Grab the kids, head to the land of 10,000 lakes and keep warm despite the winter weather by staying active in the great expanse of outdoors that Minnesota has to offer. Bundle up your little ones and yourself and get your snow on. Ski, snow-shoe, hike, ice-skate, ice-fish, build snow castles, have a snowball battle and then warm up indoors with educational activities.
Hit the Slopes
Grab your skis and snowboards and hit the slopes. Make sure kids and adults alike are appropriately garbed and outfitted with all the necessary safety gear and then enjoy winter fun in the sun before you head inside to get warm by the fire in the lodge. Ski resorts offering downhill skiing, snowboarding and even cross-country skiing are located throughout Minnesota, and there are even a few ski areas, such as Highland Ski and Snowboard Area, and the Buck Hill Ski Area, within a short drive of the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Be sure to supervise small children at all times for their safety and your peace of mind.
Get on the Ice
Enjoy the ice in the land of 10,000 lakes. Come cold weather, area lake resorts cater to a different crowd and ice skaters and ice fishers take over. Ice-skating is a great segueway into a pick-up ice hockey game for little athletes or ice-dancing for more artistically inclined children. Bring a boom box for little dancers and sticks and pucks for hockey enthusiasts and burn some calories with the kids. Never let children out on the ice if you're unsure of its safety. A secure alternative to ice skating on natural bodies of water are artificial rinks. Children who enjoy fishing will get a kick out of ice fishing; just make sure to dress them warmly and bring along snacks and extra layers of warm clothing. Plan on getting children inside and into a warm place soon after your excursion.
Enjoy Public Parks
Winter weather doesn't shut down Minnesota state parks, and the parks are a great place to enjoy any number of cold weather activities. Lace up your boots or strap on your snowshoes and enjoy long walks in the snow with the kids as well as educational programs about anything from identifying animal tracks to sleigh rides. Rent snowshoes at 26 of the parks or hike, but keep the kids off groomed ski trails for their own safety. Make sure to pack provisions and a map, and have your cell phone on hand, just in case. Eighteen Minnesota parks even offer heated cabins for an overnight stay. Don't forget to have a snowball fight, build a fort and get creative making a snow person.
Get Wet (Indoors)
Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean kids can't enjoy a little fun poolside. Lots of Minnesota hotels offer indoor pools, and several Minnesota indoor water parks offer additional excitement. Attractions like water slides, tube floats and waterfalls as well as sports in the water provide for a full day of fun. From the safari-themed Great Serengeti Water Park in Owatonna to the indoor water park in the restored 1899 Milwaukee Road train depot in downtown Minneapolis, there are indoor water parks across the state where kids can slip, slide and swim even when there's snow on the ground. Don't forget to bring your own towels and healthy snacks for swim breaks.
Tour Winter Festivals
Stroll Minnesota's winter festivals and carnivals hand in hand with your children. Let little ones loose with digital cameras to snap shots of cold crafts like the making of ice sculptures and snow castles. Encourage them to keep moving to stay warm by ice skating and playing games and sports. Kids of all ages will enjoy holiday lights, parades and fireworks. Get to Duluth, on the North Shore of Lake Superior, where kids can learn about sled dog races first hand by watching the 390-mile John Beargrease Sled Dog Race. At the St. Paul Winter Carnival, kids will jump at the chance to find the Winter Carnival Medallion, which has been hidden in one of the city's parks since 1952.
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