Mini Getaways for the New Year

This year, why not stretch yourself and try something new for the New Year? Research has proven that you can grow new neurons throughout your life when you learn and memorize something new. Here are seven ideas to get you started:

1. Try a new adventure. While it may may not be the best time of the year to go White Water Rafting, there are plenty of options for winter adventures, such as: snowshoeing at Stevens Pass, snowmobiling in Cle Elem and horseback riding on Squak Mountain.
2. Learn a new talent or a useful skill. If doing something exotic and energizing sounds intriguing, partake in a Pacific Islander Dance class taught by professional dancer Leila Fernandez. She conducts classes in Bellevue for adults on Friday evenings from 6:30-7:30. 
3. Maybe you want to redesign your home or learn how to do some simple home repairs. Look to The Home Depot for helpful instruction at their weekend workshops. This month, class offerings include: High Efficiency Lighting, Kitchen Redesign and Bath Safety on Saturdays. On Sunday afternoons, you'll get great tips for organizing your home at the Storage and Closet Organization solutions.
4. For those who have shied away from culture, perhaps you'll find new meaning in visiting an art exhibit, a play or listening to the symphony. Downtown SAM is featuring some of the most exquisite Asian art collections in their current exhibit, Luminous. On display are some of the finest Asian bronzes; lacquers; ceramics; sculptures and paintings found in North America. The exhibit is in its last week and ends on Sunday, January 8th.
5. Joshua Bell, sometimes known as the "poet of the violin" is playing with the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall on Tuesday, January 10th. 
6. Avoid crossing the bridge and head east to the Village Theatre in Issaquah. 
7. Now showing, through January 29th, is Annie Get Your Gun, a love story set in the Wild West.

So, immerse yourself in something new. Who knows? Not only could you experience some neural growth benefits, but you might even find a new hobby or new skill that could last you a lifetime of enjoyment and new connections.