Posted November 19, 2008 5:16 pm
Ten Treats To Enjoy This Winter
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Saint Paul Winter Carnival ice sculpture
1. Hibernate…But Not at Home!
If your idea of the perfect winter activity is to cozy in, go right ahead! But, as an antidote to cabin fever, and as a special treat, plan a hibernation getaway at a resort or inn. Indulge and find someplace with a fireplace and whirlpool. If the kids are coming along, choose a motel with a pool for them to romp in. Bring games to play, books to read and movies to watch. An added bonus to hibernating away from home: there’s no nagging house chores to do. Just hang out and relax. And maybe, after all that relaxing, you’ll get a hankering to take a break from your hibernation…and take a winter walk!
2. Take a Hike.
And this winter, if nature cooperates, try a snowshoe hike. The interest in snowshoeing has skyrocketed in the past several years. Twenty state parks and a number of resorts offer snowshoe rentals (call ahead; rentals may only be available on weekends). Although the first few steps may feel awkward, most people find they are soon able to navigate easily over the snow cover. You can snowshoe anywhere in state parks except on groomed ski trails, and several parks offer learn-to-snowshoe guided hikes. Some state parks offer snowshoe hikes to watch for animal tracks in the snow, and others offer moonlight snowshoe hikes. See the list of snowshoe programs and other naturalist events at state parks this winter on the calendar at mndnr.gov
3. Go to the Tropics.
Yes, you can get a taste of the tropics right here in Minnesota. Ramble along the Tropics Trail at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. It’s warm and humid, with lush green foliage and colorful orchids. The residents range from flamingos to tree kangaroos, and the giant coral reef tank of colorful tropical fish is downright mesmerizing. Another hot spot is the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, a beautiful glass jewel in St. Paul’s Como Park. Stroll through the fern room, the sunken garden with its seasonal displays, and the Palm Dome, with tall tropical palms, flowering orchids and bromeliads. A recent conservatory addition is the Tropical Encounters rainforest. See mahogany and banana trees, sting rays, leaf-cutter ants, free-flying birds and many other rainforest plants and animals. The zoo and conservatory can transport you across the globe, to another climate entirely. For more info:
4. Savor Some Spa Time.
These are a treat anytime, but somehow, especially deserved during the winter, when dry air takes a toll. Facials and skin treatments, nail treatments, various massages and other body treatments, such as oil wraps, replenish moisture and are simply relaxing. It’s even more of a treat when you don’t have to rush home afterward, but make it part of a getaway. Several resorts and lodges near Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Alexandria and elsewhere have on-site spas. A country estate near Litchfield became Birdwing Spa more than 20 years ago, and focuses totally on spa services, wellness classes and fitness activities, including tai chi and yoga, along with a healthy spa cuisine. For more info:
5. Get to a Game.
It’s one thing to watch the game from the couch, but it’s another thing entirely, much more engaging, to be there in person. Winter means hockey and basketball to sports fans. Get your tickets now and be in the stands for all the excitement. Check the sports listings in the Explorer for the schedules for home games for the Minnesota Wild, Timberwolves, and University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
6. Go for a Scenic Drive.
Really! One of the things to love about winter is that it can be incredibly beautiful. The scenic places you visit in the summer or fall are just as scenic in the winter, in an entirely different way. The North Shore Scenic Drive, following Highway 61 along the Minnesota shore of Lake Superior, offers amazing views: frozen waterfalls, a deep meringue of snow frosting the pines, massive chunks of ice piled up along the Superior shore. To the south, Highway 61 follows the Mississippi River between Red Wing and LaCrescent. Blue-green ice decorates the soaring limestone bluffs, and at some points the drive offers panoramic views of the winter landscape. For more info:
7. Make It Romantic.
Reserve a room in a lovely B&B or historic inn, enjoy a special dinner out, and spend some quality time with your very special person. Because really, what’s more important? The Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Association prints a guide to more than 100 inns throughout the state. Resorts, lodges and luxury hotels in the city provide lots of other options. For more info:
8. Splash Down at a Waterpark.
Take a winter break with the kids, and find the kid in yourself at the same time. There are now numerous indoor waterparks at Minnesota hotels and resorts across the state. The young and young at heart are entertained for hours with slides and tubes, water buckets, water geysers, lazy river tube rides and more wet fun and games. Most waterparks have areas geared toward the small fry, as well as adventures for the older kids. There are several hotels with extensive indoor waterparks in the Brainerd/Baxter and Twin Cities areas, and in several other cities from Owatonna to Duluth to Thief River Falls. For more info:
9. Try Ice Fishing.
It’s the winter sport anyone can do! It’s low-tech, no frills fishing and a good excuse to hang out with your kids (and learn something new together) or with your friends and enjoy a winter day. You can sit on a stool in the open air and bask in the sun, or fish from the warmth of a heated ice house (some come with bunks and other comforts). Dozens of resorts can set you up for a day or weekend of ice fishing. Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs and Leech are among the biggest ice fishing haunts, but dozens of resorts on smaller lakes offer ice fishing as well. For more info:
10. Frolic at a Festival.
Minnesotans certainly know how to play with winter. There are winter festivals all across the state, featuring the kind of fun you can only have this season of the year. There are all kinds of fun and games, from the classic to the somewhat crazy. For instance, there’s the frozen lefse fling at Ole and Lena Days in Granite Falls, turkey bowling during the St. James Winter Carnival, the mukluk ball at Ely’s Winter Carnival, golf on ice at the Wayzata Chilly Open, a polar plunge at Detroit Lakes (they do it in Duluth, too) and the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run for the hardy during Ice Box Days at International Falls. There’s the bizarre, but also the beautiful, with dazzling, intricate ice sculptures at several festivals, including the St. Paul Winter Carnival, the granddaddy of them all. For more info: