How do you know that Winter is Arriving?
The cool weather turns to cold. The cool winds that tickled the nose and fingertips as the leaves dropped in the fall turn into stronger gusts of frigid or bitter cold nipping at any exposed skin. Where once a Michigander might think of wearing gloves or a hat at night, they are now wearing a coat, gloves, hat, and maybe even boots and scarves during the day as well.
What really is a true Michigan Winter?
Over the last few years Michigan has had surprisingly a bigger majority of warmer weather over colder weather in the fall and winter. Of course, this excludes that crazy polar vortex we had a couple years ago. When I was a child, back in the 80's .. that's 1980's not 1880's thank you very much ... we had a lot of snow all winter long. I remember the huge piles of snow at the end of the driveway and digging fort tunnels through the backyard. Now, you are lucky if you get a few days to build a snowman or have a real snowball, not iceball, fight.
Yes, we do get snow on some days, but how many times is that same snow already gone in a day or two. That didn't used to be the case. You didn't think about seeing your grass in the winter time before unless you had a really, really big sasquatch sized snowman in your front yard. I am so tired of dealing with all of the rain in the winter instead of snow. Sometimes that rain will turn to ice, but more and more we are getting just rain and not snow or ice. That just makes everything look ugly, mushy and dirty.
Fun for the Winter
Michigan has been called the "Winter Wonderland" before. There are so many things to do in the winter depending on where you are in the state. Of course, there are the stand-bys of snowball fights, Snow Angels, and sledding just anywhere that you have snow. With the water close to so many locations ice fishing can be added to the to do list. For the adventurous sort with sturdy limbs, skinning, ice skating, or ice hockey are great additions. If money is not as much of an option, buy a nice snowmobile and adventure through the thousands of acres of national forest and motor trails that are available in all areas of Michigan.
Don't just sit at home!
Just because the sun went away, it doesn't mean you need to stay in the house! Get out and explore all that Michigan's Winter Wonderland has to offer. Hopefully, we will have a great winter in 2020. There are plenty of places to go where you can still be socially distanced. Heck, in the winter I don't think people will complain as much about having to wear face coverings at least!