I didn't leave my apartment at all on Thursday during Winter Storm Grayson, aka the "bomb cyclone," a massive winter storm that hit nearly the entire east coast. Central Park reported 9.8 inches of snow, and as much as I love to frolic in the city during snowstorms, this one was accompanied by gale-force winds and negative temperatures.

Of course I enjoy snow days and time off work, but I've been staying inside so much over the past few weeks that I began to go a little stir crazy. Despite the frigid temps, I decided to walk to work on Friday morning through Central Park, hoping to counteract my winter blues with sunshine and beautiful, snowy views.

It's been a while since I walked to/from work since it's been cold and getting dark so early, but it's really something I should do more often. It takes me about 45 minutes (longer if I'm wandering) to walk 2.2 miles door to door, which is also just about how long it takes if I ride the bus. My favorite route is through the North Woods, which isn't the most direct but it is the most scenic.

The North Woods is one of my favorite areas of Central Park. It's heavily wooded, as the name implies, and it almost feels like a well-kept secret. It has all the features I love in other parts of the park—stone arches, tiny waterfalls, rustic bridges—and none of the crowds that can ruin an otherwise peaceful park walk. It's one of my favorite places to visit after a snowfall and this walk was exactly what I needed to make peace with this winter.

Bomb Cyclone