"snow" news and stories

Snow is beautiful when freshly fallen, gently blanketing everything it touches in shimmering whiteness. For some, fresh snow means skiing, snowboarding and sledding, while others simply enjoy making snow angels or building snowmen. To others, there is nothing more satisfying than an enthusiastic snowball fight, followed by a mug of hot chocolate. Except one thing: snow cones.

Instead of freezing water and shaving it down into the white fluff, take advantage of fresh, new-fallen snow if you have the opportunity. Simply pack a glass tightly with clean snow, mounding it up over the rim, then top with any flavor syrup you like. You can purchase syrups at stores like Target or make your own, in addition to using natural flavorings, such as maple syrup. Try adding shaved coconut to the snow for an extra layer of flavor and a bit of texture.

Now, as a native Floridian, the idea of getting to a restaurant by trekking up a snowy mountain does not immediately appeal to me. The Denver Post, however, recently ran a review of three Colorado restaurants that ask diners to do just that. Some of the restaurants, like Copper Mountain Stables, also offer sleigh rides to their high-elevation dining rooms. In Copper Mountain Stables' case, the dining room is a replica of a miner's tent that seats 38. Similarly, the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse features a large yurt (pictured here) that seats 40. Prior to arrival, diners gather together and hike up to the structure, which sits at an elevation of over 10,000 feet. The Pine Creek Cookhouse, amazingly enough, is an actual cabin, which seats 100. You can choose to ski, sleigh, or snowshow the 1.5 mile trail to your dinner. As you might expect, menus for all of these places feature hearty, game-heavy fare.