Wander Minnesota

The thrill of the holidays can be strong, and it can be quick to pass. What to do when those kids are home from school and have lost interest in their gifts, not to mention their willingness to play nice with each other? Here are a few suggestions for keeping the post-holiday mayhem to a minimum.

Earlier this fall I covered the opening of ski resorts in Minnesota. At this point, they're all open and operational, with Mother Nature having provided plenty of snow. Many have extended hours for the holiday break. What better way to burn off some post-holiday steam?

If indoors is more of your thing, stop by the Warner Coliseum at the State Fairgrounds. The Coliseum is open daily through March 7 for jogging or ice skating. Hours are limited -- 11:30 to 1 p.m. daily. But it's also fun to drive around the snow-covered fairgrounds.

Indoor skating can also be found in Minneapolis, at the Depot. The rink is open additional hours through the New Year's weekend (but is closed on Sunday, Jan. 4).

The Twin Cities abounds in kid-friendly museums and activity spots, including the Children's Museum and the Science Museum of Minnesota, both in St. Paul; the Bakken Museum in Minneapolis and The Works in Edina.

If you missed out on Holidazzle, never fear -- there will be lights shining nightly at Phalen Golf Course through Dec. 31. Lights in the Park is a half-mile driving tour through the course and along Lake Phalen with 43 displays of the holiday season. Proceeds will be donated to local charities, including Second Harvest Heartland, Union Gospel Mission, St. Paul Parks Conservancy and UnderConstruction. Note: check Web site for possible weather cancellations.

The State Capitol has an Art Treasures Hunt on Dec. 27.  Using a self-guided booklet, kids can hunt for 12 pieces of art. When all 12 are located, they'll receive a special state gold seal and the designation of Junior Art Historian.

Daily Kwanzaa celebrations and traditions will be offered at Midtown Global Market from Dec. 26-31, including live music, poetry readings, dancing and drumming ceremonies and kids' activities and crafts.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is open year-round. Brave the elements to visit the outdoor animals, then stop by the café to warm up and enjoy the view of the zoo before finishing your visit in the tropical warmth of the Conservatory. New Year's Eve day, celebrate "Noon Year's Eve" from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. with live music, crafts, activities and a countdown to "noon."

A family-friendly New Year's Eve can be celebrated at the Maplewood Nature Center, including a glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt along nature trails, a bonfire and marshmallow roasting. An indoor backup plan is ready in case of inclement weather.

Eastman Nature Center has an all-ages program on Jan. 3: Nature Invented it First. Test your knowledge of Nature's versions of Velcro, parachutes and insect repellent.

Over at the Lowry Nature Center, Jan. 3 is "Live Day" -- many live animals will be present, and kids can make animal-oriented crafts and go out on an animal nature hunt.

For little ones ages 3-5, Eastman Nature Center has a special event around the popular Froggy books on Jan. 4. Kids will hear the story Froggy Gets Dressed, and then learn how frogs survive the winter. Guest frogs will be available for meeting and feeding, and arts and crafts are offered as well.

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.

Hopefully by now your holiday shopping is done or close, and you're ready to think about the other major component of holidays and school breaks -- food. Why not celebrate the season by enjoying the bounty of diverse food offerings in Minnesota? Explore the local food markets and learn what's available that's either produced here, or represents the growing ethnic influence.

Made in Minnesota
Byerly's, Lund's, and Kowalski's all sell numerous items that are sourced locally. But there are also some independent shops that focus on local foods, whether they're chocolates, meats, cheese, spices, or jams and preserves.

Golden Fig in St. Paul carries a strong assortment of foods produced locally. Sample the chocolates, devour the cheese.

In Minneapolis, the newly opened D'Lish strives to sell the best of Minnesota. This Saturday (12/20) they're hosting a "winter farmers market," with many of the vendors who sell at the Mill City Market during the summer hawking their wares indoors.

