By Taylor Weeks

Photo by familylifestyle/Fotolia

The holiday season is a magical time of year. It’s filled with nightly mugs of hot chocolate (with extra marshmallows, of course), brightly lit trees and homes, and fat snowflakes falling from the sky. Kids, especially, hold a sense of wonder during this festive time. Viewing the seasons through a child’s eyes can help everyone be a bit merrier. The Twin Cities are filled with events to bring the spirit of the holidays to the community, spreading cheer to all. Most of these events are family friendly. We have gathered together some highlights for you and your child to share in the lively festivities:

Visit the American Swedish Institute and wander through the Turnblad Mansion. The famous rooms are beautifully decorated in Nordic style. Listen to traditional Swedish holiday music at Music in the Mansion—and afterwards, you and your child can create a masterpiece at the Family Handcraft event. Music in the Mansion and Family Handcraft are included with admission and are free for American Swedish Institute members. (Upcoming dates: Dec. 10, 17, 23)

You can also visit local theaters for holiday-themed productions. These events are particularly nice for entire families to attend together. Go to Children’s Theatre Company for a production of the timeless classic, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (through Jan. 7), or Stages Theatre Company’s enchanting rendition of “Beauty and the Beast, Jr.” (through Dec. 28).

For an interactive holiday treat, head over to Jungle Theater to participate in Mrs. Peterson’s Holiday Hour on Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to noon. This event, created with children nine and under in mind, involves “Mrs. Peterson,” played by Wendy Lehr, reading stories and leading sing-alongs with special guest Christina Baldwin, the director of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. Cookies will be offered at the end of the event. Tickets are $7 for adults and free for children.

For a community festival, explore Holidazzle at Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis (through Dec. 23). There are activities for all ages. Buy some cheese curds, listen to a musical performance, and let your kiddos explore the Kid Zone and coloring booth. Or grab a chair (and a blanket) and enjoy an outdoor holiday-themed movie night. There are also Wolf and Moose art exhibits that your children can interact with. And on Saturday evenings, the festival puts on a fireworks show across the pond.

If you’re looking for an outdoor activity, go ice skating at one of the Wells Fargo WinterSkate locations. One location is at Holidazzle in downtown Minneapolis, while the other is in downtown St. Paul next to Rice Park. These artificially chilled rinks are perfect for any temperature. Don’t worry if you don’t have skates—the Holidazzle location offers complimentary skates, and the Rice Park location has $4 skate rentals (or free with a Wells Fargo banking card). If your child is still finding his balance on the ice, you can borrow a skating walker as well.

Another wonderful holiday attraction is the Minnesota Zoo. Kids can have their pictures taken with Santa on Santa Saturdays and wish for their very own zoo animals for Christmas. Photos are free with zoo admission, so while you’re here make sure to check out all of the animals, and try to spot the newborn Amur Tiger playing in the snow. (Upcoming dates: Dec. 9, 16)

Make the most of your holiday season and enjoy these family friendly events. We hope your holidays are as magical as can be.

By Taylor Weeks

Minnesota is known for its glittering, white, snowy winters. On average, Minnesota receives anywhere from 36 inches to 70 inches of snow from the southwestern part of the state to the snow belt of Lake Superior. There are many opportunities to take advantage of the powdery blanket, whether skating across a frozen pond, skidding down a snow-clad hill, building a snowman or simply gazing out the window and enjoying the view. One unique option is to try following in the “snowshoes” of our ancestors and trek over the snow with large webbed footwear.

Snowshoeing was first invented over 4,000 years ago out of a desire to explore and hunt for food. The initial inspiration came from observing successful winter travelers like the snowshoe hare, whose large padded feed helped it stay on top of the snow. People began to study the design of animal paws and model the shape of their snowshoes after the animal prints, and eventually snowshoeing transitioned from a winter necessity into the recreational activity we think of today.

Snowshoeing is alive and well, especially in Minnesota’s snowy climate. There are many opportunities for snowshoeing around the Twin Cities. Don’t worry if you don’t have snowshoes—most places have a rental option as well.

An excellent snowshoeing resource includes Tamarack Nature Center, which is a mere 25 minutes northeast of the Twin Cities in White Bear Lake. This park is the only one in the entire county parks system with a designated snowshoe trail. Strap on some snowshoes and head out on the Acorn Loop (1.25 miles), Bluestem Trail (0.5 mile) and Turtle Pass Trail (0.12 miles) for an invigorating journey through the woods and around Tamarack Lake. If you don’t know how to snowshoe, Tamarack Nature Center also offers private and semi-private winter recreation lessons for you to enjoy.

To rent a pair of snowshoes, visit Tamarack’s Winter Recreation Rental Shack, which is open Dec. 16-March 2. Snowshoes for ages 6 to adult cost $14 for two hours, and ages 5 and under cost $7 for two hours.

