20 Things to Do in Minnesota in Winter<\/h1>\n\n\n\nFebruary 15, 2015<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/sierranorthstar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/02\/tumblr_n19bg0qpqi1t6qgilo1_1280.jpg?w=470&h=264\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto Credit: Jack Davis (pixures.tumblr.com)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It\u2019s February \u2013 the holidays are well behind us, but winter is far from releasing its grip. This is the time of year in which the luster of cold-weather activities begins to wear off, winter carnivals and events\u00a0wind\u00a0down, and you find yourself dreaming about warm spring afternoons. Though you may be tempted to spend the rest of the season in bed, here are our top 20 snow-compatible activities to help you beat the cold and stay positive in the closing weeks of winter.<\/p>\n
1. Spend the day ice skating<\/strong><\/p>\nYou can\u2019t move in Minnesota without tripping over a frozen lake \u2013 they\u2019re our greatest treasures! Strap on your skates and enjoy your local watering hole in its solid form. If you don\u2019t have your own blades, many rinks offer rental skates.\u00a0Lake of the Isles<\/a>\u00a0in Minneapolis, Minnesota rents them for free in all sizes.<\/p>\n2. Visit the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory<\/strong><\/p>\nIf the only green thing you\u2019ve seen in months is your Christmas tree, consider visiting the\u00a0Marjorie McNeely Conservatory<\/a>\u00a0in Como Park, St Paul and immersing yourself in lush foliage from around the world. Step into the Tropical Encounters exhibit and feel your skin react with joy to the long-forgotten sensation of humidity. The Fern Room, the Bonsai exhibit, and the North Garden \u2013 with its collection of plants that have changed human history \u2013 are beautiful, educational, and guaranteed to be over 70\u00b0 Fahrenheit. There are no entrance fees, only small suggested donations ($3 for adults, $2 for children).<\/p>\n\n![\"Snowshoer\"](\"https:\/\/sierranorthstar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/02\/img0373.jpg?w=300&h=300\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto Credit: Jack Davis (pixures.tumblr.com)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
3. Explore Minnesota\u2019s parks on snowshoe<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you\u2019ve always wished you could glide buoyantly across the snow and explore places inaccessible to hiking, snowshoeing might be for you. Whitewater State Park outside of Rochester, Minnesota hosts guided Snowshoe Saturdays twice a month. But if you prefer solo adventuring\u00a0dozens of Minnesotan parks<\/a>\u00a0provide snowshoe rentals to the public. Afterwards you\u2019ll want to warm up your extremities with some\u00a0fancy hot chocolate<\/a>.<\/p>\n4. Visit an art museum<\/strong><\/p>\nThere\u2019s nothing better than exploring an art museum on a gray, sleety day, and we have two excellent ones here in the Twin Cities. The\u00a0Walker Art Center\u00a0<\/a>and the\u00a0Minneapolis Institute of Arts<\/a>\u00a0both have extensive collections, the latter of which is largely free to the public. Of particular interest is\u00a0the ongoing \u201cNature of Nature\u201d exhibition\u00a0<\/a>at the MIA\u2019s Target Wing. The Walker Sculpture Garden takes on a completely different aspect in winter, and is worth a look on a sunny day.<\/p>\n5. Indoor or ice climbing<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you\u2019re not ready to commit to a gym membership, your local rock gym should offer climbing day passes, which are fun ways to stay active even on the coldest days.\u00a0Midwest Mountaineering<\/a>\u00a0in St. Paul has a free bouldering cave for customers, and is definitely worth a look when you\u2019re outfitting your next expedition. If your passion for climbing outdoors can\u2019t be contained by the cold, Vertical Endeavors offers\u00a0monthly Ice Climbing courses<\/a>\u00a0in Sandstone, Minnesota. Then, get your crampons over to\u00a0Casket Quarry<\/a>\u00a0in Duluth\u00a0(don\u2019t let\u00a0the name deter you) and practice your newfound skills!<\/p>\n6. Build a bonfire and roast s\u2019mores![\"bonfire\"](\"https:\/\/sierranorthstar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/02\/bonfire.jpg?w=305&h=219\")
<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nTurn a weeknight into a camping trip by roasting s\u2019mores over a fire pit or grill. If you don\u2019t have a space for a bonfire, you can still make s\u2019mores over a gas-lit stove!<\/p>\n
7. Go ice fishing<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you\u2019ve ever thought to yourself, \u201cI like to fish, but I sure hate standing in the cold,\u201d ice fishing is still the sport for you. You can rent a shanty on\u00a0Lake Mille Lacs<\/a>\u00a0(yes, that does mean Lake \u201cOne Thousand Lakes\u201d) near Brainerd for the day and plumb the frozen depths for trout. Some of these \u201cshanties\u201d come equipped with central heating and WiFi, but you can adjust the modern convenience level to your comfort.<\/p>\n8. Treat yourself to some maple taffy<\/strong><\/p>\nThis sticky snow day treat had a cameo in Laura Ingalls Wilder\u2019s book about pioneer life in Minnesota,\u00a0Little House in the Big Woods<\/em>. It\u2019s made by pouring boiled maple syrup over fresh snow and it couldn\u2019t be yummier (see recipe\u00a0here<\/a>).<\/p>\n9. Cross-country ski<\/strong><\/p>\nMinnesota may not have as many downhill skiing opportunities as other northern states, but our cross-country scene\u00a0is on point. The leisurely pace of cross-country skiing facilitates wildlife encounters, conversation and photo opportunities, and most of our parks have well-groomed trails waiting to be explored. For a romantic twist, try\u00a0a candlelit ski trip<\/a>\u00a0with your significant other (BYOB).<\/p>\n\n![\"Sierra](\"https:\/\/sierranorthstar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/02\/lebanon-hills-ski.jpg?w=470&h=353\")
<\/p>\n
Sierra Clubbers on an outing at Lebanon Hills. Photo Credit: Joyce Icardo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
10. Tour a brewery<\/strong><\/p>\nLearn about how beer is made, taste some delicious (and free!) local brews, and support your neighborhood businesses by registering for a brewery tour near you (make sure you have a designated driver or public transportation plan in place). Check out this\u00a0list of breweries<\/a>\u00a0across the state that are open for tours. Afterwards, take what you learned and try crafting your own brew at home \u2013 you can buy all the supplies you need at any of\u00a0these stores<\/a>.<\/p>\n11. Grow indoor vegetables<\/strong><\/p>\nThe earth outside is frozen, but you don\u2019t have to give up on your fresh vegetable game completely. Some veggies that do well in partial sunlight can be grown indoors in the winter without a UV lamp. You can find instructions and a list of good plant candidates for windowsills\u00a0here<\/a>. For beginner gardeners,\u00a0sprouts\u00a0<\/a>are easy to grow in even the smallest kitchen!<\/p>\n12. Dash through the snow on a dog sled<\/strong><\/p>\nYou don\u2019t have to own 12 purebred huskies to enjoy the thrill of dog sledding. Plenty of lodges near Duluth, Ely and the Boundary Waters offer guided day trips and longer camping trips. If you\u2019re not quite ready to take charge of your own wolf pack, there are plenty of opportunities to watch dogsled races around the state, such as\u00a0Mush for a Cure<\/a>\u00a0on Gunflint Lake, Minnesota or\u00a0Wolftrack Classic<\/a>\u00a0in Ely, Minnesota.<\/p>\n\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/sierranorthstar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/02\/fullsizerender-jpg.jpeg?w=470&h=531\")
<\/p>\n
Minnesota musher, Tom Roos, and his dogs on the Data Trail in Alexandria, MN<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
