Why Minnesota is a Top Spot for Winter
Why Minnesota is a Top Spot for Winter
It's a common question: What is winter really like in Minnesota? Well, we're happy to report that winter isn’t a season here; it’s a state of mind supported by a seemingly endless array of special events and excuses to embrace, rather than escape, the cold.
Experience Minnesota's winter wonderland on cross-country skis / Paul Vincent
Why not, right? After all, Minnesotans are just as likely to spend an afternoon ice fishing as they are tearing up a trail in cross-country skis or snowshoes.
If you’d rather stay indoors until spring, we’ve got that covered too, with everything from world renowned restaurants and iconic cultural institutions to saunas, cabins and dark sky destinations that look as if they were lifted straight out of Scandinavia.
Here are the many ways you can make the most of winter in Minnesota.....
Nature Link in Nisswa during the depths of winter / Simple Escape Photo
BOOK A COZY CABIN
Winter is the coziest season. You may think of colorful houses on snow-capped fjords as a feature of Scandinavia, but have you ever thought about saving yourself the hassle of jet lag and visiting the U.S.’s North Coast instead? Minnesotans have enthusiastically embraced the Danish concept of “hygge,” or “contented coziness” for years.
With an abundance of traditional log cabins or sleek, modern A-frames available to rent, Minnesota has plenty of panoramic lake views and wood-fire stoves to go around. Book a tiny retreat for yourself and your crush, or a bigger stay for your whole group of friends. Or consider staying at a stellar glamping site and a restorative resort like Grandview Lodge or Nature Link.
Ice Castles in New Brighton / Ryan Taylor
CONQUER AN ICE CASTLE
We don't just survive the winter; we thrive! From ice golf, ice sculptures, ice mazes, and Ice Castles, a Minnesota winter is a sight to see. We're even dining in and on ice at our popular ice bars and igloo dining spots. The Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza is the world's largest charitable ice fishing tournament and is held annually on Gull Lake in Brainerd with more than 10,000 anglers taking to the ice.
Ice houses dot frozen lakes across the state, including Lake of the Woods and Lake Mille Lacs. Find ones equipped with bunk beds, televisions, kitchenettes, and more. On Lake of the Woods, don’t miss the iconic Igloo Bar, a full-fledged sports bar with satellite TV, propane heat, running hot water, hoodie-clad bartenders, drinks, soup, sandwiches, and pizza.
Ice skating at Boyd Lodge in Crosslake / Credit: Buffalo Media Group
Lace up your skates and head north to The Riverbend Skate Path in Warroad, which spans for five miles making it the longest ice-skating trail in the United States. In the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, visit the Guidant John Rose MN OVAL in Roseville, the Central Park Ice Skating Loop in Maple Grove, the Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, and more.
Find more places to go ice skating in Minnesota.
St. Paul Winter Carnival / Credit: The Great Northern Festival
EXPERIENCE AN ECCENTRIC FESTIVAL
In Minnesota, we don’t take ourselves (or our winters) too seriously. We welcome winter with open, down coat-covered arms. The Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run in International Falls takes winter running to epic proportions. Run the 5k or 10k, of if you’re wild enough...run both! Polar plunges raise millions of dollars for Special Olympics Minnesota and estimates 20,000 plungers take part every year.
The St. Paul Winter Carnival is the oldest Winter Festival in the United States, dating back to 1886 with a parade, ice sculptures, snow sculptures, and more. The City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival combines Minnesota’s passion for cross-country skiing with ice, live music, and art. Join the competition races or stroll through the displays featuring intricate ice displays and luminaries under a sky full of stars. Both events are part of The Great Northern, that celebrates our cold, creative winters with specialty dinners, educational sessions and panels, live music, and more.
Art Shanty Projects / Credit: Paul Vincent
Open select weekends in January and February, the popular Art Shanty Projects take to the frozen waters of Lake Harriet. Inspired by pop-up ice fishing villages, artists create temporary, interactive, and colorful works of art. Other popular events on ice are the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival in Minneapolis, Kites on Ice Festival in Buffalo, Polar Fest in Detroit Lakes, Wayzata Chili Open, and the Gull Lake Frozen Fore.
Take a ride on the ice carousel at Sunny Zwilling Ice Carousel Memorial Extravaganza in Little Falls. Carved into Green Prairie Fish Lake, this rotating sheet of ice still hold the Guinness World Record for the largest ice carousel at 1,325 feet in diameter. According to event organizers, are only three groups in the world in Little Falls, Maine, and Finland are creating ice carousels. The event features fireworks, food and drink, and raises thousands of dollars for local charities.
A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater / Dan Norman
SEE A WORLD CLASS SHOW OR MUSEUM
Minnesotans are versatile. Not only do we love winter sports like cross-country skiing, we have the highest per-capita arts funding in the nation. That means our theaters (like the world-renowned Guthrie), museums, and music venues are of the highest caliber. Visit a cultural institution like the American Swedish Institue and then take in a concert from the Minnesota Orchestra. Or, see the Warhols at Walker Art Center then head to trendy Northeast Minneapolis for intimate musical theater at Latté Da.
More of a bookworm? We’ve got dozens of locally owned independent bookstores to browse. Disciple of rock music? Schedule a tour of Paisley Park, Prince’s iconic home and studio. Opera buff? We’ve got an amazing resident company in Minnesota Opera.
See more arts and culture.
The Nordic Village at Riva Terrace / Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis
SET THE MOOD ON DATE NIGHT
Snow gently falling on an evergreen forest while you sip hot cocoa in front of a fire is just about the most romantic thing we can think of. Celebrate the season of love in Minnesota at a secluded cabin or spa and resort. Or, book a boutique hotel, then make reservations at one of Minnesota’s most romantic restaurants.
