Winter Guide

We’re not going to lie: winter sucks, but if you can survive a Detroit winter, you can (probably) survive anything. The key to making it through the coldest and darkest days of the year is to laugh in the face of them and fully embrace the season. Here are some of the ways we keep busy as we count down the days until spring.

BY METRO TIMES STAFF

The Michigan DNR announced a free snowmobiling weekend on Feb. 11 and 12.

Head to Winter Blast

No, a “winter blast” isn’t only what hits your face whenever you step outside these days. Downtown Detroit’s longstanding seasonal festival was moved to Royal Oak in 2021 due to what organizers blamed on “funding challenges,” and the wintry celebration returns to the suburb’s Centennial Commons (between Main and Troy Streets and 11 Mile Road and 3rd Street) from Friday, Feb. 3 through Sunday, Feb. 5. Guests can go ice-skating in an outdoor rink, learn to ski, or take a ride down the snow slide or zip line. There will also be ice sculptures, kid-friendly activities, live music, food trucks, and vendors, with warming zones and marshmallow roasting stations available. Admission is free and open to the public, and more information is available at winterblast. com. – Lee DeV ito

Go ice skating

There are plenty of other places in metro etroit that offer outdoor ice skating, including, of course, the outdoor Rink at Campus Martius in Detroit. There’s also the Clark Park Ice Rink in Southwest Detroit, the Riley Park Ice Rink in downtown Farmington, and the rink in Barnum Park in Birmingham. —Lee DeV ito

Make a snowman

No matter how old you are, when the snow hits that perfect consistency — just wet enough, but not too slushy — the urge to start rolling a snowball to create a snowman or your own snowy sculpture can be just too much to resist. Voila — for one magical afternoon, you’re an artist now. —Lee DeV ito

Enjoy s’mores at Valade Park

Valade Park on the Detroit riverfront is loaded with daily winter activities like sledding, oversi ed bonfires, s mores, hot boozy and non-boozy drinks, food, and more. Every Saturday and Sunday from now through February, the park hosts wellness events like meditative walks, a dog pack meetup with Canine to Five, and hustle classes. There are also themed weekends like “Winter around the World” with an international food truck rally and performances, “Motown Love” with local vendors and an open mic, and “Mardi Gras.” Plus, all the events are free to attend. —R andiah Camille Green

Stay in a warm cabin

Escaping up north to a warm cabin in the middle of a snowy forest is one of the best things about living in

Michigan in winter; extra points if the cabin has a hot tub, sauna, or indoor fireplace here s just something about leaving your everyday life behind for a rustic one at least temporarily that warms the soul, especially after a day of skiing or hiking ou don t even have to go all the way to the pper eninsula to find a secluded cabin, although you totally should ichigan tate arks like righton ecreation rea, inckney ecreation rea, and ald ountain offer affordable rustic cabins and yurts not too far from metro etroit ou can reserve them through the ichigan epartment of Natural esources, though the online booking system leaves much to be desired, so you may want to just call the park instead ou can also find everything from swanky shipping container homes to geodesic domes and classic chalets on irbnb R andiah Camille Green

Rummage for a book from John King bookstore

here s nothing like co ying up to a good book in the winter, and there s no place uite like John ing sed are ooks in etroit to find a good read ith more than million books on multiple floors, you could spend an afternoon perusing the shelves nd the staff is super knowledgeable if you re looking for recommendations Chances are, you ll leave with a bo full of books and have reading material for the rest of the winter Steve N eavling

Warm up with video games at Barcade

tep out of the cold and into the past for a beer, some pub grub, and a large collection of classic arcade video games and pinball machines at arcade on elden treet hese classics are certain to warm you up with nostalgia, and it won t cost you a fortune he games are only cents to play arcade also has two do en beers on tap Steve N eavling

Snowshoeing at Belle Isle

popular destination in the summer, elle sle is etroit s island gem ut visitors often miss out on the serenity of elle sle in the winter ith trails that snake through the island s more hidden parts, the island offers plenty of opportunities for adventure in the snow Just slip on some snowshoes, and you re likely to spot some wildlife and beautiful, peaceful scenery Steve N eavling