Over in the Linden Hills neighborhood, Clancey's Meats & Fish (4307 Upton Ave So, 612-926-0222) has high-quality, often locally produced meats, as well as deli lunch service.

Early Immigrant Influence
Many people think Scandinavian when they think of Minnesota, and there's nowhere better to find Nordic delicacies than Ingebretsen's. You want lutefisk and herring? They've got it.

Kramarczuk's brings the Old World into northeast Minneapolis with a full line of delectable Eastern European sausages and meats, along with other goodies from the region. Note: they also have a café that's terrific and reasonably priced.

Kiev Foods in St. Paul (2509 – 7th St. W., 651-690-5655) is a tiny shop crammed full of Russian foods and treats.

The Italians are well represented on both sides of the river. In St. Paul, Cossetta's Italian Market and Pizzeria (211 - 7th St. W., 651-222-3476) offers Italian products so you can try to recreate their restaurant specialties at home. In Minneapolis, Delmonico's (1112 Summer St. NE, 612-331-5466) is crammed full of imported Italian items, as well as house-made fresh pastas and sauces.

Recent Arrivals
Increased Asian and Hispanic populations have further expanded the Twin Cities' culinary horizons, all for the better.

In St. Paul, El Burrito Mercado has a huge selection of Hispanic foods, both shelf-stable and deli/meat. Bonus: there's an excellent and inexpensive restaurant in the back. You can choose to dine quickly cafeteria-style, or enjoy your food with table service.

Mercado Central in Minneapolis is a collection of small shops, and you can decide to purchase ingredients to cook at home, or choose one of the many delectable food stands to eat on-premise.

Patel Groceries has two locations (NE Minneapolis and Bloomington) specializing in Indian, Pakistani, and African foods. You can find imported spices, flours, rice, Halal and Zabihah meats, and you can even buy the cookware needed to prepare them.

Seoul Foods in Fridley has a huge inventory of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, and Hong Kong foods.

United Noodles is a huge supplier of all foods Asian: Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Indonesian, Indian, and Malaysian.

Shuang Hur Grocery (2710 Nicollet Ave. S., 612-872-8606) doesn't just import foods, it has live foods -- specifically crab and lobster -- as well as a full line of housewares. In the warmer months, the parking lot turns into a local farm market.

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.

One thing (of many) for Minnesotans, especially Twin Citians, to be proud of is the strong literary life in our state. One sign of that strength is the number of independent booksellers in our communities, many who have been around for years and have positioned themselves to coexist peacefully -- and successfully -- with the big box retailers. When planning your holiday shopping, stop by one of these fine bookstores to find the perfect gift (or a gift card, so the recipient can decide what's perfect).

• Birchbark Books (612-374-4023, Minneapolis) is a cozy, family-friendly bookstore owned by local novelist Louise Erdrich. The store is small, but packed with a good variety of books. Kids will love the "treehouse."

• Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction and Uncle Edgar's Mystery Bookstores (612-824-6347 for Uncle Hugo's, 612-824-9984 for Uncle Edgar's, both in Minneapolis) sit next door to each other on Chicago Avenue. They are the specialists in their respective genres and carry titles you aren't likely to find elsewhere.

• True Colors (612-821-9630, Minneapolis). Also on Chicago Avenue, this bookstore was formerly known as Amazon Books -- yes, long before the online giant. A recent change of ownership lead to the name change, but the store's mission remains the same: to specialize in books about feminism, women's studies, and GLBT issues.

• Magers & Quinn (612-822-4611, Minneapolis). This Uptown treasure sells a huge variety of books both new and used, as well as collectible and rare titles.

• Big Brain Comics (612-338-4390, Minneapolis) isn't just comic books, but also the ever-growing category of graphic novels.

• Wild Rumpus (612-920-5005, Minneapolis) is the Linden Hills' children's bookstore and so much more. Be sure to check out the shop's free-roaming pets. And don't hesitate to ask for help -- it's hard to imagine a more knowledgeable staff anywhere.


