Winter Fun Guide
25 ways to warm up, celebrate, enjoy nature and see Lake Erie in a new — but equally beautiful — light.
1. Go snowshoeing. The beauty along Lake Erie’s shoreline is different in the cold months, but just as breathtaking. Rent cross-country skis and snowshoes at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake and then stay the night at the lodge. Make sure to enjoy a dip in the glass-enclosed indoor pool with its spectacular views of the icy lake. Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, 440-466-7100, thelodgeatgeneva.com/play
2. Warm up at Mr. Smith’s Coffee House. This charming Sandusky, Ohio, coffeehouse is warm and inviting, and its drinks are out-of-this-world delicious. Our favorite? A triple mocha swirl — espresso and milk combined with chocolate, white chocolate and Dutch cocoa then topped with whipped cream — a decadent pick-me-up. mrsmithscoffee.com, 419-625-6885
3. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra will kick off a spectacular, all-new holiday show in Erie, Pennsylvania, Nov. 18 with two shows called “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” at the Erie Insurance Arena. The high-energy rock band also has shows scheduled in Buffalo and Detroit in December. trans-siberian.com (For tickets call 800-745-3000 or log on to ticketmaster.com)
4. Load up on gifts during a holiday tour of Lake Erie wineries. Make sure to stop at Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co., one of the newest additions to the Chautauqua wine trail. Arundel, located in a beautiful late 19th-century barn, offers wines, craft beers and hard cider. North East, Pennsylvania, 814-725-1079, arundelcellars.com
5. Don’t shoot your eye out. The iconic “Christmas Story” house — located in Cleveland — has been restored to its movie splendor and is open for tours. Across the street is a museum featuring memorabilia from the film, including Randy’s snowsuit and the family car. And Ralphie’s Red Ryder? Buy your very own at the gift shop. Just be careful not to, well, you know. 216-298-4919, achristmasstoryhouse.com
6. Shop for gifts that don’t require batteries. Find handcrafted, one-of-a-kind creations sure to be cherished for years. Visit an Amish quilt shop, toy factory and cheese shop, and enjoy an Amish-style lunch at the Cherry Creek Inn during a “Holiday Shopping in Amish Country” van tour Nov. 7. Registration required. 716-673-3177, tourchautauqua.com
7. Go tubing. Hop on the “Magic Carpet ride” at Clymer, New York’s Peek’n Peak Resort for a quick ride to the top of a hill, and then choose from seven tubing lanes for a screaming fun ride back down again. And again. And again. 716-355-4141, pknpk.com
8. Take it tropical. There are a number of waterparks around Lake Erie. One we love is the 125,000-square-foot Fallsview Water Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, which features 16 waterslides, an adults-only whirlpool, a tiny tots splash park, and an outdoor heated pool open year-round. 888-234-8413, fallsviewwaterpark.com
9. Take to the ice for … golf? Yep. Each year, 160 goofy golfers head for a frozen Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pennsylvania, where they endure — errr, enjoy — nine holes of golf on the frozen bay in a tournament called Joe Root’s Frostbite Open. Some advice if you want to join in the frigid fun Feb. 21: Dress in layers and sign up soon. This event is a sellout event every year. 814-838-5138, discoverpi.com
10. Dress up like Santa and go for speed at the Santa Hustle Cedar Point 5k and half marathon on Dec. 20. Runners receive a beard, Santa hat and a red dri-fit half-zip to complete their look as they enjoy holiday music and candy, then join in on the epic after party. Sandusky, Ohio, santahustle.com/cedar-point
11. Get your glow on at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Glow is open Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, but its evening tours Wednesday and Fridays — when the gardens are awash in twinkling lights — are especially magical. Make a full day of it by heading to the nearby ice skating rink at Wade Oval, where skate rental is available. 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org
