TOP TEN WINTER ACTIVITIES

There are plenty of great activities, both inside and outside, during Maine's winter.

1. Go Cross Country Skiing. In Greater Portland you can cross-country ski alongside the ocean, across golf courses and through scented pine forests. Check out the 25 km of groomed Nordic trails at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester. L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools offer inexpensive "Walk-On Adventures" in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing right from their retail store in Freeport.

2. Don ice skates and twirl on the pond in Portland's Deering Oaks Park, the location where the wonderful skating scene between Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston was shot for the film "The Preacher's Wife." Up for a bigger challenge? The ice goes on for miles at Sebago Lake and other lakes of the nearby Lakes Region.

3. Take the kids sledding. Make the most of Portland’s winter weather by taking your kids out in the snow and burning off some of their pent up energy on the hills at Payton Park in Portland.

4. Enjoy a day or weekend on the slopes. Some of the finest skiing in the east is to be had at Maine Mountains. Sunday River in Bethel is close enough to Portland for a day trip but plan at least an overnight to Sugarloaf USA in Kingfield.

5. Go bowling with the family or a group of friends. The classic indoor sport is a favorite of young and old alike! At Bayside Bowl in Portland's revitalized Bayside neighborhood, you can bowl in an intimate, upscale alley and enjoy excellent food served right at the lanes.

6. Catch a game. The Portland Pirates tear up the ice at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland. Look for their home games all winter long as well as those of Maine's D-league basketball team, The Maine Red Claws.

7. Relax at a spa. What better way to unwind in winter than by pampering yourself at a day spa or resort with spa amenities. Treat yourself to massage, a facial and aromatherapy: it's the perfect antidote to the mid-winter blahs.

8. Try snowmobiling. Outdoor adventure centers such as Northern Outdoors and New England Outdoor Center can outfit you with everything you need for a snowmobile vacation. Take off right from the door of your cabin and fly through pristine woods in the great outdoors.

9. Create a souvenir piece of art. Color Me Mine, the paint-your-own ceramic studio in Portland, is the spot to unleash your talent and show your style. Choose from 400 ceramic pieces, then glaze, paint and fire it in their kiln. They'll even ship your creation home for you.

10. Take in a cooking class. At Stonewall Kitchen's company headquarters in York, classes are held almost daily on such savory topics as bread making, holiday menus, ethnic specialties and seafood delights. Whole Foods Market in Portland offers Maine's largest selection of natural and organic products as well as a wide variety of events and classes on everything from sushi to gluten-free eating. And wine lovers can often find a tasting at Browne Trading Company and LeRoux Kitchen in the Portland's Old Port.