Make the best of the winter season on a Road Trip Close to Home to Westchester.

Croton Gorge Park is one of more than a dozen county parks that offer a place for cross-country skiers to explore.

For those who don't own a pair, the staff at Sports Barn Ski and Sport in Yorktown Heights will lead you in the right direction to find the perfect fit to purchase.

The family-owned business offers gear for all things sports, skiing and snowboarding.

"We really try to get an idea of what you're looking for, how you're going to use the piece of equipment, how often you're going to go," sales manager Rob Lenseth said.

There are plenty of options for your Nordic or Alpine adventures.

"If you make the investment, you can go at any time, all you got to do is grab it, put it in the back of your car," Lenseth said, "and fortunately, being in Westchester, we have these options right around the corner."

At Croton Gorge Park, cross-country skiers have the luxury of gliding next to a scenic waterfall and iconic structure in the plaza below the Croton Dam.

"It stretches out to our south about at least 8-10 acres," Westchester County Parks curator John Phillips said, " you could do laps here, and if you're learning, it's great and you can't beat the scenery."

After a fun day outdoors, warm up at Trailside Cafe, a cozy place with plenty of road trip snacks and warm winter meals.

It's just the right spot to wrap up an adventure to remember on a Road Trip Close to Home.

For more about Trailside Cafe, click here https://www.trailside-cafe.com/.

According to Westchester County Park officials, the following parks allow cross-country skiing:

- Blue Mountain Reservation, Peekskill

- Croton Gorge, Cortlandt

- Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson

- Kitchawan Preserve, Yorktown

- Lasdon Park, Somers (8 a.m. - 4 p.m. only)

- Mohansic Golf Course, Yorktown Heights

- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River

- Cranberry lake Preserve, North White Plains

- Marshlands Conservancy, Rye

- The Trails at Merestead, Mount Kisco

- Saxon Woods Park, White Plains

- Saxon Woods Golf Course, Scarsdale

- Dunwoodie Golf Course, Yonkers

- Lenoir Preserve, Yonkers

- Sprain Lake Golf Course, Yonkers

- Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers

- The North and South County Trailways

For a full list, click here

To learn more about Sports Barn Ski and Sport, click here