Tucked into the birch and pines forests near Ely are four groomed cross-country ski trails over rolling terrain, plus several other wilderness trails through Superior National Forest. Ely is also snowmobile central, tying into both the 170-mile Taconite Trail and the 80-mile Tomahawk Trail, with their numerous spurs. Rent a snowmobile in town if you don’t have your own.Ely is also Minnesota’s unofficial dogsled capital. A half dozen guides offer dogsled trips ranging from half-day rides to week-long adventures. Camp under the starry skies or return to a cozy lodge at night. By day, learn how to handle a team of dogs and become a musher.

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Minnesota has some unique opportunities to see some very special birds in the winter. You don’t have to be an expert birder to find them; these birds are there for the viewing.

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If you’ve got the winter blues, go to the tropics. They’re not far. Cruise into the Tropical Encounters exhibit at Como Park in St. Paul or the Tropics Trail at Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. Several Twin Cities hot spots are a blast of summer when chill winds blow.

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With the opening of an extensive terrain park at Lutsen Mountains along the North Shore of Lake Superior, there are now a trio of exciting snowboarding parks in the northeast Arrowhead region of the state. When Lutsen’s terrain park opened last year, “Word got out fast,” said Jim Vick of Lutsen Mountains.

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Winona enjoys a very scenic spot along the Mississippi River, bordered by broad bluffs. There are several things to enjoy here on a relaxing winter weekend getaway.Relatively new to town is the Minnesota Maritime Art Museum, at home in an attractive riverfront complex designed to look like a 1900-era waterfront warehouse and shipyard.

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Winter is a time nature sets aside for rest and replenishment, so it’s the perfect time to indulge in a stay at a spa. Several larger resorts now offer on-site spas, and Minnesota has one destination spa, where the sole focus is on rejuvenating spa services in a relaxing environment.

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Voyageurs National Park cloaked in its winter array is a beautiful, dramatic landscape of glistening snow, frozen lakes, and frost-glazed pines. There are few places to experience a winter vista largely free of roads and buildings, and it’s worth a trip to Voyageurs, along Minnesota’s northern border, to enjoy this captivating, snow-draped panorama.

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