Many of us love the summertime because it’s when we get to go outside and take part in many of the activities that are synonymous with the season. From swimming and hiking to playing baseball and tennis, the summer is when the most fun and games happen. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun during the winter, though.

There are plenty of great games that you can really only get the best of when it’s chilly outside and snow on the ground. If you’re looking for a fun activity to help with those winter blues, here are the five best games that you can only play in the snow.

Sled Racing

If you try to bring out a sled in the middle of the summer, you’re not going to go very fast and may end up getting stuck in some mud while on a hill. During the wintertime, though, you can bust out the sleds and have races to see who can reach the bottom the fastest. It doesn’t have to be sleds, either, as inflatable tubes are just as fun and put a new twist on things thanks to their spinning nature.

To make things even more fun (and quite honestly, safer), you can have people go down a hill one at a time and use a stopwatch to check on who had the fastest time. You can make things even more fun and start a family tradition by giving a trophy to whoever had the fastest time over the winter season.

Snowball Fight

It wouldn’t be winter without a good old snowball war between two sides. What typically starts off as two people tossing snowballs at each other can quickly, well, snowball. Teams on each side can set up their own snow forts to keep themselves safe or even build trenches in the snow to simulate a full-out snow war.

There’s a lot of creativity that can go into a snowball fight, and once some people see that you’re having fun, they’re going to want to join in on the action. In some towns, you’ll see two sides made up of dozens of people throwing snowballs as far as they can at one another.

Snowman Building Competition

Another one of those staples of winter that people of all ages love is building a snowman. If there’s a big enough snowfall in your town, you can get really creative and build on a larger scale. You’re able to put your own unique spin on things since snow is easily manipulated and can take on just about any shape when packed tight.

During sporting events that happen in heavy snow, the seats tend to get a bit empty. For fun, the fans that ended up sticking around during a blizzard have made snowmen that take the spots of those that have departed the game early.

Tunnel Building

During the summertime, you may be able to make tunnels in the sand, but it might not work as well since sand doesn’t pack tight unless it’s wet. Snow tends to stay packed, and makes for much easier tunnel building.

It’s also a lot safer to build a tunnel out of the snow as you can make the roof of the tunnel just a couple of inches. If it collapses, you might just be wet and cold instead of in any serious danger. Try to make yourself a cozy little igloo shaped snow tunnel, but always practice caution.

Pond Hockey

Pond hockey is one of those things that truly feels special when you live in Canada or the northern part of the United States like Minnesota, Michigan, or Wisconsin. When ponds and lakes freeze over thanks to the snow and cold temperatures, it’s the perfect time to grab your skates and play a little hockey with your friends.

You don’t have to have NHL-level talent to enjoy pond hockey, as you just need some skates, a stick, and a puck. Even the nets can be imaginary designated areas. The best part about pond hockey is that, compared to baseball, you don’t need to leap over a fence to retrieve a lost puck (hopefully).

One of the best physical activities that you can do with your free time, mountain biking is also one of the most accessible due to the abundance of trails around the world. Some trails offer the best visual scenery, while others have great wildlife, and there are even some that offer up varying challenge levels for bikers.

If you’re planning your next mountain biking trip and want to visit some of the world’s best destinations, we have five that every biker needs to check out. While some are considered to only be for experts due to their difficulty, there are still parts of the trails that can be enjoyed by all. Without further ado, here are the five best mountain biking trails and what makes them so great.

Copper Harbor Trails 

Based in Copper Harbor, Michigan, Copper Harbor Trail offers a lot for thrill seekers and outdoor lovers. There are hiking trails, skiing in the colder months, mountain biking trails, and tons of lush Midwest forest scenery to enjoy. 

The mountain biking trails have downhill tracks, flow trails, cross-country, and technical options. They feature expert trails like the Black Diamond, as well as some beginner-level trails such as Little Loon, Moose on the Loose, and Chipmunk Run. Enjoy a day out with friends and family and get a taste of Michigan while you practice your mountain biking skills. 

Colorado Trail

The Colorado Trail is a 500-mile stretch of mountain biking goodness that is only able to be trekked throughout a small portion of the summer months when the snow melts and reveals a great trail for long distance mountain biking fanatics. 

The trail stretches from the town of Durango, Colorado to Littleton, Colorado right outside of Denver. The Colorado Trail features a path through an insanely gorgeous landscape, with glorious mountain ranges, flowing rivers, and national forests. It’s not a trail for beginners and is rated 9/10 in difficulty, so make sure you’re prepared and skilled enough to make the journey. 

Kingdom Trails

East Burke, Vermont is home to the Kingdom Trails. The trail comprises over 100 miles of lovely New England terrain and goes through many plots of land owned by locals who generously allow the trails to pass through. 

The Kingdom Trails have been in development for over 25 years and claim to be one of the first trails built and excavated for the purpose of mountain biking. It’s known for its incredible scenery, trail quality and options, and generous community that enables the trail to thrive. 

