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| Have a Green Winter Vacation with Snowshoes, XC Skis, and Sleds Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:00 AM PST Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding are some of the greenest activities you can partake in come winter. They require no fuel or landscaping and allow you to spend some time outdoors, appreciating the winter beauty while generating your own heat rather than sitting by the fireplace or radiator. There are several FlipKey-listed rental homes that provide sleds, cross-country skis, or snowshoes to guests. Snowshoes This thousands-of-years-old tradition provides a practical way to get around when there’s snow on the ground. If you like hiking during warmer months, you might want to try strapping on a pair of snowshoes over your boots this winter vacation. You’ll get a chance to spend some quiet time in nature and won’t have to worry about getting lost, as you can follow your own trail back. Near Killington in Vermont, this five-bedroom house provides plenty of outdoor activities so you can skip the popular slopes if you want to set out on your own. The rental comes with snowshoes and nearby trails, as well as ice skates and a skating pond. Another alternative to the downhill action in Vermont, this 10-bedroom place in Stowe offers 12 pairs of snowshoes so you can explore the property – located on a horse farm within the ski resort – with a large group. You can check out the beautiful Adirondack region on snowshoes too. A two-bedroom farmhouse on a lake offers two sets of snowshoes during winter, and other activities include ice fishing and watching race car tournaments on the frozen lake. This one-bedroom rental on the same Lake Algonquin provides two pairs of snowshoes to guests as well. Out west, enjoy the winter scenery at a two-bedroom cabin in Colorado by making use of the four sets of snowshoes and poles available to guests. There’s a fire pit and a hot tub for relaxing your sore muscles afterwards. In the Lake Tahoe area of California, this four-bedroom vacation rental is adjacent to a forest preserve which you can explore on the two pairs of snowshoes provided. Cross-Country Skis Another quiet way to enjoy the serenity of the season is on cross-country skis. It’s not as common to find a rental home that comes with ski equipment, but we have tracked down a couple for those of you who want to give the sport a try. Visitors to Rocky Mountain Escape in Alberta, Canada, get access to cross-country ski equipment, along with snowshoes, and there are guided day hikes and meals included in rental rates. It’s quite the way to experience winter in the Canadian Rockies. Further afield, this two-bedroom chalet-style apartment in Germany comes with four pairs of cross-country skis, a wooden sleigh, and two pairs of Nordic walking poles, so you’re all set to enjoy the picturesque rivers and mountains of the Bavarian countryside. Sleds Obviously a more kid-friendly activity, sledding can also fit into a romantic getaway or a large reunion. All you need is a hill and some snow and the thrills can rival those of an amusement park. Plus, getting yourself and your sled back up the hill is all the exercise you’ll need on a winter day. And it’s much easier (not to mention cheaper) than lugging all of that ski equipment. Enjoy the slopes out west the simple way: At this three-bedroom cabin near Lake Tahoe, not only are sleds and saucers provided, but there’s also a binder of information that includes the owners’ “favorite secret sledding spots.” This expansive four-bedroom getaway in Montana is near ski slopes but also offers sleds and a nearby sledding hill for guest use. Or take a bigger group to a five-bedroom rental near Park City, Utah, where winter-friendly amenities include sleds, fireplaces, a boot dryer, and a hot tub. Which low-impact winter sport are you going to try this season? Joanna Eng is a New York-based writer and editor who covers travel, green living, food, careers, entrepreneurship, and more. Her travel experiences have ranged from hostel hopping in Mexico to staying with distant relatives in China to renting a beach apartment in New Jersey.
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