what do y’all do in the winter?

Submitted by tracymartel_atemyson t3_10x6plg in newhampshire

I moved to southern NH (Nashua area) from Florida and I am getting used to the differences but I am having a hard time finding things to do that don’t drain the bank account. I have a weak stomach/ a moral dilemma when it comes to things like fishing or hunting. I enjoyed trying snowboarding but it’s pretty pricey to make a consistent thing at this moment for me. i’m probably not helping but any suggestions would be awesome!

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Icy-Neck-2422 t1_j7qjmzz wrote

Hiking 100%. Good boots and bundle up. There are plenty of short "almost impossible to get in trouble" hikes around your neck of the woods.

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procrastinatorsuprem t1_j7r5a19 wrote

Look up South East Land Trust trails. Very easy to get started with.

Explore NH. Portsmouth, Exeter, Meredith, Wolfborough, Littleton. Hanover, Peterborough, North Conway, Jackson and Lincoln are all great towns to visit. I'd also say NH restaurants are amazing.

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01Zaphod t1_j7sv8io wrote

Just a piece of advice: if you’re a novice hiker, try to go with someone in case you get into trouble. Even easy trails can have pitfalls, and if you break something it’s good to be with someone who can help you.

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nowhereman1223 t1_j7qjyyl wrote

Hiking and Indoor stuff.

If you want to snowboard, find the deals on season passes near the end of summer beginning of fall.

Pick a smaller mountain/hill and it can be quite fairly priced.

Cross Country skiing is also quite popular.

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katspresso t1_j7u8u1c wrote

These are great suggestions. OP, cross country skiing is a great option. Full disclosure: I am not a skier. My husband loves it, though. He got second hand gear-very affordable-and has found a ton of trails to use.

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nowhereman1223 t1_j7ub15y wrote

I also forgot about Snow Shoeing. Another fun thing to do that requires an initial equipment purchase and that's about it.

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schtroumpf t1_j800l7j wrote

Yeah not only is xc skiing equipment cheaper, but lots of towns maintain their own trails free to use (Conway is an example) and schools with teams often allow the public to use their trails when not using them for training/meets

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DimLug t1_j7qwq57 wrote

If you don't like killing animals (which I totally understand) you can always do catch-and-release for fishing.

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BlackJesus420 t1_j7r6rqw wrote

Birding is fun! Lots of odd ducks (literally) come down from the arctic during the winter to our coastal waters. It’s also a great activity year-round, obviously.

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wojtekthesoldierbear t1_j7s8ixb wrote

We had a pink footed goose recently show up in Durham. Got all us waterfowlers excited.

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tracymartel_atemyson OP t1_j7ralr1 wrote

never would I have thought about this option but I appreciate it!

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schillerstone t1_j7v73tt wrote

I highly recommend the Merlin app for your phone where you can log your sightings on your "life list." It's 🆒😎

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1WantT0Bel1eve t1_j7qmwp5 wrote

Snowshoeing, fatbiking, indoor hobbies.

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Loosh_03062 t1_j7qw3l9 wrote

Other than homebody type stuff, if you're a musician there are a bunch of community bands in the region which are almost always looking for fresh blood, even if it's someone who needs to blow the dust out of their instrument. If we were having a normal winter there'd be cross country skiing and snowshoeing within easy reach.

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ChipHazard17 t1_j7rq3mt wrote

Pair of skates and a hockey stick- good fun

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Bianrox t1_j7qpvjy wrote

If you liked snowboarding you could get a season pass next winter, epic passes have made skiing/riding very affordable. Good time to buy used gear is the spring on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. Good luck!

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InNh_LeaveUsAlone t1_j7qw19y wrote

Hiking some good boots and micro spikes. Also drinking some beers around a fire outside.

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59000beans t1_j7r0isv wrote

Snowshoeing, indoor rock climbing, hiking. Check out the local papers like the "Hippo" for other events going on.

