SIOUX CITY | There's nothing more exhilarating than a hike in the woods in the wintertime, according to Dawn Snyder, Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center education program director.
"I love being outdoors in general," she said. "It doesn't matter if you're snowshoeing, hiking or bird-watching, the best way to get rid of cabin fever is get out of the house in the winter."
Sioux City Parks and Recreation recreation supervisor Eric Griffith shares the same sentiment.
"I don't like being cooped up since there's so much to do in the wintertime," he said. "If nothing else, I love going on a nature hike when it's cold outside."
And where are the best trails in the city? According to Griffith, he thinks they're actually inside municipal cemeteries.
"They're always well-maintained, peaceful and you never have to fight the crowds," he said. "Cemeteries are an underutilized part of our parks department."
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If cemeteries are a bit too macabre for your tastes, Griffith said any of Sioux City's parks provide a picturesque backdrop for people wanting a little cold-weather activity.
Just be patient following a big snowfall.
"Our snowplows have designated snow routes that they have to follow," Griffith explained. "It may take a day or two before the parks are plowed, but it will get done."
Areas that benefit from snowfall are the hills surrounding Grandview and Sertoma Parks, which are great destinations for sledding.
Likewise, the tubing hill at Hillview Recreation Area (one mile north of Hinton, Iowa) and the cross country skiing trail at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve (located two miles southwest of McCook Lake S.D., off of I-29) provides plenty of fun for adrenaline junkies.
On the other hand, Snyder said the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center can be more serene.
"Many people prefer to rent a pair of snowshoes and just experience the nature at Stone State Park," she said, adding that snowshoes may be rented for $6 a day or $10 for the weekend. "Some people may simply like to watch wildlife from the windows of our Nature Center."
"It's warm in here and you'll see deer, turkey and all sort of birds," Snyder said from her Nature Center office at 4500 Sioux River Road.
Griffith has other ideas when it comes to indoor winter excitement. Indeed, his mind turns to the 50-foot-tall climbing wall as well as the sports courts available for rent at the Long Lines Family Rec Center, 401 Gordon Drive, or the public ice arena at the IBP Ice Center, 3808 Stadium Drive.
"I know plenty of people use our facilities for children's birthday parties," he said. "The kids can get exercise while climbing the rock wall while the parents sit back and watch."
"That sounds like a good way to beat cabin fever to me," Griffith said with a smile.
Indeed, any indoor or outdoor activity is fine by Snyder, who simply encourages people to spend time enjoying nature.
"I always say winter isn't the time to hibernate," she offered. "Instead, you should recreate."
