The Ins & Outs of Ohio Winters
Enjoying the Indoor AND Outdoor Lights, Sights, and Activities
First, the good news. It’s Winter! I’m so excited that it’s here!
Did you celebrate the Winter Solstice? I did. Well, actually I was at a Cavs game - but it was warm and bright in there. 🎉
While winter officially arrived in the wee hours Saturday morning, December 22 is the first full day of winter. So what do we have to be excited about? More light!
Light Up Your Life
Even tiny extra slices of sunlight cheer me. Over the past couple of months I’ve tried to walk a little while in the morning light and then squeeze a few more rays into the end of each day. Science says it’s good for you!1
Although I’m a big fan of getting outside, I’m not a fan of cold weather. So, I tell myself that a short (sometimes very short!) hike is perfectly acceptable, and that any fresh air is better than no fresh air. Also, while time in nature is proven to elevate both your mood and your physical health, just getting a change of scenery is good for you, too.
So, especially during crummy weather, it’s fun to find bright indoor attractions that you can walk to and get some fresh air.2 Below are a few I’ve enjoyed lately. I’d love to hear about your favorites!
Indoor + Outdoor Activities
Cleveland’s Rockefeller Park Greenhouse is a great place to enjoy a short walk outside and a warm, colorful change of scenery inside. From the parking lot, you can easily walk along MKL Boulevard to marvel at the city’s impressive cultural gardens. But if the weather’s icky? Just strolling through the lovely greenhouse feels like an outing. Here are a few pics from a recent visit.
If you’re willing to take a longer walk outdoors, Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, about a mile north of the Greenhouse, offers views of the city skyline and our mesmerizing Great Lake.
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes is another excellent destination with indoor/outdoor options: Short nature trails surround the cozy nature center, and educational displays inside focusing on local plants and animals provide a refreshing change of scenery (in a lovely, climate-controlled setting). Local Art is always on display on the upper level of the Nature Center.
Speaking of art…
Ohio’s art museums are big, brightly-lit spaces specializing in beautiful indoor scenery. My advice: go to one!
Wander Through an Art Museum
The Canton Museum of Art is open until 8pm three nights a week - during the winter, that’s about 3 hours after darkness has fallen over Ohio. The Akron Art Museum is open late every Thursday, as are both the Columbus and Cincinnati art museums. The Cleveland Museum of Art is open until 9pm most Friday nights.
(As of December 26, Great Lakes Science Center is open on Thursdays until 8pm!)
One current display, Night Visions: Nocturnes in American Art from the CMA Collections, is romp through color and, ironically, light through the lens of darkness.
BTW: Seasonal Affective Disorder More Than “Just” Feeling SAD
“Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression triggered by a change in seasons, usually when fall starts.” — Cleveland Clinic medically reviewed article, 2021
I think it’s important to realize that while a lot of folks may be generally bummed on very gray days, SAD is a form of depression - one that affects an estimated 5% of the general population. Whether you’re clinically affected or just generally “blah,” there are practical, non-prescription methods you can employ to boost your emotional state.
(If you’ve tried to buck the blahs and still feel depressed, consider seeking professional help.)
Some of those methods include physical activity, light therapy, changing your scenery and habits and upping your vitamin D3 intake.
Which brings me back to hiking. Or at least being purposeful about getting outside. I’m compiling a few 🥾🥾 Short hikes for cold days + SAD-busting indoor spots to share on my Facebook Page, and have pasted one below. ⤵️ download and share! ⤵️
❄️❄️ Thanks so much for reading! And have a Happy Winter! ❄️❄️
~ Diane
If, some days, you decide that means just walking from the edge of the parking lot, that’s OK.