Whether you choose to explore on snowshoes, cross-country skis or lace up your boots for a winter walk, you'll find plenty of room to roam on Minnesota's thousands of miles of winter trails. More than two dozen Minnesota state parks offer groomed trails for skiing. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, some popular cross-country spots are Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington and Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Minneapolis. Snowshoe rentals are common in state and local park systems, but call ahead to confirm availability before heading out.

Even though Christmas is behind us, the Minnesota Zoo and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum are keeping their holiday light displays up through early January. These unique drive-through experiences have been very popular, so make sure you purchase your tickets in advance.  

Getting outside in nature for a bit of exercise is a great way to maintain your physical and mental health, and nature centers provide the best of both worlds. In the metro area, visit Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington, Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis Park or Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley. Outside the metro, explore Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in Waite Park, Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin or Hartley Nature Center in Duluth. 

Many restaurants, breweries, wineries and distilleries are getting creative to keep diners and staff safer this winter. Heated patios stocked with firepits make it easy to continue supporting your favorite local businesses in-person. If you'd rather stay in, by now most restaurants have finely tuned their takeout and delivery options, or you can order a meal kit to assemble and cook your food at home.  

First, let's get the obvious out of the way: Winter camping sounds intense. But with the proper gear, camping in the winter can be an out-of-the-ordinary and remarkably fun, refreshing adventure. There's nothing like sleeping in the serene, snow-covered landscape beneath some of the darkest skies in America. Beginners can ease into the experience by staying in a camper cabin or yurt in select state parks, or camper cabins at any number of regional parks like Elm Creek or Whitetail Woods. You can also go winter tent camping in the Boundary Waters, Voyageurs National Park and some Minnesota State Parks.

Waterfalls are some of Minnesota’s most picturesque spots, and in the winter many freeze to become more beautiful than ever. Some of the most spectacular frozen waterfalls are Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Minneopa Falls in Mankato, Winnewissa Falls at Pipestone National Monument, and Gooseberry Falls along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Truly adventurous travelers can even go ice climbing some of these frozen waterfalls! 

Sculpture walks are self-guided public art trails featuring works from artists from around the world, and you’ll find them in Minnesota towns both large and small. It’s a great way to get outside, admire the arts and discover some hidden gems along the way. You’ll find notable public sculpture walks in Mankato, Stillwater and Bemidji, among other towns. You can also enjoy public art at Franconia Sculpture Garden, Nyberg Sculpture Park in Vining, Norby Sculpture Garden in New London and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.