Minnesota | Minnesota Chamber

Cold Weather in Chisholm, MN is a Blast for Winter Sports Lovers

Minnesota’s cold winters and heavy snowfall makes it a winter lover’s paradise for those who enjoy outdoor and indoor winter sports. January is typically the coldest month of the year in Minnesota. Weather.com records the average low temperature for Chisholm in January to be -5°. The average yearly snowfall for the area is 61 inches. With weather like this, you are bound to have a blast with plenty of sporting activities. Here are some of the most popular winter sports attractions in the Chisholm area.

Chisholm Sports Arena Ice and Roller Skating Rink

Ice skating, figure skating and all things hockey are popular activities for Minnesotans. This arena is open all year-round and offers youth and adult lessons for beginners and pros alike. You can also watch local, national and international hockey league tournaments at the rink.

Giants Ridge Resort

Located about 40 minutes outside of Chisholm, the Giants Ridge Resort in the town of Biwabik is a “must visit” winter destination. This ski resort is top-rated in Minnesota for its 35 downhill ski runs and 60 kilometer cross country ski trails. Snowboarding terrain parks also makes this resort a fun attraction for visitors. The resort offers a winter sports school where you can get some lessons before you hit the slopes.

Suomi Hills Kennel

If you don’t mind traveling just little over an hour from Chisholm, then you will be delighted with the adventure of riding with snow dogs. Located in the city of Deer River, the Suomi Hills Kennel breeds and trains snow dogs to perform trail rides. The kennel offers large group rides and tours.

Filed Under: Sports, Travel Tagged With: Minnesota, Sport, Winter sport

A Glimpse of Minnesota History in Red Wing

If you consider yourself a history buff or have someone in your family who loves the subject, then be sure to visit the city of Red Wing in Minnesota on your next visit to the state. A little over an hour away from St. Paul, Red Wing is located on the south end of Mud Lake and is situated in both Pierce and Goodhue Counties. With a population of right around 16,000, Red Wing is steeped in history that is sure to interest just about anyone.

Most people who know of Red Wing know about the famous (and still popular) Red Wing boots. In 1905, Charles Beckman founded the manufacturing company known simply as Red Wing and began to sell boots.

So, what’s so special about Red Wing boots? The way the company takes care of you. Red Wing doesn’t sell boots through a website, as they believe in custom-fitting, which means they want you to come in and get measured. When you buy a pair of famous Red Wing boots, the company promises to take care of them for as long as you have them. You can have them relaced, carefully cleaned, and if you want, they’ll even fix the eye holes for you. That’s pretty amazing customer service.

Red Wing’s boots aren’t the only interesting thing in the city. There are plenty of activities to partake in, such as boat or canoe trips, camping, hiking, walking along the Mississippi, and there are even plenty of shopping opportunities. The neighboring towns help make Red Wing and the surrounding area one of the most beautiful and relaxing areas in Minnesota.

Filed Under: News, Travel Tagged With: Minnesota, Mud Lake, Red Wing Minnesota

Minnesota for Free

With the always shifting economy, job layoffs, and the all-around lack of available jobs, many people have begun to cut vacations and weekend getaways from their list of needed items. While you may not be able to visit another state or spend a ton of money, there are still ways to have a vacation and have a good time. The state of Minnesota offers many free activities that can prove fun for every member of the family.

There are various activities to enjoy throughout the summer months. Every Thursday, Nicollet Mall boasts one of the best markets in the state. Everything from locally grown produce and homemade crafts to delicacies from local restaurants is available. Peavy Plaza, which is part of the Mall, is full of beautiful sculptures and is host for many different summer concerts—all free, of course.

Minneapolis is the center of the art scene throughout Minnesota. As such, the city hosts three major art shows each year. The Loring Park Art Festival is one of the largest. If you happen to be in town while this is happening, stop by and take a look at the work from hundreds of local and nationally known artists. You’ll find everything from photography to paintings and sculpture.

If you’re up for a little walking, check out the St. Anthony’s Heritage Trail. Along the trail, you’ll see some of the most historic buildings in the area, including the Our Lady of Lourdes Church and the numerous buildings located on Nicolett Island.

Filed Under: Entertainment, News Tagged With: Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nicollet Mall

Must-See Minnesota Events

Some people might tell you that the Midwest has some of the most varying weather in the entire United States. Those of us who live in the Midwest would have to agree wholeheartedly. From the subzero temperatures and multiple feet of snow in the winter to the humidity and thunderstorms of the summer, states like Wisconsin and Minnesota have definitely learned how to use those seasons and the accompanying weather to their advantage.

Minnesota holds a number of different festivals throughout the year, regardless of the season. If you’re planning to be in Minnesota at all during any of the following events, make sure you attend the festivals. You’ll see how the mix of midwestern weather can be more than fun.

For eleven days in late January, the St. Paul Winter Carnival attracts thousands of people willing to brave the cold temperatures for a little fun. Since 1886, the people of Minnesota have been participating in activities like ice and snow sculpting, ice skating, and even a traditional Native American pow wow with one of the local tribes. One of the most popular events at the carnival is the Torchlight Parade, which occurs at night through the streets of St. Paul.