12. Hang out with Kenny Rogers. Give this American legend his due at a concert called “Kenny Rogers: Once Again It’s Christmas” at the Hard Rock Rocksino in Northfield, Ohio, Nov. 27. 330-908-7625, hrrocksinonorthfieldpark.com (For tickets, call 800-745-3000 or log on to ticketmaster.com)
13. Ride the Polar Express. Do you still believe? Take a magical ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, during which passengers leap into the pages of the favorite children’s book by drinking hot chocolate, meeting Santa and rediscovering the true spirit of Christmas. 800-468-4070, cvsr.com
14. Make magic with Matilda. Buffalo’s Shea’s Performing Arts Center showcases “Matilda the Musical,” Nov. 3 to 8. Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, this Tony-winning musical was called by Time magazine the best since “The Lion King.” 716-847-1410, sheas.org
15. Bundle up for a candlelit stroll of Niagara-on-the-Lake. A favorite winter tradition for this charming town, the guided stroll, led by horse drawn carriages, will be held Dec. 4. Participants are serenaded by local choirs and enjoy a visit from jolly old St. Nick. 905-468-1950, niagaraonthelake.com
16. Find a path to adventure. Rent a snowmobile from Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Services and then head out for an adventure on the snowmobile trails (nysnowmobilewebmap.com). Make Clymer’s Pine Junction Tavern a stopping point (716-769-7854, pinejunctiontavern.com). In the winter, the owners clear dozens of spots for snowmobile parking. 716-581-5253, clsnowmobiles.com
17. Brew up some good times at the Niagara Brewing Co. in Niagara Falls, Ontario, which opened in May. Make sure to try brewmaster Gord Slatersmooth’s unique ice wine beer and his luscious chocolate beer. A good time to visit is Feb. 5, when the brewery will pair its beers with culinary creations during an evening called Beer on Ice. Reservations required. 905-374-4444, niagarabrewingcompany.com
18. Take a dip March 12 in Lake Erie as part of the seventh annual Arctic Plunge at Edgewater Park in Cleveland. Last year about 600 people took part in the frigid fundraiser. 216-598-0934, clevelandarcticplunge.com.
19. Croon along with Elvis. Multi-award winning Elvis tribute artist Pete Paquette takes the stage Dec. 4 at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover, Ontario, to honor the legend with the show “The Elvis: A Christmas Special.” The night will include Presley’s greatest hits, along with Christmas carols and Elvis classics like Blue Christmas. 888-779-7703, lighthousetheatre.com
20. Cowboy up at the Double D.A.B. Riding Stables for a holiday ride. Santa helps out in the stables during this annual event at this Ripley, New York, stable. Children also can indulge in hot chocolate and cookies and visit animals at the petting farm. Check the website for dates. 716-736-4418, doubledab.net
21. Make a penguin look graceful. Turn your skis in for a garbage bag on Feb. 20 during the Penguin Paddle, an annual fundraiser for Ellicottville’s Holiday Valley’s Lounsbury Adaptive Program. Participants ages 4 and up slip inside a garbage bag then slide down a hill on their bellies. The day also includes an auction and lunch. 716-699-2345, holidayvalley.com
22. Speed down a 700-foot ice chute at 50 miles per hour. The toboggan run at Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Stream Run Reservation’s Chalet Recreation Area in Strongsville boasts of being the tallest and fastest in Ohio and is a can’t miss wintertime activity for local families. 440-572-9990, clevelandmetroparks.com
23. Reunite with Rudolph. The Christmas classic comes alive Dec. 5 and 6 during a musical at Detroit’s Fox Theatre, a 1928 movie house. The musical is faithful to the original show, and includes nostalgic set designs, costumes and dialogue. It is perfect for kids — of all ages — and sure to get you in the mood for the Christmas season. 800-745-3000, olympiaentertainment.com
24. Mayville Winter Festival. The massive ice castle (built from blocks of ice from Chautauqua Lake) is always the centerpiece, but this annual President’s Day weekend event is full of fun. Don’t miss the snowball distance-throwing contest, the snowman-building contest, bonfire or fireworks. 716-366-6200, mayvillechautauqua.org