You can also visit the cozy Nordic Village at the Four Seasons and experience a four-course meal in an intimate log cabin — right in the middle of the city. While you’re downtown, see what’s playing at the Dakota Jazz Club or get swept away by the Minnesota Orchestra.
Mall of America / Credit: Paul Vincent
SHOP FOR TAX-FREE CLOTHING
Tax-free clothing and shoes? Say less. Whether you’re making a day out of experiencing the massive Mall of America, perusing local shops on a plethora of Main Streets, or hunting for treasures at vintage stores, there's something for everyone.
Don't miss out on upscale shopping centers like the Galleria and Southdale either. They're where you’ll find everything from high-end brands to local favorites.
Parc / Credit: Dina Kantor
You can also shop sustainably as you explore local boutiques and thrift in well-curated spaces. And if you're into unique, handmade finds, Minnesota's thriving community of makers will win you over.
Get ready to shop till you drop — without worrying about extra costs!
Northern lights over the Gunflint Trail / David Johnson
SKIP THE PLANE RIDE
You don’t have to travel to Sweden, Iceland, or Alaska for epic winter fun. Find incredible winter camping, winter sports, and plenty of open skies for stargazing and northern lights spotting in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park. Find more tips for winter camping and snow-covered escapes in Voyageurs National Park.
Forget Alaska; Minnesota offers dog sledding with outfitters in Ely, Duluth, Grand Marais, and Monticello or Hastings near Minneapolis/St. Paul. Sled dog races happen all winter long with notable events like the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, Gunflint Mail Run, Lake Minnetonka Klondike Derby, and more.
If you would like to learn more about wildlife in Minnesota, visit one of our acclaimed wildlife centers that help rehabilitate, educate, and promote conservation. The International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center in Ely are popular, as well as the National Eagle Center in Wabasha and the International Owl Center in Houston.
The interior of Hai Hai in Northeast Minneapolis / Matt Lien
SURVEY THE RESTAURANT SCENE
Between Minneapolis-St. Paul’s many critically acclaimed chefs (Diane Moua, Yia Vang, Christina Nguyen), multi-vendor mainstays (Hmongtown Marketplace, Asia Mall, Midtown Global Market), and corridors of culinary excellence like Frogtown and Lake Street, it's easy to take a culinary tour of not just Minnesota, but the world itself. One that's full of complex flavors and reflective of our diverse community's culinary traditions, whether it’s the piquant chili peppers of China, the savory berberé spices of East Africa, or the fiery top notes of Thailand and Tibet.
From the foraging-heavy menu and evergreen interior of Bûcheron to the soul-warming spice at the multi-award-winning Oro by Nixta, our restaurant scene is at its best in chilly season, too. Cozy up at Matt’s for an iconic Jucy Lucy, experience the Scandinavian-inspired splendor of New Scenic Café, or grab a table at the small-but-mighty Hyacinth for an expert cocktail and bowl of hand-made pasta.
A Cinco de Mayo spread at Oro by Nixta / Credit: Travis Anderson
There’s a reason Minneapolis is perennially the most-represented city in the James Beard category of “Best Chef Midwest”. And it's how Minnesotans make the most of locally sourced ingredients in all four seasons.
See more great restaurants in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth.
The sauna at Silvae Spiritus in Finlayson / Paul Vincent
TAKE SOME "ME TIME" AT A SAUNA
Hygge and the importance of maintaining one’s physical and mental health isn’t a trend in Minnesota; it’s a way of life. In fact, it may leave you wondering if you wandered into a cozy Scandinavian country sometimes.
True to our Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish roots, our saunas and spas have attracted the attention of everyone from The New York Times to "The Daily Show". The latter devoted an entire segment to Duluth, including a look at the stress-reducing cold plunge of Cedar + Stone, one of the country’s leading producers of custom built equipment.
If shocking your nervous system into submission doesn’t sound as laid-back as you’d like, there’s always social floating sauna sessions, private guided experiences, and a non-alcoholic beverage scene that can be found in our many progressive breweries, bar programs and bottle shops.
Ice climbing in Duluth / Credit: Visit Duluth
TRY A WINTER SPORT
Look, there’s a reason why some Minnesotans can be seen training for cross-country skiing season during the hottest days of summer. It’s because we take winter sports very seriously around here, whether it means coasting across crunchy trails on a fat bike, spending an entire weekend ice fishing on a frozen lake with friends and family, or climbing a tall wall of ice in such road trip-worthy revelations as Winona, Duluth and Sandstone.
Entire days and paths are even dedicated to skijoring, whether it’s done with rodeo horses (Canterbury Park’s annual event is on par with anything you’d see in Switzerland, Colorado or Canada) or dogs who dig the snow even more than we do (see: the Three Rivers Park District and Theodore Wirth Park).
US Pond Hockey Championships at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis / Ryan Taylor
WATCH A HOCKEY GAME
Minnesota is the State of Hockey, and for good reason! We're home to the Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Frost, one of six teams in the Professional Women's Hockey League, and the inaugural champions of the Walter Cup. We're also where you'll find the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, World’s Largest Hockey Stick, U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, Minnesota State High School Boys and Girls Hockey Tournaments, and Hockey Day Minnesota, a day dedicated to highlighting hockey at all levels across the state.
St. Paul is also hosting the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 2026, when dozens of teams from across the world will take to the ice at the Xcel Energy Center.
Find more ways to play, watch, and celebrate hockey in Minnesota.