Forksful of five cool winter to-dos

Not sure how to entertain yourself and/or the whole fam bam when flakes start to fly?

Greater Grand Forks has gotcha covered with lots of options for keeping both the kiddos and the kid in all of us amused. Here are the top five cooler ways to play.

Hit the Trails.

For grand times in the great outdoors, pack your sled or skis and head to the The Greenway. While our scenic trail system offers more than 20 miles of groomed paths, I find Lincoln Drive Park is the best spot for gliding down a hill or through the snow. It also plays host to Greenway Snow Day. Typically held on the first Saturday in February, this free annual event is filled with lots of cool doings like cross-country skiing, cardboard sled races, horse-drawn wagon rides and a chili feed. For more under the sundog fun, load up the SUV and take a short 17-mile drive east on Highway 2. When at picturesque Turtle River State Park, activities to enjoy include ice fishing, snowshoeing, sledding, skiing and of course, snowman building.

Take a Spin.

Located Downtown on the corner of DeMers Avenue and 3rd Street, the Town Square Ice Rink is the perfect place to attempt your best flying camel spin, enjoy a pick-up hockey game or try your hand at broomball. Warm up afterward at one of Downtown’s two breweries – Rhombus Guys and Half Brothers – or grab a caffeine infused NA brew at Urban Stampede coffeehouse.

Dive In.

When the temperature is a little bit too chilly, even for us hearty Up North folk, simply head to Fork’s South Seas! Canad Inns Destination Centre features, Splashers, a tropical themed water park, as well as a cool arcade for both guests and non-guests. Likewise, Choice Health & Fitness offers an amazing water park and pool area plus a child activity area, basketball and tennis courts, first-rate workout equipment, a variety of fitness classes, steam room, deli and more.

Jump for Joy.

The whole gang will have a blast working up a sweat at Northern Air Family Fun Center! North Dakota’s top indoor trampoline park, this large complex contains a 10,000 square foot jump area complete with numerous trampolines, two dodgeball courts, a foam pit and dunk station. Northern Air also has a 30+ game arcade, laser tag, inflatables, Hologate Virtual Reality and their latest addition, an adult-friendly (21+) axe throwing area.

More to Explore.

All ages will surely enjoy exploring the expansive East Grand Forks Cabela’s store. Along with an array of premium outdoor clothing, equipment and supplies, it features a 10,000-gallon aquarium filled with indigenous fish, a trout stream and numerous wild game mounts. Located at Columbia Mall, Scheels should also be on your “good times found here” list. In addition to offering stylish, quality sportswear and gear, their in-store café serves up delicious homemade fudge, ice cream, sandwiches, soups and salads. For the non-shoppers, Scheels provides a challenging multi-sports simulator, shooting gallery, mini bowling alley and bubble hockey game.

Whether it’s at a quaint local park or in the region’s premier water park, Greater Grand Forks gives you plenty of options for some SimplyGrand fun! Additional information on these and countless other activities, events, restaurants, stores and more may be found at VisitGrandForks.com. We also invite you to follow Visit Greater Grand Forks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.