THE OUTDOORS, EDGE,

This year, explore the Bay State’s great outdoors

The temps have dropped for the most part, and it sure gets dark early. So, what are families and individuals doing to get through this pandemic winter?

How about pledging to try to spend 1,000 hours outdoors in 2021?

The 1,000 Hours Outside Challenge (online at 1000 hours outside. com) looks for people to set that goal, find creative ways to get outside and see how much fresh air they can get and new activities (and old) they can discover.

It all started with a blogger named Ginny Yurdich, who has four children and didn’t want to fall down the rabbit hole of having her kids in front of screens day and night.

So she launched the idea. And lest you say, “Yeah, but this is chilly Massachusetts,” she lives in just-aschilly Michigan.

The idea of the program is aspirational. And then, at year’s end, 1,000 hours or not, you’ve at least been more aware of making sure you get outside.

The Bay State may just be

the perfect place to get started. While we all can crank up our hours outside come beach time this summer, it may be just as fun (and even more interesting) to find all kinds of ways to explore the outdoors this winter in Massachusetts.

Here are some ideas to consider as you begin logging your hours. Grab your mittens and woolen cap and have some fun in the crisp, fresh ai.

The Trustees: The Trustees of Reservations website (thetrustees.org) is a treasure trove of outdoor fun ideas spread across our state. On its site you’ll find hiking trails, nature conservancies, special spots to explore and more.

The Wildland’s Trust in Plymouth is a great example. With miles and miles of walking and hiking trails, you can explore bogs, deep woods and the local flora and fauna.

Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield, with its challenging hike and incredible views of the mountains and the Connecticut River is a must-visit.

The Trustees have so many more choices, you could do all 1,000 hours on their suggestions.

Winter beach walks: Few things are as peaceful, lovely and intriguing as the beaches of our state in the winter. Sand and water colors look different this time of year, thanks to the angle of the sun,

Of course, you’ll need to bundle up, and if it’s a stormy day, check tides and any warnings to be sure you are safe. But on a less-windy day with a winter sun? It’s magical.

On the North Shore, try cold but breathtakingly lovely Crane Beach in Ipswich. In the summer, Crane is crammed with beach lovers — why wouldn’t it be? But this time of year its four-mile-long sandy beach (and 1,200-plus acres of conservation land) could be nearly all yours.

The beach itself is a beautiful and brisk walk. You’ll find dunes, sea glass, and even a maritime pitch forest. Bringing the kids? Have them learn what that pitch forest is, as well as guess what kind of rocks, glass or marine life they may spot. Going alone? Enjoy a true escape from all that stresses you. Treat yourself before or after to takeout from C.K. Pearl seafood restaurant (112 Main St., Essex), a must-visit when in the area.

Other great beaches to walk include Nantasket Beach in Hull, the Powder Point Bridge and beach in Duxbury (learn all about the bridge first), the Sandwich Boardwalk and the many spots along the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Literary walks: We live in a state with a robust literary history. While visiting some of the buildings and homes of writers and settings may be off limits, visiting the areas that inspired authors can be done, and keeps you outside.

For me, Concord is always a great choice for a long stroll through and around a town. You can walk through the cemetery and up to “Artist’s Ledge,” past the home Louisa May Alcott lived in, and of course, around Walden Pond, where you can ponder Henry David Thoreau’s love of outdoors.

For younger families, Boston Common is a great outdoor adventure with ties to literature. Read “Make Way For Ducklings” first, then take the kids for a long walk through the Public Garden. And while the duck boats may not be operating, the ducks are on hand to say hello, and the statues are there for epic family photos.

With a big state and lots of choices, outdoor is the way to go this winter. Can you log 1,000 hours? It will be fun to try.

GETTY IMAGES PHOTOS THROUGH THE SNOW: A well-traveled snowy path beckons walkers in Sheffield.

OVER THE RIVER: Powder Point Bridge leads out to Duxbury Beach.

IN THE WOODS: Though Henry David Thoreau’s original cabin is long gone, a replica of the tiny home where the writer lived for two years stands at Walden Pond in Concord.

STROLL THE SANDS: Crane Beach in Ipswich is inviting for solitary walks in the winter.