Tamara Leigh, TREND ON Host
Tamara Leigh’s TREND ON: Embrace the Winter Wonderland in Wisconsin and Aspen, Colorado with guests Danielle Johnson fromTravel Wisconsin.com & Amanda Charles, Aspen columnist and resident.
Don’t hibernate now that the holidays are done… there’s lots to do to embrace the season and enjoy the beauty of winder wonderlands from Wisconsin to Aspen. Danielle, our returning guest on TREND ON, from Wisconsin’s Department of Tourism, highlights Wisconsin’s safety with snow reports to festivals and fun from snowshoeing to skiing and more. In addition to Danielle’s featured events, go to: http://www.travelwisconsin.com/; andFollow Danielle on Twitter: DaniELLE_Marie5. Danielle’s highlights from TravelWisconsin.com:
Stay informed using the Travel Wisconsin Snow Conditions Report:
· State’s leading tool to track the snow conditions for trails, parks and ski areas throughout the winter season. With 130 snow condition reporters in all 72 counties of the state, there is no other report that is as comprehensive or timely. Reporting is done “virtually live” as the area’s conditions change. Snowmobile clubs are updating as soon as the grooming is done.
· Mobile version makes the Snow Conditions Report accessible from any smart phone. You can also search for nearby attractions, accommodations, dining or events directly from the Snow Conditions Report. This is great for rounding out your weekend trip.
· View the report and sign up to receive weekly email updates at travelwisconsin.com
While there might not be a lot of snow in your back yard, that hasn’t slowed down Wisconsin’s downhill skiing and snowboarding areas:
· There are 445 runs at 30 downhill skiing and snowboarding sites throughout the state and most if not all of them are full speed ahead with the recent snowstorm.
· Little Switzerland in Slinger, WI, currently has excellent ski conditions and was recently reopened (renovated?) and now features a completely renovated chalet, updated lifts, a state-of-the-art snowmaking system.
· Granite Peak in Wausau, WI, also has excellent snow conditions and is the state’s largest ski area with a 700 foot drop. Granite peak has two terrain parks open as well, so now is a great time to go out and play on Wisconsin’s ski and snowboard hills.
Snowmobiling
· Wisconsin has more than 25,000 miles of snowmobile trails criss-crossing the state – that’s enough trails to circle the earth!
· Trails are currently open around the state, but one hot spot is Eagle River, the Snowmobile Capitol of the World. Eagle River has more than 600 miles of trails and hosts the World Championship Snowmobile Derby, starting this weekend Jan 11 – 20. This year is the 50th anniversary of the derby and they have world class racing lined up as well as other activities.
Snowshoeing
· A favorite silent sport in Wisconsin and easy to do for any age and skill level. Wisconsin has hundreds of miles of trails waiting to be explored.
· In southern Wisconsin, Mirror Lake State Park is an excellent place to snowshoe, featuring a beautiful lake and miles of trails.
· In northern Wisconsin, Winter Park in Minocqua is a hidden gem for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Winter Park features more than 6 miles of snowshoeing, 30 of skiing and even skijoring trails for you and your furry friend. Rent all your equipment right there and while you’re out exploring, be sure to find the Tea House, a charming cabin in the middle of the woods serving hot chocolate, tea and a wood stove fire to warm up a bit before you head back out. It’s really quite a treat!
Events
· Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe/Hike at Wisconsin state parks every weekend through the end of Feb. These are fantastic events to explore a state park after hours guided by candlelight. Warm up with a bonfire and hot chocolate after. Visit Wisconsin DNR website for information on specific events
· The Big Chill Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Competition January 11 – 13 in Racine. After seeing the artists in action, you can vote for your favorite sculptures.
During the winter, there’s just as much fun to be had indoors, as outdoors.
Swim at a Waterpark: Kalahari Resort in the Dells has added three new waterslides to its indoor waterpark and two of the nation’s first-ever Super Loop waterslides last year. The resort also features a state-of-the-art Kid’s Play Zone with 15 children’s slides.
Other options around the state include: Chaos Waterpark in Eau Claire, Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan, Tundra Lodge in Green Bay or Waters of Minocqua.
Be sure to visit TravelWisconsin.com to track the snow using our Snow Conditions Report, plan your next trip using the Travel Planner and Events Calendar. We’re mobile! Check out the TravelWisconsin iPhone and Android apps for fun on the go.
For Full Interview, Listen to:
Tamara Leigh’s TREND ON Embrace the Winter Wonderland in Wisconsin and Aspen, Colorado with guests Danielle Johnson fromTravel Wisconsin.com & Amanda Charles, Aspen columnist and resident.
TREND ON Business with Nick Bauer, Marketer, Connector & Speaker with Milwaukee PC and 3 Tree Marketing.