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Friluftsliv Travel Ideas Just in Time for Winter You may not be able to say it three times fast—or even once—but friluftsliv (free-loofts-liv) has arrived just in time to save winter vacation plans. With temperatures dropping, days growing shorter and COVID-19 showing no signs of abating, those who made the best of a bad situation this summer—embracing outdoor activities that allowed them to spend time with friends and family while staying safe—are facing a long winter ahead. Enter friluftsliv, a Norwegian concept that translates literally to ‘free air life’ and describes Scandinavians’ determination to celebrate the great outdoors no matter what the weather brings. All it takes is a few extra layers and the right attitude. So bundle up, pack extra socks, remember to socially distance and get back out there with these great ideas for friluftsliv-ing in style:
New York’s Westchester County abounds in cold-weather outdoor adventures just a short drive from the big city. Fall and winter visitors might start with a brisk hike at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, with its 15 miles of trails by lakes, forests and meadows, then warm up with a sweet or hard cider at historic Thompson’s Cider Mill right next door. After a snowfall, grab a hearty farm-to-table breakfast or lunch to go from The Kitchen Table in Pound Ridge and enjoy it tailgate-style (bring blankets to keep things cozy) before cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or sledding at the 4,315-acre Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Or, head a few miles south to Armonk for ice skating and ice fishing on Wampus Pond. Note: a new Westchester With Care program helps travelers easily identify hotels, restaurants, and attractions that have pledged to keep the community and its visitors in good health. 32 www.travelerandtourist.com