Moab

Rated the number one mountain biking activity trail by many, The Moab in Utah offers all you could want. Try out four-wheeling, ballooning, bird watching, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and of course mountain biking. 

The views are to die for and the trails are some of the best in the country. There are over 100 tracks that range from easy to difficult. Great for families looking to enjoy the Utah landscape, or masters of their craft wanting to challenge themselves. The National Ability Center ensures even those with limited mobility can enjoy the activities. 

Pisgah

Located within the Pisgah Forest in Transylvania County in North Carolina, the Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventures has some of the country’s best biking trails. They are a locally owned mountain bike guide company, offering private and personalized guided mountain biking trips.

Perfect for those who want to venture out into the mountain biking scene, but are hesitant to do so alone. The beautiful North Carolina scenery will be enough to make you want to sign up for a trek through the different trails within the lush forest. It’s a safer and more reliable option for those who aren’t familiar with the mountain biking trail scene but still want to enjoy it. 

Every single day has a sunrise and a sunset, but not everyone has the opportunity to make these into daily events that we get to appreciate. There are few things that have the same natural beauty as a sunrise or sunset, so making the most out of them can be a great benefit to your health and happiness.

Instead of sleeping through every sunrise or working through every sunset, try to enjoy them as much as you can on a daily basis. If you’re lacking ideas on how to do that, we have some tips. 

Here are five ways in which you can make the most out of each sunrise and sunset.

Photography and Art 

A couple of creative ways to make the most of the sunrise and/or sunset is by using them as artistic inspiration. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to capture the beauty of the change of night into day or day into night. Though, if you have a quality camera, the pictures will come out more stunning. 

The sunrise or sunset in the background will make average scenery intensely beautiful and make already gorgeous scenery more jaw-dropping. If photography isn’t your thing, you can paint your own picture and capture the vibrant, or mellow colors a sunrise, or sunset can produce. 

Get Romantic

The sunrise and sunset are relatively quick and stunning daily occurrences, giving you plenty of opportunities to plan something wonderfully romantic during that time, but you have to plan it properly if you don’t want to miss it. 

Sunrises pair well with early morning breakfasts at the beach, an open-air breakfast joint, or a hotel balcony after a fun overnight stay. Sunsets are best enjoyed by a fire pit, at a romantic dinner spot with a view, waterside, or even cozied up on your backyard patio. 

Correct Your Circadian Rhythm and Exercise

Waking when the sun rises is something our bodies naturally crave. Certain physical, mental, and behavioral changes take effect within the daily 24-hour cycle that makes up our circadian rhythm. Biologically, humans, like most creatures, are predisposed to respond to changes in light and dark. 

Waking up when the sun first peeks out can help adjust your body to the proper wake and sleep cycle it needs to work more efficiently. Exercising within that time can be a healthy addition to your morning routine as well. It keeps your body limber and your mind focused and ready to take on the day. 

Enjoy Them By the Beach 

Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful in their own right, but one thing that enhances their beauty tenfold is the beach. No matter the time of year, if you’re down to take a trip to the beach or any large body of water, it would be a fantastic way to enjoy the dewy sunrise and vibrant sunset. 

You could book a room by the beach so you can take in the sights from the comfort of a waterside room.  Or maybe plan an early morning, or late night trip to your destination of choice to catch the sunrise or sunset. 

Have A Bonfire 

Bonfires are a fun and chill way to end a long day. You don’t have to save them for special occasions either. Plan a summer cookout, a cozy fall evening, or perhaps a refreshing spring evening after being cooped up inside all winter. 

Throw a little get together, invite friends and family, get the kids in on it, make s’mores, share laughs, and have a great time relaxing by a fire at sunset. Don’t forget to take plenty of pictures of the sunset while you’re at it. That feeling of seeing the bright colors and being surrounded by people you care about the most will spark a lot of joy in your life.

No two escape rooms are exactly the same, with some being very tame and aimed at beginners while others are so extreme that you have to sign a waiver. Hardcore escape room fans have likely seen the most extreme options in their area, so if you fall in this category and want to branch out for a road trip, there are some escape rooms that will test your patience and sanity.

These escape rooms have insanely low success rates and offer outside factors that will have you hitting the panic button faster than you think. If you’re brave enough, check out these five most extreme escape rooms for only the most hardcore fans.

The Basement (Los Angeles, California)

This escape room is not for the faint of heart. The Basement, located in Los Angeles, California, features a devilish escape room where participants have been kidnapped by the cannibalistic serial killer, Edward Tandy. 

Set in his dead mother’s home, the sadistic, flesh-hungry, and psychotic Tandy gives you clues to help solve the scavenger hunt like puzzles to aid in your escape. The room has a slim 12.5% success rate with extreme difficulty and cryptic clues. Once you’ve collected all of the items, you can escape the crazy Tandy and breathe a sigh of relief. 