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Jake_H15 t1_j7r6sxs wrote

Classic cross country skiing is incredibly cheap if you buy older used equipment

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ForklkftJones t1_j7ra66i wrote

Catch and release fishing, walking around the mall or Walmart like a weirdo, disc golf, I got a list of all the waterfalls near me and went to see most of them, and Chunky's has a decent matinee price.

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wojtekthesoldierbear t1_j7s7wfq wrote

Any chance you'd firm up the constitution regarding hunting and fishing? Because it is an absolute banger up here.

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jgren91 t1_j7s97up wrote

I sit and twiddle my thumbs. I ride motorcycles so from November to late March I wait.

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603Electrical t1_j7s0a6p wrote

Work on my motorcycles and wait for spring

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[deleted] t1_j7s5cuh wrote

Cross country skiing is really fun just stick to trails But if your more adventurous try finding some little backcountry down hill runs on them it’s really exciting

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Hunterslane86 t1_j7t1b2t wrote

If you like board games, there's alot of gaming stores around that do meetups. I found one in Hooksett thats very chill.

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Tackysackjones t1_j7u1req wrote

dungeons and dragons? rewatching all of star trek? lifting weights? learning how to put bacon on everything?

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Emptyplates t1_j7u9iu7 wrote

Hiking when I can. Giving snowshoes a try this year. Curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a book.

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[deleted] t1_j7ug0cj wrote

Disc golf. It gets harder in the winter, but it’s completely doable. It’s a cheap activity to get started in and most disc golf courses are free. You just have to dress for the weather and possibly have micro spikes for icy conditions.

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Seahearn4 t1_j7uq5xy wrote

Indoor soccer - There are adult leagues in Bedford and Derry. Derry also has basketball leagues, as do many YMCA's.

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Seahearn4 t1_j7uqj7i wrote

Pick up the free papers like The Hippo. There's lots of different activities.

Also, check out the library (-ies?) and the city's recreation website. There's usually different things posted in those places..

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OccasionallyImmortal t1_j7v32h5 wrote

Things we like to do:

  • Ski. Lift tickets and rentals are expensive, but smaller mountains can be done for ~$100/day. Having your own gear is cheaper (and more comfortable) long term. Some places do seasonal rentals with inexpensive options to buy at the end.
  • Find walkable towns. I love drinking hot coffee outside on cold days while wandering in and out when it gets too cold. You don't have to buy anything, but you can find new interests.
  • Hiking. It's warmer than you think.
  • Photography. It doesn't require fancy gear. Use your phone. Get close up, take photos of friends, create weird scenes.
  • Walking on ice. Potentially dangerous if you don't know the lake, but some parks allow/semi-encourage it and ice fishing huts are a good sign.
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Doug_Shoe t1_j7vaqbg wrote

I like to go hiking and remote camping.

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Neighborhood_Lesbian t1_j7vbepv wrote

Rock climbing is also an option, there's a gym in Nashua and one in Manchester, memberships aren't that expensive (comparatively to snowboarding). And bouldering is a fun option if you don't have anyone to go with

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Squidsandwich762 t1_j7w7t9b wrote

Ice fishing, lots of books, hunting, guitar playing and puppy cuddles.. Most of which are relatively inexpensive..

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Lurk_Real_Close t1_j7x4rr9 wrote

Check out the programs offered by your local library or town recreation department. These will typically be affordable and local. Try a bunch of stuff and maybe you’ll find something you like or make new friends.

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here_f1shy_f1shy t1_j7z6gxv wrote

  1. Really any excuse to get in the woods.

In winter for me it's looking for Chaga and Moose Antler Sheds.

  1. Make some friends that boil maple syrup. That is about to be full swing and really fun with a couple of buddies.

  2. ALOT of lakes get parts cleared off so you can ice skate around them. So find a lake where you can go ice skating on.

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Puzzleheaded-Row-511 t1_j7uspzr wrote

We ride sleds or quads. I shoot stuff. Get a fire going and just hangout. I can see how that might be weird for someone from Florida, but for us being out in the cold is normal.

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