13. Rock an evening at a roller derby<\/strong><\/p>\nWith all the grace of an ice dancing show and all the violence of a monster truck rally, roller derby is a sport unlike any other. Ladies, the waitlist to join a beginner\u2019s league can be over a year long, but in the meantime you can catch bouts\u00a0every month<\/a>\u00a0at the Roy Wilkins auditorium.<\/p>\n14. Ride the Alpine Roller Coaster at Spirit Mountain<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you can\u2019t wait until\u00a0Valley Fair<\/a>\u00a0opens up again in May, check out the Midwest\u2019s only alpine roller coaster, located on\u00a0Spirit Mountain<\/a>\u00a0in Duluth, Minnesota. Spirit Mountain hosts a variety of wintery analogs to typical summer activities, like fat tire mountain biking and snow tubing, so it\u2019s definitely worth a visit!<\/p>\n15. Check out the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show<\/strong><\/p>\nThe\u00a0Home and Garden Show<\/a>\u00a0at the Minneapolis Convention Center runs from February 25th\u00a0to March 1st\u00a0and will include an assortment of domestic exhibits, including models of sustainable living and design, \u201cupcycled\u201d furniture, cooking demonstrations and indoor feature gardens to get you in the mood for planting season.<\/p>\n\n![\"Lynx](\"https:\/\/sierranorthstar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/02\/lynx-running-in-snow.jpg?w=300&h=241\")
<\/p>\n
Photo Credit: Michael Shoop<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
16.\u00a0Explore winter wildlife watching<\/strong><\/p>\nNot everything hibernates or flies south in the winter \u2013 some species (particularly overwintering birds) are especially active in the colder months. This is a great time to practice identifying animal tracks in the snow, and the wintry landscape can be a beautiful setting for wildlife photography. The DNR has compiled some useful winter wildlife viewing tips and events\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n17. Steam up in an Urban Sauna<\/strong><\/p>\nOriginally a Finnish winter tradition, the sauna lifestyle is\u00a0currently blowing up<\/a>\u00a0in the Twin Cities and beyond. Sauna advocates tout their health benefits, and sitting in a hot, steamy room for hours certainly makes you appreciate the icy breezes outside. Although we still lack a public sauna, groups such as the\u00a0612 Sauna Society<\/a>\u00a0are dedicated to improving access with mobile and pop-up saunas around the twin cities. Not comfortable using someone else\u2019s sauna, and you\u2019re good with your hands, considerbuilding your own<\/a>\u00a0this winter!<\/p>\n18. Join a broomball league<\/strong><\/p>\nBroomball is an exciting sport that requires minimal equipment and offers the chance to see your friends and coworkers fall down a lot, so what\u2019s not to love? You can start your own league or join an existing one\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n19. Go to a concert<\/strong><\/p>\nThe music won\u2019t stop just because it\u2019s below freezing out \u2013 check out\u00a0this list\u00a0<\/a>of upcoming concerts in the state.<\/p>\n
Photo Credit: Jack Davis (pixures.tumblr.com)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s February \u2013 the holidays are well behind us, but winter is far from releasing its grip. This is the time of year in which the luster of cold-weather activities begins to wear off, winter carnivals and events\u00a0wind\u00a0down, and you find yourself dreaming about warm spring afternoons. Though you may be tempted to spend the rest of the season in bed, here are our top 20 snow-compatible activities to help you beat the cold and stay positive in the closing weeks of winter.<\/p>\n 1. Spend the day ice skating<\/strong><\/p>\n You can\u2019t move in Minnesota without tripping over a frozen lake \u2013 they\u2019re our greatest treasures! Strap on your skates and enjoy your local watering hole in its solid form. If you don\u2019t have your own blades, many rinks offer rental skates.\u00a0Lake of the Isles<\/a>\u00a0in Minneapolis, Minnesota rents them for free in all sizes.<\/p>\n 2. Visit the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory<\/strong><\/p>\n If the only green thing you\u2019ve seen in months is your Christmas tree, consider visiting the\u00a0Marjorie McNeely Conservatory<\/a>\u00a0in Como Park, St Paul and immersing yourself in lush foliage from around the world. Step into the Tropical Encounters exhibit and feel your skin react with joy to the long-forgotten sensation of humidity. The Fern Room, the Bonsai exhibit, and the North Garden \u2013 with its collection of plants that have changed human history \u2013 are beautiful, educational, and guaranteed to be over 70\u00b0 Fahrenheit. There are no entrance fees, only small suggested donations ($3 for adults, $2 for children).