Wild Rumpus

• The Bookcase (952-473-8341, Wayzata) enjoys its lakeview perch in downtown Wayzata, but also uses local facilities to bring in authors and speakers, many of national stature.

• Excelsior Bay Books (952-401-0932, Excelsior) is a congenial shop on Water Street, Excelsior's main shopping lane. It may be small, but it offers a wide range of titles and a good children's section.

• Common Good Books (651-225-8989, St. Paul), located beneath Nina's Coffee Shop on Cathedral Hill, is owned by Garrison Keillor and as one might expect, it's crowded, downright messy in spots, and an ideal browsing spot for book lovers. Selection is quirky and interesting.

• Red Balloon Bookshop (651-224-8320, St. Paul) is Grand Avenue's answer to Wild Rumpus. This charming kid's bookstore, located in an inviting cottage, is full of goodies for kids of all ages.

• Micawbers (651-646-5506, St. Paul). Located in the St. Anthony neighborhood, near the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus, Micawbers is a homey bookstore with lots of tantalizing choices and a well-read staff.

Each of these stores is within easy walking distance to local coffee shops and cafes. Might as well treat yourself to a book too, and maybe coffee or lunch. It is the holiday season, after all.

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.  

I’ve blogged about how much I love the Minnesota Historical Society. I think they do an amazing job of maintaining their properties, and the History Center in St. Paul is a wonderful place to visit. (If you get a chance, go over there to see the MN 150 exhibit—it’s a lot of fun.) The MHS has the gift of knowing how to make history fun and interesting, as opposed to dry dusty lists of dates and names.  I don’t know who’s in charge of planning events over there, but they’ve got some highly creative people on board who find the most interesting ways to use their historic properties for education and entertainment. Given that, they’ve really outdone themselves for the holiday season. What follows is just the highlights to show the variety of offerings they have. Really, now—who else would have thought of having relaxation classes offered after a seminar on turn-of-the-century stress at the James J. Hill House?

 

For full details including admission fees and hours, see the MN Historical Society web page.

 

A 1918 Christmas with the Lindberghs

Dec. 6

Tour the Lindbergh home in Little Falls and learn about their Christmas celebrations from living history characters.

 

A Logging Camp Christmas

Dec. 6

Dress warmly—you’ll be walking outdoors at the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids while observing lumberjacks in action and horses pulling carriages, before visiting the cook’s shack to see how lumberjacks celebrated decades ago.

 

Relax Into the Holidays

Dec. 6

Think your life is stressful? Find out what caused stress for the James J. Hill family and how they coped. Following the tour, take a class on modern-day relaxation techniques from life coach Beth Freschi.

 

Candlelight Tours

Dec. 6

Visit the recreated Snake River North West Fur Company Post in Pine City, touring by candlelight and enjoying tales of long ago and live music.

 

Miniature Ornament Workshop

Dec. 6-7

Visit the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post in Onamia and learn how to create ornaments using natural elements, including birch bark. This is a two-day seminar.

 

Christmas Memories: A Musical Revue

Dec. 12-13

Take in an overview of holiday music over the years while enjoying the view in the art gallery at St. Paul’s James J. Hill House.

 

Homeschool Days: The Victorian Family at Christmas

Dec. 9 and 16

What did those Victorian kids do for holiday activities way back when? Find out at St. Paul’s Alexander Ramsey House.

 

An ‘Eventually’ Christmas: Holidays at the Mill

Dec. 14-16, 21-23

The Ghost of Mill City Past will conduct tours of the flour tower at Minneapolis’ Mill City Museum, giving visitors inside glimpses into a 1920s holiday party, complete with rocky office romance and breakthrough brainstorms.

 

The Doll’s Victorian Christmas

Dec. 17

Bring your favorite daughter, granddaughter, or niece, along with her favorite doll, for this special tour of the Alexander Ramsey House’s extensive doll collection.

