Nine Cozy Ways to Get the Most Out of Winter at UMass: Grace’s Winter Favorites
By Grace Chai
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After the holiday season has ended, it’s easy to fall into a slump — namely, the January slump. You know what I’m talking about: you’ve eaten all the tasty holiday treats, you’ve taken a nice, long break from school, and you’ve spent your days sleeping until noon and combining breakfast and lunch into one meal. Hey, no judgment here: after all that hard work from last semester, you deserve a break. But oftentimes, chilling a little too much can lead to boredom, and it can be hard to go outside and do something other than watch countless hours of TV.
Don’t worry; as always, I’ve got some recommendations up my sleeve for you. Don’t think of this as a list of recommendations, actually; I like to think of each of these ideas as a micro-adventure — something you can do whenever you want to take a break and enjoy life, even in subzero temperatures.
Ice Skating
As someone who has lived in Massachusetts for most of her life, I couldn’t leave ice skating off the list. While I’m not very good at ice skating per se, it’s really fun to attempt to skate — and there are lots of places to do it in Amherst. A great option is the Mullins Center’s public skating — entry is free for UMass undergrads with ID, and skating rentals are just $5. It’s a low-cost activity that’s really fun even if you’re a novice, and it’s super fun to do with friends.
Magic Wings
Magic Wings is a butterfly conservatory in South Deerfield, about a 20-minute drive from campus. For a $10 admission fee, you can marvel at over 4,000 butterflies and other animals, like koi fish, birds, and frogs in lush foliage. Butterflies flit about freely in the conservatory, which is kept at a nice tropical temperature. I’ve gone twice during my time at UMass, and I’ve had a butterfly land on my knee in the past, which was so magical that I felt like I was living out my Disney princess fantasies. In the wintertime, it is a welcome place to retreat from the cold and admire nature.
Visiting the Amherst Cinema
Movies are one of the top things to do when the weather is blustery. In a time when streaming is so, well, mainstream, sitting down and watching a movie at a movie theater can feel like a rarity. But it’s so fun and a great escape; plus, you’re supporting a local business. Amherst Cinema has the feel of a small-town theater that shows big hits. The pricing is also very reasonable; students can see a movie for $11.25-$12.25, depending on the movie and what time it’s being shown. There are also traditional movie snacks sold on location, which is always a plus. Shameless plug: if you want to hear a student perspective on one of the movies the cinema showed, I recently went to see Marty Supreme and wrote a review about it on the CHC website. They also have family films with tickets going for $5, which I recommend if you want to see an old childhood favorite on the big screen and soak in some nostalgia.
Supporting UMass winter sports
I’ve gone to my fair share of UMass sporting events, including almost every single football game for the last three years (#band kid life!) and a good amount of basketball and hockey games. I can’t overstate how awesome it is to go out and cheer on some of your teams, and listen to the hoop and ice band play if you’re at a basketball or hockey game. Personally, I make it a point to attend at least one UMass women’s basketball game every year because they’re all so talented and hard-working, and in my opinion, more people should support women’s sports.
Winter photo walk
There’s something about winter sunsets that just feels different. Perhaps it’s the extra intense colors that bloom on the horizon or the contrast of orange, pink, and blue against the white snow, but winter sunsets do make me feel a different way than their summer counterparts. Even if you don’t go check out the sunset, winter in the daytime is also beautiful. I’ve taken walks around campus during the winter, and seeing the blue of the sky against the crisp snow really calms me. Pair a camera with the activity — it doesn’t have to be professional; your phone is good enough — and you’ve got a great activity to do. Bonus points if you manage to catch some wildlife in action while you’re admiring the stillness of winter!
Revive your TBR (to be read) list
When I was little, I used to hoard books from the library and lose myself in reading. Over the years, I started to get busy, and so my reading habit also waned. Over this past break, however, I’ve been trying to get back into reading, and it’s been really good for me. I love curling up on the couch with a book and learning — or simply enjoying a story. I like to read nonfiction on topics that interest me, and I also enjoy reading fantasy novels. You’d be surprised how many good books you can find at the W.E.B. Du Bois library; it takes some time to find them, but once you do, you can typically borrow books for three months at a time. If you can’t find a book at our library, the Five College library system allows you to request books from other libraries that can be picked up at UMass, so don’t count those out!
Make soup
This is a simple one but something I highly encourage you to do if you have access to a kitchen. I haven’t really made soup before, but one of my roommates is a great cook and inspired me to try my hand at making soup from scratch. I made a chicken potato soup which was so warm and comforting. The vegetables really sing with the creaminess of the soup, and honestly, once you have all the ingredients prepped, there’s not much to do other than combine ingredients and stir.
Game night with friends
A few days ago, I enjoyed a game night with some of my good friends. One of my friends is an excellent host and whipped up some tofu fried rice for us while we played a variety of games. In a world where multiple things are constantly vying for our attention, putting the phone aside to play a good old-fashioned game of cards or a fun board game is really awesome. If you’re looking for games to try, we played Flip 7, a card game, Yahtzee, a dice game, and Horrified, a cooperative board game, which was delightful.
Smith College Art Museum
The Smith College Art Museum is full of fascinating galleries and is definitely worth a visit, especially when it’s cold outside. You can take the B43 to Northampton and make a day out of it by strolling the streets and grabbing a treat or two from one of the many cafes or restaurants nearby. The museum is free for all and has four floors of art: ancient art, contemporary art, and a lot more. Even the bathrooms are a work of art, covered in colorful tiles and swirling patterns.
Winter doesn’t have to be a gloomy time in-between fall and spring; it can be whimsical and full of adventure if you seek it. Whether you head out to enjoy the snowy season or decide to stay in with friends, I hope you set aside time to make the most of the season. Hopefully you got some inspiration from the ideas in this article, and stay tuned for more recommendations of fun things to do in the future!
Featuring
Grace Chai
