Winter Blues? No Way!

Can you believe we only have a week left of January? I swear the older I get the faster time goes; I can’t imagine how quickly it will pass by when I’m in my 40s! The good news about January coming to an end is spring will be here before we know it. To keep you busy during these next few dreary months, check out some of the fun activities that are taking place all over the Corridor region!

University of Okoboji Winter Games

This weekend, January 24-26, the 2014 Winter Games will take place in Okoboji. I have never attended this fun-filled weekend, but I am hoping to change that in about 3 days.  I’m sure many of you have taken part in the festivities in previous years, but for newbies like me, check out the schedule of events here. Holy moly is there a lot to do! I had no idea.

Here is a list of just a few events. You can click here to register for them:

- Chili Cook Off

- Indoor Bowling Tournament

- KAPCO Indoor Golf Tournament

- Lakes Regional Healthcare 5K/10K

- Stauss Realty Ice Fishing Outing

- Guns and Hoses Boot Hockey Tournament

- Cribbage Classic

- Indoor Volleyball Tournament

- Freeze Your Fanny

If you have participated before, what was your favorite part about the weekend? Looks like tons of fun for all ages! Need something to do this weekend? Head to Okoboji for some wintery fun and kiss those blues away.

Outdoor Recreation

I’m sure waiting for January to come around each year is a little depressing. What are you supposed to do the rest of the winter? Well, I’m here to help you with that dilemma. The great thing about our region is the ability to walk outside & find water within a relatively short distance. People forget that having lakes at our disposal can be used in both summer andwinter. Here are a few activities I can think of off the top of my head: ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating, hockey, broom ball, etc. Of this list, ice fishing is probably my favorite. You’re probably thinking, “what would possess you to sit outside in the freezing cold for fun?” Well, it’s actually rather warm. Once you’re in an ice house with a heater, it’s quite comfortable. The hardest and most frustrating part for me is waiting for fish to bite (patience is not one of my better qualities). I’ve been reminded a time or two…or seven that it’s called fishing, not catching. 

Indoor Recreation

A few items on the previous list also apply toward indoor recreation. New in 2014 is the Boji Bay Ice Arena, which is home to Lakes Area Hockey. There are open skate nights for all ages and designated times just for hockey. Lakes Area Hockey teams compete with other regional teams here, as well. Go check them out sometime! What else can you do inside during the winter? I just recently wrapped up an adult coed volleyball league (aka old people’s league). I’ve never played volleyball competitively, so it was quite the learning experience. Luckily, I had teammates that were fluent in volleyball, making up for my mistakes…all the time. Any bowlers in the group? There are bowling leagues (yes, we still have bowling alleys) all over the region that take place on week nights. This is a great way to break up your week by getting out of the house and doing something fun with your friends.

For those of you interested in health & fitness, there are plenty of avenues for you too! The YMCA in Spencer & Spirit Lake and the Regional Wellness Center in Estherville offer a variety of exercise classes for all fitness levels. These include adult aquatics, group fitness (Power Pump, Step & Strength, H2O Bootcamp), sport leagues, pilates, yoga, dance, personal training and many more. Classes are a great way to stay active and to hold you accountable for working out on a regular basis. It’s much easier to think “hmm..I’m not going to workout today” when there aren’t others depending on your attendance. I’d suggest signing up for one and trying it out!

Continuing Education

I’m a self-proclaimed nerd, so continuing to learn new things everyday intrigues me. If you’re an entrepreneur or just starting out, the Iowa Lakes Corridor is offering a workshop training series just for you called Prepare to Launch. This is a 10 week course that meets every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 pm, starting February 11th. Brian Dalziel of the Corridor will facilitate while hosting various experts to speak to certain topics.  Also, the Pearson Lakes Art Centerhosts a speaker series that is for all ages & free to the public. You’ll learn about the future of Iowa’s economy and how the business leaders themselves got to where they are now – pretty cool!

So, get out there & melt away your winter blues! If you want information on anything mentioned in this post, please feel free to contact the Corridor at 712.264.3474.

Check out the rest of our blog here!

- Alexa Guessford