The weather this winter has been weird thus far. But snow sports enthusiasts should still be able to find some powder to have some winter fun for a few days at least!
Here are a handful of venues where you can get your skiing, sledding, or ice skating on without venturing too far from your apartment.
Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports
Just a five-minute drive from AMLI at Seven Bridges, Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports in Lisle is a suburban Chicago snow fiend’s paradise. The entire 20-acre area is open for skiing and snowboarding, and professional instruction is available for visitors of all skill levels. Special terrain activities are available in some areas, and seven tow ropes ensure a safe experience. With more than 50 years’ experience catering to active snow lovers in the area, Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports is a trusted site for winter fun.
Danada Forest Preserve
If cross-country skiing is your thing, the Danada Forest Preserve offers a convenient scenic trail. Cross and re-cross three miles of trail as it winds through woods and marshland. Danada’s trails connect to four other regional trails, making it easy to extend the length of your walk or switch it up from outing to outing.
Riverwalk Sled Hill at Rotary Hill
The mother of all sled hills in Naperville, Ill., no winter is complete for many area residents without a visit to Rotary Hill. The Riverwalk Sled Hill is open until 9 PM on weekdays and 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Rotary Hill is just six miles from AMLI at Seven Bridges. A few rounds of sledding are a fun way to spend an afternoon, especially following a fresh snowfall.
Gartner Park
Also just a five-minute drive from AMLI at Naperville and ten minutes from AMLI at Seven Bridges, Gartner Park offers another nice, oftentimes less crowded, sled hill in the vicinity. Gartner Park also features a lighted ice skating rink that stays open until 10 PM.
Villa Olivia Country Club
If weather’s not terrible and you don’t mind driving 20 miles, consider driving to Villa Olivia Country Club in Bartlett. Highlights include a 180 vertical drop with a quarter-mile ski run and chairlift; an exceptional ski school; and prime snow tubing infrastructure.
Now that you know where to find classic winter fun not far from your Woodridge apartment, you don’t have an excuse to forgo ice skating, sledding, or skiing all season. Even if snow is sparse this winter, you should have several opportunities for some seasonal outdoor fun. Drag your partner in crime to the rink, take your kids to a sled hill, or strap on your cross-country skis to work up a sweat.
What’s your favorite Chicagoland destination for winter fun? Share in the comments.
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst