S NOW MOB I LI NG
GET YOUR
MOTOR RUNNIN’
New Hampshire takes its snowmobiling seriously.
Just how seriously? For starters, you’ll find 6,000
miles of trails crisscrossing the state. That’s a
dizzying array of choices, but you can’t go wrong
if you head straight for the craggy, rugged peaks of
the White Mountains, New Hampshire’s premier
outdoor playground.
In the town of North Conway, the experts at
NORTHERN EXTREMES (877-722-6748;
northernextremessnowmobiling.com) offer
guided tours—the perfect option for first-timers.
Their three-hour snowmobile tour combines speed
and power with stunning pastoral scenery. You’ll
race through miles of fresh powder in open meadows, with the dramatic snowcapped peak of Mount
Washington towering overhead.
Rentals are available for experienced drivers; the
friendly staff can even arrange a vehicle-and-lodging
package for you if you’d like a longer, independent
adventure. The company’s fleet of state-of-the-art
snowmobiles even has heated hand warmers on every
vehicle to keep you toasty.
With its vast, pristine backcountry, New York
State’s ADIRONDACK REGION is another paradise for snowmobilers. Its extensive trail system winds
through deep forests, rolling hills and massive gorges.
Check hamiltoncounty.com for links to trail maps,
rental shops, local snowmobile clubs and snowmobile-friendly accommodations.
Ice skating at Rockefeller
Plaza is New York City’s
quintessential outdoor
winter experience.
THE BIG APPLE ON ICE
Sure, THE RINK AT ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
ICE SKATING
(212-332-7654; rockefellercenter.com) is tiny, but it has an
outsized reputation: Every December, millions of TV viewers
see skaters waltzing around the rink beneath the glow of the
towering Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Even if it’s not
the holiday season, there’s something magical about this postage stamp of a playground nestled beneath Midtown Manhattan’s most celebrated complex of art deco skyscrapers.
After your skating session, head into the lobby of 30
Rockefeller Center, where elevators will whisk you to the
70th-floor Top of the Rock observation deck. There you’ll
be rewarded with a sweeping 360-degree panorama over
New York City’s wintry skyline.
More spacious than the Rockefeller Center rink and
slightly removed from the bustle is WOLLMAN RINK
(212-439-6900; wollmanskatingrink.com), which occupies
a glorious setting in the southernmost part of Central Park.
This lovely outdoor rink offers plenty of room for romantic
couples to glide around the ice hand in hand.
