.html
You are going to be hard pressed to find guaranteed snow within an 8 hour drive. Angel Fire, NM (11 hrs away) will have snow and is the closest ski resort area I know of.
http://www.angelfireresort.com/winter/
sixflags does a snowhill where kids and parents can sled down
Watch the weather reports, M.. Often in the Branson, MO area or northern Arkansas they will get snow, but no guarantee. It is about 8-9 hours away and has a lot of cool things to do even in winter. Silver Dollar city is a great place to take children to see how people lived in the 1800's.
My youngest daughter lives in Columbia, MO (10 hrs. away) and they got snow there this week, so keep a weather eye, as they say. :)
I grew up in Colorado and my husband spent 20 years in the Air Force, so I feel your pain. If we were somewhere warm at Christmastime, I was always kind of melancholy.
We are going up to the St. Louis area to see our grandchildren for Christmas and are hoping for snow too!
B. G. (mother of 8, grandmother of 4)
This is certainly no where near the same thing, but to give your kids alittle bit of "snow" to play with, you can get them some "Insta Snow" for Christmas. it is a hydrophylic polymer crystal taht come sin opowder/crystal form, then you add water to it and it soaks in the water and fluffs up to look and feel kind of like real snow, just not as cold (they are actually the same crystals found in disposable diapers). Of course it is only a small amount, and not reals now, but it is a fun little science experiment for kids who otherwise don't get to play in the snow. I found some a couple of years ago at a kiosk in one of the malls and again in a science kit, but I am not sure where to get it now (except small baggies in the gift shop of the Sci Tech museum in Frisco!)bit if you google "instant snow" abunch of options will come up. The best thing about it is if you dry it out you can reuse it year after year! Then when you are done with it, just add it to your potted plants to retain water for them.
The ice exhibit mentioned before is in Grapevine at the Gaylord Texan. http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-texan/special-events...
As far as snow goes, I'd like that too. What about north toward Oklahoma? Don't they get snow by January? (I'm not from here). Anyone?
We had this same idea a few years ago. We drove to Angel Fire, NM. Unfortunately, that year they did not have much snow. We bought ski clothes at Thrift stores and bought several plastic slides to take with us. We stayed in a condo that had some nice sledding hills by it. Pinetree Commons http://www.angelfirenm.com/pinetree. We had not planned on skiing, but ended up doing it after all and the kids LOVED it. Also at Angel Fire, they have a tubing hill on the ski slope. You ride a magic carpet up the hill and come down in an inner tube.
The only other option would be to just wait until the time you want to go and watch the weather. Often they have some significant snow in the Texas Panhandle or Oklahoma that would be an 8 hour or less drive away. The only problem is that you cannot predict when they will have snow.
You can also try Ruidoso, NM, near El Paso, TX or Santa Fe, NM. They are more than 8 hrs away though.
its not snow but your kids may enjoy the ice exibit in grapevine...cant think of name of hotel to save my life butim sure you can google it...Definitely dress warm
You might check out the Ozark area of Arkansas, but can't guarantee snow.
The shops at Watters Creek in Allen are supposed to have snow flurries on the green during the holiday season. I doubt it would be enough to play with, but I'm sure the kids would enjoy seeing it fall.
Welcome to Texas!
If you decide to go to the panhandle, check out Palo Duro Canyon.
Victoria
