There's no time to Hibernate!

There has been a lot of talk about giving up on winter and dreaming of greener pastures during this part of the cold season.  Temperatures are bitter, you're sick of putting on 5 layers of clothing just to stay warm and the lack of sunshine make this one of the most dreary times of the year, for some!  If you are not a cold weather enthusiast, here are 30 suggestions to get you through the last 30 days until the calendar start of Spring.

Today the 18th: Go Tubing!  This week Holiday Valley Tubing Company is open each day from 4:30pm to 9pm.

19th: Visit the JCC gallery for the Juror's Choice Winner's Exhibit where selected pieces were submitted by 26 member artists.  260 Union St.

20th: Rollerskate away the winter blues at Skateland in Franklinville.  Hours are 7pm to 10:30pm on Fridays!

21st: Frigid Fest in Olean NY!  Join the others who fear no amount of cold as they play kickball, softball, and build snow sculptures!  See Oleanny.com for sign up sheets!

22nd: Salamanca Sportsman Show- no harm in preparing for Spring early!

23rd: Try Ice Fishing on Lime Lake for Largemouth Bass.  www.dec.ny.gov

24th: Ice Skate at the Outdoor Rink in Salamanca (Bill Flanigan Ice Rink).  Hours are 3pm to 9pm weekdays and 1 to 9pm weekends. 

25th: Celebrate Black History Month by scheduling an appointment to tour the African American Center for Cultural Development in Olean with the wonderfully upbeat Della Moore!  aaccdofolean [at] gmail [dot] com. 

26th: Head over to Bear Mountain Resort in Salamanca for great comfort food.   Overlooking a fantastic view, you can enjoy the beauty of winter right from your table!

27th: For the experienced skiier, try the "free heal" way of life at Holiday Valley's Telestock Event.  Try something new and enjoy a cookout on the Champagne Sundeck! 

28th: Laugh the night away at Premier Banquet's Comedy Night.  Feel good night packed with food, drinks and laughter provided by Comedians Tony Deyo and Matthew Lumpkin! 

1st: Join radio station WPIG as they host a full day of live Country bands to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital.  Held in Olean, there will be 50/50's, a cash bar, food and plenty of dance floor space!

2nd: Take advantage of the open snowmobile trails on a Monday or anyday!  Cattaraugus County has almost 400 miles of trails for you to dash through the snow on!  Surely you will like winter at least a little bit better after this one!

3rd: Dreaming of spring and summer for fresh fruits and vegetables?  Head over to Canticle Farm's Winter Market in Allegany for lettuce, carrots, potatoes and much more! 

4th: Tour the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum in Salamanca to learn the full story of Seneca history, with ancestral and contemporary Haudenosaunee exhibits, an authentic longhouse replica, and exhibits that change seasonally!

5th: Cold air turning you off from trying snowboarding or skiing?  In March, Holiday Valley and Holimont still offer superb conditions and a little bit warmer air as well. 

6th: Get your "Two Tickets to Paradise" to see Eddie Money perform at the Seneca Allegany Events Center.

7th: Country Blow Out at Good Times of Olean.  Memories of summer will be all around you as you scarf down BBQ, ride the mechanical ball, and get down to the sweet Country sounds of Chris Highbee and Sean Patrick McGraw!

8th: Sprague's offers maple-y warm goodness in all of their prepared dishes.  Feel that cozy feeling as you are instantly welcomed by lovely smells, homey decor and all the maple products you could ask for!  Don't forget their maple weekends Saturdays and Sundays in March!

9th: Winter camping?  Absolutely!  You can still be plenty warm and comfortable in the winterized cabins of Allegany State Park!  www.reserveamerica.com.

10th: While you're camping at Allegany State Park, try cross country skiing.  Home of the Art Roscoe Trail System, ASP offers approximately 24 miles of snowy fun.  No skis? No worries!  They rent them out at the Summit Warming Hut.  716-945-0523.

11th: Spend some time indoors bowling at the Ischua Valley Country Club during their open bowling hours or at K&L Lanes in Gowanda.  Challenge your friends to see who gets top score! 

12th: Winter weight got you down?  We all go through it, our bodies naturally add on for comfort and warmth in the winter (that's my excuse and I am sticking to it).  The Mustard Seed in South Dayton offers gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian meals, all high in fiber which keeps you fuller longer and adds digestion. 

13th: Head over to the Olean Mall for their 33rd annual Olean Stock Car Show, where you can imagine yourself driving with windows open and the breeze blowing through your hair.

14th: The birds are headed our way!  Welcome back the bluebirds with Pfeiffer Nature Center as they teach you how to build habitats for them and how to attract them to your area as well.  Stay later and rent snowshoes from them to explore the trails of the Old Growth Forest. 

15th: Mardi Gras Festival in Ellicottville and Winter Carnival at Holiday Valley.  Join in the Costume Parade, enjoy the taste of summer with a hot dog, and watch the dummy downhill!

16th: While you're in Ellicottville, stay the night so you can shop til you drop in their unique shops.  Everyone needs a little retail therapy now and then don't you think?

17th: Now that you think you have done it all at Holiday Valley, try the Mountain Coaster for an icy thrill ride down the side of the slopes.  Best of all, no lift ticket is necessary.  

18th: Take a hike!  Doesn't matter where you are in Cattaraugus County, we have some of the best.  Hike the Finger Lakes Trail, into Little Rock City, or the Allegheny River Valley Trail. 

19th: Feeling lucky?  Hit up any of the table games or slots at the Seneca Allegany Casino?  March giveaway is for the keys to a new Cadillac, perfect to take you on a Spring getaway!  Seneca Allegany Casino is always a fun time, win, lose or draw.  

20th: Breathe a sigh of relief!  Spring is here!

Hopefully these suggestions get you through!  If not, here are some more:
-Winter season means Basketball Season!  Support the Bonnies or JCC Olean in one of their games. 
-Chanderson's in Yorkshire has some of the best steaks in these parts, along with wonderful pasta dishes! 
-See a movie at Carmike Theatres in Olean or at the Historic Ray Evans Theater in Salamanca. 
-Visit the Salamanca Mall Antiques- fun in any weather. 
-Symphor!a on March 6th at the Regina A. Quick Center.
-Find your family tree at the Cattaraugus County Museum's Genealogical Research Library. 
-Attend the Olean Theater Workshop's presentation of "Forbidden Broadway", March 12-15. 

If after all these suggestions, you still cannot find anything to do to enjoy the end of winter, then it is time for you to hibernate cause you don't know what you're missing!