While you may have struggled to find a place locally to fire up the snowmobile, there have been other outlets in Door and Kewaunee counties to get outside and enjoy the snow. After Mother Nature hit the defrost button over Christmas, ice rinks in Sister Bay and Sturgeon Bay have been able to return to welcoming guests.

The same can be true for area trails like Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay, which offers its Ski-for-Free program and luminary hikes to allow people the opportunity to try cross-country skiing, kicksledding, snowshoeing and hiking on the frozen landscape.

In Kewaunee, the county was able to open its Winter Park earlier than usual, allowing tubing to take place before the New Year and skiers to hit the slopes shortly after. While rains earlier this month put a damper on a few days, Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Director Dave Myers believes only one more day of snowmaking will be needed to keep the park rolling right along toward the end of the season.

It is not heat or rain, but rather the bitter cold this weekend that could keep some people from enjoying the outdoors. Myers says a decision has not yet been made on whether the park will be open Saturday, when the forecast high temperature is just above 0. Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park have already decided to cancel their annual candlelight hike and ski event due to the cold.