I love winter. But about midway through, I begin to hate winter. And by “midway though,” I mean usually around the beginning of January. Assuming cabin fever is due to my lack of keeping busy with planning fun winter outings, I wanted to ensure we were prepped with some ideas for what to do on those snowy weekends where we just want to get outdoors. This post provides winter itinerary options for an activity-packed weekend in southern, central, and northern Minnesota, as well as within the Twin Cities.
Let’s talk about these two scenarios: You just left work and are ready for the weekend to kick off… or HEY, you don’t work this weekend! What to do?!
Though I’m writing about Minnesota specifically, a similar itinerary could be modified for anywhere with snow 🙂 Don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like help with planning a fun winter weekend in your area!
Friday Night
What better time to stroll through some beautiful light displays than on a Friday night? We have so many great light displays in Minnesota, here are some that could be near you:
Southern Minnesota: Take a stroll through the Kiwanis Holiday Lights display in Mankato. Visit Santa & his reindeer, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and leisurely wander through the beautiful light display. If you’re not wanting to be outside and walk through the display, unique to the Kiwanis Holiday Light display is the ability to drive through it. Tune in to the designated radio station, take off your hat, and enjoy the views.
Twin Cities: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is one of the most beautiful Minnesota stops in the summer. Did you know, it’s just as beautiful in the winter? Winter Lights at the Arb runs as late as the first week in January, which allows ample time to visit before or after the holidays. This light display is walk-through only, so grab some hot cocoa, pull up your snow boots, and start to wander. Unique to this display, there is a night dedicated specifically to photographers, so if you’re a photography enthusiast, grab your tripod and head over to Winter Lights at the Arb to take some of the best light display photos you’ve ever taken!
Central Minnesota: Take a leisurely drive and Celebrate the Light of the World in Willmar. With 900,000 (that’s almost one million!) lights, you’ll definitely drive away astonished. This display’s history is special: it started out in a family’s yard and has grown to be one of the area’s best must-see winter attractions.
Northern Minnesota: Arguably the most well-known light display in Minnesota, and the largest light display in the US, is Bentleyville USA in Duluth. On the shores of Lake Superior, this light display will leave you in awe. Kids 10 and under who visit Santa can get a free Bentleyville knit cap, warm up by one of the 15 toasty fire pits, grab a snack or some candy, or look through the gift shop. Bentleyville is extra special as it is an official drop off location for Salvation Army donations. This year, they are offering a drive-through option due to COVID.
Want to see more holiday light display options in Minnesota? Check them out here!
Saturday
Feeling energized from viewing some AMAZING light displays last night, you are ready to get out there and rock this Saturday with more outdoor activities!
Southern Minnesota: Take a stroll through Rochester’s SocialICE festival. Dedicated to giving you the best ice bars Minnesota has to offer, feel free to wander about and try the various tasty signature drinks while looking at the ice sculptures and listening to the featured DJ.
Central Minnesota: Frozen lake golfing! A winter carnival with golf? Whaaat? Bundle up and head to Brainerd for the Gull Lake Frozen Fore Winter Weekend for some ice golf, the pancake feed, a scavenger hunt, food, beverages, and so much more! Join the tent party on Saturday night and dance the night away. If ice golf and a snowmobile drag race isn’t cool enough (not sure how it couldn’t be), this festival also has live music each night and lots of warming areas!
Twin Cities: Cross-country skiing at one of multiple Three Rivers Park District parks. With 70+ miles of groomed trails, there are plenty of options to keep you busy all day (or enough trail for an additional weekend, too!)! With 11 of their parks having cross-country skiing options, you’re sure to find the trail that’s right for you. What’s great about cross-country skiing through Three Rivers is that you can rent your own equipment for $12 (adult rate) if you don’t have your own! Many of these parks even having a warming facility with hot cocoa if you need a break (our favorite is French Regional Park)!
Northern Minnesota: Fat biking on the Gunflint Lake Trails! You’ve seen those fat tire bikes around, and now is your time to try one! There are multiple fat bike trails throughout the state, but northern Minnesota has the most scenic. If you don’t have your own bike, you can rent one from one of the many outfitters in the area. I was able to try fat tire biking for the first time this year at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area! I mean, how cool will it be to ride a bike directly to a waterfall?!
Sunday
Southern Minnesota: Snowshoeing through the woods. Albert Lea holds a special place in my heart as it’s my hometown, so I can’t write about the awesome winter activities in Minnesota and skip over the great opportunities for snowshoeing the town has. If you’re able to walk, you’re able to snowshoe. I don’t yet have my own shoes, but they are on my wish list because this recreation activity was so, so fun when Eric and I tried it last year. Through the Albert Lea Community Education Rock Gym, you can rent snowshoes for only $10 (or $5 if you get a punch pass), and there are miles of hiking spots around! Note their website doesn’t reflect snowshoeing as an option yet.
Central Minnesota: Did you know that ice drag racing is a thing? I had no idea! Luckily Eric loves winter activities and suggested we go to one of these. The Central Minnesota Ice Racing (CMIR) group has multiple events happening throughout central Minnesota cities where you can grab a blanket and watch the races. Adding extra fun to the event, the drag races held the weekend of February 22nd, 2020 included a pajama party. How fun is that?!
Twin Cities: What better way to end a winter activity filled weekend than to cozy up for lunch in one of the Twin Cities’ dining igloos! Freehouse Minneapolis has igloo reservations available through the winter so you can dine in the negative degree temperatures and not even notice how cold it is! Please note that, due to COVID, this is not offered this year.
Northern Minnesota: Of course, you can’t spend a weekend in Minnesota without skiing or snowboarding! Where better to hit the slopes than northern Minnesota? Lutsen Mountains offers awesome runs plus a gondola ride for those who prefer not to ski or snowboard. If you want to come here the night before, Lutsen also offers great lodging with ski-in/ski-out options so you can wake up and head out right away.
Minnesota has SO MANY wonderful winter activities to offer! Even though it’s hard for me to deal with the frigid temps and lack of sunshine, I’m vowing to opt outside this winter to kick that winter-time blues.
What do you plan to do this winter to reduce cabin fever and promote happiness?
Let me know in the comments, I am always up for new outdoor ideas!
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