Somewhere beyond the glitter and gaiety of the holidays lies mid-winter. This naughty little mini-season can be the bringer of colds, viruses, the doldrums and the feeling that your life is stuck in a one-way rut. Perhaps you’re just exhausted from a two-month binge on rich food and drink and there seems to be nothing to do but endure the lousy frigid weather until the spring.
Wait! Maybe there is a remedy in the hills! You long to get away from your life and you can. The Highlands-Cashiers area offers the quiet relaxation you’ve been yearning for. Gone are the crowds of summer, replaced by deep blue unpolluted skies and quiet surroundings. When people ask me what my favorite month is in Highlands I often reply, “January.” Even though it’s usually the coldest month of the winter, it’s after the season, after the holidays, and a time to finally rest! I relish just walking out my road and all I hear is the muted sound of my feet against the gravel. All of nature has come to a standstill as it rests deeply
to prepare for a time of rejuvenation in the Spring. The bears do it, and it has always seemed to me that humankind should as well! HIKING The hiking trails where you can view clear mountain vistas or sparkling cascading streams are still here and you won’t encounter mosquitoes, ants, or even many other travelers. If solitude and a deeper connection with nature are on your list of wants, you will find them. Take your journal and find a spot in the sun as you reflect on your goals and dreams for the coming year. ICE SKATING Though it is not the spring-fed ice skating of my youth on Mirror and Harris lakes, there is a great ice skating rink at Pine Street Park, managed by the Town of Highlands. For a mere $8.00, with or without skates, you can breeze around the rink in the company of others enjoying winter fun. Opening November 20, the ice rink is available Thursdays from 3:30 to 8:00; Fridays from 3:30 to 10:00; Saturdays from 1:00 to 10:00; and Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00. During the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is open seven days. (Contact the Highlands Recreation Department at 828-526- 3556 for the exact schedule.) Rental skates are available from youth size 8 to adult size 14. Coffee and hot chocolate are also available. Private parties can be scheduled with advance notice on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
THE “QUIET” SEASON
21
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online