OHIO WINTER ADVENTURES THAT ARE WORTH THE DRIVE
Glowtubing and more nowopen at SnowTrails
The holiday season MANSFIELD— has come to a close, but there are still numerous opportunities to celebrate the magic of winter.
For those willing to hop in a car and drive for a few hours, the opportunities for fun at Mansfield’s Snow Trails are nearly endless.
Located in scenic Possum Run Valley inMansfield, an hour north of Columbus, Snow Trails offers a seasonal outdoor getaway for thosewhowant to brave the elements for skiing, snowboarding and, perhaps especially, tubing.
SnowTrails opened for its 61st season in mid-December. Typically, the season ends in the middle ofMarch. The slopes are now open for snowboarding, skiing, glow tubing and other seasonal activities.
Glow tubing begins around twilight (approximately 5 p.m.) from Thursday through Sunday, and ticketsmust be purchased in advance on SnowTrails’website at www.snowtrails.com. Guests can purchase two-hour passes to go glow tubing.
Two-hour tubing passes are $25 ($15 for ages 5 and under). Season passes are $150. The season is scheduled to run until March.
Throughout the season, an array of colorful LED lights line the park. Guests can set off at the top of the hill and glide down the snow-packed and LED-lined lanes with a number of guests following along behind them in a train of tubes.
TheVertical Descent SnowTubing Park is unique in that it offers the longest tubing lanes in all of Ohio, Snow Trails officials say.
Due to the socially-distanced nature of glow tubing, no additional COVID-related measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of guests, who will likely already be wearing the required facial coverings, aswell as gloves, to keep warm.
After hitting the slopes, guests can grab a bite to eat or a drink at one of the many eateries on the premises. Atable-reservation system will be in place at the Snow Trails Lodge, while a tent will be set up outside of the lodge to cater to socially distanced dining. Facial coverings are required at the eateries unless consuming food or beverages.
Aside from paying a visit to SnowTrails, there aremany other unique and interesting destinations within and just outside of Mansfield. Those looking for even more outdoor adventure can head toMalabar Farm State Park in nearby Lucas, Ohio, to enjoy miles of ungroomed trails perfect for cross country skiing.
However, if being outdoors in the cold doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps a visit to the set of the Shawshank Redemption could spark your interest. The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, a centuries-old prison steeped in chilling history and plenty of creepy ambiance, provided the setting for the famous movie. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday, visitors can take tours of the Ohio StateReformatory.
For more reasons to make a day trip to Mansfield, go to destinationmansfield.com.