A touch of ice and snow

             Deep South residents feel pretty darn lucky this time of year. We’re not scraping ice off the windshield nor shoveling snow up to our knees. We may have to cover the plants once and a while when a hard freeze arrives and we usually complain about it so northerners can have a good laugh.

Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation

            But even with our mild winters and the ability to walk around barefoot in the middle of December (albeit with frosty toes) we could use a little winter wonderland. That’s why temporary ice skating rinks and the occasional snow mound appear, offering kids a chance to see how the other half live.

            In Houston, for instance, folks flock to Discovery Green for outdoor ice skating on Kinder Lake. Discovery Green is the city’s new central park, located downtown and offering a wide variety of fun. They freeze up the “lake” every year to offer ice skating from Nov. 17 to Jan. 27, 2013. Admission is $12 and includes skate rental and tax, but limited to 1 1/2 hour sessions. A portion of the tickets sale helps support the park’s year-round programming.

            The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation outside of Atlanta features all kinds of holiday packages for all ages, including ice skating at the AAA Five Diamond hotel. The 5,000-square-foot rink is open daily with two sessions until Feb. 24 in the lodge’s Pavilion. Skating is complimentary for resort guests; non-resort guests pay $30 for children 12 and under and $40 for adults, including skate rentals, if needed.

            The Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum turns a section of its popular attraction into Santa’s Christmas Village, and that includes holiday events, “the world’s largest snow globe” and an ice skating rink! Cost to skate is $10 and open Thursdays through Sundays during December.

Take 5 Houston - Spots to Cool Off for Free

1. Along the MetroRail in downtown Houston there are places where water is spritzed into the air, falling along the rail tracks in graceful arcs. We don’t encourage people to get anywhere near the MetroRail tracks (PLEASE DON'T!) but pedestrians and bikers in the area will experience a nice wet breeze walking by at the Main Street Square stop, in addition to other water features along the MetroRail's route.

2. Discovery Green downtown includes a massive splash fountain that’s usually full of kids running through but don’t let your age stop you from enjoying this incredible fountain that makes cooling off so much fun. The water emerges in spurts, but in syncopated times, leaving you guessing which is part of its fun.

3. The Williams Waterwall near the Galleria rises above the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park as a multi-story horseshoe-shaped fountain. It’s both cooling and dramatic (we’re talking TALL) and makes for a great day trip. Visitors can enjoy a picnic in the park, then cool off by the waterfall. Be sure and bring a towel, you will get wet enough. 

4. The Buddy Carruth Playground for All Children is a massive playground within Hermann Park that offers a handicap accessible playground with interactive water play area that’s fabulous. This is a must for young children, but that didn’t stop us adults from jumping in with our kids.

5. We probably shouldn’t mention Tranquility Park downtown because more than likely jumping in this collection of fountains is frowned upon, but on the many visits we’ve had to Houston, particularly in the summer when heat indexes soar, we’ve seen lots of people cooling off in this oasis amid the concrete. Just to be on the safe side, we’ll not post a photo. But here’s another hint, there are fountains all over Houston and if you’re brave enough to “fountain jump,” you can start with Tranquility Park and spend all day visiting others.

Hip Houston

           In only a few years Downtown Houston has reinvented itself. Once a place to do business during daylight hours, in addition to some nightlife and the Astros, today downtown Houston owns a thriving shopping and dining scene, the remarkable, sustainable Discovery Green park and hip new places to live and stay overnight.

            The new EmbassySuites is a prime example, sporting fun colors and modern furniture and designs, plus complementary amenities of free Wifi, manager’s reception at night and a full “cooked-to-order” breakfast with friendly, helpful staff. The hotel features 262 all-suite rooms in this hip high-rise, with a sitting area separate from the bedroom, both very comfortable and arranged to accommodate any mood, whether business, entertaining or a family gathering. All rooms offer a kitchenette, sofa bed, MP3 connections and flat-screen TVs with HBO and Showtime.

            Swim through fountains in the indulgent pool or soak in the terrace spa, both of which overlook Discovery Green, the George Brown Convention Center and Minute Maid Park, or work out in the 24-hour fitness center. A shuttle is available to take visitors throughout the downtown area until about 10 p.m. each night.

            Because of the location, visitors should take advantage of Discovery Green and its almost daily activities, whether learning yoga or zumba or listening to a free concert. Also close by is Houston Pavilions, Houston’s Theatre District (fourth largest in the country) and Bayou Place. Houston Pavilions is home to many dining options, including the House of Blues. Since we arrived mid-afternoon, we voted for Guadalajara, another colorful hip spot downtown, and its Happy Hour, enjoying margaritas and appetizers for a discount.

            Along that vein I would recommend “Houston Classic Mexican Recipes” by Erin Hicks Miller (Pelican Publishing), a collection of recipes from the city’s many great Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants.