The hills are open at Kansas City's ski resort, Snow Creek, which finally has snow that's set to last through the week and beyond.

Why it matters: Snow sports are hit and miss here, where winter temps have a tough time staying below 32 degrees.

• Skiers and snowboarders now have a clear window of opportunity to hit the slopes.

Context: Snow Creek opened on Dec. 26, which is typical, Vail Resorts communications manager Maria Wollenburg tells Axios.

• But since then, temps in the 40s and 50s have made for muddy hills, per the resort's mountain cams.

State of play: After the weekend's winter storm, forecasts put this week's high temperatures below freezing, meaning the snow will stick around.

What they're saying: "We are always stoked to see snow in the forecast," general manager Joaynna Cook-Gray told Axios last week, adding that safety is a priority and guests should "take lots of breaks to warm up while on the slopes."

💭 Travis' thought bubble: My skis have been in storage for a long time. Maybe it's time to fish them back out and go shred some gnarly powder (aka "gnar pow").

If you go: Snow Creek is on the north side of Weston — about a 45-minute drive from downtown KCMO.

• The hills are open until 9 every night of the week.
• Tubing tickets are good for 2 hours and have limited availability.

Visit the website for rental prices, deals and events — and check the My Epic app for updates.

When winter settles in, staying active often means exercising indoors, and KC offers plenty of options beyond the treadmill. Here are some local workout classes worth checking out.

🚴 Mojo Cycling Studio

This Plaza spin studio offers indoor cycling classes that focus on rhythm and pacing.

• The dim lights and music help you zone in.

💭 Abbey's thought bubble: I used to take these classes religiously when I lived near the Plaza, and they're still among the fastest endorphin boosts I can recommend in KC.

💃 Dance Fit Flow

Dance Fit Flow offers adults-only dance classes that double as cardio, with styles ranging from hip-hop to barre.

• The studio leans into encouragement and community, which helps if you are getting back into movement after a long break.
• The founders launched it in 2017 after missing the camaraderie of their NFL dancer days.

🏋️ CrossFit on 18th | Crossroads Bootcamp

This gym offers both CrossFit and boot camp-style classes, with coaches who scale movements for beginners and experienced athletes.

• If you want to try it without committing, the gym lists drop-in and intro options, including a six-class starter deal.

🧘 Power Life

These classes blend yoga with strength-focused formats, leaving you surprisingly sore for something that starts with a deep breath.

• They have classes throughout the day, which helps if you need options outside the classic 5:30pm scramble.

💭 Abbey's thought bubble: I did not expect 8-pound weights to humble me the way they do in these classes.

💧 Sweatheory

Sweatheory pairs heated classes with infrared sauna time, making it a solid winter move if you want warmth and movement in one stop.

• The studio offers infrared yoga and fitness classes, plus sauna sessions you can book when you want recovery baked into the plan.

Tell a workaholic: Play isn't just good for your health — it could improve your work output.

Why it matters: Taking play breaks can reduce stress, strengthen teamwork, and boost creativity and problem-solving, research suggests.

The big picture: Play leads to a more "exploratory, open-minded, experimental place, and that's usually where solutions come from," says Piera Gelardi, Refinery29 co-founder and author of the forthcoming book "The Playful Way" (out in April).

• Meanwhile, "play deprivation" could be linked to negative mental health outcomes, according to Stuart Brown, clinical researcher and founder of the National Institute for Play.

Adding some play to your workday can look like doodling for a few minutes, listening to your favorite song, or going for a walk to seek awe outdoors.

To find more opportunities to play, identify the grown-up version of the thing you loved as a kid, Gelardi says.

• If you dressed up dolls, play with your own style. If you enjoyed sports, build more movement into your day.

💭 Abbey's thought bubble: A long walk by the Missouri River, headphones in, while listening to a niche YouTube video essay about the cultural legacy of "The Sims" is my version of play.

💭 Travis' thought bubble: My playground has always been the outdoors. Activities like mountain biking, ultimate Frisbee and skiing make me feel like a kid again.

☕️ A new coffee shop in the Garment District soft-opened on Friday. Veil Cafe, at 8th Street and Bank Street, offers coffee from Marcell, pastries from Scratch KC, and matcha products. It's open every day from 8am to 2pm.

✈️ Despite crews keeping runways clear at KCI during the weekend, winter weather in other cities led to 29 flight cancellations Saturday and 84 as of 8pm yesterday, out of the airport's roughly 400 daily passenger flights. (Flightaware)

🏈 The Chiefs' old offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, is coming back next season after leaving KC in 2023. The Chiefs said goodbye to three-season offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. (FOX4)

🏗️ The apartments at Current Landing, a district anchored by CPKC Stadium, are getting ready to open and are accepting applications. New restaurants will be announced soon. (News release)

• Go deeper: Stadiums are becoming more like micro-cities

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Remember on Friday how I said Ollie doesn't care for his booties?

• This is what I meant. Sorry, buddy.

Stay safe, everyone!