Winter Getaways in Minnesota
- Cold Enough For Ya
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tuppy_Glossop]Tuppy
Glossop
As the nights draw in and the
temperature drops, some of us dream of
warm sun and sandy beaches, tropical
resorts and big drinks with little
umbrellas in them. But there's a group
of people -- special, hardy people, who
laugh mockingly at the winter chill --
who dream instead of heading north to
Minnesota to revel in the snow.
There's no getting away from it;
Minnesota is cold in the winter. But
along with the cold you get a frosty
playground, full of activities for the
eager visitor who remembered to bring
their hats & mittens. Whether you're an
outdoors enthusiast, or a culture
vulture with a taste for the arts,
Minnesota's a fine place for a winter
getaway.
Outdoor Adventures
Whether you like cross-country
skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, or ice
fishing, there are great opportunities
throughout Minnesota for a winter
vacation. With almost 20,000 miles of
groomed snowmobile trails, lovingly
maintained by local snowmobiling clubs
in partnership with the state,
snowmobilers can see the whole of
Minnesota, winding their way around
lakes, through forests, and across
frozen rivers.
The State Parks are host to many
miles of prepared cross-country ski
trails, and in many parks you can rent
equipment to give this relaxing and
highly-aerobic workout a try. It's easy
to pick up the basics of cross-country
skiing in an hour or so, but don't be
intimidated by the fleet-footed
youngsters whizzing past you ...
Minnesota kids learn to ski almost as
soon as they learn to walk.
Ice fishing isn't actually the
official state sport of Minnesota, but
it probably should be. Many resorts can
rent you an icehouse out on the frozen
lake, the plushest of which are
outfitted with carpets, tables & chairs,
and a nice cozy heater. You can even
rent a "sleeper" house, complete with
bunks ... but most of us prefer to
retreat to a lakeside lodge for a
gourmet meal and a restorative beverage
by a roaring fire.
The Culture of Winter
There's a range of cultural
activities throughout Minnesota, but the
Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul
are the natural destination for those
seeking the best selection of artistic
attractions. There are at least three
nationally known art museums in the Twin
Cities: the Minneapolis Institute of
Art, the Walker Art Center, and the
Weissman Art Museum.
Theatre lovers are well served by the
Guthrie Theatre, which presents a
repertory season as well as an annual
production of "A Christmas Carol," and
the Ordway which hosts touring Broadway
shows. There's also the Children's
Theatre Company, regularly recognized as
America's premier children's theatre.
For classical music fans, the St.
Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota
Orchestra are the best-known of the rich
array of performers in the Twin Cities,
and like the theatres they offer both a
subscription season and single-ticket
sales throughout the winter months.
Whether you're looking for a family
vacation or a weekend getaway with your
spouse, Minnesota in the winter is a
magical place. Cold -- but magical.
