Glow snow tubing offered at Snow Trails in Mansfield, Ohio

For those willing to hop in the car and drive for a few hours, the opportunities for fun at Mansfield’s Snow Trails are nearly endless.

Located in scenic Possum Run Valley in Mansfield, an hour north of Columbus, Snow Trails offers a seasonal outdoor getaway for those who want to brave the elements for skiing, snowboarding and tubing.

Each day, fresh snow is packed on to the slopes, regardless of the weather outside of the resort.

The slopes are now open for snowboarding and skiing.

Additional snowmaking days are needed before the tubing park can open, Snow Trails posted last week on its blog.

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Glow tubing begins at 6 p.m. each night of the week, and tickets go on sale once the opening day is confirmed. Guests can purchase two-hour passes to go glow tubing.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and will be available once the date is finalized. Those interested in glow tubing should select time slots after 6 p.m.

Two-hour Tubing Tickets are $25 ($15 for ages 5 and under). Season passes are $150. The season will run until March.

Credit: Nate Wolleson

Credit: Nate Wolleson

Throughout the season, an array of colorful LED lights line the park. Guests can set off at the top of the hill and glide down the snow-packed and LED-lined lanes with a number of guests following along behind them in a train of tubes.

The Vertical Descent Snow Tubing Park is unique in that it offers the longest tubing lanes in all of Ohio.

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If the weather permits, even more LED lights are strewn along the lanes. On certain dates, DJs will perform alongside the outdoor activities.

After hitting the slopes, guests can enjoy live entertainment or grab a bite to eat or a drink at one of the many eateries in the ski lodge on premises. Or, if a quick pick-me-up is needed, guests can huddle around the nearby fire pit.

Early next year, a number of special events will be taking place at Snow Trails, including the Mid-Season Party on Jan. 25 that features an outdoor snow bar and terrain park and terrain park special feature with a DJ and live band in the main Ski Lodge. Fireworks over the snow will only add an idyllic winter ambiance to the affair.

On Feb. 22 and 23, Snow Trails will be hosting its wildly popular Annual Ski Carnival that serves as a reunion for returning snow enthusiasts and as a meeting place for new members.

Aside from paying a visit to Snow Trails, there are many other unique and interesting destinations within and just outside of Mansfield. Those looking for even more outdoor adventure can head to Malabar Farm State Park in nearby Lucas, Ohio, to enjoy miles of ungroomed trails perfect for cross country skiing.

However, if being outdoors in the cold doesn't appeal to you, perhaps a visit to the set of the Shawshank Redemption could spark your interest. That's right--the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, a centuries-old prison steeped in chilling history and plenty of creepy ambiance, provided the setting for the famous movie. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday, visitors can take tours of the Ohio State Reformatory.

For more reasons to make a day trip to Mansfield, pay a visit to destinationmansfield.com.