Brown County’ s Winter in the Woods takes place January 12 through 14, 2018. You can enjoy both indoor and outside activities sure to lift your spirits and beat those winter blues.
Winter Bliss Wellness Retreat takes place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 12, 13, and 14, at the Abe Martin Lodge. Reflect, refresh, and re-center in the new year at this unique event. Winter Bliss is a mind, body, spirit exploration retreat that absorbs the senses, the mind, and the creative spirit through poetry, movement, yoga, drumming, art, and meditation.
Partake of any, or all of the dozen or so Winter Bliss offerings. 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 7:30 p. m. to 9:45 p. m.— Drum and Dance Circle, Somatic Meditation, and Gong Bath. Winter Bliss tickets and information can be found at < eventbrite. com / e / winterbliss-wellness-retreat-2018- tickets-39381977555 > 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 13, hikers can travel along one of two selfguided trails through the park, ranging in distance from 2.75 to 3.5 miles. DNR interpreters will greet hikers 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 Brown County YMCA’ s Frosty Trails 5 Mile race begins at 1:00 p. m. on Saturday, January 13, 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. signmeup. com / site / onlineevent-registration / 123116 >.
For a complete Winter in the Woods experience, check out other great Brown County originals including“ Feasting in the Woods,” a progressive dinner through Nashville;“ Bourbon Experience” at Bear Wallow Distillery,“ Sippin’ Trip” to wineries, breweries, and distilleries;“ Birding on Salt Creek Trail,”“ Yoga on Tap” at Big Woods,“ Deep Forest De-Stress” art and aromatherapy at the Bird’ s Nest Cafe; and“ Swingin’ in the Woods,” a swing dance lesson and appetizers at Out of the Ordinary.
For more information on Winter in the Woods, please visit < WinterInTheWoods. com > or call the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau at( 812) 988-7303. •
58 Our Brown County • Jan./ Feb. 2018