• Where: Ohiopyle, Fayette County, off Route 381

• How far: An hour and half from Pittsburgh

• How much: Free

• What to do: Bicycle in January? Might be tough, but how about using those miles of lovely flat trails for cross-country skiing? The locals haven't seen snow like this for years. The stretch from Ohiopyle to Confluence is 11 miles, but there are other stretches along the 150-mile route from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., just as good. In addition there are the designated cross-country trails in the Laurel Highlands, where you'll also find lessons and rentals. Free lessons beginning Jan. 16-17 at the Laurel Ridge XC Ski Center, 1117 Jim Mountain Road, Rockwood; main phone: 1-814-395-5744; ski center: 724-455-7303. Meet at the center at 1 p.m. (Although lessons are free, you need to purchase a $6 trail pass.) Find all the details at www.paccsa.org.

• Fun factor: 8, for sheer bliss

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