25. Celebrate the music of the Celtic Women. Four world-class powerhouse vocalists — Susan McFadden, Mairead Carlin, Lisa Lambe and Lynn Hilary — will be joined by dramatic violinist Mairead Nesbitt for a Dec. 10 show at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, as part of their tour called Home for Christmas. 800-991-7777, caesars.com/caesars-windsor
2. Warm up at Mr. Smith’s Coffee House. This charming Sandusky, Ohio, coffeehouse is warm and inviting, and its drinks are out-of-this-world delicious. Our favorite? A triple mocha swirl — espresso and milk combined with chocolate, white chocolate and Dutch cocoa then topped with whipped cream — a decadent pick-me-up. mrsmithscoffee.com, 419-625-6885
3. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra will kick off a spectacular, all-new holiday show in Erie, Pennsylvania, Nov. 18 with two shows called “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” at the Erie Insurance Arena. The high-energy rock band also has shows scheduled in Buffalo and Detroit in December. trans-siberian.com (For tickets call 800-745-3000 or log on to ticketmaster.com)
4. Load up on gifts during a holiday tour of Lake Erie wineries. Make sure to stop at Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co., one of the newest additions to the Chautauqua wine trail. Arundel, located in a beautiful late 19th-century barn, offers wines, craft beers and hard cider. North East, Pennsylvania, 814-725-1079, arundelcellars.com
5. Don’t shoot your eye out. The iconic “Christmas Story” house — located in Cleveland — has been restored to its movie splendor and is open for tours. Across the street is a museum featuring memorabilia from the film, including Randy’s snowsuit and the family car. And Ralphie’s Red Ryder? Buy your very own at the gift shop. Just be careful not to, well, you know. 216-298-4919, achristmasstoryhouse.com
6. Shop for gifts that don’t require batteries. Find handcrafted, one-of-a-kind creations sure to be cherished for years. Visit an Amish quilt shop, toy factory and cheese shop, and enjoy an Amish-style lunch at the Cherry Creek Inn during a “Holiday Shopping in Amish Country” van tour Nov. 7. Registration required. 716-673-3177, tourchautauqua.com
7. Go tubing. Hop on the “Magic Carpet ride” at Clymer, New York’s Peek’n Peak Resort for a quick ride to the top of a hill, and then choose from seven tubing lanes for a screaming fun ride back down again. And again. And again. 716-355-4141, pknpk.com
8. Take it tropical. There are a number of waterparks around Lake Erie. One we love is the 125,000-square-foot Fallsview Water Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, which features 16 waterslides, an adults-only whirlpool, a tiny tots splash park, and an outdoor heated pool open year-round. 888-234-8413, fallsviewwaterpark.com
9. Take to the ice for … golf? Yep. Each year, 160 goofy golfers head for a frozen Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pennsylvania, where they endure — errr, enjoy — nine holes of golf on the frozen bay in a tournament called Joe Root’s Frostbite Open. Some advice if you want to join in the frigid fun Feb. 21: Dress in layers and sign up soon. This event is a sellout event every year. 814-838-5138, discoverpi.com
10. Dress up like Santa and go for speed at the Santa Hustle Cedar Point 5k and half marathon on Dec. 20. Runners receive a beard, Santa hat and a red dri-fit half-zip to complete their look as they enjoy holiday music and candy, then join in on the epic after party. Sandusky, Ohio, santahustle.com/cedar-point
11. Get your glow on at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Glow is open Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, but its evening tours Wednesday and Fridays — when the gardens are awash in twinkling lights — are especially magical. Make a full day of it by heading to the nearby ice skating rink at Wade Oval, where skate rental is available. 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org
12. Hang out with Kenny Rogers. Give this American legend his due at a concert called “Kenny Rogers: Once Again It’s Christmas” at the Hard Rock Rocksino in Northfield, Ohio, Nov. 27. 330-908-7625, hrrocksinonorthfieldpark.com (For tickets, call 800-745-3000 or log on to ticketmaster.com)