Walk wintery acres of the Detroit Zoo

undle up and head to the etroit oo, where you ll find plenty to do he oo is open days a year, and many animals are active in the winter months, including gray wolves, tigers, camels, polar bears, red pandas, Japanese maca ues, bison, and wolverines here s also the olk enguin Conservation Center, one of the biggest habitats for penguins in the world inter is the perfect time to capture some wild-life photography nd if you want to get out of the cold, the oo also has many indoor areas to e plore Steve N eavling

Catch a flick

ou can enjoy an evening out without ever leaving your warm car at the ord yoming rive-in in earborn ith multiple screens, you ll have a variety of current movies to choose from every weekend during the winter he -year-old drive-in is a metro etroit staple ith radio and wifi streaming audio, you don t even have to open your window for an e ternal speaker Just pack your car full of snacks, drinks, pillows, and a blanket, and you re all set for a fun, warm evening Steve N eavling

Cross-country skiing in the U.P.

ome of the best cross-country ski trails in the nation are in the pper eninsula, where you ll never worry about a lack of snow in the winter he well-groomed trails wind through beautiful, serene landscapes ith trails for beginners to e perts, there s a fun snowscape for everyone ome wind past century-old lighthouses, waterfalls, and reat akes beaches Steve N eavling

Snow tubing at Rolling Hills

hrill seekers need to look no further than olling ills inter ark in psilanti for a winter-time staple snow tubing he -foot hill is large and steep enough to catch some breathtaking speeds he hill is fenced-in, and the bottom is flat, so your only concern is hanging on and having fun Need a place to warm up gas fireplace is available to the public Steve N eavling

Warm up at the Schvitz

here is no better time to spend a day at the chvit than when it s frigid and snowy outside etroit s only bathhouse is a warm oasis that will melt your fro en bones or , you can spend the whole day sweating it out as you go back and forth between the saunas and cold plunge rust us, dunking yourself in the cold pool feels ama ing and refreshing after a few minutes in the sauna, so don t skip it our body will warm up fast he chvit has fre uent food pop-ups, massage therapists, tarot readers, and estheticians for a full day of self-care Check before you go, as certain hours are designated for men or women only, with other times open to all genders he unday ladies-only brunch can get pretty lively, while weekdays offer a uieter and more meditative e perience R andiah Camille Green

Winter Blast and its ice rink are returning to Royal Oak.

Cozy up at a coffee shop

ind you a coffee shop with co y vibes, grab a hot drink, and chill ure you could do this at home, but sometimes you just need to get out of the house and be around other people e find we re more likely to hunker down and get work done or dig into a good book when we re at a coffee shop than at home, where it s easy to get distracted he Congregation in etroit is situated in a beautiful former church with a heated patio and open bonfires Cairo Coffee inside pot ite is another super chill spot, plus there s a record store on one side where you can do some crate digging ome of our other go-tos are ara Coffee ouse, lack Coffee Cafe, and he ed ook R andiah Camille Green

Take a winter hike

e know it s hard to find the motivation to get outside when the sun is nowhere to be seen for days, but going for a hike can actually ease the winter blues etting even the tiniest bit of vitamin from the sun and moving your body will boost your mood and help you feel less blah from being cooped up inside all day ith metro etroit s plethora of parks, you re spoiled for choice almer ark, ouge ark, aybury tate ark, inckney ecreation rea, and ensington etropark are some of our faves, but if you need more ideas, we ve got a whole slideshow dedicated to winter hiking spots R andiah Camille Green

Keep an eye out for the minks

hen it comes to fashion and style, etroiters might as well be ranch because they stay dressing eing well-dressed is not something that is reserved for the warmer months, and etroiters will stand out even in the cold weather hile some might opt for an l issam bomber or Carhartt duck jacket, there s nothing uite like fur season in etroit hether you re showing up for church on a snowy unday or hitting a uick two-step at loods, you are guaranteed to see someone in a mink coat with the match-