You can add to your snowshoeing experience at Tamarack by participating in the Parent-Child Snowshoe Trek, as well. The snowshoe treks, carefully planned during days without school, are open to children ages 4 and up. For an hour and a half, you and your child will go off-trail with a naturalist and seek out hidden winter wonders.

• Dates: Jan. 15 and Feb. 19
• Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
• Cost: $8.25/child, $4.25/adult, $7/person optional snowshoe rental
• Ages: 4 years and up

You can also hone your snowshoeing skills at Columbia Golf Course, Hiawatha Golf Course or Theodore Wirth Park, all located within Minneapolis and the western suburb Golden Valley. These three locations have excellent trails for snowshoeing, and Theodore Wirth Park is adding even more trails set to open around January 2018. You can rent snowshoes from these locations for $12 per two hours. At Wirth Park, you can also sign up for a naturalist-led adventure or occupy yourself with other outdoor recreational activities, such as biking, snow tubing, snowboarding and cross country skiing.

Start training now for the annual Snowshoe Loppet, which is an event on the last day of the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival Jan. 27-Feb. 4. The Snowshoe Loppet follows a 10K course that begins in Wirth Park and finishes at Loppet Village in Uptown and contains bridge crossings and tunnels.

On the eastern side of the Twin Cities, take advantage of the scenic overlooks of the St. Croix River at Afton State Park, 35 minutes away in Hastings. Afton State Park has 4 miles of snowshoe-designated trails (with rentals available at the park office) and another 6 miles of winter hiking trails.

Don’t miss out on the exciting candlelight snowshoeing events coming up. Trek alongside a magical, candlelit trail at night at Fort Snelling, Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Afton State Park. You can also participate in the Luminary Loppet, which is another event in the Loppet festival that involves skiing, snowshoeing or walking around Lake of the Isles alongside whimsical, lighted luminaries. Here are just a few to keep in mind:

• Dec. 31 – Fort Snelling Candlelight Walking and Skating
• Dec. 31 – Lebanon Hills Regional Park Candlelight Snowshoeing
• Feb. 3 – Lake of the Isles Luminary Loppet
• Feb. 4 – Afton State Park Candlelight Snowshoeing

For additional information about snowshoeing, visit the DNR, Midwest Weekends and Three Rivers Park District websites.

By Kyle Smelter

We’ve all seen the movie “Elf” (and if you haven’t you should) and the scene where Will Ferrell’s naïve character, Buddy, and  Jovie (played by Zooey Deschanel) visit the famous Rockefeller Center ice skating rink while out on their date—you know, the thing you do where you go and get food together. Well, the same holiday spirit of that rink takes shape halfway across the country at the Wells Fargo WinterSkate in downtown St. Paul. Here, everyone from first-timers to people channeling their inner Michelle Kwan come together for a few hours of fun with the backdrop of the historic Landmark Center.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a pair of skates to call your own. Skate rental is $4 per person, but you can score a free pair of skates for every Wells Fargo debit or credit card you flash. But what if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate? Don’t fret, as the rink is artificially chilled ensuring skate time no matter the temperature.

Here are some more tidbits you should know before bundling up and making your way there:

Other Events

• Mondays and Thursdays: Private Events/Youth Hockey, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Corporate Broomball, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Holiday Hours

• Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Christmas Day: Closed
• New Years Eve: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• New Years Day: Closed

By Claire Noack

Seize the snow days this winter and head to your favorite ski or sledding hill. If you want to test out new locations for winter recreation, or are visiting the Twin Cities and looking for some seasonal fun, we’ve got you covered. Whether you prefer sledding, downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross country skiing or ice skating, there are plenty of great, local places to choose from. Check out our list for the best snow sports locations around the Twin Cities, bundle up and start playing!

Cross Country Skiing

Como Golf Course, 1431 Lexington Parkway N., Saint Paul

Highland 9 Golf Course, 1797 Edgcumbe Road, Saint Paul

Phalen Golf Course, 1615 Phalen Drive, Saint Paul

Snowboarding & Downhill Skiing

Buck Hill Ski & Snowboard Area, 15400 Buck Hill Road, Burnsville

Como Park Ski Center, 1431 Lexington Parkway N., Saint Paul

Hyland Hills Ski Area, 8800 Chalet Road, Bloomington

Ice Skating

The Depot, 225 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis

Lake of the Isles Park, 2500 Lake Isles Parkway, Minneapolis

Powderhorn Park, 3400 15th Ave. S., Minneapolis

Sledding

Como Park, N. Chelsea St. and W. Arlington Ave., Saint Paul

Highland Lake Park Reserve, 10145 Bush Lake Road, Bloomington

St. Anthony Park, 425 Jefferson St. N.E., Minneapolis

Theodore Wirth Winter Recreation Area, 1301 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Minneapolis

By Kyle Smelter

You’ve done it. You’ve sold yourself well enough to earn a first date with that boy/girl you’ve been talking to for the past few weeks. But after you’ve finished staring down at that crinkled piece of paper with 10 digits scribbled on it and you’ve come down from Cloud 9, thoughts of doubt start to slowly creep in and invade your brain. Should I get a haircut? What should we do? Should my mom pick out my outfit? Don’t worry. They’re probably having the same troublesome thoughts. Or maybe you’re a seasoned couple looking to find new ways to freshen things up, rather than dining out or seeing what’s new at the box office for the third time this month.

Either way, coming up with new and exciting date ideas—especially during a Minnesota winter—can be tougher than awkwardly filling an entire night with conversation. So as soon as you’re done splashing your face with water, smiling, winking and finger-gunning yourself in the mirror, check out these winter date ideas across the Twin Cities. Even if it doesn’t go well, these events will at least make for a memorable night. Go get ’em.

Music Under Glass

Sub-zero temps a little—maybe a lot—too cold for you? Then venture over to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at the Como Zoo for Music Under Glass where it’s always tropical and there isn’t a snowflake in sight. Visitors to this free, eight week concert series can treat their senses to the beautiful sights and smells of the many plant species while listening to live performances by Javier Matos, The Bad Companions, Café Accordion Orchestra and more.

Carriage Rides

The most cliché of our winter date ideas is also probably the most unique—going on a winter carriage ride and marveling at the dazzling Minneapolis skyline. The Hitching Company transports couples back in time with their horse-drawn carriage rides along the Mississippi River and through the streets of Minneapolis. Guests can take a 30 minute or hour-long tour and choose whether or not they would like their ride narrated by their driver as they clip-clop past landmark sites such as the Stone Arch Bridge and Guthrie Theater.

Wells Fargo WinterSkate

Lace up your skates and head to the historic castle-esque Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul for some outdoor ice skating fun at Wells Fargo WinterSkate. Now through Feb. 4, you can relive your hockey glory days, show off your inner Kristi Yamaguchi or Scott Hamilton, or take to the ice for the first time at one of the best winter date spots. Don’t have skates of your own? No problem. Skate rental is available for $4 per person, and the rink is also artificially chilled so you don’t have to worry about your date night melting away if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate.

Holidazzle

Make a trip to Loring Park for the new and improved Holidazzle. What was once just a holiday parade down Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis with characters and floats covered from head to wheel in thousands of lights has turned into a holiday festival extravaganza and one of the best winter date ideas in the Twin Cities. Sample the local fare, sing along to live musical performances, or bring some chairs, blankets and hot cocoa to any of their movie nights. And don’t miss their fireworks displays on Fridays or Saturdays!

Don’t feel like trying to squish through the doors—especially after seconds and thirds just hours prior—with the swarming masses on Black Friday? Leave the credit card, long cashier lines and lack of sleep behind in exchange for a new day-after-turkey adventure of the outdoor and family time variety.

Thanks to “Free Park Friday,” visitors to any of the 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas on Friday, Nov. 25 will have free park entry all day. So you can walk, run or hike and burn off that turkey while experiencing all the outdoor beauty our state has to offer.

If you’re looking for suggestions, try any of the guided hikes at Lake Bemidji, Lake Carlos and Sibley state parks, or catch a glimpse of the majestic trumpeter swans at Lake Maria State Park in Monticello.

For a full list of events, check out the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ website for more family-friendly ideas and suggestions, or to find a park near you.

If you’re a thrill seeker, you’ll want to check out one of the steepest hills the Twin Cities have to offer. Don your best winter jacket and snowpants and head to Columbia Park, located in Northeast Minneapolis. This 180-acre park has plenty of rolling hills, but keep your eyes peeled for the big one (really, you can’t miss it). Whether you bring the sleds along with or prefer to rent tubes for the day, you’ll have a blast shooting down this hillside.

If you’re tired from traipsing up the hill after each run, try the slopes at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove. A moving sidewalk makes it easy to reach the top of their hills, which range in grade, so you can hop on your sled and go again. This sledding hill is open evenings Wednesdays through Fridays and a two-hour pass costs $15.

Theodore Wirth Regional Park‘s tubing hill makes sledding easy and safe. A towrope for getting back up the hill helps keep sledding paths clear, and specially designed tubes are available for rent at the park. Along with the tubing hill, the Winter Recreation Area includes a designated snowboard park, an off-road cycling trail, ski and snowboard lessons, and a kids’ camp for days when school is cancelled.

Climb to the summit of Sunset Hill (one of the highest elevation points in Minneapolis’ park system) at Valley View Park. At the top you’ll enjoy views of Sweeney Lake below and beautiful landscape before hopping on your sled for a long ride to the bottom.