Winter activities for Blazers and their families

After a couple days of staying inside and watching movies while the neighborhood kids are outside making snow angels, even teenagers get cabin fever and become tempted to play in the white, wintry weather. To help students and their families embrace this winter season, Silver Chips Online has researched the best areas near Blair for sledding and ice skating.

Places to sled

Takoma Park Middle School

Takoma Park Middle School's Lee Jordan athletic field is a great place for people in Takoma Park to go sledding since it is walking distance for many local families. There is a large hill, part of which is double-tiered, and after reaching the bottom, sledders can walk up a set of concrete steps back to the top. Takoma Middle is located at 7511 Piney Branch Avenue, and parking is available on Piney Branch and in the parking lot on Grant Avenue.Pinecrest Elementary School

For Blazers in the Woodmoor area, the best place to sled is on the Pinecrest Elementary School field next to the tennis courts. The hill is fairly small, so plan to get there early. Pinecrest usually brings people of all ages to sled on the hill and have snowball fights on the field. Usually, it takes a few days after it snows for the Woodmoor area to get plowed, so most snow-goers walk to Pinecrest. The school is located at 201 Woodmoor Drive in Silver Spring, and the field is most accessible from St. Lawrence Drive. Parking is available on Woodmoor Drive.

Birch Avenue

Sometimes when it snows and the road conditions on Birch Avenue are unsafe for cars, the City of Takoma Park will close the street for sledding. Since a snowplow cannot get onto the hill, snow accumulates and creates a steep, slick hill for sledding. Next time Montgomery County receives heavy snow fall, check out this location between Dogwood Avenue and Cedar Avenue in Takoma Park.

Places to ice skate

Wheaton Ice Arena

Wheaton Ice Arena has a covered outdoor rink with a large warming room and snack bar. The rink, which is located at 11717 Orebaugh Avenue in Wheaton, also offers rental skates and lockers for storage. The ice arena is less than three miles away from Blair. Call 301-649-3640 for more information about scheduling and fees.

Cabin John Ice Rink

Cabin John Ice Rink is like Wheaton Ice Arena with its own outdoor rink and room for warming. The rink has rental skates and lockers available for patrons as well. The ice rink is located at 10610 Westlake Drive in Rockville. Call 301-365-2246 for more information regarding fees and skating sessions.

Sculpture Garden Ice-Skating RinkThe National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden Ice Skating Rink is open mid-November through mid-March. The Sculpture Garden Ice Skating Rink is an open-air rink with sculptures surrounding the arena. Skates and lockers are available to rent, and the rink is open Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. and on Sunday between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. The National Gallery of Art is located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue. The gallery and ice rink are just a few blocks walk away from the National Archives Metro Station. Call 202-289-3360 for more information.

Herbert Wells Ice Rink

Hebert Wells Ice Rink is open for ice skaters between the months of October through March. The facility includes a covered outdoor rink, an indoor warming room and a snack bar. Rental skates are available. The rink is located at 5211 Paint Branch Parkway in College Park. Call 301-277-0654 for pre-recorded information regarding skating sessions, or call 301-277-3719 for general inquiries.