Try winter birdwatching

CLO U DS HU N G IN THE SK Y over elle sle on a chilly January morning as a crowd gathered to look for new friends birds ou never know what you re gonna see, so may the gods bless us today, etroit udubon volunteer van eutsch tells the eager group bundled up in hats and scarves irding may seem like a springtime activity, but etroit udubon hosts bird watching field trips throughout the winter season erhaps the gods were taking a uick nap when we met the group for a bird watching outing on that dreary day e were hoping to catch a glimpse of elle sle s majestic nesting eagles, which we ve seen on other occasions nstead, we saw a downy woodpecker jabbing at a tree in search of bugs tree full of what the group guessed were robins watched us as we walked past the lue eron agoon and onto the alph ilson ateway trail ven with binoculars, the gloomy overhang sometimes made it di cult to determine what e actly we were looking at Nevertheless, the group trudged on with anticipation hough winter can be hit or miss, it s a good reason to get outside instead of being cooped up in the house all winter lus, birding can be beneficial for your mental health efore we set off around the island to look for our winged friends, one attendee asked a burning uestion that had been on our minds, too ait, aren t birds supposed to fly south in the winter irds move where the food source is, so some don t migrate because they don t need to, eutsch, who is retired, tells us obins, for e ample, we always think about them as a classic one that goes south, but they can eat dried fruit, so some stay here nd some of the birds we ll see have migrated ome go from Canada to etroit , some just go miles down the road e adds that winter s bare trees make it easier to see bird nests inter is a great time to see eagles because the nest is huge and you can see them better in the barren trees, he tells us hese trees are great for the raptors because they can perch and find their ne t meal e don t spot eagles or any other raptors, or birds of prey, that day, but there are a few mallards swimming in the canals and a kestrel

eutsch carries a camera with a massive lens on our walk as he combines two of his hobbies, birding and nature photography e s only been part of etroit udubon for a year but has dabbled with bird watching since the early s dunno, just really dig nature, he tells us before stopping suddenly because he thought he heard a bird nearby fter glancing around briefly he returns to our conversation saying jokingly, uess didn t hear anything ust be the voices again irding is an activity that takes patience, time, and lots of curiosity, but it can be rewarding in the moments you spot a rare species or connect with like-minded folks irders are really passionate and interesting people, so really like coming out and talking to people who are so e cited to see an indigo bunting, says arah eterson, who became a etroit udubon member less than a year ago hen see someone who s years old jumping up and down and clapping because they just saw a bird that didn t know was rare, all of a sudden now m e cited too eterson tells us she s seen an osprey and a spotted sandpiper on the island before here s something really special about etroit s location with the etroit iver being this strait between two great lakes, she says t s also a major flyway o in this city that s very built up with lots of pavement most of the natural ecosystem has really been destroyed and taken away ut, especially along the river, it still e ists and birds can just fly over the sprawl, so it s just this fascinating way of knowing there s this larger natural world, even in a city eyond elle sle, etroit udubon has winter birding trips at locales like lmwood Cemetery, ensington etropark, ointe ouillee, and more hey provide binoculars, just make sure to dress in warm layers, listen, and look up s we wrap up the field trip, eutsch suggests a drive around the island in hopes of seeing the eagles, but after two hours of free ing in our boots, we decide to head home f you want to try finding the eagles yourself, check Central venue near the elle sle Center where their nest is No guarantees, though or more information and upcoming events, see detroitaudubon org R andiah Camille Green

Evan Deutsch and Sarah Peterson at a Detroit Audubon birdwatching trip on Belle Isle. ing hat ou might even walk into the etroit epartment of lections holiday party and witness a mink off etroiters love their furs and we love to see them here s a reason ittrich urs has been one of etroit s top fur suppliers since Alex W ashington

Try snowmobiling

ichigan has more than , miles of trails for snowmobilers to enjoy aven t yet had the pleasure he ichigan epartment of Natural esources announced a free snowmobiling weekend on eb and where it is temporarily suspending the re uirement for snowmobile registration and permits, the idea being to encourage e perienced snowmobilers to bring along friends to try it out for the first time Just remember to please drive carefully Lee DeV ito

Experience curling

e have to admit, we became absolutely entranced by the strange sport of curling while watching the inter lympics in eijing, where players slide stones across a sheet of ice toward a target, using tools to guide the stone s movement by subtly altering the surface of the ice ell, now we and you can try it out new million facility called the tadium in Novi bills itself as the only place in ichigan for the general public to try curling he , -s uare-foot facility includes si curling sheets he tadium is located at ile d , at the ountain alk mall ore information is available at novi thehubstadium com Lee DeV ito

