Where to play if it snows

I tend to be skeptical when the weather forecast calls for snow. Probably because I've gotten my hopes up too many times before — only to awaken in the morning to rain. So while I'm not entirely buying into the current forecast — 3 to 5 inches as of 3:12 this afternoon — I'll bite just enough to get the ball rolling on a list of places to play should it in fact snow 3 to 5 inches tomorrow. I'll throw out some suggestions, you add to the list.

Will Tuesday's weather be ducky for sledding?

Sledding

Bond Park, Cary. Perhaps the most popular sledding hill in the Triangle. It's not that the hill is so long, but you can pick up some speed on it and it's very wide — no waiting your turn for a trip down the hill.

Shelley Lake, Raleigh. There's a fun baby hill on the east side of the dam, while more ambitious (foolhardy?) sledders like to fly down the dam's earthen face.

Dorothea Dix, Raleigh. Lots of opportunities on the campus, which is 306 acres of hill.

Cross-country skiing

The general rule of thumb is that you need 6 inches minimum to ski — and that's on a smooth, rock-free surface. That said:

Umstead State Park, Raleigh. One of the best times I've had on skinny boards was after The Blizzard on the bike & bridle trail at Umstead. Yes, the surface is gravel, but very finely crushed. Some nice downhills (and, as a result, uphills).

Bond Park, Cary. Drop the kids at the sledding hill, then strap on your skis and explore the park, either on its vast, grassy expanses, the greenway or the extra-wide, extra-smooth mountain bike trail that goes through the park.

Duke Forest, Durham. The miles and miles of forest roads here are the ultimate, provided there's sufficient snow.

OK, I've done my part. Let's hear about your favorite places.

And for the latest live coverage of "That-Snowboar-Thing-Looks-Fun-Kid-Let-Me-Give-It-A-Try, go here.