The traditional way to escape a Manitoba winter is to book a one-week family trip to Florida or Mexico that can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $30,000-plus, depending on the number of people and the exclusivity of the digs.
It's like a big fireworks show: the result is spectacular but short and afterward our wallets resemble empty mortar shells.
Yet Canadians spend more than $3 billion annually on trips to temperate climes to escape, even for a week, Jack Frost's icy digits.
Wouldn't that cash be better spent on doing renovations to our homes that would allow us to enjoy the beauty and serenity of a Manitoba winter while, at the same time, increasing the value of our properties?
At the Swim, Fitness and Fireplace Expo last weekend, Don Carson, president of Krevco Lifestyles, had some ideas for those of us who would prefer to put equity into our homes and still enjoy a Manitoba winter.
One of Carson's suggestions was to purchase a Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spa that can be a source of exercise, healing and pleasure throughout the year.
Depending on size and features, Carson said the units retail for about $24,000 to $44,000 and can be operated outdoors year round on a 50- to 80-amp circuit; a pool cover keeps out snow and debris when not in use.
"A concrete base is recommended for the foundation, though some models have been placed on a heavily constructed deck," said Chad Kozody, a pool, spa and hot tub specialist with Krevco Lifestyles.
Kozody said Phelps, the U.S. swimming sensation, uses the pools in his training facility because they generate a powerful current a person can swim against for a full workout.
Combination pool and hot tub models are available with dual temperature controls to keep the tub warm and the pool cool, if desired, said Kozody.
Some of the larger models feature hot tubs with 48 massage jets and four swim jets powered by four motors.
"An ozone system is used to keep the water clear and clean," said Kozody.
When the cost of a few winter vacations to the southern U.S. or Mexico is calculated, the price of a swim/hot tub outdoor pool doesn't seem so bad. In fact, it would be like experiencing the delight of the Banff Hot Springs on a frigid winter night in your own backyard.
Kozody said portable hot tubs without the pool feature retail for $4,500 to $17,000, depending on size, number of jets and other amenities such as sound or lighting.
For ice fishermen or those who would just like to spend some quality family time in the backyard, the Siberians have invented a compact wood stove that generates electricity, provides an efficient source of heat and is equipped with a cooking surface to fry fish, roast a pack of tube steaks or cook a box of tofu burgers.
The Termofor generates sufficient electricity to power a portable TV/DVD player so you can watch a movie while you enjoy your meal and inhale that salubrious winter air.
The unit also is capable of charging a laptop, cellphone, iPod or electronic reader or running a couple of light bulbs from its 12-volt, 60-watt power outlet.
A spokesperson for Termofor said the heater/generator weighs about 40 kilograms and comes with sufficient stove pipe to properly vent it.
"The only thing I would suggest is to purchase a small current inverter from Canadian Tire to keep the voltage constant if you are running a TV or DVD player," said the spokesperson, adding the Thermofor retails for $1,300 and can be used year round as long as it is covered when not in use.
For people who enjoy outdoor warmth combined with an elegant design, the Amphora Fire Urn by R.H. Peterson may be just the product for you.
Priced at $1,600, the curvaceous urn produces enough heat to keep a small group of winter partiers warm on a deck during a January night.
Made of glass-reinforced concrete, it can be purchased to burn propane (there is room under the base for a nine-kilogram cylinder) or to consume natural gas from a permanent main line connection.
R.H. Peterson also manufactures a variety of outdoor gas and wood fireplaces that generate more BTUs than Bachman and Turner combined.
Though these units can be pricey, they can extend the use of your deck or outdoor patio well into the winter season.
For those inclined to remain indoors, Mike Braybrook of Krevco said his company sells several models of lineal fireplaces by DaVinci and Fireplace Xtrodinair.
The long, lean fireplaces are gas or electric powered and available in various lengths starting at 36 inches for the Xtrodinair.
The DaVinci is designed to be extended to any length, including around corners or in a zigzag pattern.
The 44-inch, all-glass Xtrodinair model sells for about $3,800 and has features such as glass nuggets, which reflect light to create a prism of lovely colours.
Doesn't that sound better than an expensive one-week jaunt to a southern clime?
davidsquare81@yahoo.com
