Last January, after a winter storm dumped nearly 30 inches of snow on the region, many Baltimoreans were given two great gifts: an extended break from school and work, and some serious sledding hills to explore.

Lutherville resident Dan Taylor and his daughter Ryan, now 9, found their sledding spot close to home, on the “enormous” horseshoe-shaped hill behind Ridgely Middle School.

“It's a great spot — there's such a huge field,” said Taylor. “We were there for days. It got packed down and kids were snowboarding on it. It was so good.”

While the Baltimore area hasn't seen anything close to “Snowzilla” this winter, there's still plenty of time for winter weather to arrive. If and when snow does fall, be prepared to maximize sledding potential by taking the appropriate safety measures, choosing the right equipment, and — of course — knowing the best hills.

The Baltimore region is full of sledding spots.The best have plenty of space for a crowd and at least one hill of impressive size and slope. They're also convenient — when it's snowy, nobody wants to travel too far or get stuck trying to find a parking spot.

As a result, snow bunnies like the Taylors often end up seeking out sledding destinations right in their backyards, both literally and figuratively. Schools, like Ridgely and Anne Arundel Community college; golf courses, such as the one at McDaniel College in Westminster; and local parks, from Federal Hill to Herring Run, are all sledding hot spots. (A word of warning: When possible, check with the owner of the property before setting out to sled. Not every organization perched on a hill welcomes sledders.)

For 50-year-old Taylor, last year's sledding was fun, but different from the sledding memories he has from childhood.

“I grew up in New Jersey in the '70s, and that was the Wild West compared to what goes on now,” he said. “We used to ride the bumpers of cars and my brothers would throw snowballs at us when we went past the house.”

Today, on the other hand, kids — and parents — are much more cautious. “Now everybody has helmets on,” he said.

It seems like just fun and games, but sledding can be a dangerous activity. In December, 35-year-old Adam French died in a Carroll County sledding accident, after being struck by a vehicle when the sled he was riding with his 4-year-old son entered the street.

Identifying safe sledding spots should be a priority, said Teri McCambridge, director of Towson Sports Medicine. “Make sure it's well-lit and don't sled at night, where it's dark and you can't see obstacles,” she said, noting that wooded areas, in particular, pose risks.

“Find an area where it flattens out at the bottom before it comes to a street. And ponds or water might look frozen, but, especially in Baltimore, it's never cold long enough to really freeze.”

McCambridge also warns against letting multiple kids of different ages and sizes pile onto one sled. “It's always the 2-year-old who gets hurt,” she said. Also, to minimize risk of head and body injuries, sled riders should sit feet-first.

“I see a lot of kids who come in because they stood on the sled because they wanted it to be like a snowboard,” she said. “But you shouldn't stand on a sled.”

Just as sledding safety guidelines have come a long way, so have the sleds themselves.

“In the old days, it was the Flexible Flyer — the wooden sleds with metal rails. They were OK, but sledding is more high-tech now,” said Paul Davis, owner of sporting goods store Princeton Sports. “We sell a lot of tubes — basic tubes or tire tubes with vinyl covering them. They hold up for more than one snowstorm.”

Lightweight foam sleds that kids can carry on their own, durable hard plastic sleds, and snowboard-like sleds that kids can steer with a string are also popular.

For would-be sledders who don't own — or can't buy or borrow — traditional sleds, makeshift sleds can be fashioned out of everything from duct tape-covered cardboard boxes to trash can lids and plastic storage tub tops. Enterprising sledders have also been known to repurpose baby pools and air mattresses to head down the hill.

Davis warns that whatever the type, sled shoppers should grab one before the next big blizzard.

“We sell a boatload. When there's snow on the ground, we can't keep the stuff in stock,” he said. “It's like the grocery store when a blizzard's coming.”