Sleigh riding

“We met our sleigh right behind Stein Eriksen Lodge, and it was honestly a magical setting. We’d skied at Deer Valley Resort before, but never seen it in this new way. Everything seemed frozen in time without the lifts running or skiers on the trails. In the distance, we heard the sound of jingling of the bells from the harnesses of the two beautiful horses as they came up the hill. The closer they came, the more excited everyone became. [...] As we drove away, our driver taught the kids about the horses and told them about his life growing up on a ranch. As we rode, the kids snuggled up next to my husband and me to stay warm. The excitement of the ride was tangible, and laughter reigned as they all started to share their favorite jokes. There we were, the only ones on the hill, and all I could hear was the muted sounds of our kids' laughter offset by the silence of the softly falling snow.”

“We have rare opportunities in the South to slide through the woods in a sleigh. It's more common in the northern reaches of Wisconsin where we spent Christmas with our daughter's in-laws. The sleigh ride was a high point of Christmas week in a winter wonderland. We saw deer along the wooded trail and unidentified animal tracks, and enjoyed a mid-point bonfire and hot chocolate break. Our driver allowed me to pet his horses.”