My 5 Favorite Blizzard Activities

By Stephanie

Manhattanites often flock to the Hamptons by car, train, bus, helicopters, and seaplanes on summer weekends. With thousands of people headed to their ocean front mansions and shack sized share houses, the traffic is unbearable. The two hour trip easily doubles from Memorial Day to Labor Day. In the Winter months, Manhattanites often opt for warmer destinations, leaving the Hamptons a peaceful idyllic winter retreat. They don’t usually run to the countryside where dangerous road conditions and risk for power outages could make their lives more challenging.

When I heard the snow was coming, I packed up my bag, and headed out to a beach house in charming Sag Harbor. Sag Harbor is a small, historical fishing village settled in the early 1700’s. In the summer you’ll find locals and vacationers eating ice cream on Main Street, lounging on the beach, shopping at the local farmer’s market, visiting the theater, and boating around the bay. The experience in Winter is a little bit different, especially during a blizzard like Jonas, which dropped an unanticipated 2 feet of snow. One of the reasons so many people populate the NorthEast, is to actually have the opportunity to experience all four seasons. And what is Winter without a really great snowstorm?

It started off quite slowly, but by the afternoon more than a foot of snow had fallen with no end in sight. So what exactly do you do in the Hamptons during a Blizzard in the middle of the winter? Pretty close to nothing. But in case you are stir crazy, here are a few ideas:

1. Cooking – I love baking, but this frittata with vegetable topping was amazing, served with a side of potatoes and curry cauliflower. Delicious!
   
2. Fireside Chats – The term fireside chat was coined in the 1930’s when Franklin D. Roosevelt used the term to describe his radio broadcasts to the American people. He wanted his listeners to feel as if they were in the room with him, sitting around the fireplace. My family continues this tradition, and we use our time around the fireside to share our successes and stresses.                                               
3. Snowmen – Last year we never had enough snow to make a proper snowman. This year we didn’t have enough energy, but we created this little guy.                                                                                                                
4. Snow Angels Shadow Selfies – This is an activity I wouldn’t typically do in the city. I jumped right into this clean snow, but snow angels in two foot drift is not very easy! After an epic fail, I reverted back to a favorite photography pose, the shadow selfie! If you follow my Instagram, you’ve probably seen a few!                                                                                                                                                      
5.   Sledding – I couldn’t resist. All day Saturday my little cousin begged me to take her sledding. I couldn’t bear the weather during the blizzard. I didn’t even set foot outside for a photo-op, which I regret in hindsight. On Sunday, I made up for lost time and crammed in as many outdoor snow activities as possible! I even took a ride down the hill on the sled, reminiscing my childhood.                                               

   What’s your favorite Winter snow day activity?