New York winters can mean tucking into a few novels or standing in line at one of the city's well-known museums or theaters. But with a little perseverance--and perhaps some mittens--one can discover several fun activities in the city during the winter that will keep your mind engaged and your body moving.
Ice Skating
Few things say winter in New York City like the public skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza. The rink is open from October to late February and is open for public skating daily, but it occasionally is closed for private functions. The rink is perfect for a skate before a Broadway show or with the kids under the sparkling holiday lights. Rental skates are available for a fee. Public skating also is available at several ponds in Central Park, as well as in Battery Park.
Cross Country Skiing
Several cross country skiing trails are available throughout New York City. Cross country skiing is allowed in Central Park when there is a base snow accumulation of at least 6 inches deep. When that happens, nearly the entirety of the park's lawn area is fit for skiing. Skiers carve Nordic trails each winter through the park's 250 lawn acres, including Sheep Meadow and the half-mile Great Lawn Oval.
Climbing
Indoor rock climbing can help you stay fit during harsh winters. The Field House at Chelsea Piers offers more than 300 feet of climbing walls and provides lessons to beginners. Safety equipment and rigging is provided with a fee. Experienced climbers can bring their own gear and climb unfettered after signing a waiver and paying a fee. Brooklyn's indoor climbing facility Brooklyn Boulders also offers rope and climbing instruction, allowing guests to climb until as late as midnight on weekends.
Sledding
Sledding is an inexpensive way to have fun and stay active during the winter, and New York's several gentle slopes offer great terrain. From Ewen Park on Riverdale Avenue to Central Park's Pilgrim Hill, there are great sledding spots scattered across the city for experienced riders and young children. Forest Park is regarded as the iciest, slickest sledding in the city.
Bowling
New York is home to over a dozen bowling alleys, including Brooklyn Bowl, 300 New York and Shell Lanes. Be sure to call ahead as some of these establishments have dress codes and cater to an upscale clientele. More laid-back lanes include Rab's Country Lanes on Staten Island, or the Ball Park Lanes across from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
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