Head to DuPage County for family fun

We're surrounded by beautiful woods so some times we don't travel to other places to see the fun things happening there. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has lots of fun family winter activities taking place in January. Here are a few highlights.

Sundays through January

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides — Enjoy a 15-minute ride through the prairies and woodlands of Danada Forest Preserve as you learn about its history. Wagons are used if there is less than 4 inches of packed snow on the trail. Noon – 3 p.m. at Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road in Wheaton. $5 per person ages 13 and up; $2 ages 5 – 12; under 5 free. Rides are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of 15 or more are encouraged to reserve private rides. Call 630-668-6012.

Sunday, Jan. 6

Winter Basics — Spend an afternoon with a ranger, and learn how to prepare for outdoor winter activities. 1 – 3 p.m. at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton on Butterfield Road two miles west of Naperville Road. Ages 7 and up; under 18 with an adult. Free. To register, call 630-933-7248.

Thursday, Jan. 17; Saturday, Jan. 19; Thursday, Jan. 24

Ice Harvesting — See the tools and techniques farm families used to cut and store ice before mechanical refrigeration. Weather permitting, help cut and transport ice from Timber Lake to the icehouse. Activities ongoing. 1 – 4 p.m. at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road in West Chicago. All ages. Free. Registration not required. Call 630-876-5900.

For more information about any of these events, visit www.dupageforest.org.