Do you get the winter blues from being stuck inside? Maybe a rush of adrenaline, as you fly down a snowy mountain, will help turn that frown upside down (and it’ll freeze that way so you’ll never be sad again)! On a serious note though, Eau Claire is surrounded by a great mix of ski destinations to chase your blues away – and they’re all less than 1½ hours from here. Coming in first as Best Ski Destination, the home of the Blue Hills Beast, is Christie Mountain (W13755 County Road O, Bruce)! They offer slopes for all levels, lessons for beginners, affordable tickets, and rentals and they’re the only destination on this list with on-property lodging! Shredding into second is Afton Alps (6600 Peller Ave S., Hastings, Minnesota), the closest of the three which offers a wider variety of trails spanning 300 acres in the beautiful Saint Croix Valley. Lastly, sliding into third is Trollhaugen Outdoor Recreation (2232 100th Ave., Dresser). Trollhaugen is more than skiing and snowboarding, they also offer late-night Fridays with free live music starting at 10pm. –Measha Vieth