In Minnesota, winters can feel like a lifetime. As the temperatures drop, getting out of the house seems harder. The thought of the cold wind hitting your bare cheeks or shoveling out your car from the nights before snowfall are some things that might discourage your decision to leave the house. Some people enjoy winter, but if you are one who does not, you’ve come to the right place for a few ideas on how to have fun on the weekend when you’d rather stay inside.
Try something from this list:
- Cardamom at Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is a great place to spend a winter day if you love art. You can see their exhibits at a low price of $10 for students and $15 for adults. But the real treat is its Mediterranean restaurant, Cardamom where you will find an outdoor bar made of ice that is a must-see. The bar offers fun unique cocktails and mock-tails such as the Pajaro a featured cocktail made with barrel-select Ezra Brooks Bourbon. Just make sure to catch it before it closes. The bar is open in January and February, Thursday through Sunday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- A drive to Trollhaugen for Friday night Ski
Take a trip with some friends to Trollhaugen Outdoor Recreation Area in Dresser, Wis., to hit the slopes! Trollhaugen has late-night skiing and snowboarding on Friday nights starting at 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Live music also starts at 10 p.m in the chalet. A lift ticket for the whole night costs $24, and if you don’t own your own gear, don’t worry, they’ve got you covered. Ski and snowboard rentals are $33 apiece. It is about a 58-minute drive if you follow I-35 N from Minneapolis.
- Finnish Bistro
This bistro is a little gem in Como, St. Paul. It includes a full coffee bar and a great menu that features Finnish dishes along with a bakery offering gluten-free options. This bistro also has live music three or four days a week. It is a great free event to chill out and drink some coffee with friends. You can find the events here.
- Outdoor Skating
If you have a pair of ice skates put them to use at a free outdoor ice rink. Outdoor rinks are located all throughout the Twin Cities, and most of them are open until 9 p.m. Some stay open until midnight. If you or your friend don’t have skates Groveland rink offers FREE rentals in St. Paul. You can also rent hockey sticks and pucks there. So get outside and enjoy the ice!
- Album Tier List With Your Best Friends
Do you want to stay home and not spend any money? Do you love music? Try a tier list! Get your friends together, choose your favorite album and make a tier list of all of the songs. It’s the perfect way to stir up some friendly controversy and have fun at the same time. My friends and I did this on the release day of the SOS album by SZA. It has now turned into a tradition. All you need is a small whiteboard or a piece of paper and a speaker. If you want to make it even more fun get a bottle of wine!