According to a certain Pennsylvanian groundhog, we’re due for a few more weeks of winter.
I’m personally ecstatic, because winter is by far my favorite season. There’s something so comfy about cold weather. You get to bundle up in warm blankets, enjoy the sight of snow, and if it’s really freezing, you get to skip work.
Throw in a hot drink and a warm fire and bam– you’ve got picture-perfect day.
To celebrate this exciting news, I decided to revisit one of my favorite snowy zones in Azeroth; Winterspring.
I explored Winterspring for first time back in mid-2020. I was sick as a dog with you-know-what, and had absolutely zero energy to do almost anything in-game or otherwise. So on a whim, I rolled an alt and spent three weeks questing and exploring its snowy landscape.
From the minute I stepped in, there was something undeniably interesting about it.
Thinking about it now, I don’t think I even left the zone once that whole time.
Now I know it doesn’t take three weeks to quest through Winterspring. But hey, I was sick! And frankly, I really enjoyed taking my time for once.
That month is honestly now one of my best WoW memories, and today I always bring my alts to level there because the place just screams ‘cozy’.
From the gentle snow-white hills, to the adorable Frostsabers, it’s a place that will always have my heart. Ask any longtime WoW player, and I bet they won’t have one bad thing to say about it.
So early in the morning I set off for my tour down memory lane. And after a muggy walk through the underground tunnel from Felwood to Winterspring, I had arrived.
Warming Up At The Hot Springs
While I don’t consider myself particularly high-maintenance, I do love lounging in a warm bath. And hot springs are no exception. So naturally, I had to kick off my trip with a relaxing swim in the Frostfire Hot Springs.
I had the whole hot spring to myself, which was really nice! Though I’d love to come back again during a snowstorm. Either way, it’s certainly worth a stop since it’s on the way to the main town.
Researcher Donova Snowden keeps a camping tent next to the springs, which was great when I was ready to change back into my normal clothes. No frost bite for me, thank you very much!
Afterwards, I mounted up and rode east. On the way, I stopped to climb around on the elven ruins at Lake Kel’Theril.
I pulled in to the town of Everlook right at lunchtime. Being a mostly goblin-populated community, the buildings were all short and placed conveniently close together. This also meant it was vital to stoop whenever I walked through a doorway.
After tying up my horse, I ducked into the inn for a bowl of something hot.
Lunch In An Igloo
After downing a pot of Winter Kimchi, I napped in a storage hammock that had been repurposed as a bed. (Though I wouldn’t recommend them, because you’ll wake up smelling like salted pork.)
As I was leaving, I swung by the auction house to check on my auctions. The goblin auctioneers were friendly, and even offered to help me carry my things to my horse. I swear, you just don’t get that level of service nowadays.
On the road again, I headed south to Frostwhisper Gorge.
While it isn’t the prettiest place in Winterspring, I discovered that it is home to some interesting sights.
Just beyond the enormous gaping gorge, I found a spiky archway marking the path to Mount Hyjal.
Fire elemental servants really have an eye for aesthetic design.
Not wanting to hang around for much longer, I snapped a quick pic to show the guildies, and headed north again.
I rode straight until I got to Frostsaber Rock, where I paid a visit to my friend Rivern. As a certified Wintersaber Trainer, he can help anyone train their very own Wintersaber mount.
I went through his program myself and I have to say, it’s a fun process that builds your patience and understanding. Plus you come out of it with a loyal (and gorgeous) Wintersaber mount.
I was glad to hear that both Rivern and the Wintersabers were doing well, and we swapped stories about our recent adventures.
A Cozy End To a Great Winterspring Day
I decided to end the day at Starfall Village with the Night Elves.
Starfall sits conveniently in the center of the region, just northwest of Everlook. It’s a really quiet and peaceful settlement that has never really seen trouble. (They did have an unfortunate bug infestation once, but I’m happy to report that it’s been fixed.)
After the fall of Gilneas, I lived for a while with Night Elves in their capital city of Darnassus, so it was great to enjoy their familiar world-class hospitality again.
Their main lodge at Starfall has a spectacular view of the surrounding wilderness, and I walked around for a while taking it in. True to their customs, the staff mostly kept to themselves in an effort to not disturb me.
Though every race has their own cool design style, I’ve always been partial to Night Elf architecture. It’s just so relaxing to wander around in their open-air buildings.
The dinner menu at Starfall consisted solely of traditional vegetarian Night Elven dishes. So for dinner, I indulged in some traditional Steamed Mandu with a side of Wild Ricecakes. As I expected, it was excellent!
Finally, I tucked in for the night at their vacant traveler’s cottage just down the road. After my long day, sprawling out on an excessively long Elven bed was just what I needed.
Winterspring is a simple place filled with endless beauty and comfort, and I’ll never get tired of coming back here.
What’s your favorite snowy place in Warcraft? Comment below!
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