We'll never forget the look of startled pleasure on the snow-dusted face of our son, Abram, then three, when my husband and I first took him down a toboggan run. A classic winter thrill, a trip down one of these chutes--formed from wood, fiberglass or banked snow--provides a longer, faster ride than you're likely to find at your local sledding hill. Unlike skating or skiing, this sport requires no athletic ability or expensive equipment. And, because most toboggans accommodate four riders, it's truly an activity families can do together. So bundle up and head to Waterford Oaks Country Park in Michigan to experience the thrill of an old-fashioned ride made modern.

WATERFORD, MICHIGAN

WATERFORD OAKS COUNTY PARK
It's long. It's cool. It's The Fridge, a pair of 1,000-foot-long refrigerated fiberglass chutes. Park workers transport your rental toboggan uphill; you only need to carry it up the launching platform. The park also offers a warming lodge, ice-skating and a snack bar. All-day tickets, including use of a special four-person toboggan, are $9 for adults ($7 for residents) and $4 for kids 30 to 43 inches tall (riders must be 30 inches tall), or $2.50 per person for a single ride. Call 248-975-4440.

Joan Huyser-Honig is a freelance writer in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated July 2005.