It may be cold outside but there are still plenty of things to see and things to do in winter in Illinois. Not everyone enjoys the winter season, but we may as well try to enjoy it while it's here. And why not visit some awesome places around the state that take on a whole different feel during the winter? Read on to learn about seven such places.

1. Take a weekend to go horseback riding at White Pines Ranch in Oregon.

Take a horseback ride through the property of the 200-acre White Pines Ranch which turns into a winter wonderland this time of year. Offered on select dates in January and February, the ranch's Winter Fun horseback weekends include overnight accommodations, plenty of horseback riding, and tons of fun! You can learn more in our previous post.

2. Take a sleigh ride through the wintry landscape of Forest View Farms in Tinley Park.

A sleigh ride is a magical and romantic way to celebrate the winter months. Forest View Farms has been offering sleigh rides for many years and you're sure to have a wonderful time watching the wintry landscape go by from the cozy comfort of a sleigh. You can learn more about sleigh rides with Forest View Farms in our full coverage.

3. Chase frozen waterfalls at Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby.

Chasing waterfalls is wonderful any time of year but there's nothing quite as magical as seeing the waterfalls frozen in time at Starved Rock State Park come winter. Take a hike to one of several canyons in the park and see for yourself. Learn more about the frozen waterfalls at Starved Rock State Park in our previous coverage.

4. Hike through the winter landscape.

With all the gorgeous preserves around the state, there are plenty of opportunities to go hiking in Illinois any time of year. If you want to see the landscape covered in a blanket of snow and experience the peace and quiet that comes with the season, take one of these trails for a stunning winter hike.

5. Fly down a hill on a tube at Snowstar in Andalusia.

If you've ever been snow tubing, you know what a thrilling adventure it can be! Snowstar has 11 snow tubing lanes offering plenty of room for everyone. So, grab a tube, jump on, and fly down the hill for an adrenaline-pumping time. Learn more about snow tubing at Snowstar in this post.

6. Skate on a unique ice rink at Maggie Daley Park in Chicago.

During the winter months, Maggie Daley Park is home to a 27,500 square-foot ice ribbon that's an ice skating rink unlike any other. You can skate day or night and bring your own skates or rent them there. Enjoy city skyline views as you skate along this awesome trail of ice. It will be one of the most memorable ice skating adventures you can have! You can learn more about the Maggie Daley Ice Skating Ribbon in this article.

7. Enjoy the great indoors at Pelican Harbor's indoor aquatic park in Bolingbrook.

Not everyone wants to spend time out in the cold in the winter but we all still want to have fun. While the outdoor waterparks are closed during the season, there are a few indoor parks that are open year-round. Head to Pelican Harbor Aquatic Park for some family-friendly time in the pool and on water slides, all in the comfort of the great indoors. To learn more, read our previous coverage.

Do you know of any other awesome things to do in winter in Illinois? Please share with your fellow readers in the comments!