With winter in full swing, by mid February we all start to get a little stir crazy. Cold temperatures and snow, windy days, and treacherous driving conditions combine forces to keep us indoors, sometimes even on weekends. Aside from skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and ice skating to lure us outdoors and keep us active this season, there are plenty of other options for fun getaways, many right in our backyard. What are some of your options? Read on to find out.

Snowmobiling

If you’re looking for a different type of outdoor adventure this winter, why not give snowmobiling a shot? People come from all over to snowmobile along the more than 1,500 miles of trails that wind through New Hampshire. From the deep woods at the Canadian border in Coos County to the White Mountain National Forest, you’ll see beautiful views and vistas as you wind your way through the snowy winter wonderland. There is a trail for every skill level and every expectation. Most places that offer rentals allow you to ride either alone or with a partner, so if you’d rather go with your sweetheart and share a romantic ride (since February is the month for romance, after all), that is an option. Check out SledVentures Snowmobile Rentals in Lincoln, NH. Only an hour and a half from Hanover, they offer reasonable prices for guided tours for beginners through advanced riders. They also provide a list of hotels and inns that are right around the corner, so you can make it a full weekend adventure!

Museum Weekend in Manchester

If you prefer indoor activities, just over an hour away in Manchester, New Hampshire, are some great activities for everyone in the family. The Currier Museum of Art is a smaller museum that boasts an outstanding collection, and you won’t have to rush to see all it has to offer. The collection offers works by internationally renowned European and American artists displayed in an intimate setting and includes fine furniture, glass, ceramics, silver, and sculpture in the same galleries as paintings, with a reference to each period represented. The current exhibit, “Lethal Beauty: Samurai Weapons and Armor” is sure to impress and fascinate visitors of all ages. This exhibit showcases the artistic beauty of the deadly weaponry of this culture. Tickets to the museum are just $20 and allow you to also experience the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Zimmerman House, the only Wright home open to the public in New England.

For little ones, The SEE Science Center in Manchester is an interactive learning center established to promote the understanding, enjoyment, and achievements of science, mathematics, and technology. SEE offers a variety of experiences including hands-on exhibits covering topics like light, sound, electricity, simple machines, and more, not to mention the LEGO® Millyard Project on permanent display. And at $8 per person, you can’t beat it. Be sure to allow plenty of time for kids to enjoy it all!

Spa Weekend

Looking for a relaxing weekend with your girlfriends or your honey? A spa getaway may be just the thing. The Stonehedge Inn & Spa in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, is a spectacular destination for ladies, wine lovers, and anyone in search of a relaxing or romantic getaway in New England. Just about two hours from Hanover, the inn is situated on 36 acres and surrounded by the majestic Merrimack River, Massachusetts state-forest land, and its own woodlands. The guest rooms offer luxurious beds, plush robes, heated towel warmers, and Keurig coffee makers, which are just a few of the amenities. And with over 60,000 bottles of wine, Stonehedge Inn & Spa has New England’s largest wine cellar and collection. The inn’s restaurant, Left Bank, offers seasonal cuisine prepared with the highest quality local, seasonal, and organic ingredients, including a menu created especially to pair with featured wines. The spa offers various kinds of massage, body polish treatments, and facials as well as special spa combination deals. Not to be outdone, the inn has a variety of special overnight packages throughout the year too.

Prefer to stay in New Hampshire? On the peaceful shores of Lake Opechee in Laconia is the Lake Opechee Inn & Spa. Only an hour and a half from the Hanover area, you’ll find a perfect retreat for rest and relaxation. The renovated historic mill building is home to an inn, spa, conference center, and restaurant. The individually decorated guest rooms have private fireplaces, and many offer balconies with lake views and two-person whirlpool baths. O Steaks and Seafood, their restaurant, offers delicious cuisine for lunch and dinner in a beautiful lake-view dining room. The Tranquility Spa offers a full menu of massages, facials, pedicures, and body treatments. Spa packages and inn specials include girls’ weekends, birthday packages, couples retreats, and many more.

What are your favorite places to escape to during the winter??