If this year’s winter is anything like last year’s, the Midwest is in store for some of the coldest temperatures and heaviest snowfall to date. For many, winter accompanies a three month long depression, a time when a person has nothing to do except binge on Netflix, hibernate, and suffer from a lack of social interaction.

Instead of moping about and longing for spring, make the most of your winter because it is too long to waste. So take advantage of old man winter’s dandruff and pick up a tube, toboggan, baking pan, garbage lid, or cafeteria tray and start sledding.

Enjoy the Elmhurst Park District sled hills from Dec. 1-Feb. 28 (weather permitting). Three lighted sledding hills are available for use at Berens Park, Crestview Park and Eldridge Park. You won’t find these types of hills in your backyard. They are extremely large, steep and worth the trip for any avid sledder.

The next hill is not for the faint of heart or people who still get tucked into bed. Simply go east on Cermak Road, keep going until you reach the Eden Lanes Bowling Alley in Broadview, when you approach the bowling alley you will see an overpass. There is a hill next to the overpass that locals have christened “Suicide Hill.” The hill is teeming with trees and boulders, so I only recommend it for hardcore sledding experts.

The town of Evanston offers Robert E. James Park, or “Mount Trashmore,” as it is more commonly referred to by locals because of its former use as a landfill, is at the top of the list for sledding options in the Chicagoland area. It has become an excellent sledding spot because of its size and proximity to the city of Chicago. It’s a 30 mile hike from La Grange to Evanston, but if you’re a fan of prime sledding you won’t be disappointed.

There is a hill in the Westchester Woods Forest Preserve. However, don’t expect to experience a lot of nature when sledding this hill. The hill is located on the outskirts of the forest preserve. From the top of the hill there are lovely views of the train tracks, Business Park, and the Cermak Road Bridge.

The River Forest Park District offers the Keystone Park West Sledding Hill is open for use. The sled hill is unsupervised so sledding is at your own risk. The hill isn’t huge, but it isn’t small either. It is perfect for smaller kids because they can get a little speed and their ride lasts longer than a lot of hills. Teenagers may quickly get bored as the excitement level is a little low after going down the hill a couple of times.