Sleigh rides are the quintessential winter activity and Musement takes a look at seven of country’s best.
What could be more romantic than snuggling close to your significant other under a cozy blanket while dashing through the snow?
Looking for something fun to do as a family? Sleigh rides are an adventure that kids of all ages will enjoy. Here are seven experiences that are more than just your average sleigh ride/
1. Ride Through Wyoming’s National Elk Refuge
Be sure to bring your camera on this wintery sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole. This popular route takes passengers through the resident herd of wild elk for an up-close look at these massive members of the deer family. Sharp-eyed sleigh riders might also catch a glimpse of bison, swans, bald eagles, wolves, and bighorn sheep. Tickets are sold at the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitors Center for rides from mid-December through the end of March or beginning of April depending on snow coverage. Reservations are strongly recommended for private sleigh rides and large groups.
2. Take a Trail Ride at Yosemite National Park
Forty-five minutes of fun and photo ops are offered on this trip through the snowy pine and cedar forest of Yosemite National Park. Horses draped with festive jingle bells pull passenger-laden sleighs from Yosemite’s Tenaya Lodge to Skidders Camp where guests can warm up by the fire while roasting marshmallows and sipping cider. Tickets can be purchased online at the Yosemite Trails Saddle & Sleigh Company website.
3. Oh, What Fun It Is To Ride In A One-Horse Open Sleigh
Aspen Carriage offers old-fashioned sleigh rides for couples or small groups. Passengers are picked up in downtown Aspen for a ride through the forest and across a sparkling meadow. The path along the river leads to a snow-covered bridge that is the perfect place to pause for a photo and to sip some hot chocolate or apple cider. Guests have their choice of a crisp daytime ride or a nighttime journey lit by the stars. Rides can be arranged by calling Aspen Carriage and Sleigh in advance.
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4. Ride for a Cause in the Adirondacks
By making a reservation with Lake Placid Sleigh Rides, you’re not only making memories, but you’re also making sure that rescued horses have a happy home at this family-owned ranch. Teams of Clydesdales or Belgian draft horses pull American-made sleighs on a 35- to 45-minute trip through the Adirondacks. Guests are treated to hand warmers, hot cocoa, and holiday goodies on rides throughout the day and into the evening.
5. Dashing Through the Snow
Who says a sleigh should only be horse-drawn? The sleighs of the Killington Resort in central Vermont are pulled through the trails by snowcats. Guests meet at the Snowshed Lodge at 5 p.m. for an evening ride through the mountains on select weekdays and Saturdays. This popular activity requires advance reservations that can be made by contacting the resort’s central reservation department.
6. An A-Peel-ing Sleigh Ride with Two Below Zero
Located in Frisco, Colorado, Two Below Zero’s scenic sleigh rides transport guests from the pickup point to a heated tent where they can warm up with hot chocolate–flavored with peppermint schnapps for the adults–and enjoy live entertainment from local performer David Peel, a talented singer and celebrity impersonator, before returning to the Frisco Nordic Center.
7. Winter Wine Tour & Sleigh Ride
What better way to warm up for a sleigh ride than by tasting some wine? Door County Trolley’s Winter Wine Tour & Sleigh Ride starts with a heated trolley ride to two award-winning Wisconsin wineries.