 

Christmas on the Farm

Dec. 20-21

Take a 75-minute hike through the Oliver H. Kelley Farm in Elk River, learning about how 19^th-century farmers prepared themselves and their animals for the upcoming winter.

 

Kwanzaa Celebration

Dec. 27

At St. Paul’s History Center, learn about traditional African dance and craft, hear stories, and create your own medallion.

 

Farewell to 2008 Candlelight Tour

Dec. 31

Let candles be your lighting as you tour the Alexander Ramsey House on the last night of the year.

 

The Homecoming: Christmas at the Ramsey House

Wed.-Sun. through December. Closed Christmas Day.

Tour the Alexander Ramsey House in St. Paul, decorated for the holidays as it would have been in 1875, complete with fresh-baked cookies out of the wood-burning oven.

 

Hill House Holidays

Sat.-Sun. through the end of December.

Costumed actors portray servants at the lavish James J. Hill House, giving living history tours from both “upstairs/downstairs” perspectives. The house alone is well worth a visit, but when you add in holiday ambience, you’ve got an extra special tour.

Next Thursday is that most special of holidays, the annual food-and-family fest known as Thanksgiving. If you are among those who would be decidedly more thankful to eat out, there are several Twin Cities restaurants that are offering Turkey Day specials—and you can even choose something other than turkey, if you’re feeling rebellious. Call ahead for reservations.

Nicollet Island Inn (www.nicolletislandinn.com, 612-331-1800, Minneapolis) is serving a sumptuous four-course meal, including butternut squash soup; a choice of turkey, prime rib, or butternut squash lasagna; and pumpkin cheesecake.

The Lexington (www.the-lexington.com, 651-222-5878, St. Paul) offers a most traditional Thanksgiving feast, including wild rice soup, salad, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, and candied yams. If turkey isn’t your thing, never fear; you could have the walleye, salmon, or filet mignon instead. Dessert includes three kinds of pie (pumpkin being one of them, of course), apple cobbler, or ice cream.

Firelake (www.firelakerestaurant.com, 612-216-3473, Minneapolis) gives you plenty of dining options, as they’re open for all three meals on Thanksgiving. If you choose lunch or dinner, you’ll not only enjoy a delicious dinner, but many of the ingredients will be sourced locally, including the smoked turkey. The rest of the menu is a spin on the traditional: wild rice stuffing, cheddar herb mashed potatoes, green beans with crimini mushrooms and shallots, and deep-dish pumpkin-cranberry pie.

Jax Café (www.jaxcafe.com, 612-789-7297, Minneapolis) offers a full traditional turkey-stuffing-yams-and-mashed-potatoes dinner, but there are several ala carte entrees as well, including pheasant, lobster tail, salmon, prime rib, and butternut squash ravioli.

Cosmos (www.cosmosrestaurant.com, 612-312-1168, Minneapolis) kicks it up a gourmet notch. Choose from first-course offerings that include gravlax, hangar steak tartar, creamy cauliflower soup with bacon and truffle oil, or poached shrimp. There’s turkey on the menu—locally sourced—but there’s also crab and smoked salmon risotto, leg of lamb, and pasta with artichoke hearts. Dessert offerings include pumpkin praline custard, ginger spiced cake, or butterscotch pecan tart.

Forepaugh’s (www.forepaughs.com, 651-224-5606, St. Paul) has the benefit of serving a grand dinner in a grand location, made even better by a recent renovation. Enjoy butternut squash soup; roast turkey with stuffing; potato puree with herb gravy; candied yams; and pumpkin pie. For the non-turkey folk, pork tenderloin and salmon are also available.

B.A.N.K. (www.bankmpls.com, 612-656-3255, Minneapolis) offers white bean soup with rosemary and pancetta; green salad with dried apricots and cherries, goat cheese, and cranberry vinaigrette; the option of turkey with chorizo-cornbread stuffing, ham with sweet potato galette, or pastrami-cured duck breast with braised cabbage, apples, and pear. Dessert will be pumpkin ice cream or apple-pear crisp.

Jun Bo (www.jun-bo.com, 612-866-6866, Richfield) won’t manage your turkey-and-stuffing craving, but if you’re in the mood for dim sum and traditional Chinese food, this is your place.

Tria (www.triarestaurant.com, 651-426-9222, North Oaks) will present choice of butternut squash soup, spinach salad, or house salad; turkey with sausage dressing, white cheddar mashed potatoes and giblet gravy, or prime rib or ham; and a choice of pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or apple crisp.

Really can’t decide? Don’t like turkey? Want to keep things casual and low-key? Never fear—Mickey’s Diner is open, as always, 24/7/365. www.mickeysdiningcar.com, St. Paul. Remember, no lingering.

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota. (www.wcco.com/findingminnesota)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! My next column will be Thursday, Dec. 4.

Nothing is guaranteed to raise moans of protest like snow before Christmas. Even though we haven't had a serious snowstorm since the infamous Halloween blizzard of 1991, the sight of even nuisance snow can send some people's spirits plummeting.

But let's look at the bright side. Early snow means early opening for ski and snowboard resorts. Cool temps and snowmaking machines joining forces with Mother Nature: let the winter fun begin!

Note: This weekend is the Minnesota Ski & Snowboard Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center (http://www.bewisports.com/expos/minnesota/minnesotawebpage.html). Ski resorts (both local and national), equipment dealers and live entertainment will be offered Nov. 14-16.

Caveat: if there's a significant warm-up or long bouts of rain, ski slopes may close temporarily. Your best bet is to call ahead or check the resort's Web site before packing up the skis and heading out.

Afton Alps (Afton, www.aftonalps.com, 651-436-5245) is making snow and anticipates having a limited number of runs open this weekend.

Buck Hill (Burnsville, www.buckhill.com, 952-435-7174) is making snow and has limited runs open evenings and weekends.

Hyland (Bloomington, www.hylandski.com, 763-694-7800) is hoping to open late next week. Call for more details.

Wild Mountain (Taylors Falls, www.wildmountain.com, 800-447-4958) has limited runs open now.

Welch Village (Welch, www.welchvillage.com, 651-258-4567) hopes to open Thanksgiving weekend, depending on the weather.

Mount Kato (Mankato, www.mountkato.com, 800-668-5286) is making snow and hopes to open Nov. 28.

Lutsen (Lutsen, www.lutsen.com, 218-663-7281) is set to open weekends only starting Nov. 22, with daily schedules resuming Dec. 12.

Giants Ridge (Biwabik, www.giantsridge.com, 800-688-7669) expects to open Nov. 28.

Buena Vista Ski Area (Bemidji, www.bvskiarea.com, 800-777-7958) expects to open Nov. 28.

Spirit Mountain (Duluth, www.spiritmt.com, 800-642-6377) expects to open with weekend hours on Nov. 27 and daily hours on Dec. 5.

Andes Tower Hills (Alexandria, www.andestowerhills.com, 877-542-6337) is making snow and plans to open Nov. 21.

Powder Ridge (Kimball, www.powderridge.com, 320-398-7200) is making snow and may be open by Nov. 22.

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota. (www.wcco.com/findingminnesota)

Editor's Note:
We'd like to welcome Amy Rea to WCCO.COM.  Amy loves Minnesota and wants to help you discover great things to see and do across the state.  She'll offer weekly columns on this blog to help you plan your weekend fun.  She's also an author of the book Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes: an Explorer's Guide and she writes regularly about her trips throughout the state on her Web site, A Closer Look at Flyover Land.  We hope you'll enjoy Amy's tips and guides here on Wander Minnesota and we invite you take a moment to check out her own site.  It's great to have her with us!

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The election is, finally, over. That means you're either euphoric or miserable (unless you were in the 4 percent undecided, in which case you're probably shrugging and saying, "Oh, well"). No matter where you fall on the election spectrum, it's time to get back to real life. But first, why not toast the end of the lengthy, historic election season with a happy hour? The following are all value-added happy hours, because besides great drink specials, you can get great food cheap (or cheaper, anyway) with your spirits of choice.

It's hard to beat the gem of a happy hour at Vincent (www.vincentarestaurant.com). Arrive between 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and veer left (literally, not politically -- we're talking happy hour here, not politics!) when you enter so you can take advantage of the bar specials, including a very respectable $3 glass of wine and the unbeatable Vincent burger for $8 rather than its normal price of $13. Still think $8 is a lot for a burger? It's not for this one: ground beef and short ribs combined with smoked Gouda.

Down the street is a newer entry in the happy hour world. Dancing Ganesha (www.dancingganesharestaurant.com) has its happy hour Monday-Friday from 4-7 p.m. and provides $2 tap beers, as well as half-price cocktails and appetizers. You can make a substantial meal out of the appetizers on the Indian menu, including the amazing Gobi Manchurian, or choose the appetizer platters (vegetarian and meat options).

Across the river, Pazzaluna (www.pazzaluna.com) has not one but two happy hours each weekday, from 4-6 p.m. and 9-10 p.m. Tap beers, some wines and several martinis are offered half-price, as is the Margherita Pizza.

Who can resist a Happy Gnome (http://thehappygnome.com), especially when it offers $1 off all alcoholic beverages from 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday? The Gnome is one of the coziest places to get a brew, and there's a lot of choices -- 44 beers on tap and more than 200 by the bottle. Don't worry if beer's not your thing -- they have a good wine list too, and pleasing single-malt Scotch choices.

Origami (www.origamirestaurant.com) has happy hours at both its Minneapolis and Minnetonka locations. Minneapolis offers specials from 5-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, while Minnetonka starts discounting half an hour earlier. Both locations offer several good drink specials, including imported beer (Sapporo, Kirin Ichiban), wine, martinis and sake. But don't forget to take advantage of the happy hour appetizer deals too, including various sushi/sashimi combinations, chicken wings and tempura.

McCormick & Schmick's (www.mccormickandschmicks.com) in Minneapolis and Edina has a changing happy hour menu that may be, surprisingly, one of the cheapest ones around. You might be able to pick up a half-pound cheeseburger for $1.95 if your timing is good. Oh -- and there are drink specials as well. Happy hours are offered twice Monday-Friday at the Edina location, from 4-6 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close. Minneapolis offers one happy hour during the week, from 4-7 p.m.

View (www.viewcalhoun.com) understands that weekends should be happy too, and so they offer happy hour daily from 3-6:30 p.m., as well as 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday. It's a bargain hunter's dream: $3.50 on selected tap beers, cocktails, and wines, as well as a range of appetizer offerings.

Sapor (www.saporcafe.com) gives it up to happy hour in the bar from 5 p.m.-close Monday-Saturday. The food specials change frequently, but you can bet you'll be getting a big bang for your buck.

Besides the four regular seasons in Minnesota (and some might argue a fifth season -- road construction), there's another type of season approaching rapidly: deer hunting. While archery, antlerless, and youth deer hunting have already opened, the main deer hunting season with firearms opens Nov. 8. If you haven't already done so, check with the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources for full information on where, when, and how to hunt (http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_wildlife/hunting/deer/2008/2008-deerinfo.pdf).

If you're looking for accommodations in the northern half of the state (much of the south is for lottery hunting only), the following suggestions should help. Each resort listed caters to hunters; many provide guide services. Not surprisingly, most are in fairly rural areas, but offer comfortable lodging for non-hunters who might just need some R&R.

Wildhurst Lodge and Camping (www.wildhurstlodge.com; 218-353-7337). Just north of the tiny town of Finland and northeast of Two Harbors, Wildhurst Lodge specializes in whitetail and bear hunts. Guide services are available. Heated cabins and sleeping rooms offer cozy, rustic accommodation, but there is no indoor plumbing; showers are available at the main lodge. Rates for rooms start at $50/night; cabins at $60/night; RV sites at $28/night; and campsites at $17/night.

White Birch Resort (http://whitebirchresort.net; 877-835-4552). Located on Blackduck Lake, about 25 miles north of Bemidji, White Birch Resort has nine housekeeping cabins that can accommodate anywhere from 2-19 people (a tenth cabin that can hold 22 will open next spring). Cabin rates start at $90/night with a two-night minimum. Cabin #4, a two-bedroom that can accommodate up to 6, has a special rate during deer season of $155/night. Two of the cabins allow dogs; check for restrictions when reserving.

Zippel Bay Resort (www.zippelbay.com; 800-222-2537).



Zippel Bay is in northwest Minnesota, along the Canadian border at Lake of the Woods. This year-round resort claims impressive deer hunting success and offers guided hunts. The property offers regular cabins and deluxe log cabins, as well as an outpost cabin located adjacent to Beltrami State Forest. Basic cabin rates start at $40 per person per night, deluxe cabins at $65 per person per night. Packages including meals are available.

River Bend Resort (www.riverbendlodgeresort.com; 800-292-3084). Just northwest of Baudette on Rainy River, River Bend Resort offers several cabins starting at $30 per person per night, as well as an outpost cabin that can accommodate up to 16. The resort can arrange for hunting guides.

Northland Lodge (www.northlandlodge.com; 800-272-2338). Located on Lake Winnibigoshish just outside of Deer River, Northland Lodge has four cabins open year-round, including heat and indoor plumbing. Hunting dogs are welcome at an additional fee. Rates start at $160/night with a two-night minimum. RV sites run $34/night.

Vermilion Dam Lodge (www.vdl.com; 800-325-5780). A more upscale hunting lodge experience. Nineteen cabins along Lake Vermilion outside of Cook, all with full kitchens including dishwashers. Several cabins have fireplaces and/or Jacuzzis, and packages with meals are available, as are guided hunting packages. A few of the cabins allow pets. Rates are based on weeklong stays and start at $950/week.

Lakewood Lodge (www.lakewoodlodge.com; 800-495-8437). Lakewood is located in the Chippewa National Forest northeast of Bemidji. There are fifteen cabins on Sand Lake, all equipped for year-round accommodation and include fireplaces, dishwashers, and cable TV. Rates start at $150/night with a two-night minimum.

Tamarac Resort (http://detroitlakes.com/tamaracresort/; 800-611-8258). Tamarac Resort is on Round Lake, just north of Detroit Lakes and 30 miles from Itasca State Park. A rustic northwoods resort with five cabins, all equipped for winter, the resort also has a lodge with a bar and restaurant. Pets allowed for an additional fee and prior approval. Hunting season rates start at $85/night with a two-night minimum.

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota. (www.wcco.com/findingminnesota)

School is back in session and the kids, whether they like it or not, have established routines. The former MEA/current Education Minnesota's Professional Conference weekend has passed. The heavy-obligation holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas are still comfortably far away (although not for long). Apple orchards are winding down for the season, and the Mill City Farmers Market (www.millcityfarmersmarket.org) is closed until next spring. What's there to look forward to now?

Halloween. And there's plenty to do, for everyone from those who like thrills and chills to those who prefer a more sedate or historic approach.

ValleySCARE
Valleyfair, Shakopee (www.valleyscare.com)
Oct. 24, Oct. 31, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.-midnight; Oct. 25, 1 p.m.-midnight; Oct. 26, 1-7 p.m.
Shakopee's venerable Valleyfair turns into ValleySCARE in the fall. This weekend and next (last day is Nov. 1), you have the choice of gentle Halloween fun during the day (think Trick or Treat Trails and coloring contests for the young ones, as well as the children's rides) to more intense events after dark (seven haunted attractions!). Rides are available as well for those who find roller coasters more terrifying than any old ghost or goblin. Valleyfair season pass holders can use their pass for admittance. 

The Minnesota Historical Society (www.mnhs.org) has a wide range of activities over the next week. (By the way, if you haven't spent time exploring what the MNHS has to offer, please do -- it's an enormously active and interesting organization.) Call ahead, as some events require registration.

Shadows and Spirits of the Capitol
State Capitol, St. Paul (http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/msc/)
Oct. 24-25, 6:30-9:30 p.m. (last tour leaves at 8:30)
A Saturday pre-Halloween evening tour of the Capitol, which will be lit similarly to its early days, where "ghosts" of the past tell visitors stories about the Capitol's history.

The Minneapolis Horror: Tales from the Night Shift
Mill City Museum, Minneapolis (http://www.millcitymuseum.org/)
Oct. 27-28; 6:30, 7, 7:30 p.m.
Costumed guides take you on a night tour of the Washburn A Mill, highlighting its frequently tragic past.

Victorian Ghost Stories
Oct. 28-29; 6:30, 8 p.m.
James J. Hill House, St. Paul (http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/jjhh/)
Costumed guides tell stories of haunted St. Paul mansions, as well as stories by Edgar Allan Poe and the Brothers Grimm. Could be too scary for children under 10.

Mrs. Ramsey's Attic, A Victorian Children's Halloween
Oct. 29-30; 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 p.m.
Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul (http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/arh/)
Geared for younger children, this event focuses more on Halloween games and treats of the Victorian past rather than ghosts and goblins.

The World's Largest Indoor Trick-or-Treat
Mall of America, Bloomington (http://www.mallofamerica.com/adults_event_detail_objectname_worlds_largest_trick_or_treat.aspx)
Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.
Forget dealing with the unpredictable Minnesota October weather. Take a hike to the MOA for a costume contest and the opportunity to trick-or-treat at more than 200 stores. Note: Masks are not allowed, nor are toy weapons.

Fright Farm
Ramsey County Fairgrounds, Maplewood (www.frightfarm.org)
Oct. 24, 25, 30, 31; 7-10 p.m. Oct. 26, 12-4 p.m.
The Ramsey County Sheriff's Department sponsors this event at a century-old barn renovated into a haunted house. Visit the Fangmobile, Tut's Maze, and be frightened by ghouls galore. Not recommended for children younger than 8 or so, except for Oct. 26, when there is a low-scare version. The floor plan changes each year, so new scares are always available.

Trail of Terror
Shakopee (http://www.trailofterrorfest.com/home.htm)
Oct. 23-26, Oct. 30-Nov. 1; 7-11 p.m.
Lil' Monster Matinee, Oct. 26, 5-7 p.m.
Haunted hayrides. Indoor maze (3/4 mile). Bonfires. The Halls of Horror. Hypnotists. Mechanical bull rides. The Jokers Hideout. A multi-course Phantom's Feast (reservations strongly recommended). Club Scream and the Terror Tavern. This is for serious scare fans, except for the Lil' Monster Matinee on the 26^th, which features kid-friendly trick-or-treating and pumpkin decorating.

If all of this isn't enough for you, then venture out to Anoka, which bills itself as the Halloween Capital of the World (www.anokahalloween.com). They take Halloween very seriously. A two-week celebration includes parades, Ghosts of Anoka walking tours, wine tastings, costume contests, a 5k run, live music and a Spooktacular Carnival. See Web site for specifics.

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota. (www.wcco.com/findingminnesota)

Amy C. Rea is the author of Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes: an Explorer's Guide (Countryman Press, 2008). She reports on her Minnesota journeys at her Web site, A Closer Look at Flyover Land (www.flyover-land.com).