Shake off your cabin fever at Brown County’ s Winter in the Woods, January 13 through 15, 2017. Enjoy several activities, both indoors and outside, that are sure to lift your spirits and beat those winter blues.
Winter Bliss Wellness Retreat takes place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 13, 14, and 15, at the Abe Martin Lodge. Reflect, refresh, and recenter in the new year at this unique event. From yoga and sacred dance to art and meditative movement, Winter Bliss is a mind, body, spirit exploration retreat that absorbs the senses, the mind, and the creative spirit.
Partake of any or all of the dozen or so Winter Bliss offerings including Laughter Yoga, NIA, Mindfulness, Watercolor Weaving, and Sound Healing. Registration fee covers all workshops. Food and lodging are extra. Besides workshops, there are cozy spots by the fire, woodland walks, a healing room, and a heated indoor pool on site. There’ s also a restaurant at the lodge. A FREE portion of the retreat is open to the public on Saturday evening from 8:15 p. m. to 9:45 p. m.— a performance by Wholenotes, a seven-piece soundhealing ensemble designed to soothe and refresh your body and spirit. Winter Bliss tickets and information can be found at < www. winterbliss. org > and through the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau at( 317) 501-9000.
Meanwhile, for those wanting to get out and enjoy the fresh winter air, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so. Experience Winter in the Woods firsthand during a Winter Hike in the Brown County State Park.
On Saturday, January 14, hikers can travel along one of two self-guided trails through the park, ranging in distance from 2.75 to 3.5 miles. DNR interpreters will greet hikers
Winter in the Woods
~ by Paige Langenderfer
with winter wildlife facts along the way and s’ mores and hot chocolate will be provided by Local Boy Scout Troop 190 for a tasty hiker pick-me-up. The cost for this event is $ 1 plus Park gate fees. The hike begins at 9 a. m.
The 3.5-mile hike will begin at the Nature Center. Hikers begin on a closed park road past breathtaking Hohen point, into Strahl Valley, then around Lake Strahl. The 2.75-mile hike will begin at the park’ s Recreation Building and proceed through Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve, around Lake Ogle and return to the Recreation Building.
Both before and after the Winter Hike, food will be served at the Little Gem Restaurant at the Abe Martin Lodge. Hikers can enjoy Breakfast with the Naturalists beginning at 7 a. m., as well as a Hiker’ s Lunch Buffet from 11 a. m. to 2 p. m.
For those looking for a little more exhilarating winter adventure, there will be a challenging 5.2 mile trail run( or walk) along the scenic trails of the Brown County State Park. The Frosty Trails 5 Mile race begins at 10:30 a. m. on Saturday, January 14, at the park’ s Lower Shelter. After the run, participants are welcome to warm up in the shelter house with food, drinks, and a fire. For more information, or to register, visit < www. intimeco. com / frostytrails >. For a complete Winter in the Woods experience, check out other great Brown County originals.
Learn how to create the perfect winter drink at“ Warm Up with Whiskey Cocktail Class” on Saturday, January 14 at Out of the Ordinary. Participants will learn how to make a couple different winter cocktails using Bear Wallow Distillery’ s bourbon. The class starts at 3:30 p. m. and should last about an hour. The $ 25 registration fee includes appetizers, instruction, materials, and a glass to take home with you. There will be a free swing dancing class following Warm Up With Whiskey at 5:30 p. m.
Spend Saturday afternoon enjoying art, aromatherapy, and tea in the heart of the Village at The Deep Forest De-Stress. Stop by anytime between 2 p. m. and 5 p. m. for fireside crafts, free tea samples and more.
For more information on Winter in the Woods, please visit < browncountywinterhike. com > or call the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau at( 812) 988-7303.•