13. Ride the Polar Express. Do you still believe? Take a magical ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, during which passengers leap into the pages of the favorite children’s book by drinking hot chocolate, meeting Santa and rediscovering the true spirit of Christmas. 800-468-4070, cvsr.com
14. Make magic with Matilda. Buffalo’s Shea’s Performing Arts Center showcases “Matilda the Musical,” Nov. 3 to 8. Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, this Tony-winning musical was called by Time magazine the best since “The Lion King.” 716-847-1410, sheas.org
15. Bundle up for a candlelit stroll of Niagara-on-the-Lake. A favorite winter tradition for this charming town, the guided stroll, led by horse drawn carriages, will be held Dec. 4. Participants are serenaded by local choirs and enjoy a visit from jolly old St. Nick. 905-468-1950, niagaraonthelake.com
16. Find a path to adventure. Rent a snowmobile from Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Services and then head out for an adventure on the snowmobile trails (nysnowmobilewebmap.com). Make Clymer’s Pine Junction Tavern a stopping point (716-769-7854, pinejunctiontavern.com). In the winter, the owners clear dozens of spots for snowmobile parking. 716-581-5253, clsnowmobiles.com
17. Brew up some good times at the Niagara Brewing Co. in Niagara Falls, Ontario, which opened in May. Make sure to try brewmaster Gord Slatersmooth’s unique ice wine beer and his luscious chocolate beer. A good time to visit is Feb. 5, when the brewery will pair its beers with culinary creations during an evening called Beer on Ice. Reservations required. 905-374-4444, niagarabrewingcompany.com
18. Take a dip March 12 in Lake Erie as part of the seventh annual Arctic Plunge at Edgewater Park in Cleveland. Last year about 600 people took part in the frigid fundraiser. 216-598-0934, clevelandarcticplunge.com.
19. Croon along with Elvis. Multi-award winning Elvis tribute artist Pete Paquette takes the stage Dec. 4 at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover, Ontario, to honor the legend with the show “The Elvis: A Christmas Special.” The night will include Presley’s greatest hits, along with Christmas carols and Elvis classics like Blue Christmas. 888-779-7703, lighthousetheatre.com
20. Cowboy up at the Double D.A.B. Riding Stables for a holiday ride. Santa helps out in the stables during this annual event at this Ripley, New York, stable. Children also can indulge in hot chocolate and cookies and visit animals at the petting farm. Check the website for dates. 716-736-4418, doubledab.net
21. Make a penguin look graceful. Turn your skis in for a garbage bag on Feb. 20 during the Penguin Paddle, an annual fundraiser for Ellicottville’s Holiday Valley’s Lounsbury Adaptive Program. Participants ages 4 and up slip inside a garbage bag then slide down a hill on their bellies. The day also includes an auction and lunch. 716-699-2345, holidayvalley.com
22. Speed down a 700-foot ice chute at 50 miles per hour. The toboggan run at Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Stream Run Reservation’s Chalet Recreation Area in Strongsville boasts of being the tallest and fastest in Ohio and is a can’t miss wintertime activity for local families. 440-572-9990, clevelandmetroparks.com
23. Reunite with Rudolph. The Christmas classic comes alive Dec. 5 and 6 during a musical at Detroit’s Fox Theatre, a 1928 movie house. The musical is faithful to the original show, and includes nostalgic set designs, costumes and dialogue. It is perfect for kids — of all ages — and sure to get you in the mood for the Christmas season. 800-745-3000, olympiaentertainment.com
24. Mayville Winter Festival. The massive ice castle (built from blocks of ice from Chautauqua Lake) is always the centerpiece, but this annual President’s Day weekend event is full of fun. Don’t miss the snowball distance-throwing contest, the snowman-building contest, bonfire or fireworks. 716-366-6200, mayvillechautauqua.org
25. Celebrate the music of the Celtic Women. Four world-class powerhouse vocalists — Susan McFadden, Mairead Carlin, Lisa Lambe and Lynn Hilary — will be joined by dramatic violinist Mairead Nesbitt for a Dec. 10 show at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, as part of their tour called Home for Christmas. 800-991-7777, caesars.com/caesars-windsor