<\/p>\n Photo Credit: Jack Davis (pixures.tumblr.com)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 3. Explore Minnesota\u2019s parks on snowshoe<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve always wished you could glide buoyantly across the snow and explore places inaccessible to hiking, snowshoeing might be for you. Whitewater State Park outside of Rochester, Minnesota hosts guided Snowshoe Saturdays twice a month. But if you prefer solo adventuring\u00a0dozens of Minnesotan parks<\/a>\u00a0provide snowshoe rentals to the public. Afterwards you\u2019ll want to warm up your extremities with some\u00a0fancy hot chocolate<\/a>.<\/p>\n 4. Visit an art museum<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s nothing better than exploring an art museum on a gray, sleety day, and we have two excellent ones here in the Twin Cities. The\u00a0Walker Art Center\u00a0<\/a>and the\u00a0Minneapolis Institute of Arts<\/a>\u00a0both have extensive collections, the latter of which is largely free to the public. Of particular interest is\u00a0the ongoing \u201cNature of Nature\u201d exhibition\u00a0<\/a>at the MIA\u2019s Target Wing. The Walker Sculpture Garden takes on a completely different aspect in winter, and is worth a look on a sunny day.<\/p>\n 5. Indoor or ice climbing<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re not ready to commit to a gym membership, your local rock gym should offer climbing day passes, which are fun ways to stay active even on the coldest days.\u00a0Midwest Mountaineering<\/a>\u00a0in St. Paul has a free bouldering cave for customers, and is definitely worth a look when you\u2019re outfitting your next expedition. If your passion for climbing outdoors can\u2019t be contained by the cold, Vertical Endeavors offers\u00a0monthly Ice Climbing courses<\/a>\u00a0in Sandstone, Minnesota. Then, get your crampons over to\u00a0Casket Quarry<\/a>\u00a0in Duluth\u00a0(don\u2019t let\u00a0the name deter you) and practice your newfound skills!<\/p>\n 6. Build a bonfire and roast s\u2019mores Turn a weeknight into a camping trip by roasting s\u2019mores over a fire pit or grill. If you don\u2019t have a space for a bonfire, you can still make s\u2019mores over a gas-lit stove!<\/p>\n 7. Go ice fishing<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ever thought to yourself, \u201cI like to fish, but I sure hate standing in the cold,\u201d ice fishing is still the sport for you. You can rent a shanty on\u00a0Lake Mille Lacs<\/a>\u00a0(yes, that does mean Lake \u201cOne Thousand Lakes\u201d) near Brainerd for the day and plumb the frozen depths for trout. Some of these \u201cshanties\u201d come equipped with central heating and WiFi, but you can adjust the modern convenience level to your comfort.<\/p>\n 8. Treat yourself to some maple taffy<\/strong><\/p>\n This sticky snow day treat had a cameo in Laura Ingalls Wilder\u2019s book about pioneer life in Minnesota,\u00a0Little House in the Big Woods<\/em>. It\u2019s made by pouring boiled maple syrup over fresh snow and it couldn\u2019t be yummier (see recipe\u00a0here<\/a>).<\/p>\n 9. Cross-country ski<\/strong><\/p>\n Minnesota may not have as many downhill skiing opportunities as other northern states, but our cross-country scene\u00a0is on point. The leisurely pace of cross-country skiing facilitates wildlife encounters, conversation and photo opportunities, and most of our parks have well-groomed trails waiting to be explored. For a romantic twist, try\u00a0a candlelit ski trip<\/a>\u00a0with your significant other (BYOB).<\/p>\n Sierra Clubbers on an outing at Lebanon Hills. Photo Credit: Joyce Icardo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 10. Tour a brewery<\/strong><\/p>\n Learn about how beer is made, taste some delicious (and free!) local brews, and support your neighborhood businesses by registering for a brewery tour near you (make sure you have a designated driver or public transportation plan in place). Check out this\u00a0list of breweries<\/a>\u00a0across the state that are open for tours. Afterwards, take what you learned and try crafting your own brew at home \u2013 you can buy all the supplies you need at any of\u00a0these stores<\/a>.