No, we have no hills nearby (save the one flanking the Capitol, which has its enforcers these days) nor sleds, nor smart, matching winter gear in the correct sizes and lengths for the kiddies. We only had what was on hand. And what was on hand–and foot and tongue–was snow. Snow for eating, licking, throwing, dipping, building up, tearing down and burying oneself in up to the shoulders, as if it were golden warm sand on the beach. And then the young snowy explorers were on to eating again, despite the warnings of belly aches, which, of course, never came.
Who needs a sled when one can hitch a ride on a surf board zooming down the icy street, or a hilly terrain? Or when one whizzes down a steep little slope, courtesy of Lincoln Park’s steps which were encrusted with the slick, white stuff? By the way, those beach boogie boards go faster and farther than any saucer or plastic sled. The dogs playing in the field seemed to like to give chase to these new creatures of speed and grace. I know they still smell of children, dear hounds, but of children’s magic, too.
You can still sled on the hill at the Capitol! I saw a bunch of pictures of people doing just that. It almost made me want to go out in the snow! (Unlike most of our Hill neighbors, I mostly find snow annoying rather than fun or magical.)
Actually, Mothies were reporting they would get a slide in and be kicked off by the guards, who swept through the area periodically making people leave. Also, having a tot trudge up that hill in the snow is daunting to both child and parent (who would have to pull or carry after a few steps).
I think it’s always been against the rules to sled on the Capitol lawn, but they never enforce it. We always went there when I was a kid – we also skated on the reflecting pool but that does get a bit more strictly enforced.