In mid-July, Minneapolis is home to the Aquatennial, which pays homage to the many waterways in Minnesota. Since 1940, events such as beach volleyball, the triathlon, and the ever-popular fireworks display have been taking place throughout the city. Along with a huge block party, one of the most popular events of the Aquatennial is the boat race in which contestants create boats from milk cartons.

The Minnesota State Fair is perhaps the biggest event in the state, taking place for twelve days in August. With standard Midway rides, the Adventure Park for those who like different rides, as well as butter sculptures and Pronto Pups, this is truly an event showcasing everything that makes the state of Minnesota what it is.

Filed Under: Climate, News Tagged With: Minnesota, Torchlight Parade, United States

Enjoying Minnesota’s Wilderness

Not every vacation you take needs to be packed full of activities that, in the end, just end up running you ragged and possibly leaving you more tired than before you left for vacation. Contrary to popular belief, you can still have a relaxing vacation full of activities that you enjoy, and it doesn’t have to be in a big city, another state, or at some exotic beach resort in the Caribbean.

If you want to satisfy the nature lover in yourself or in your family, you can do it and still relax. One of the most beautiful locations in the Midwest is the northeastern corner of Minnesota, right along the border of Canada. This area, consisting of over one million acres of crystal clear lakes and wilderness, is known as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (or, the BWCA for short). These lands draw over 100 thousand people from every walk of life each year.

The BWCA offers a multitude of outdoor activities and adventures for people of any age. Fishing is one of the most popular activities in the area. With so many lakes and rivers (over 1,000), as well as a multitude of different species of fish, everyone will enjoy the endless opportunities that come along with fishing.

One of the best things that the wilderness provides is numerous lodging options. There are numerous lake-side resorts and places offering your choice of rustic cabins to sleep in. There are also campgrounds where you can park your RV, pitch a tent, or rough it and sleep in a sleeping bag under the stars.

Ely, a smaller town, is only s short distance from the BWCA and offers even more activities. Stop in at the International Wolf Center and learn more about wolves, or walk through an art gallery. If you want to get away from the wilderness for a day, Ely is sure to offer a little something for everybody.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Minnesota, Wilderness

A Very ” InViking” Minnesota Inn

It’s no secret that the Vikings are an enormous part of Minnesota’s history and that these people still permeate the state’s cultural identity today. Holding steadfastly onto the Viking traditions and ways of life, The Nordic Inn Brew & Bed offers visitors a taste of all things Viking. A little known fact about The Nordic Inn is that the establishment used to be a Methodist church.

Located in Crosby, Minnesota, people come from miles around to sample the popular Scandinavian styles brews that have made the inn such a famous place. Around the inn—especially at the bar—you’ll find plenty of old Viking attire. Why not don some and get in the spirit? If the traditional garb isn’t enough of a taste of the Viking way of life, you’ll also need to trade your wholesome American dollars in for Kroner—the traditional currency of the Viking people.

Founded and manned by Steinnar Elmerson, you’re sure to receive the best treatment possible. He offers Viking tales and jokes of the adult variety, yes, but he also cooks an amazing amount of food, even if you’re eating alone. Signature dishes include meat and potatoes, as well as side dishes and, of course, pie for dessert. Combine this with some of the pale ale that The Nordic Inn is famous for, and you’ll have a meal fit for a (Vi)king.

No two rooms at the inn are the same, making them great conversation starters. There are only five rooms available, the neatest perhaps being the room in which a bed is built directly into a Viking ship.

If you’re looking for an experience that’s vastly different from that of a regular hotel or a normal bed and breakfast, then give The Nordic Inn a try!

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Minnesota

The Minnesota State Fair: Highlights

If you’ve never been to Minnesota and are planning to go, plan your trip around the Minnesota State Fair, which is normally held over a week every August. Drawing in thousands of people each year, this enormous event is one of the best ways to learn about and experience the culture in Minnesota. Some of the most popular items at the fair include butter sculptures, Pronto Pups, which are similar to a corn dog, and the log rolling competition, among other things.

Dubbed “The Great Minnesota Get-Together,” the Minnesota State Fair has been providing unique looks into what makes the state so great since 1854 (which is five whole years before Minnesota even became a state). The fair takes place in Falcon heights, which is right in the middle of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and is the second largest state fair in the United States, second only to the Texas State Fair.

Because of the sheer size of the Minnesota State Fair, it’s nearly impossible to see the entire thing in one day. If you’re having troubles deciding what to see, take a look below for some ideas.

The Princess Kay Butter Sculpture: When the winner of the Minnesota Dairy Princess Program Pageant is chosen, “Princess Kay” is the title she gets, but she also has a 90-pound block of butter sculpted to look just like her. This is one of the most popular fair attractions.
The Space Tower: If you’re one who loves scenery, try taking a ride to the top of this 340-foot tall tower for the best views of St. Paul and the Twin Cities. Don’t forget your camera!
The rides at Adventure Park: If you want the standard list of fair rides, you’ll find them on the Midway (and Kidway for the youngsters), but if you’re in the mood for something a little different, stop at Adventure Park. There you’ll find like the Ejection Seat—a ride where you’re strapped into a seat secured with bungee cords and sends you flying through the air.