<\/p>\n 11. Grow indoor vegetables<\/strong><\/p>\n The earth outside is frozen, but you don\u2019t have to give up on your fresh vegetable game completely. Some veggies that do well in partial sunlight can be grown indoors in the winter without a UV lamp. You can find instructions and a list of good plant candidates for windowsills\u00a0here<\/a>. For beginner gardeners,\u00a0sprouts\u00a0<\/a>are easy to grow in even the smallest kitchen!<\/p>\n 12. Dash through the snow on a dog sled<\/strong><\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to own 12 purebred huskies to enjoy the thrill of dog sledding. Plenty of lodges near Duluth, Ely and the Boundary Waters offer guided day trips and longer camping trips. If you\u2019re not quite ready to take charge of your own wolf pack, there are plenty of opportunities to watch dogsled races around the state, such as\u00a0Mush for a Cure<\/a>\u00a0on Gunflint Lake, Minnesota or\u00a0Wolftrack Classic<\/a>\u00a0in Ely, Minnesota.<\/p>\n Minnesota musher, Tom Roos, and his dogs on the Data Trail in Alexandria, MN<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 13. Rock an evening at a roller derby<\/strong><\/p>\n With all the grace of an ice dancing show and all the violence of a monster truck rally, roller derby is a sport unlike any other. Ladies, the waitlist to join a beginner\u2019s league can be over a year long, but in the meantime you can catch bouts\u00a0every month<\/a>\u00a0at the Roy Wilkins auditorium.<\/p>\n 14. Ride the Alpine Roller Coaster at Spirit Mountain<\/strong><\/p>\n If you can\u2019t wait until\u00a0Valley Fair<\/a>\u00a0opens up again in May, check out the Midwest\u2019s only alpine roller coaster, located on\u00a0Spirit Mountain<\/a>\u00a0in Duluth, Minnesota. Spirit Mountain hosts a variety of wintery analogs to typical summer activities, like fat tire mountain biking and snow tubing, so it\u2019s definitely worth a visit!<\/p>\n 15. Check out the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show<\/strong><\/p>\n The\u00a0Home and Garden Show<\/a>\u00a0at the Minneapolis Convention Center runs from February 25th\u00a0to March 1st\u00a0and will include an assortment of domestic exhibits, including models of sustainable living and design, \u201cupcycled\u201d furniture, cooking demonstrations and indoor feature gardens to get you in the mood for planting season.<\/p>\n Photo Credit: Michael Shoop<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 16.\u00a0Explore winter wildlife watching<\/strong><\/p>\n Not everything hibernates or flies south in the winter \u2013 some species (particularly overwintering birds) are especially active in the colder months. This is a great time to practice identifying animal tracks in the snow, and the wintry landscape can be a beautiful setting for wildlife photography. The DNR has compiled some useful winter wildlife viewing tips and events\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n 17. Steam up in an Urban Sauna<\/strong><\/p>\n Originally a Finnish winter tradition, the sauna lifestyle is\u00a0currently blowing up<\/a>\u00a0in the Twin Cities and beyond. Sauna advocates tout their health benefits, and sitting in a hot, steamy room for hours certainly makes you appreciate the icy breezes outside. Although we still lack a public sauna, groups such as the\u00a0612 Sauna Society<\/a>\u00a0are dedicated to improving access with mobile and pop-up saunas around the twin cities. Not comfortable using someone else\u2019s sauna, and you\u2019re good with your hands, considerbuilding your own<\/a>\u00a0this winter!<\/p>\n 18. Join a broomball league<\/strong><\/p>\n Broomball is an exciting sport that requires minimal equipment and offers the chance to see your friends and coworkers fall down a lot, so what\u2019s not to love? You can start your own league or join an existing one\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 19. Go to a concert<\/strong><\/p>\n The music won\u2019t stop just because it\u2019s below freezing out \u2013 check out\u00a0this list\u00a0<\/a>of upcoming concerts in the state.<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/sierranorthstar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/02\/tumblr_n19bg0qpqi1t6qgilo1_1280.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n