If ice skating isn’t adventurous enough for you, then grab your sled (not a lunch tray), and head out to the hills along Lake Drive.

Wondering what to do with yourself on that cold and frosty Friday night? Yes, staying cooped up in your dorm, watching endless hours of “Friends” and making late-night Jimmy John’s runs does sound appealing. Yet believe it or not, this wonderful city we reside in has many exciting activities to get you up and off the couch.

For example, you could check out Red Arrow Park located downtown at 920 N. Water St., where you can enjoy outdoor ice skating with some friends.

If you own ice skates, it won’t cost you a penny to enjoy this traditional wintertime activity, and if not, the cost for renting skates is $5.50.

The beautiful park is located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee and boasts a warming house for the ice skaters complete with a rental shop, lockers, restrooms and a Starbucks. Enjoying a Cinnamon Dolce Latte is the perfect way to warm up after some good old-fashioned ice skating.

The rink is open for skating Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (with skate rental starting at 2 p.m.), Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If ice skating isn’t adventurous enough for you, then grab your sled (not a lunch tray), and head out to the hills along Lake Drive. Don’t have a sled? Downer Hardware, located at 2629 N. Downer Ave., can help you out. They sell saucers for under $10. Grab your buddies and get out there and sled. Just make sure there’s enough snow.

If you’re not an outdoors type of person, the next three activities are for you.

Check out an indie flick at the beautiful and historic Oriental Theatre located at 2230 N. Farwell Ave., just one mile south of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus.

Admission prices range from around $7 to $9 depending on the time and day of the movie. The theatre mainly showcases independently made films on its three screens.

A unique movie-going experience is guaranteed at the Oriental, which was built in 1927 and features beautiful East Indian decor. In 2005, the theatre was named “One of the Ten Best Movie Theatres in America” by Entertainment Weekly.

Spend an afternoon touring the Sprecher Brewery factory, where you can take an up-close and personal look at the brew house, bottling line and warehouse with a knowledable tour guide to answer all of your questions. The tour ends in their beer tent with trivia questions, beer samples and a beer glass to take home for those over 21, as well as seven different soda samples for the minors.

Sprecher Brewery is located in Glendale at 701 W. Glendale Ave., and prices for the tour are just $1 for anyone under 21 and $3 for those over 21. More information is available on their Web site at www.sprecherbrewery.com.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is a wonderful place to relax your mind and see some unique works of art created by local citizens. The museum is open seven days a week and is located at 700 N. Art Museum Dr. Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but on Thursdays the museum is open until 8 p.m. Student admission to the museum is $4 with a valid student I.D., and on Wednesdays admission is free for all residents of Milwaukee County.

If you have a little more money to spend on an activity then go next door and check out Discovery World, which is home to many intriguing exhibits and beautiful aquariums. Tickets for college students are $9.95, and for each ticket sold, $1 will benefit the Discoverer’s Fund, which provides admittance and programming for underprivileged schools and individuals in the southeast Wisconsin area.

Make the most of your winter days and the city you’re in by experiencing all that Milwaukee has to offer.

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