Take a trip to Little Bavaria

rankenmuth is a great place to visit any time of the year, but it really shines in the winter o sledding in emorial ark, take a spin around the ice rink in ehnder ark, or check out the snow and ice sculptures at the ehnder nowfest later this month f you re looking for something warm to do, grab a chicken dinner at avarian nn estaurant or splash around at ehnder s plash illage indoor waterpark nd if you re looking for something on tap, grab a beer at rankenmuth rewery Alex W ashington

Indulge in comfort foods

ometimes all you want is a nice homecooked meal to make the winter blues disappear even if it s temporary hile your mom s soup might sound ama ing, you might not be in the mood to gather ingredients or cook for yourself ortunately for us, many etroit restaurants offer the feel good foods

Novi’s new HUB Stadium is the only place in Michigan where the general public can try curling.

of home without the exhausting meal prep. If you’re in the mood for soul food, head to Cornbread Restaurant & Bar (formerly Beans and Cornbread) or Urban Soul for all the feelings of grandma’s kitchen. If you need a vegan or vegetarian option, try out Seva or Detroit Vegan Soul. Or if you want to dive into a sweet escape, grab dessert from Good Cakes and Bakes, Cake Crumbs, or Detroit Cookie Co. —Alex W ashington

Attend a professional sporting event

To be a Detroiter means to be painstakingly loyal to our sports teams. But honestly, attending a professional sporting event in Detroit has little to do with the team and a lot to do with the experience of it all, especially at Little Caesars Arena. The arena has four restaurants inside and is within walking distance of a lot of great food and bar options. Check out a high energy Red Wings game or grab your best jewels in case you’re caught on the Pistons’ Ice Cam. Unfortunately the Detroit Lions season is over, but at least it ended on a great note by locking out the Green Bay Packers. —Alex W ashington

Drink around a bonfire at Detroit Shipping Co.

ho said bonfires are only for the summer and fall? At Detroit Shipping Company you can grab a bear and get co y by the fire f you start to get a little chilly, or just need something to eat, head inside the food hall to grab something from one of their vendors like Bangkok 96, Momo Cha,Coop Caribbean Chicken, Motorburger, and Halal Street. —Alex W ashington

Go fat tire biking

Pioneered in Alaska decades ago, fat tire biking, or snow biking, has caught on in Michigan in recent years. A fat tire bike’s four-inch tires can grip the snow, offering an opportunity for a winter workout. The trend really took off in ar uette in the pper eninsula, where many shops offer fat tire bike rentals that can be taken on miles of local trails. —Lee DeV ito

Listen to ‘It’s So Cold in the D’ unironically

Aspiring Detroit rapper T-Baby’s 2008 track “It’s So Cold in the D” went viral on the internet for all the wrong reasons — but there’s a reason we still love it here. It really is so friggin’ cold in the D, and at least this catchy earworm offers some comfort Lee DeV ito

Work out

Beach bods aren’t made in the summer — they’re forged in the winter. At least, that’s what we tell ourselves to motivate our ass to hit the gym. —Lee DeV ito

Warm up at a bar with a fireplace

Winter is literally why they (whoever they are invented fire here are a number of co y, cabin-es ue bars in metro Detroit where you can warm up to a wood-burning fireplace ur favorite is 3rd Street Bar (4626 Third St., Detroit). —Lee DeV ito

Use your porch as a second fridge

Another bright side to the cold weather: for a few months during the year your porch or garage can essentially double as a second refrigerator. Just make sure it’s not so cold that your beers will freeze, and be sure you bring in any food back inside in case the temperature swings above 40°F. Oh, and watch out for those pesky raccoons. —Lee DeV ito

Freeze for a cause with a Polar Plunge

Each year, the Law Enforcement Torch Run raises awareness and funds for the Special Olympics Michigan with a series of Polar Plunge events, where brave and generous participants raise funds to dive into icy waters. Detroit’s is scheduled for Friday, March 3 at Windmill Pointe Park in Grosse Pointe Park, where people will jump into the Detroit River for bragging rights — and a good cause. —Lee DeV ito

Hibernate

Sometimes you just gotta say fuck it and try again next month. Everything in nature takes time to recharge and renew. Some animals hibernate in the winter. Flowers, trees, and plants slow down in the colder months so they can flourish again in the spring ou can do the same — don’t let capitalism or FOMO fool you into thinking you always have to be active and productive. It’s OK to hole up at home with a hot cup of tea or a good ole Netfli binge on your ex’s account and enjoy your own company. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. —R andiah Camille Green