The snow just keeps falling in Central New York, and that's giving many people the winter blues. We went out to find some local places where you can warm up or just escape from it all.
At the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, the "Diversity of Birds" aviary exhibit is a great place to warm up. Spokesperson Lorrell Walter says the temperature is usually in the 70s, and the humidity is high. You can also check out more than two dozen species of birds.
"Whenever the sun peeks its head out, people come here," says Walter. "It's a nice thing to do, and even if you don't want to spend time in the cold, you can come and walk around the zoo, and see many inside animals."
Walter says more than 60% of the exhibits are indoors, including the zoo's baby patas monkey, who is just about a month old.
The zoo is having Snow Leopard days throughout the rest of February. That means admission will be half price.
The Watson Greenhouse in Lafayette also has a tropical feel. The sun streaming through the windows pushed the temperature to about 70 degrees on Friday.
"I've had quite a trickle of people coming in that just can't take any more winter," says owner Carol Watson. "They say, 'I have to get a breath of spring.'"
Watson encourages people to walk through the citrus grove or look at flowers like geraniums, which she says smell like summer.
The MOST Museum offers a place to escape from it all. The museum offers shows in a planetarium, and its IMAX theater is presenting a show that takes viewers under the sea.
"Winter makes it kind of slovenly and slow," says Justin Sawyers from the MOST. "In here, nothing is slow. It's fun. It's rambunctious. It's a place for children of all ages to come and hang out and play."
What's your favorite place to warm up or beat the winter blues in Central New York? Post your comments below:
