Minnesota Golf Course

Embrace winter in the North Star State at a 2012 Minnesota Polar Bear Plunge. Locations including Rochester, Duluth, Saint Cloud and Alexandria host this winter tradition benefiting the Special Olympics. Perhaps Saint Paul’s Winter Carnival is more to your liking, celebrating its 125th anniversary as the nation’s oldest and longest winter festival. With over 22,000 miles of snowmobile trails groomed for action, moonlight snowshoeing, and the Lutsen Mountains, home of the Midwest’s largest ski destination, it is time to enjoy winter in Minnesota. Pick up “The Great Minnesota Ski Pass” and head for the cross–country ski trails at Gooseberry Falls, Wild River State Park or Flandrau.

Minnesota’s Polar Bear Plunge marks its 15th year in 2012 with thousands of participants joining in the fun. Rochester hosts the plunge on February 11th at Foster Arend Park, with Duluth joining the fun on February 18th and Alexandria on February 24th. Enjoy, or at least watch the fun in Duluth Lakeside at Canal Park or Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria. If you are taking the plunge, bring warm clothes and friendsto witness, the more the merrier, and all for a great cause.

Sportsmen mark your calendar for Alexandria’s Ice Fishing Challenge 2012 at Lake Le’Homme Dieu. The Viking Sportsmen and Seratoma Club hosts this annual challenge February 11th. Recognized as the second largest ice fishing tournament in Minnesota, the $20,000 grand prize is worth sitting on frozen Lake Le’Homme Dieu for an afternoon. Enjoy the fun of Minnesota ice fishing in Alexandria.

Duluth has a full calendar of winter fun, take your pick indoors or out. Positive Energy Outdoors hosts the Geehaw Jaunt January 22nd to kick off their 2012 events. The Geehaw Jaunt is a Skijoring Race featuring beginner, advanced and pro categories with one dog per team. Join the fun at the Boulder Lake Warming Shack – both classic and skate techniques are allowed.

The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra fills 2012 winter nights with beautiful music. At home at Symphony Hall in the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, DSSO performs the Classical Concert Delicate Grace in January. The Callaway sisters join the symphony February 11th for Sibling Revelry and Defiant Moments is performed March 24th. Mark April 14th on the calendar for Endless Summer - an evening of Beach Boy Favorites sponsored by Duluth News Tribune.

Whitewater State Park offers winter visitors to Rochester fantastic outdoor activities. A half-hour east of Rochester, Whitewater State Park hosts Beavers in Winter, on February 26th. After a short indoor presentation, visitors don their snowshoes for a guided-tour to a nearby beaver lodge. On February 26th, Whitewater State Park introduces the use of GPS devices for a treasure hunt on snowshoes. GPS units are available at the park if you don’t have one of your own.

Home of Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic, Rochester is dedicated to making visitors feel welcome during their stay. If you have time, check out the calendar for current performances at the Hill Theater at Rochester Community and Technical College, the Rochester Art Center or Rochester Chamber musical performances at Christ United Methodist Church.

Downtown Minneapolis

A flight into Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport rewards visitors with two dynamic cities at one Innesota destination – Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Upon arrival you’re less than ten minutes away from Bloomington’s Mall of America, just south across Interstate 494. In addition to seemingly endless shopping, Minneapolis’ Mall of America features Nickelodeon Universe, the world’s largest indoor amusement park. Enjoy winter in Saint Paul at the Wells Fargo’s Landmark Plaza at Winter Skate – take your turn on the ice through February 5th. Basketball fans now fill seats at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis for Minnesota Timberwolves games for 2012's abbreviated season.

Visit the Twin Cities now and enjoy the 2012 Saint Paul Winter Carnival. One of the Midwest’s premier winter festivals, Saint Paul Winter Carnival runs January 26th through February 5th. Think Snow! The 126th anniversary for winter carnival features the Securian Winter Run – Half Marathon, 10K and 5K on January 28th, talent competitions, snow sculptures and even the It’s So Cool It’s Hot Drag Show. Enjoy music in Rice Park, a torchlight parade and weekend fireworks – embrace winter in the twin cities at Saint Paul's Winter Carnival.

The City of Lakes Nordic Ski foundation hosts the City of Lakes Loppet, a cross-country ski festival on the trails and lakes of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. With a goal of promoting cross-country skiing in the inner city, join the 2012 festivities February 4th and 5th. Events include snow-sculpting contests, an ice-cycle loppet, food and entertainment along with competitive and non-competitive cross-country skiing. Downtown Minneapolis is the place to be for cross-country skiing.

Visit Bloomington this season to see the award-winning exhibit “Diana: A Celebration”. Direct from England, the Diana exhibit comes to Mall of America, in Bloomington, February 4th through June 10th, 2012. Hosted on level 4 of Bloomington’s Mall of America, the exhibit features Diana’s wedding gown, designer dresses and personal jewelry. Visit and celebrate one of the world’s most beloved princesses.

The Minnesota River Valley southwest of the Twin Cities is home to the city of Chaska. A convenient commute to Minneapolis and Saint Paul via Route 212, Chaska maintains a delightful small town atmosphere with its historic downtown. The Chaska Community Center is a hub of activity year round, offering indoor recreation facilities to keep families active during winter.

Saint Cloud, Minnesota’s Granite City, is located northwest of the Twin Cities on Interstate 94. The home of historic Pioneer Place, the city’s original Elk’s club building, now artfully restored and renovated as a theater. Pioneer Place on Fifth celebrates the 2012 season with a reprise of the Theaters 1998 opening show, “The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)”. The hilarious show reviews all of Shakespeare’s works in a 97-minute show, running weekends February 10th through March 4th. Enjoy a night out in Saint Cloud.