Filed Under: Entertainment, News Tagged With: Minnesota, Minnesota State Fair

Dayton Takes the Finish Line in Minnesota Governor’s Race

: Image via Wikipedia

In the recent election runoff for governor in Minnesota, Democrat Mark Dayton and Republican nominee Tom Emmer waited anxiously for the results to come in. A recount had to be administered from votes across the state, and in the final draw Dayton came out ahead of the competition. His lead was so slight in the beginning that officials felt a recount was in order. This meant that 2.1 million votes had to be gone over again. The recently released results from the 87 counties within the state come a month after the election was held. The recount results were not dramatically different from the original election night results, leaving only a slight difference in the 9,000 vote lead that Dayton had over Emmer.

Emmer has served three terms as a member of the state legislature. He gave his concession speech, politely conceding the win for the Democrats and stated that he would not challenge the results further in a court of law. He showed support for Dayton by saying that keeping a governor out of office any longer would not be beneficial to the state as a whole. He recognized that the people of Minnesota have made their final decision and he respects that.This type of situation is nothing new in Minnesota, as a recount had to be done in the 2008 election.

Mark Dayton, at 63 years of age, served a single term in the United States Senate. He chose at that time not to run for reelection. His first attempt in 1998 to run for the governor’s seat was unsuccessful. In the 2010 election, he finally found his niche when he took both the primary and then succeeded in winning the general election. Minnesota can now look to the future as their new governor takes office, hoping that he will be able to work with the government in bringing the economy back up and creating more jobs.

Filed Under: Government, News Tagged With: Democratic Party (United States), Election recount, Mark Dayton, Minnesota, Republican, Tim Pawlenty, Tom Emmer

Finding New Freedom – Coming to Minnesota

Germans came to Minnesota for a wide variety of reasons near the middle to the end of the 19th century. They were seeking freedom from political pressures, freedom to practice religion without persecution and to escape military conscription. The political scene in Germany at this time was extremely unstable, with the constant changes in the government and its policies. This drove many to come to the United States to find land and the opportunity to start a new life, with Minnesota as one of their many destinations. This country had land in abundance and heading west meant new opportunities.

The land that many Germans chose to settle on was already inhabited by a variety of Native American peoples, including the Dakota, Cheyenne, Lakota and Cree tribes. These areas had been annexed by the federal government under treaties which were often broken. This is particularly true in the case of the Dakota land, where broken treaty causd the tribe to rise up and fight back, leading to the United States and Dakota War of 1862. This tribe was later removed from the area and placed at Fort Snelling.

Settlement societies cropped up in the Minnesota territory, advertising to encourage more Germans to come to the United States and celebrating the many advantages they would find when they arrived. This caused a crop of new immigrants, most of which were German. They could buy land within the territory for four costs ranging from $2.50 to $8.00 per acre. Today, the areas they settled in lie in the southern part of the state and includes such towns as Gibbon and Sleepy Eye. They also settled predominantly in the counties of Gibbon, Winona, Nicolett, Benton and Morrison.

Bringing their culture with them along with their families, these German immigrants have left a strong legacy behind for us. Their story is still relevant today, and speaks of the courage and new lives that they fostered in this state.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel Tagged With: Ethnicity, Minnesota, United States

Minnesota’s Weather Challenges

Minnesota offers its residents and visitors a wide variety of weather throughout the year, especially during the winter months. The northern section of the state reaches freezing lows in January, and enjoys a constant layer of snow from December into the midst of March. Temperatures are slightly milder in the southern part of the state during winter, with a high of 25 degrees on most January days. The summers can carry highs in the eighties and lower seventies when you are near Lake Superior.

Minnesota’s weather history has shown extremes in temperature and precipation totals during the winter. One such event is the great snowfall that occurred in St. Paul during the 1880 to 1881 winter season. The event started with a modest 10 inches in late October, ending with a high near 140 inches that lasted from March into early summer. Having eleven feet of snow surrounding your home for that period of time must have been interesting to live with. This was later called “The Great Snow Winter.”

Along with receiving significant amounts of snow, Minnesota also had periods of extreme dryness in its history. This happened in 1829. The event was laid out in records kept at Fort Snelling. The months of May and June received only eight total days of rain the entire time. The summer came in with record heat, and this continued on into the winter, with no snow in sight. Then the temperatures plummetted in February when a series of two week lows hit the state, with numbers as low as – 20 and – 30 degrees.

The weather could also hit extremes on both ends of the scale, with little to no rain in June of 1863 to deadly frosts that attacked crops in July and August. Throughout its history, Minnesota weather has challenged the residents of this state. But it has also helped to build a hardy character into the people who live here.

Filed Under: Climate, Entertainment, Travel Tagged With: Minnesota, National Weather Service, Snow, Temperature, Weather