A winter stay-cation

Written by Lizzy Trotta
Thursday, 16 February 2012 01:00

As February break comes closer and closer, everyone begins to hear about the exotic and warm places their friends will be traveling to — like the Bahamas, Los Cabos and Florida. But what is a poor soul to do if the farthest their vacation plan takes them is to the mailbox?

Well, maybe Greenwich isn’t the most exciting place to spend February break, but it’s certainly not terrible. Although it’s not as warm as say the Bahamas, it does have a couple of hidden gems to enjoy during those few, precious days off from school.

Now everyone who plans on vacationing in the warmer areas of the world are almost inevitably going to spend some time at the beach — and I dare to ask why can’t we do that too?

Although Tods Point isn’t as exotic as other beaches, it’s still a wonderful way to spend a day. With miles worth of paths, it’s a decent method of getting in a bit of exercise, expanding your “traveling radius” from the home couch to the town beach, and enjoying a nice view on a clear day. All you need is a nice warm jacket and a pair of running shoes. And to think, we might be getting the better end of the deal — those who travel have to pack an entire suitcase (or more)!

And it’s always a charming way to end a day at Tods Point by enjoying some ice cream at Darlene’s. The only dilemma is that you may gain back all of the calories you just burned! But at least when getting ice cream you can pretend you’re someplace that has a temperature above 50 degrees.

Also, one of the truly convenient things about living in Greenwich is the easy access to New York City. If you think about it, thousands of people travel half-way around the world to visit New York City, and all we have to do is take a 45-minute train ride. And really, there is no place like New York in the winter.

Ice skating, window shopping and sightseeing beckon as winter rolls about, and we should take advantage of all that New York City has to offer.

But we can’t overlook all of Greenwich’s attractions too. Dorothy Hamill in Byram is an excellent place to spend a day, and it is less costly than a train ticket to NYC.

Also, because the winter season discourages the “less adventurous” from enjoying the great outdoors, the Greenwich Audubon Center is usually pretty quiet and peaceful. It’s a great way to get out into the fresh air, and pets love it, too. It can be a great chance to spend time with family or friends — and it’s different from just passing time at a movie theater.

Greenwich offers a vast array of fun activities — that may offer a break from a boring vacation. So although it is not exactly the Bahamas or Los Cabos — it isn’t Iceland either.

Lizzy Trotta is a sophomore at Greenwich High School.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites