Winter vacation can be a great time to catch up on spending time with your children. Auburn and Cayuga County offer a variety of activities to keep you and your family busy during the break. There's plenty to choose from, whether you're looking for outdoor fun like sledding or making snowmen, or something more educational, like learning to ski or a visit to the museum.

Fun outdoors

#&149; Looking to make a great snowman? This activity is easy to do right in your own backyard. Or try Hoopes Park, located on Genesee Street in Auburn.

#&149; For those interested in sledding, visit the abundant hills of Casey Park, 150 N. Division St., Auburn, or Auburn High School, 250 Lake Ave., Auburn.

Fun indoors

#&149; Ice skating will be available at Casey Park, 150 N. Division St., Auburn, and rink hours will be extended throughout the break. For more information, visit www.ci.auburn.ny.us.

#&149; Visit the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, 205 Genesee St., Auburn, for the “Quilts=Art=Quilts” exhibit, which runs until Jan. 4. Admission is $5 and children 12 and younger are admitted free. For more information, call 255-1553.

#&149; The Cayuga Museum, 203 Genesee St., Auburn, also offers an annual quilt show as well as a permanent exhibit, “Both Sides of the Wall: Auburn and its Prison.” A donation of $3 is suggested for adults. For more information, call 253-8051.

Fun a little farther away...

#&149; Looking for a great place to go downhill skiing? Try Greek Peak Ski Resort, 2000 State Route 92, Cortland, or Bristol Mountain Ski Resort, 5662 Route 64, Canandaigua. For more information, call Greek Peak at (800) 955-2SKI or Bristol Mountain at (585) 374-6000.

#&149; Onondaga County also has a couple of great spots for cross country skiing, such as Beaver Lake Nature Center, off of Route 370 in Baldwinsville, and Highland Forest Park, Route 80 (take exit 14 off of Interstate 81). For prices and more information, call Beaver Lake at 638-2519 or Highland Forest at 683-5550.

#&149; Beaver Lake Nature Center, off of Route 370 in Baldwinsville, will also be offering a one-hour snowshoeing clinic Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 3 and 4. The lesson will include instructions and a short snowshoe hike. Snowshoes are available to rent for $3. There is a $2 per car admission to the center. For more information, call 638-2519.

Gitana Mirochnik

253-5311 ext. 237

gitana.mirochnik@lee.net