Winter is officially here.

Roads are icy, days are snowy, and venturing out means bundling up.

And, if you are like me, you are daydreaming of warmth, sunshine and starting to go a little stir crazy. If the winter weather has you feeling cooped up, too, here’s a cure to beat cabin fever: Winter can still be a great time to experience the beautiful outdoors or the cozy indoors Belmont County has to offer.

Take a winter hike. Bundle up to stay warm as you head out in the fresh, crisp air. Winter hikes, birdwatching sessions, sled ridding or building a snowman … Belmont County offers many great places to explore in the winter.

Visit Barkcamp State Park, Dysart Woods, Egypt Valley Wildlife Area, Captina Creek Birding Trail, Zion Retreat & Nature Center, Barnesville Memorial Park, National Road Bikeway, Newlin Falls Nature Trail, Piedmont Lake or Raven Rocks and spend some time enjoying the beautiful scenery our county has to offer.

On Saturday, Feb, 19, from 1-4 p.m., join the Friends of Captina Creek for a winter guided hike at Raven Rocks, located at 54099 Crum Road, in Beallsville.

Learn more about this and other winter events to get your family and friends out in the chill at visitbelmontcounty.com/events.

Learn something new.

Belmont County’s rich history and heritage can be seen and experienced by exploring our many museums and historical sites. On Saturday, Feb. 5, from noon to 3 p.m. visit the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing as they kick off celebrating Black History Month.

Enjoy presentations, touring the museum and learning about slavery and the Underground Railroad in Ohio, the struggle for equality, and the Civil Rights Movement.

The Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society and the Bellaire Public Library are presenting a Winter Lecture Series, providing the public with presentations of local historical topics every Wednesday in February and March from 6-7 p.m.

The weather is cold, the days are short, and the time is just right to get lost in a good book. If you’re not sure what to read, Belmont County has nine public libraries to help you find that perfect book. They include the Belmont County District Library locations of Martins Ferry, Bethesda, Bridgeport, Powhatan, Shadyside and Victoria Read Public Library in Flushing, as well as St. Clairsville Public Library, Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library, and Bellaire Public Library.

Pair your book with a glass of wine from Vino Di Piccin Winery & Tasting House, located at 55155 National Road, Lansing. The family-owned winery produces a variety of different wines made with local grapes from Ohio and high-quality grapes from California.

But if a cup of hot cocoa is more your speed, be sure to check out Aquila Coffee, located inside Three Labs Mercantile at 142 W. Main St., St. Clairsville; Giacinta’s Gelato & Caffe at 166 E. Main St., St. Clairsville; or Beeology Coffee & Bakery Co. at 629 E. Main St., Barnesville.

All three coffee shops offer a variety of coffee, cocoa, tea, and bakery items that are sure to please.

And finally, if you’re up for a challenge but don’t want to leave the couch, I invite you to try one of our virtual jigsaw puzzles at visitbelmontcounty.com/virtual-puzzles.

From the warmth of your own home, you can experience the beauty of your favorite Belmont County attractions and landscapes.

As we all dream about warmer days and fun, community events coming soon, please share any upcoming event information with our office, so we can add it to our website event calendar and share on our social media channels.

We are your community partner, and here to help promote all the upcoming events happening right here, in Friendly. Beautiful. Belmont County.

Each month this space will be devoted to a column written by Jackee Pugh, executive director of the Belmont County Tourism Council. Pugh will provide information about the tourism office, local attractions, upcoming events, and other local finds in Belmont County. She will also share information about the travel and tourism industry and how it impacts our local economy.