Minnesota winters get such a bad rap. Yes, it does get cold and snowy here…if we’re lucky! When the first flakes start piling up on the ground, it’s like we turn a page and start an engrossing new chapter in our annual novel. We take inventory of our coats and wool socks and sports equipment. We make reservations for ski weekends and ice fishing getaways with friends. We dream of the swishing whisper you can only experience while cross-country skiing, hiking, or snowshoeing after a recent snow.
It’s no surprise that the people who welcome winter with the most gusto are those who make the most of it. These are the people who get outside and hit the slopes or stock up on apple cider and knitting wool and embrace winter’s abundant hygge.
If you haven’t tried one of the North’s classic winter pastimes, it’s never too late. And if you’re an old hand, try bringing your skills or interests to a new locale—or leveling up your abilities. Embracing winter’s outdoor adventures is often easier said than done, but sometimes you just need to leap first, question later.
Go for a Winter Hike
It doesn’t take a lot of equipment or expertise to go for a hike through a forest of trees dripping with blankets of fluffy snow. Read more »
Hop Aboard a Snowmobile
Adventure awaits when you climb on the back of a snowmobile and fly along a snowy path. Read more »
Spy Northern Lights
There’s no guarantee you’ll catch the aurora borealis, but if it’s a clear night and you do see these dancing, undulating colorful lights, you are one lucky human. Read more »
Take a Hot Plunge
Sometimes what you really need in the winter is not the cold, snowy wind hitting your cheeks but some hot, hot heat. Read more »
Take a Cold Plunge
Have you heard about the reported health benefits of cold plunges—enhanced energy, improved insulin sensitivity, even heightened immunity? Read more »
Learn to Snowboard
Naysayers be darned: It’s never too late to learn a new trick, like snowboarding. Read more »
Watch a New Sport
Yes, you can learn how to participate in new sports, but before you put all that effort into it, why don’t you try watching them first? Read more »
Level Up Your Skiing Game
You’ve mastered all the blue square runs at your local ski hill. Now it might be time: time to conquer a black diamond. Read more »
Get Mushing!
No experience needed to “gee” and “haw” your way through the snowy woods. Read more »
Visit a Distillery for a Winter Whiskey Warmup
Winter is the perfect time to try a cocktail that will warm you up from the inside out, and the state’s distilleries have taken the art of the cocktail to a new level. Read more »
Hop on a Fat Bike
The biking version of a monster truck, fat bikes have tires that are about 4 inches wide and are kept underinflated, so they kind of float above the snow. Read more »
Try Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, is great exercise, easily accessible, relatively easy to learn, and a wonderful way to get some vitamin D in the winter. Read more »
Skate on a River
Embrace your inner Anna and Elsa and let it go as you skate down a frozen river. Read more »
Dangle Your Line through the Ice
Never tried the classic sport of ice fishing? Wonder why anyone would sit around in the cold to watch a hole in the ice? Read more »
December Event Calendar
Winter in Minnesota is where it’s at, with plenty of festivities to keep the fam busy. Here are three to mark on your calendar. Read more »
January Event Calendar
The wonders of winter don’t end post-holiday season. Here are three ways to keep your family busy this January. Read more »
February Event Calendar
It’s the season of love. Here are three ways to celebrate the chilliest weather, yet warmest hearts, in Minnesota. Read more »
This section originally appeared in the December issue of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.
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Explore Minnesota Tourism, St. Paul, 651-556-8465, exploreminnesota.com
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International Falls, Rainy Lake and Ranier Convention and Visitors Bureau, 218-283-9401, rainylake.org
Iron Range Tourism Bureau, Eveleth, 218-749-8161, ironrange.org
Läka Spa, Wayzata, 612-356-5333, thehotellanding.com
Lake of the Woods Tourism, Baudette, 800-382-3474, lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Lakeville Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, 952-469-2020, lakevillechamber.org
Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior, Lutsen, 800-218-8589, lutsenresort.com
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, 651-259-3000, mnhs.org
Mill City Museum, Mpls., 612-341-7555, mnhs.org/millcity
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Nisswa Chamber of Commerce, 218-963-2620, nisswa.com
Pier B Resort, Duluth, 218-481-8888, pierbresort.com
Spirit Mountain, Duluth, 800-642-6377, spiritmt.com
Tofte Trails, Tofte, 218-304-0777, toftetrails.com
Visit Mankato, 507-385-6640, greatermankato.com
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