The Torture Chamber (Elk Grove, California)

The Torture Chamber in Elk Grove, California paints a grizzly picture. You and your team are trapped inside the torture chamber of notorious serial killer, the American River Killer. He’s killed before and you’re his next set of victims. The previous victim used her last bit of strength to leave clues and hints to aid in your escape. 

The sadistic killer has left for exactly 60 minutes and you must utilize every minute and every tool, no matter how small and unassuming, to help you escape before you suffer the same fate as the others. 

The 13th Gate Escape (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Voted the #1 escape room in the US, The 13th Gate Escape in Baton Rouge, Louisiana features a great selection of rooms with differing themes, difficulties, and fear factors. Like the Tomb of Anubis, Death Row, and Cutthroat Cavern. One of the most notable is the terrifying Asylum Room, with intermediate difficulty and an extreme fear factor. 

The haunting story behind the room is surrounded by death. Dr. Victor Delacroix is said to have performed sickening experiments on patients of the Avery Island Asylum, a tuberculosis hospital in the early 1900s. After his death, the hospital of horrors was shut down, but mysterious and haunting activities still go on inside the tattered walls. You and your team go check it out and you’re all trapped inside. You must work to escape within the 60-minute time frame.  

Bates Motel Escape Rooms (West Chester, Pennsylvania)

Based on the fictional Bates Motel series, this escape room in West Chester Pennsylvania brings it all to life. They feature detailed rooms, with CGI, lighting, and sound effects. Along with mysterious hidden doorways and clues that require attentiveness and critical thinking. If you manage to pull it together in the 60 minutes you have to figure out the puzzle room, you and your team can escape unscathed.  

Trap Door Escape Room’s ‘Fear The Bogeyman’ (Bartonsville, Pennsylvania)

Located in Bartonsville Pennsylvania, Fear The Bogeyman escape room features you and your team playing as paranormal investigators seeking the whereabouts of children abducted by the Bogeyman. The intense action will make it challenging to keep your wits about you for the 60 minutes you have to solve the puzzles and save the unfortunate souls taken by the mysterious entity who is actually in there with you. It takes the fear factor to another level and makes this escape room a must. 

When you think about mountain biking in its purest form, singletrack biking comes to mind. This is when you’re riding on a trail that’s just big enough for a bike, with those paths that look like just one wheel has ridden through repeatedly. There’s no better way to get more in touch with nature on a mountain bike than singletrack riding, but there can be some drawbacks to this old-school method of riding.

Before you set out to the mountains or forests to try your hand at singletrack riding, there are some things that you need to know. Here are the pros and cons of singletrack mountain biking:

Pros

Great Test For Advanced Riders

Perhaps the best test of anybody’s abilities with a mountain bike is to take it onto a singletrack trail. Because of the attention that bikers need while riding on singletrack, it’s the ultimate physical and mental test out there. You’ll also have to keep a good flow to make sure that you’re not in anybody’s way, meaning that you’re being pushed by the best singletrack bikers out there, as well.

Eco Friendly

Singletrack riders are all in agreement about one thing, and that’s keeping the ecosystem of the trails intact. The International Mountain Bicycling Association calls these the “rules of the trail” and they are very specific about maintaining nature while also being able to ride through it. The rule in place is called “leave no trace,” which means that only certain tires should be used to not disrupt the soil, and standing water has to be ridden through or walked around so as to not create a new bike path. Of course, littering is strictly forbidden, too.

Fantastic Workout

While mountain biking itself is a tremendous workout, singletrack biking takes it up a notch. Not only do the elevation changes combine both cardio and strength training, but you’ll also be getting off of the bike more times than you think. That’s because there are some natural obstacles for singletrack trails, so you’ll be hopping off to pick up your bike every now and then when a log or standing water gets in the way. 

Cons

Sharing = Slowdowns

There isn’t room for two-way traffic on singletrack, and even one-way singletrack can get clogged up. These are shared trails, so you’ll have plenty of people coming from the other direction, causing congestion where someone will have to stand to the side and let the other pass. Even when people are going the same way as you, an inexperienced biker can go extra slow, causing a jam in the flow of bike traffic.

Trailside Dangers

Because the trails are so narrow for singletrack, you’re going to be rubbing elbows with a lot of hazards to your left and right. Trees, of course, are the most inherent danger for any singletrack rider. There are also loose branches, bushes that can catch your handlebars, rocks, and much more. Even for more hilly or mountainous terrains, there might not be much leeway to either side that can cause a serious fall.

Bad Place For Breakdowns

Singletrack tends to take you on trails that are a little more remote and don’t leave much walking room outside of the trail itself. Because of this, a mechanical issue with a bicycle can be devastating. If you blow a tire or steering becomes an issue of any kind, you’ll have to carry your bike on the trail the rest of the way. This means you’ll be on the lookout for other bikers so that you can avoid getting hit all while lugging around a broken bicycle.

Now you know a little bit about what to expect when going singletrack biking for the first time. If you’re still up for the challenge, it’s a great way to meet new people and make the most out of your biking experience.