Winter is fun, no matter how old I get, when that first big snowfall comes, I feel excitement, goose bumps, it makes me want to bake something. Perhaps because as a child our first snowfalls were typically before Christmas and if there was a snow day mom and I would bake cookies for Christmas. Although it is many years later, winter is still a season of fun and activity. It is a good time to be outside, if you dress for the weather, and pace yourself, it can be very enjoyable.
Quiet Sports in winter are fun. Riverview, just up the road on HWY 32 has an ice skating rink. You can bring your ice skates, or borrow some used ones right there and bring the family for an afternoon of ice skating.
Lakewood Cross Country Ski Course off of Old HWY 32 is a great place to try cross country skiing or bring the family and your skiis and enjoy 22 kilometers of cross country skiing fun. Runs range from beginning to advanced. Maps are available at Spur of the Moment Ranch or at the course. Cross Country Skis rental is available at Lakewood Ski and Sport in Lakewood, WI (715)-276-3071. Please call ahead for rentals. 
There are many opportunities to snowshoe in the Nicolet National Forest. Again snowshoes can be rented from Lakewood Ski and Sport in Lakewood, WI. (715) 276-6802. Please call ahead for rentals. Skating, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing are great winter sports for the whole family, or for a friends getaway. To make your getaway complete, enjoy our winter getaway special at Spur of the Moment Ranch – Stay one night full price, next night is half price over and over again until the end of April.
Motor Sports also make winter fun. Many people enjoy snowmobiling, and the main Nicolet Trail, a super highway of snowmobiling is directly accessible from Spur of the Moment Ranch. From our door you can snowmobile almost anywhere in the northwoods. Bring up your machines, park them at your cabin door, and leave from there to enjoy a weekend of full of adventure and fun. Don’t have a snowmobile but want to rent contact http://www1.explorewisconsin.com/americanmarine/rentals.asp in Shawano. Perhaps you don’t want to ride but want to come and enjoy the snowmobile drag races. Watch our website for places and dates in the new year.
The Patient Sport – Ice Fishing, occurs on nearly all of our 58 lakes in Oconto County in the winter. My grandson, Brennan loved ice-fishing when he visited us in the winter. Watch for the posting of the many ice fishing derbies that take place on our lakes throughout the winter. Again, you can choose to watch or participate. It is definitely something to experience once in your life. 