Looking for something a little different to do this winter? How about combining skiing with horses or maybe sampling cheese with some nuns? Here are a few quirky and unusual winter activities of North America that will make you rethink fun in the snow!
World Ski Joring Championship
When: January 25-26
Where: Whitefish, Montana, about 60 miles south of the Canadian border
Ski joring is a wild winter activity that involves skiers being pulled at breakneck speeds by horse or mule teams. Slalom gates, curves, and jumps abound on the 800-foot long, horseshoe-shaped track. Spills, thrills, and speed are the order of the day. The event takes place in advance of the annual Winter Carnival held each February.
Winter Wolf Spotting
Where: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park
When: Tours are available on select dates December through March
Enter into a remote territory and see the elusive Yellowstone wolves in action. Guided tours take you through their hunting grounds where they stalk elk and bison. The heavy blanket of snow makes the wolves more visible to visitors. Be advised that the north entrance near Gardiner, Montana is the only section opened the wheeled traffic during the winter months.
La Massif de Charlevoix
When: December through March
Where: Petite-Riviere-Saint-Francois, Quebec
Designed by Cirque de Soleil co-founder Daniel Gauthier, this Canadian ski resort is anything but ordinary. It boasts the highest skiable vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies, and trails that seem to disappear into the St. Lawrence River. Regional cuisine, local cheese makers, and a hotel run by nuns from a neighboring convent all combine to make this a unique and memorable trip.
